#this would be updating the template to the new proper one

[fetishflags]

( not a req just a question )

do you have a flag for collar bone and / or hip bone related fetishes yet?

nope ! might make a searchable list for all flags but think next request batch will be for flag remakes ! (which means a larger queue 👀)

[olomaya]

Student Council (Afterschool Activities+)

18 August: This mod has been updated. Please refer to this post for more information before downloading.

12 March: Updated: Thanks to the people that let me know about the missing strings in non-English languages. It's been fixed and you can redownload the MAIN file. I also adjusted the skilling for the student council roles because sometimes it wouldn't stop after Student Council meetings so I fixed that.

7 March Update: PLEASE REDOWNLOAD Hi! Please re-download the "olomaya_StudentCouncil_MAIN" file if you downloaded it already. There was an issue with the milestone tracker so it will reset your Sim whenever you try to canvas for donations. If you have the other files, no need to redownload them, just the "MAIN" one.

I just played TS4 High School Years. The items are really cute but there's about 6 hours of gameplay in the whole pack, lol. But it got me thinking about how I wish we had more child and teen-specific stuff to do in TS3. Like Afterschool Activities which could have been more…active. So I started making a few active afterschool activities for teens. This is the first I'm releasing.

With this mod, your teen can join the Student Council where they can then take on different activities. They can run for office in the council and support school issues to try and make their school a better place. There are 8 different student issues your Sims can try to address, like buying new textbooks or running an anti-bullying campaign. Each one will require your Sim to get a certain number of signatures and raise X amount of funds. If you don’t do so by the deadline all the students will hate you (not really but also, yes). If you are successful, then all the students will get some kind of reward related to the campaign and it will increase your popularity. You can learn about student issues and the like through the Bulletin Board object.

There are 3 different Student Council elected positions you can run for which also have extra perks and each have their own unique interactions they can do as well so they are a bit more personality-based to the role.  There's more details in the documentation.

Download here

Credits/Thanks: @bioniczombie for the TS4 HSY Bulletin board object conversion and all their wonderful conversions. Battery TS3 Script Template Creator for making modding easier. 

You'll need NRaas Careers in order to load custom afterschool activities and of course, the Generations EP. Let me know if you run into any issues!

Future Updates/Additions: I do want to create some activities for council members to organize, like a beach clean up or school charity events. So that would be the plan for a V2. Also maybe doing a proper animation for the collect signatures interaction. I know TS4 has one, I couldn't get it to load through a social xml. It's a whole thing but yes, I'm aware Sign Autograph is not the ideal animation.

[hayatheauthor]

Websites And Writing Apps Every Author Needs In 2023

In today’s day and age, technology is everyone's best friend, and the number one writing tool for authors. Gone are the days when writers would hunch over blocky typewriters and leisurely type out a manuscript. Authors are now evolving, and while typewriters and pretty journals might make for stellar aesthetically pleasing posts, they aren’t as accessible and convenient as the technological advancements that have taken the world by storm.

Modern-day authors have swapped out papers and ink for laptops and AI, allowing us to type out thousands of words without having to worry about our pens drying out.

However, this convenience comes at a cost.

Our app stores are flooded with so many options that it is easy to lose track of the best writing apps. This is why I have taken the initiative to compile a list of the websites and writing apps every author needs in 2023— categorized by different writing stages.

Websites And Writing Apps To Help With Fantasy Worldbuilding

Worldbuilding is possibly one of the most essential pre-writing steps a writer takes. It helps you develop a concrete idea of the story you have come up with and creates the foundation of your book.

Poor worldbuilding and a lack of visualisation can make your ideas get lost in translation and make a concrete fantasy world seem confusing for your readers.

This is why before you jump into telling your story, you must first establish the building blocks of your tale. There are two applications that I believe can help you achieve this. Whether it be generating names, creating fantasy maps or more, here are two websites and web apps to help with worldbuilding.

Azgaar

Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator is a free web application that generates interactive and highly customizable SVG maps based on Voronoi diagram. Fantasy map generators generally require a lot of time and energy to completely plan out your world, but with Azgaar’s fantasy map generators, you can readily customize any of their free templates.

They offer a plethora of options for writers to explore, from different map colours and themes to worlds created in various environments.

One thing I love about Azgaar is how accessible their templates are. You can easily change the location names, landscape and map settings with a click or two and also experiment with different templates until you create a map that is perfect for your world.

If we’re talking about fantasy map generators every writer should know of, then Azgaar is definitely one of them.

Donjon

Are you a writer who just got started with their worldbuilding? Do you feel stuck with the overwhelming amount of things you need to do before you can write your story? Don’t worry, all of us have been there. But with Donjon you can readily create almost every aspect of your fantasy world.

From names to maps and demographics, Donjon provides creators with a plethora of services. Unlike most applications, it also helps you create globes and detailed city/area scapes and maps. This is a tool I find particularly useful for when your characters are exploring a new area that you can’t visualise well.

And the best part? It isn’t just for authors! Donjon has different tools for writers, game makers, and more— allowing creators of all kinds to make their worlds that much better.

If you ever feel stuck during your world-building, then definitely give Donjon a try and comment down below the tool you found the most useful.

Websites And Writing Apps To Help With Your Writing

Writing your book is one of the most thrilling stages of creating a novel.

But nowadays it can be really hard to find good writing tools that are free and help you accomplish your goal with no hitches. I can’t tell you how many times I ended up losing my work as a fanfic writer writing on websites that haven’t been updated in years! This is why it’s so important to write your book on a proper, reputable application.

Grammarly

Let’s be honest, if you’re someone who’s into writing then you’ve probably heard of Grammarly at least a couple of times. However, what many writers don’t realise is just how beneficial it can be!

Most writers use Grammarly as an extension on their writing application so that it can correct their small errors while they write, but they don’t bother to use the Grammarly editor. You might be wondering ‘but Haya, what’s the difference?’

The Grammarly editor provides you with more options and tools to help better your writing. You can set your writing goals, such as your target audience, tone, etc. and even get access to more detailed suggestions that focus on aspects like passive voice, and adverbs.

Even if you choose not to get Grammarly premium, the editor still highlights the premium suggestions which can help you understand where you’re going wrong.

Overall, Grammarly helps you edit your chapters and polish your writing with ease.

Google Docs

If you’re one of the people who doesn’t see the point in paying for Word, then Google Docs is for you. It gives you all the features of a word document online. Docs also allows you to use extensions and add-ons that can help you elevate your manuscript. Some of my favourites are Scribe Writer, highlighter tool, and Spellright.

One thing most people don’t know about Google Docs is that you can use the voice typing tool. If you’re an author like me, then you often think of the perfect pieces of description at random moments in the day and have to scramble to write them down before you forget. The same can be said for dialogue, plot points, etc.

This is why Google Docs is so convenient. It allows you to speak your thoughts and types it out in a document that you can readily edit at your own time.

If you’re looking for a website or writing app to use as your main editor for your manuscript, then you should definitely consider Google Docs.

Websites And Writing Apps To Help With Your Editing

Hemingway Editor

If you’re an author writing for a certain age group, Hemingway Editor is the best website for you. Hemingway Editor shows a grade for your writing and gives you suggestions for ways to improve your manuscript. Just like Grammarly, it gives you various suggestions for your writing.

It also highlights the areas of concern in different colours so that you can easily make your way through your work depending on which aspect you would like to edit (whether that be SPAG, sentence structure, etc.)

If you don’t want to pay for Grammarly’s premium option then you can use Hemingway Editor’s free editorial suggestions.

Reedsy

Don’t want to do your edits by yourself? Hire an editor from Reedsy.

Hiring a professional can be a difficult process, and oftentimes we don’t even know where to start. You can acquire a list of professional editors that work with your genre with one click of your mouse. But how do you know if they have the right experience and credibility?

With Reedsy you can easily get in touch with great editors who have not only worked in your genre but also have a client list of credible authors with books similar to yours. This helps make sure you select an editor that knows what they need to do and how to get it done.

Reedsy also provides authors with professionals who can help them in every step of their writing process, whether that be cover designing, proofreading, or more.

Websites And Writing Apps To Help You Get A Literary Agent

Querying can be a daunting process. I know this from personal experience. But you can make this process a little easier with the right websites and writing apps. I’ve seen tons of different websites promoting tools that will supposedly help you get an agent within one week. I’ve also seen several authors who used said tools and came up empty-handed.

Querying is a very subjective process— what is a perfect fit for one agent might not be the right thing for another. This is why it’s so important to reach out to the right agents so that you don’t end up wasting days chasing after a literary agent who doesn’t even work in your genre.

Listed below are two websites and writing apps that are essential to find a literary agent.

Querytracker

Querytracker is possibly the most important tool for querying authors. It allows you to easily find agents in your genre, research their backgrounds, send out queries, and track your queries all in one page. This cuts down on the time most authors spend creating colour-coded spreadsheets.

I got my first literary agent from Querytracker, and am currently using their services to secure another agent.

Querytracker’s biggest advantage is its reputation. Their database consists of established literary agents who have worked with bestselling authors as well as the top publishers in the literary industry. You can readily access data about these professionals with one click and never have to worry about scams or fraud.

Their newsletter also gives authors updates about agents who have recently reopened their query boxes and resources that can help you better your query.

Found an agent you want to reach out to? You can easily check Querytracker’s success story interviews and take a look at the query letters of authors who signed a deal with your agent.

Manuscript Wishlist

Getting out of an agent’s slush pile is possibly the hardest part of querying. I know many authors who send out dozens of cold queries to agents in their genres, just to end up with a list of form rejections. The reason for this is simple— if you approach an agent as just another name on your list, they will treat you the same way.

This is why it is so important to properly customize your queries. There’s no need to sing praises about their past work and drone on about how perfect they are. The goal is to hook your agent with a compelling introduction to your manuscript and reel them in with a genuine paragraph about why they would be a good fit for you.

But how can you personalise your query letter? With Manuscript Wishlist!

Manuscript Wishlist is a website tool that helps authors target and personalize their queries. It operates as a website (manuscriptwishlist.com) and a hashtag (#MSWL). Agents use MSWL to share topics and story ideas that they would like to see in their query inbox, literary pieces they are fond of, and a brief intro of themselves. This gives authors the insight they need to effectively send out a personalised query.

Getting an agent can be made easy with Querytracker and Manuscript Wishlist.

Conclusion

I hope this list of the best websites and writing apps every author needs will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment your favourite writing tools to help your fellow authors prosper.

Want to learn more about me and my writing journey? Visit my social media pages under the handle @hayatheauthor where I post content about my WIP and life as a teenage author.

[dev-fiction]

Hi! I love your fanfic Echoes and would be more than willing to be a beta reader if you ever need! I recently saw on your feed that Victoria is not your only OC-insert, do you mind sharing who your others are?

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I ever desire a beta reader <3 Thank you so much for the offer!

Of course I don't mind sharing the others - the more I get to talk about my oc's and my complete obsession with them, the happier I'll be ♥ I've actually been slowly putting together little character templates that I might post later, if anyone is interested :)

This is going to get a bit long-winded, so apologies in advance!

Of course, you know Victoria so we'll just skip right on by her starting with characters that currently have public fics, starting with-

Shippo Inuzuka, from Bare my Fangs Fandom: Naruto Current Word-Count: 34k Rewrite Word-Count: 20k Twin sister of Kiba Inuzuka, Shippo is currently an Academy Student in training within Konohagakure. Alongside her ninja pups Aomaru and Momomaru, Shippo dedicates her days to studious training and play as she gets to know her fellow classmates. I have a lot of feelings about this fic. I started it before Naruto came to an end which always made it a little more difficult for me to write. I love the Inuzuka Clan a LOT and was very disappointed at the lack of oc-inserts more focused around them - so, I decided to write my own! It's been a very long time since I've updated this fic or even really thought about it and a large part of that is now that Naruto has come to an end, I'd really like to re-write it.

It's an old story with a lot of themes I no longer like, going in a direction I'm no longer sure about. However, because of this I'm excited to work on the project again! I have a lot more writing experience compared to when I first started it and I'd like to apply that to this story the proper way it deserves ♥

As it is, for any BMF readers here you can consider the current iteration of the story abandoned as I undergo this. Some major themes will stay the same, but a lot won't.

Shippo as a character is someone I've thought about a lot and have really come to love - the Shippo I envision now is someone a little unhinged; feral, in a sense, someone who plays off the wild nature of Kiba Inuzuka and the clan as a whole effortlessly. I don't really want to spoil too much about her and what I currently have written of the rewrite, so I'll leave it at that.

Her pups will absolutely be staying the same - I love Aomaru and Momomaru so so so much. I have very big plans for them.

Monkey D. Lucy, from Abyssal Fandom: One Piece Current Word-Count: 32k Rewrite Word-Count: 0k, Under Plot and Character-Building Twin sister of Monkey D. Luffy, Lucy is a young girl residing with the mountain bandits - and her brothers - on Dawn Island. She spends her days training in preparation for her eventual departure to sea with her twin and her overall terror of the ocean.

Abyssal has always been one of my backburner fics; One Piece was nowhere near its final arc when I first started it and I had been desperately hoping for more information on Luffy's background as a whole before delving in too deep into the story - it's a fic I didn't focus on too much and worked on when the mood struck.

One Piece is still my favorite anime/manga, so of course I plan on continuing with it eventually - most likely after the series has reached its conclusion.

Monkey D. Lucy will retain her terror of the ocean, only she now comes with a brand spanking new personality.

I have a general idea of where I want to go with her - someone who's passionate, reckless, violent, and beautiful. I have a character outline page written and a lot of rough sketches :)

Yuta Amelia Heartfilia, from Soulbound Fandom: Fairy Tail Current Word-Count: 10k Rewrite Word-Count: 45k This fic as it is has been completely abandoned. I've been working on a rewrite from the ground up for a while now - starting with the awful name, which is now Amelia.

I haven't talked about this fic anywhere or approached Soulbound in a long time - but I have been working on a rewrite for a few months now.

I adore Fairy Tail a lot - and now that it's come to a close I feel like I have a lot of freedom with this fic. There really isn't a lot of world-building and the general makeup of magic is very fluid to work with. I think Fairy Tail's strongest asset is its characters, which are honestly so so much fun to write.

As a result of this, I think Amelia is one of my more rounded-out characters.

Amelia is the younger sister of Lucy Heartfilia - and by younger, that is to say at the start of her story she is 11 years old, which makes her 6 years younger than Lucy.

Amelia is a quiet kid with no filter when she does speak - which makes her, rather unintentionally, a bit of an asshole. She's not good at reading people and has no real desire to engage with them - she leaves all of that charisma bullshit to her sister. Growing up on the streets after running away from home at a young age has made her street savvy; she's small, but lithe and very agile when she expends the effort towards it.

She spent most of her young life in cheap rooms in dodgey areas situated above taverns or whore houses while Lucy picked up odd jobs and magic requests to keep them afloat. This has encouraged a crass nature and a proclivity towards swearing that exasperates her sister greatly.

She's incredibly co-dependent on Lucy, who has acted as both parental roles for the majority of her life. She can't imagine life without her and is willing to do anything to keep her safe.

She holds no memories of any previous lives she may or may not have lived.

She was blessed with a rather simple form of Celestial Spacial Magic; the ability to teleport herself and objects a short distance around her. She adores her ability and often uses it for the purpose of being lazy.

I've been having a lot of fun writing this fic. Unlike my other fics this one alternates between the main siblings frequently, to the point that I'd say that they're both the main protagonists.

As a general result of leaving home so much earlier than canon, Lucy has changed a lot as well, but well - I'll leave that for the readers to find out when I do finally start posting chapters.

As for the fics I've kept almost completely on the down-low; these are fics I don't plan on posting for a very long time, but have been working on.

Anna Weasley, from Untitled Project Fandom: Harry Potter Current Word-Count: 60k Anna Weasley is a starry-eyed child - she sees the world through dream-hued glasses tainted at the edges by nightmares brought on by her rather bad habit of dying. Sometimes she sees things that others can't and that's okay - she has her twin, Ron, to help her sort out the muddled mess that is her mind.

She's bright in a simple kind of way, and a bit odd, but eternally optimistic and loyal to those she loves.

As much as I would love love love to talk endlessly about Anna, this is where I'm going to leave it. I have a lot planned for this fic and writing it between Echoes has been fun. I love the Weasley's, if you couldn't tell, and I feel like passing up the chance to jump into a story with a Weasley-centric OC would be a travesty.

Also Anna is like, in my top 3 OC's to doodle when I feel up to it ♥

Umeko Haruno, from Untitled Project Fandom: Naruto Current Word-Count: 70k Umeko Haruno has had her nose stuck to the grindstone studying and training for her future career as a shinobi for as long as she can remember. Growing up with a training companion in the form of her brilliant twin has pushed her into a diligent pursuit to surpass her own limits.

This mentality was largely influenced by the passing of her shinobi mother when she was still very young. A casualty of a mission gone wrong, her loss was felt deeply by the family with ripples that never quite ceased. Umeko's desire to live up to her mothers legacy, become strong enough to protect those she has left, and push herself to the extreme has resulted in her being a workaholic with an obsession to become a more efficient shinobi.

She's very book-smart and clinical, but she doesn't let that overshadow her kindness. She has a low tolerance for incompetence and values training above all else - there is almost no form of training she isn't willing to try, no matter the blow it might deal to her dignity or the respect others have for her.

I'm really really excited for this fic. It's a lot more fast paced than my other ones and writing it has been a lot of fun - Umeko is just a lot of fun. I've kept this fic completely hushed up simply because of Bare my Fangs, but as you can see I've got quite a bit written already.

I have a very strong idea of her story progression and how it will ultimately affect those around her, as well as the plot as a whole. I've got a few twists and turns planned that I can't wait to unveil ♥

What's this? It's A - Bonus Round!

Ↄ̶̵̸̢̰̩̪̠̗̟̪͉̮͈̯͉̹ͤ̈̑ͨͤ͌͊ͪ͛́̈͑̽͘̚͟͞ͅ ḻ̢̛̩͇̥͚̲͉͉̤̆̓̏̀ͮͥͨ͒ͪ̽̀ͤ͑͛̋͒̔̽̎ͭ̀̒̓̚͟͟͠ ἀ̴̡̩̗̫̩̮͕̼̋ͨ́̌ͣͬͨ̈́͛̆ͧ̈́͐ͣ͗̓ͭ̃͊͘̚͜͢͝ я̛̱̘̦̺͍͓̉͡я̛̱̘̦̺̉͡я̛̱̘̦̺̉͡ α̸̴̙͖̯̖̩͈̿́̏̾ͫ̓̀́ͧ͘͟α̸̴̙͖̯̖̩͈̿́̏̾ͫ̓̀́ͧ͘͟_̵̶̵̡̘̯̗̣͓̻̳̼̦̭̅ͣ̇̔̎ͬ͆̃̂ͥ͡ Fandom: ⸮⸮⸮ Current Word-Count: ⸮̷̩͓̙͔̰͎̰̘̲̤́̋̒ͥͦ͌̌͗̉̐͊ͭ̉̋ͨ̋ͬͩ̈ͨ̐ͣ͟⸮̱͈̩̜͎͖̳͚͉̤̰͎̯̞̭̖̂̊̋̀̿͐̀ͮ͘⸮̧̢̼̭͎̦͍̫͉͖̀̏̀̏ͥͦ́ Objective: ⸮⸮⸮ She'd built her life, from the ground up. Through the muck of slurried-trash heaps and the grime of sick rot tearing away at her clothes and her food and her dignity she'd persevered.

And then-

Afterward, nothing much mattered, anymore.

There was a peace in that.

More, than peace, it's like she ascended-

And then, she found, she wasn't alone.

🤫

Thank you for asking about my OC's and sorry if it was a lot more than you bargained for! I really do love them and have been quietly sitting on them for a while now :)

[quinloki]

Nothing particularly awesome happened today, Daylight Savings has messed up my sleep so bad I'm currently functioning on a mere 4 hours sleep. When speaking I can barely put words into a sentence but writing has always been my forte so hopefully this is far more coherent. Yesterday I tweaked my masterlists and organized them proper, so that made me happy.

No one really interacts with my stuff on Wattpad which is fine, because the exact same works are doing GREAT on AO3. My Arlong collection has been viewed over 240 times, has 11 kudos, and has received 2 comments from people. Rabid Devotion has 3 kudos and has been bookmarked once with only 50+ views, Better Mousetrap has 170+ views and 2 kudos, while Slinktober isn't slated to be updated/finished until July and yet it has 55+ views and 3 kudos. It has more kudos than Mousetrap and more views than Rabid. So that's happy stuff. And I do get views and likes here on tumblr, more so than on Wattpad—that's my worst showing despite being my preferred writing platform. Go figure.

Anyway, I thought I'd follow your little OC template you provided in your request post for good stuff while you recuperate from a trying day. As always, I am here to try and provide. Also as always, this runs egregiously long.

Tell me more about an OC? -:- if you've told me about them before: Do you have new art of them? Have you made new lore? Discarded anything/changed something?

I'm going to gloss over the fact that you asked about OCs and just focus on giving you more about Arlong and my self-ship Keiko. I am working on my OCs but I find them to be exhausting because I'm not to a place where I can create originally again, I'm still healing from writing hurt. I'm getting a lot better but the mojo just isn't there yet, so the majority of them have been indefinitely shelved. Especially the two snake-like OCs (Lon Lon & Modeus—though I did add a little more to him than her).

I have no art of Arlong yet, and I have NOT tried drawing Arlong in my cartoon style, though I guess I could now that I think about it. He'll look awful but I headcanon the man has no artistic skill whatsoever, so I could easily pass the drawing off as his handiwork instead of mine. I think it'd be funny if Arlong's drawing skills were on the same level as Luffy. He'd never admit to it because he hates Luffy which is why I think their levels in art should be equal.

Now that I know Arlong is a sawfish and not a sawshark, I have one more thing to goad him with besides being an amphibian and a separate species from the fishwomen. Clearly, I enjoy tormenting the man. This is, in fact, along the same vein of how we met.

I keep changing the official story of how we met until I can find one that makes the most sense. What stays the same each time is that Arlong and his boys are the first fishmen I'd ever seen. I also am functioning on my self-insert as having been semi-isekai'd (that's the trope where you die in your world and end up in another, right?). Except, I didn't exactly die. I like the planeswalking thing of MtG so I just work off of that more or less.

Anywho, I thought I'd share the story of how I met Arlong and how I at the very least piqued his attention enough to not get killed right off the bat. It started not with a hello but with a "can I touch you?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a Touch

"Can I touch you?" I held up my hand to show I genuinely meant touch in a I-want-to-understand-something sort of way and not the I-want-to-touch-for-X-amount-of-berries sort of way. I mostly just pointed to his arm with the stylized fish tattoo to really drive home the point that this was a non-sexual request on my part.

The fishman laughed down at me, literally. "And why would I let a puny human girl touch me, a superior fishman?"

"Curiosity?" I don't know why I'm answering with a question, I am curious. It's not a question but the way in which he responded made me feel oh so small. Puny indeed.

He raised an eyebrow, "curiosity you say? And what is so curious about us, hm? We're not circus freaks put on display for you girl, get lost before I lose my temper and explore a curiosity of my own." The eyebrow fell as he switched from condescension to threatening. He stood straighter to punctuate that he was significantly bigger than me and besides being tall enough to probably step on me, he certainly could bite my head off.

I don't know why, but the whole exchange hurt. My hands fell to my sides, my shoulders sagged, and I had to bite my lip to keep the tears that were welling up from falling down. I hate crying in front of others and I sure as hell wasn't going to cry in front of this jerk. I lifted my chin to keep my head high, I wasn't going to let him bully me but I needed to heed the threat at the same time.

One tear did manage to slip down my cheek as I glared back at him before turning silently on my heel and briskly walking away. I didn't look back once. If I had, I'd have seen how he tilted his head to the side with an expression caught between anger and confusion.

I don't know what they were doing on the island, I'd gone to great lengths to ensure I didn't run into any of them all day long. Day turned to night and night turned to morning. A new day that I hoped would pass without issue. That turned out to be a futile hope. I had been spying on the beach since dawn broke, to ensure the intruders weren't there before heading down to look for shells or other odds and ends that washed up during the night.

I'd been traipsing through the sand for only about twenty minutes when I shadow fell over me and loomed for several feet beyond mine. Well shit, guess I have company after all.

"You now it's dangerous to keep your back unprotected with fishmen around. I could have killed you multiple times." Judging from the low rumbly voice, it was the same fishman from yesterday. The sharky one.

Keeping my back to him I answered, "I have no doubt since I'm such a lowly and puny little human girl." The word feels like acid on my tongue. Girl, as if I were a mere child and not the adult that I was. Just one more way for others to strip me of my own agency and keep me low in the hierarchy of life. I didn't feel so low before these fishmen showed up and within twenty-four hours I was starting to believe the lies people mutter as I walk by.

I heard him sigh behind me whether in anger or exasperation I couldn't say. Suddenly the shadow got shorter and shorter which did nothing more but make me curious about him all over again. I turn to see why his shadow retreated. The sharkman squatted down, now balancing on his toes and his arms resting on his knees as he undoubtedly scrutinized me. Even squatting down he was taller than me and I was not short by any means. Okay I was, but this is the Grand Line, everyone is taller than they are in the other four seas. In any of the four Blues I am tall but on the Grand Line I'm tiny and this guy was making me feel even tinier.

"I will permit you to touch me just this once." He stared at me head on with an almost passive expression. I have no clue what's going through his head or what his game is, but he seems calm and this is my golden opportunity.

I reach for the arm with the tattoo and hesitate for a few seconds, trying to anticipate if it's a trap or not. Deciding it's not I continue until my fingers touch his arm. First my fingertips because I don't really know what I'm doing or what I expect. He's not really reacting, just watching in silence. Meanwhile my mind is racing, why did he change his mind? Why is he so calm now? Is he going to kill me afterwards?

Despite my panicking thoughts, I continue my quest for my answer to the question only I knew. My fingertips move forward and my fingers are now fully connected with his forearm; my fingers gliding up and down the forearm then side-to-side. I trace along the tattoo as well. I'm sure he must think me insane at this point as this is clearly not normal behavior for anyone, human or otherwise.

He simply continues to stare and doesn't say anything. But I do. I furrow my own brows at the contact and quietly sigh under my breath, "well that's disappointing." I totally forgot whose arm this was. I totally forgot he was literally right there, could hear me, and that just yesterday threatened to kill me publicly. He didn't even try to hide his hostility. Yet here I am, insulting him, to his face, with no witnesses for my murder. Genius Keiko, real smooth. Way to keep your lifespan going.

"What do you mean, disappointing? What were exactly were you expecting little one?" I don't know if this was a step up or down from girl but I'll take it for now because he's not killing me yet. In fact, he still hadn't so much as twitched.

I, maybe carefully, maybe bravely—I no longer know where I fall in terms of adjectives and adverbs—look him in the eyes, his beautiful icy blue eyes (get your head in the game Keiko, you could be mere seconds from being headless and he still wouldn't have to move his arms to do it). "Don't take this the wrong way but you're the disappointment here."

I'm a dead woman. That's it, this is where it ends for me. I may as well just strip out of my mortal coil myself and hand it to him.

He raises a single eyebrow again, and with just a hint of mirth to his voice prolongs my inevitable demise, "how have I disappointed you?"

"Look, I don't know anything about fishmen. This island doesn't have any books on them and until yesterday I'd never seen one before. You're as foreign as foreign can get for me. Based on how the locals were screaming, you must be the shark. Yes?"

He finally smirks and has an expression that is semi-readable. Amusement. I'm amusing him. Well, at least I'm not offending him as that ends in death. Though amusement could also end in death but for now, I'm still breathing and that's a good sign.

"Yes, I'm the shark. Arlong the Saw and I am a sawshark fishman."

"Great, nice to meet you Arlong. Now, as I was saying, and again I mean no offense, but for a shark you're an utter disappointment."

Arlong, as he's apparently called, leans in close to me and it's only now that I see why he's called the Saw. His nose is razor sharp, all he'd have to do is twitch to either side in rapid succession and he could cut my head off. It's like he has a sword growing out of his face, I wonder what a narwhal fishman looks like? I bet they'd resemble a humanoid unicorn with gills. Focus Keiko!

"Could you be more specific, little girl."

That wasn't a question, that was a statement. He definitely took offense. I quickly retract my hand from his arm but he's faster. Arlong catches my wrist with his webbed hand, another feature I hadn't noticed earlier. He continued to stare intently at me as if he were trying to see my very soul. For some reason, I felt almost naked under his eyes.

I tried twisting my hand out of his grasp to no avail so I have no course but to talk my way of the jaws of death. "I truly mean no offense. It's just, your skin. It feels like mine."

Arlong narrows his eyes, "of course it feels like yours, it's skin. I'm a fishman. Humanoid. I have arms and legs as you do, fingers and toes too. Why would I not have skin as you have?"

Maybe he was getting angry or maybe I just really confused him. Might as well own up to my question. I didn't want to ask the question direct in case it was a truly stupid one, but now I either elaborate or I die what may be a very painful death. Though I must admit, if this man is what my death looks like, damn. Way more pleasant than an unknown creature is black robes with a scythe. This guy may be scary but he was also attractive. There could be worse ways to go if I had time to think about them.

"Do fishmen not live in the sea?" Not my question but now I was getting confused at his confusion.

"In a way. We live on an island that's underwater, why?"

"An underwater island? I don't know how to process that. That's beside the point anyway. My point is you have human-like skin but you're supposedly a shark. Shouldn't you feel like a shark instead?"

Arlong finally stopped glaring at me and burst out laughing, while still holding my wrist, though he did loosen the grip a little bit. He certainly wasn't trying to break my hand but he might have bruised it. "You thought I was going to feel like sandpaper?!"

I looked down at the sand, blushing from embarrassment. "Well yeah, because you're a sawshark." Shit, my eyes are watering again. I hate that crying is my body's go-to-reaction for nearly everything. It's partly way I live outside the village, one can only take so much harassment.

Arlong's laughing slowed and he took a few deep breaths to steady himself. "You really haven't encountered a fishman before then. No, sharkmen do not feel like sharks because we aren't sharks. We're more akin to mammals just as humans are. We have skin and hair and our women give birth to live babies just as humans do."

I cannot lift my head, the tears won't stop so I just stare at the sand and listen to what is turning out to be a very educational lecture. Arlong decides to continue when I don't respond, "unlike humans we have webbed fingers and toes as I'm sure you've noticed by now. We have gills on our necks for breathing underwater and lungs for breathing on land. We command the water but even we have to be careful in the Grand Line. She is an unforgiving landscape."

I quietly nod in understanding. He finally lets go of my wrist and tilts my chin up, forcing me to look at him through blurry, watery eyes. "You're very unusual for a human, you didn't fear us when we arrived yesterday. You approached with curiosity and a desire to understand us. No human has done that to me or my crew." Arlong proceeded to wipe my tears away as he finally stood up. "Perhaps we'll have another conversation on another day."

"Does this mean you aren't going to kill me?"

He chuckles, "No little one, I'm not. I only ask for one thing in return for today's lesson."

It's my turn to tilt my head to the side in confusion, "and what's that?"

"Tell me your name."

And just like I did when they first landed here yesterday morning, I smiled. "My name is Keiko."

"I look forward to tomorrow's question, Keiko." Arlong left me on the beach grinning like a smitten schoolgirl. I got my answer to my question, and while it was a truly disappointing answer—I wanted him to feel like sandpaper, I didn't die and I may have made a new friend.

I love Keiko - and I should’ve been more clear, but OC to me kind of covers any flavor of original character - self insert, reader type, OC as commonly referred to, etc.

I’m happy to hear about them all ^_^

I love this story! Her question, the progress of the tale, the interaction. You may make a fan of me yet (for Arlong, I mean, I already love Keiko.)

I’m just about off to bed for the night, so I don’t have much else to say, but thank you so much for sharing this, and please try to get some more rest too! Damn time change is such a pain >.<

[redlenai]

Hey, I don't want to be mean about the vitiligo update.

I believe it would be best if there could be like a proper gallery for Custom Content that the Sims staff can review and approve so people either from PC or console can add to their games, with also a Body Shop so people can create their own stuff or modify certain default clothes, skin, eye color and such but a bit more accessible for console players.

While these updates are nice and appreciated, especially when they are free, I believe the Sims 4 staff should put a pause to new content and focus on fixing bugs, errors, glitches and more. The least thing one would want is to go back to the Sims 2 corruption days where the only thing left to do was to re-install the whole game or the community (as always) being the only ones who cared to patch these things or create clean templates/files or side programs to detect the errors and fix them manually.

Representation is nice, but what's the point of it if the Sims 4 is more of a glorified doll house instead of a Life Simulator? Representation has existed since The Sims 1 era, but guess if it is not through the staff it just doesn't exist for some players, if they had a cloud for CC, you'll find out you didn't had to wait years to get representation. Meshes for wheelchairs, hearing devices, canes, poseboxes, skintones and more already exist for the game, it just needs to be accessible and that's beyond the CC creator's power. PC players can have access to this, its just a matter of searching and finding, the only ones left behind are the console players

The easier outcome would be to have a gallery for CC content, but guess that's not viable since that means DLC and Packs will become meaningless to a certain degree, but hey, the staff could always go back to creating actual Expansion packs that expanded the game properly and take their time to do so, a nice job usually doesn't have many bugs or errors.

[bestprintbuy]

Three Greatest Direct Mail Advertising Ways For Real Estate Brokers

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[vtellswhat]

Crafting a Masterpiece: How to Style Your PhD Thesis for Maximum Impact

A PhD thesis is more than just a collection of research findings; it’s a representation of years of dedication, intellectual growth, and meticulous effort. While the core focus of a thesis lies in its content, styling it effectively can make it more engaging, professional, and easier to navigate. A well-styled thesis not only reflects your academic rigor but also ensures your ideas are presented with clarity and sophistication. Here's a guide to styling your PhD thesis like a pro. ### 1. Start with a Clean Template

Start with a professional and clean template for your thesis. Most colleges and universities provide official templates for formatting. If this is not the case, explore software that offers robust formatting capabilities, such as LaTeX, or use highly advanced word-processing tools such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs in order to maintain consistency of layout throughout the entire document.

**2. Select Proper Fonts

The choice of font is an important factor in improving readability. For academic writing, serif fonts such as Times New Roman or Garamond are classic choices, while sans-serif fonts like Arial or Calibri can give a modern touch. Use one font family for the main text and another complementary font for headings, ensuring they do not clash. Always follow your institution's formatting guidelines for font size and type. 3. Structure Your Thesis Thoughtfully A well-structured thesis is easy to follow. Standard sections usually include: - Title Page: Your title, name, department, university, and date. - Abstract: A concise summary of your research. - Table of Contents: Clearly outline chapters, sections, and page numbers. - Introduction: State your research question, objectives, and methodology.

Chapters: Present findings, discussions, and analysis systematically.

Conclusion: Summarize key findings and suggest future research.

References: List all cited works in the required style. Use consistent headings, subheadings, and numbering for sections. Use an automatic table of contents generator for updates with minimal effort.

4. Master the Art of Page Layout

Margins, line spacing, and alignment all affect the visual appeal of your thesis.

Margins: Keep to the size specified by the institution, usually 1 inch on all sides.

Line Spacing: Double spacing is the norm, but do check the requirements.

Alignment: Justify the body text for a more professional look. Add page numbers, headers, or footers to keep it navigable. Don't overcrowd the pages; clean pages are appealing and easier to read.

5. Add Visual Elements Wisely

Graphs, charts, images, and tables can make complicated data understandable. Just make sure they're well-integrated:

Clearly label each figure or table and number them consecutively.

Provide captions that describe their significance. Conduct uniform color schemes and styles of the visuals. Place it near to a text where appropriate for understanding through the context. Always cite the sources.

6. Be Observant of Citation and Reference

Consistent and accurate referencing is critical in academic writing. Choose a citation style—APA, MLA, Chicago, or any other—based on your institution’s preference. Tools like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley can help manage and format references efficiently.

7. Use Appendices Wisely

Appendices are used for all supplementary material, including raw data, additional analysis, or extremely long tables. This maintains conciseness in the text for interested readers who would like to receive more details. Clearly distinguish appendices and reference in the text when appropriate.

Maintain Focus on Proofreading and Editing

Styling is incomplete without thorough editing. Common errors in formatting, grammar, or consistency can undermine your work. Proofread meticulously or consider professional editing services. Pay attention to:

Consistency in terminology, fonts, and citation style.

Correctness of page numbers in the table of contents.

Spelling and grammar checks.

9. Infuse a Personal Touch

While academic guidelines must be followed, your thesis should reflect your voice. Craft an engaging introduction, use concise and clear language, and maintain a professional tone throughout.

10. Test Print and Digital Versions

Before submission, review both digital and print versions of your thesis. Ensure all links work in the digital copy, and the print version looks polished. Binding and cover design should be neat, complementing the content within.

Styling your PhD thesis is not merely a matter of aesthetics but also a question of presentation. A well-styled thesis leaves a lasting impression on reviewers and readers that highlights the quality of your work. It is a fine balance between attention to detail, following guidelines, and that touch of creativity which can make this document as impressive as the research it represents. Your PhD thesis is the culmination of your academic journey—make it a masterpiece worthy of your achievements!

Need expert guidance for your PhD, Master’s thesis, or research writing journey? Click the link below to access resources and support tailored to help you excel every step of the way. Unlock your full research potential today!

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[optimagain]

🚀 10 Easy Content Creation Tips to Skyrocket Your Online Business: A Comprehensive Guide 🚀

Why Content Creation is Your Business’s Best Friend

Think of content as the heartbeat of your online business. It's not just about writing blog posts or tweeting. It's about creating a digital world that draws people in, keeps them interested, and turns them into customers. Here's why it matters:

It's your 24/7 salesperson: Great content works all day and night, bringing in new customers even when you're sleeping. 😴

It builds trust: Sharing helpful information makes you look like an expert in your field.

It's cost-effective: Content marketing costs way less than traditional marketing, but it generates three times as many leads (according to a study by Demand Metric). 🤑

"Content is the atomic particle of all digital marketing." — Rebecca Lieb, Digital Marketing Analyst

Now, let's dive into 10 easy content creation tips that will change the game for your online business. But remember, this isn't a race; it's a journey. Being consistent is key!

1. Know Your Audience Like Your Best Friend

Imagine buying a birthday gift for someone you've never met. Tough, right? That’s what creating content without knowing your audience is like.

Quick Win: Create a simple picture of your ideal customer: Give them a name, age, job, and list their biggest problems.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Insights to get real data about your audience.

Case Study: When Buffer, the social media management platform, realized their audience wanted deep, data-driven content, they changed their strategy. The result? Their blog traffic grew by 70% in just 6 months.

Common Mistake: Don't make assumptions. Your audience might surprise you. Always check your assumptions with data.

2. Set Clear Goals (But Don't Set and Forget!)

Would you start a road trip without knowing where you're going? Probably not. The same is true for content creation.

Quick Win: Write down one specific goal for your next piece of content. Example: “Increase email sign-ups by 10%.”

Pro Tip: Use the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.

The SMART criteria were first mentioned by George T. Doran in his 1981 paper “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives” published in Management Review.

Worksheet: Download our Content Goal-Setting Template

Key Takeaway: Goals help you focus your content and see if you're successful.

3. Develop a Content Calendar (Your Sanity Saver)

Imagine your content calendar as a GPS for your content journey. It keeps you on track and prevents those "What should I post today?" moments.

Quick Win: Plan your content for the next week using a simple spreadsheet.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Trello or Asana to work with your team on content planning.

Common Mistake: Don't be too rigid. Leave room for timely, trending topics.

Industry-specific Tips:

E-commerce: Plan content around big shopping events (Black Friday, holiday seasons).

SaaS: Match your content with product updates and new features.

Content Creators: Think about seasonal trends in your niche.

4. Focus on Quality Over Quantity (But Be Consistent)

Think of your content as a gourmet meal, not fast food. It takes more time to prepare, but the satisfaction lasts longer.

Quick Win: Before you post it, ask yourself: "Does this really help my audience?"

Pro Tip: Create a content quality checklist. Include things like "Original insights," "Practical advice," and "Proper editing."

Case Study: A study by Orbit Media found that bloggers who spend 6+ hours on a post are 56% more likely to report "strong results" than those who don't.

5. Optimize for Humans First, Search Engines Second

SEO is important, but never at the expense of readability. Write for humans, optimize for search engines.

Quick Win: Read your content out loud. If it sounds natural, you're on the right track.

Pro Tip: Use tools like the Hemingway App to make your writing easier to understand.

Jargon Buster: SEO = Search Engine Optimization. It's the practice of getting more people to your website through organic search engine results.

Google's own SEO Starter Guide emphasizes creating high-quality content for users, not search engines.

6. Diversify Your Content Types (Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket)

Different people like to get information in different ways. Some prefer reading, others watch videos, or listen to podcasts.

Quick Win: Take your most popular blog post and turn it into an infographic or video.

Pro Tip: Use your content in multiple formats to reach more people and keep them interested.

*Content Format Table: *

According to HubSpot's State of Marketing Report 2021, marketers are using more content types than ever before, with video being the most popular format.

7. Engage With Your Audience (It's a Conversation, Not a Monologue)

Engagement is the secret ingredient that turns followers into fans and customers into advocates.

Quick Win: Respond to every comment on your next blog post or social media update. Pro Tip: Use polls, questions, and interactive content to get people involved.

Common Mistake: Don't ignore negative feedback. Use it to improve and respond professionally.

Sprout Social’s 2020 Index found that 40% of consumers expect brands to respond within the first hour of reaching out on social media.

8. Leverage User-Generated Content (Your Customers Are Content Creators Too!)

User-generated content (UGC) is like word-of-mouth marketing in the digital age. It's authentic, relatable, and powerful.

Quick Win: Create a branded hashtag and encourage customers to use it when sharing photos of your products.

Pro Tip: Feature customer stories or reviews prominently in your content.

Case Study: GoPro built an entire content strategy around UGC, resulting in millions of organic views and a highly engaged community.

As of 2015, GoPro users were uploading an average of 6,000 GoPro-tagged videos to YouTube every day.

9. Analyze and Refine (What Gets Measured, Gets Managed)

Data is your compass in content creation. It tells you what's working, what's not, and where to go next.

Quick Win: Find your top 3 performing content pieces. What do they have in common?

Pro Tip: Don't just look at things like views. Focus on engagement rates, conversions, and shares.

Tool Recommendation: Use Google Analytics for website data, Hootsuite for social media analytics.

While Google Analytics and Hootsuite are indeed popular, it’s worth noting that there are many alternatives available. For example, Adobe Analytics for website data and Sprout Social for social media analytics.

10. Collaborate and Network (Two Heads Are Better Than One)

Collaboration can expand your reach, bring fresh perspectives, and create win-win situations.

Quick Win: Reach out to a business in your niche for a joint webinar or blog post.

Pro Tip: Don't just collaborate on creating content. Think about co-marketing, product bundles, or affiliate partnerships.

Common Mistake: Don't collaborate just to collaborate. Make sure it benefits both of you.

Quick Start Guide: Your 30-Day Content Creation Challenge

Day 1–3: Define your audience and set SMART goals

Day 4–7: Create a content calendar for the month

Day 8–14: Produce 2–3 high-quality content pieces

Day 15–21: Use your content in different formats

Day 22–28: Engage with your audience and analyze results

Day 29–30: Refine your strategy based on insights

The creation of content is a journey, not a destination. Keep learning, keep creating, and watch your online business flourish!

Your Turn:

What’s your biggest challenge in content creation? Share in the comments, and let’s learn from each other!

Note: Extracted from optimagain Medium.com Story!

[thedarkmistress16]

please gush about your passions and pastimes!!! I would love to hear about them

ack- im happy you want to hear about them!

Passions:

obvs as y'all know recently and just in gen., i guess, writing- i love crafting worlds and stories where anything can happen and just creating scenes above all else, like getting lost in the details of everything. I love getting lost in my own world and making myself happy as most self-indulgent writers do (and showing off my legitimate skill in a proper form of writing after doing shitpost-y things for so long is pretty rejuvenating, XD). And upon going back to some of my older, posted works and wips, I still laugh at the dumb shit I thought was the best stuff ever and now find myself giving those ideas a refresher like my last writing update, because it's still a legitimately enjoyable read.

i love sketching for similar reasons, but more so to visualize a fuzzy, almost-there idea, usually about fashion. Like recently I re-drafted some outfits for a fic idea I had, in order to make the world and designs make sense in my head. And I redesigned an existing outfit, running with certain themes and embellishments in design. I'm so happy I can churn out simple sketches like that when i really put my mind to it and feel content with the finished product nowadays. I feel accomplished as a hobby artist now and it's all thanks to heavy online research, a few how-to books, and putting effort into one art class. It's the second hobby of mine that I want to be good at, almost as much as my writing. Speaking of, I sometimes draw what I write or dream about because it's that prominent in my head.

Wow i love music guys- ha, but you already knew that *lenny face*

Past times:

I really like playing the simpler games in life- not as much in the vein of it being less difficult or busy, but more so with fewer controls, interesting mechanics, and a captivating style that I can easily fuck around in or beat some levels for a few hours. Bring on the (spider) solitare (only 4 suit sucks ass why do i do this to myself), jewel quest (FUCK YOU CROWS), barbie's fashion show (SINGLE DREAM-), zoo tycoon (fuck guest happiness), and sonic adventure or x-men of course.

MMD vids are v neat, like I know a handful of choreos that are fun as past midnight exercises to get my blood pumping and i get to discover new songs and learn more about other languages at the same time! Also the aph as mmd crack vids are the best whether its them making 'i hate this' or 'yeah im hot shit' faces or being completely into it as they're forced to dance or simply copying a vine. Like, they give me brainrot and serotonin at the same time its so fun. I love seeing all the different outfits for mmd vids in general, too, on top of new covers i never would've known about.

I really love analyzing things in general, actually. It's how I learn most of the things I do and know now, even though it technically causes me to lose large chunks of time because all i'm doing is staring at the damn thing, XD. Sometimes (all the time) I'll look at a gif or vid of a character changing their facial expression as they do/say something and I'll be completely enthralled by it. Something similar happens when I stare at REALLY GOOD artwork. I think it's the technical part of my brain trying to figure out the individual elements which make up whatever that thing is, like what facial muscles are being used to convey that emotion or mix of them, what the character is feeling, how the lighting or shading of the environment or extra details in editing affects said expression, etc. And for art, I'm thinking of the lines, posture, composition, object placement, color palette, negative space, tone, and all that jazz you learn from studying art.

Scrapbooking is a fun pastime for me that's extended from celebratory cards to actual gifts to my personal sketchbooks. It's part of the "creating something out of nothing/seeing what you can create with some basic templates and decorations" kind of mindset. And it makes me happy because I get to be creative and my family members and friends (even my employer) love them as part of their gifts every time and come to expect it from me each holiday, so I'm constantly encouraged to do it in the best way. I've recently kinda gone overboard on using ribbons and charms for the spiral and stickers and washi tape for the actual book itself on my sketchbooks, but I find myself wanting to draw in it more because I did that, lol.

I love rewatching the things I love. I usually have the same commentary about it, but its nonetheless enjoyable. And I never know what new thing I'll discover about it next, even if i've seen it over 50 times and only have it on as background noise and don't actually watch it. And yes, I will easily let something play on repeat at least that many times in my lifespan as well (like, a full day of it, at least).

wow i love staring at characters im attracted to for hours on end can i get a HUYEA-

[radwolf76]

Going back to the root of the reblog thread because this post was getting a bit long in the fang. So I'm starting from the beginning, of my lore post anyway. Because if I were going back to the beginning of my involvement with 40K, I'd have to bust out a Foot-Shaped cardboard template to see who gets stepped on.

Deathwatch was absorbed into the new Codex: Agents of the Imperium, and the Field Manual points list has been updated to v1.12 today, with an accompanying update to v1.8 of the Legends points list.

This has left my army list in a strange state. Previously when Games Workshop makes a Codex official with a points update, they retire the Index that the faction got when 10E first came out, and push any units that were dropped over into a new Legends file.

However the Index PDFs for Agents of the Imperium and Deathwatch are still live on the website, last updated back in June. There was an existing Legends PDF for Agents of the Imperium, but that hasn't updated since August of 2023.

The new Codex does do a new thing where its units get differing points values whether they're in a standalone Agents army or allied to other Imperial forces. So the fact that the indexes are still up could mean that they want players to be able to ally the units without buying the new book. But this would be unusual since many units changed from the Index to the codex.

So even though I don't have a proper Legends Datasheet for the Spectrus Kill Team that my list makes heavy use of, I retooled the list to reflect today's new points.

Quite a few units dropped in points cost, which gave me some room to grow. I also could no longer assign my Damocles Command Rhino to my one squad of "Control Marines" aka Deathwatch Veterans (now just "Deathwatch Kill Team" in the new Codex), because they no longer have the right faction keywords. So I shuffled the Damocles to my squad of "Bloodstorm Marines" and dropped their Relic Razorback, freeing up even more points.

The new DW Vets had different wargear options, so I could no longer load everyone down with Combi-Weapons. With the extra points I had, I was able to add the Datasheet meant to represent the old LE2 Imperial Space Marine (who also has a Combi-Weapon) as an attached leader to the Bloodstorm Squad, to make up for it though. And they also brought Stalker-Pattern Boltguns back to the DW, so I can go back to one of my first concepts for the chapter:

With a few other adjustments I was also able to add back in a Storm Speeder Thunderstrike that I had to drop from an earlier revision of the list. The list could use all the anti-vehicle punch it can get, since it's otherwise lacking.

While there's some new rule weirdness now that will take getting used to (my Blackstar is DW only now, and my core DW unit doesn't even count as marines anymore), but I'm pleasantly surprised that most of the list came through this update mostly intact. Now I just have to see what they do with the old Index PDFs which may mean redoing the list again.

There's also new boarding action rules coming out, and when I get a look at those, I'll work on the 500 point list.

WH40K Homebrew Space Marine Chapter: Stormwolves

I've posted about them before, but with the April 2024 Field Manual Points List v1.8 recently dropping, I'd gone back to make sure my army list for my Homebrew Chapter was still in compliance, or as close to it as I can get seeing as much of it is from Legends due to the nature of my Chapter's Backstory, and it felt like a good time to consolidate the Lore as well.

(Keep in mind I don't actually play this army, the last time I played 40k was when Clinton was in office, it's just an exercise in seeing how well I can apply the army building rules to my Homebrew's fluff.)

Stormwolves Lore

The story of my Homebrew Marine Chapter, the Stormwolves, starts with an Ordo Sicarius Inquisitor who had been embedded as a deep-cover operative in the Vanus Temple Assassin of the Officio Assassinorum -- Real name undisclosed, known only by her Inquisitorial Authorization Code for her Mission: 𝜮 — Niner . Septagraph \ Halley | ℚ [Rational] • Soul : Zed <𝑖> ∞ = Foxtrot ^ V̿ (This is often shortened to "Sigma Stroke Niner", and in rare cases to just Halley)

The combination of Inquisitorial zeal and the Data Gathering & Manipulation skills of an Unbound Infocyte is a potent mix, and Sigma Stroke Niner was able to deduce the existence of Cawl's Primaris project prior to it's official unveiling, including the initial reports (later proven wrong) that these new marines would be near-immune to the various chapters' gene-seed flaws.

She brought this finding back to her compartmentalized Inquisitorial Conclave, who decided that it warranted further investigation in the utmost secret. They also came to the verdict that if there were going to be a next generation of Marines, it was ill-advised to let them all be under the sole control of a lone member of the Mechanicus, no matter how intelligent and skilled. The Inquisitor Infocyte was authorized for a new assignment, to divert one of Cawl's secret remote caches of Primaris for study by an independent Mechanicus Arch-Genetor. This diverted batch of Primaris would also secretly serve as a fail-safe contingency for the eventuality of Cawl's project posing a threat to the Imperium, giving the Inquisition an independent stock of Primaris from which a counter-force could eventually be raised from.

A Vogelist Arch-Genetor, Kristiana Rozza, was chosen and allowed to review the collected research intercepted from Cawl. She hypothesized that the supposed flaw resistance may be possible to be backported to Firstborn Marines, especially if aspirants were screened for favorable genomes. A Rogue Trader, Jareth Keldon XXIV, was secretly commissioned to locate an obscure world to conduct experiments with this new "Marine Chapter", his payment being a full company's worth of these new marines being seconded to his flagship to assist with his explorations.

The planet that the Rogue Trader was able to locate for the project, Etherion IV, was a pre-Imperium Dark Age of Technology -Remnant human colony Industrial-Hive not on standard navigational charts due to surrounding warp-storms (these warp-storms would result in several temporal anomalies and the planetary system having an asteroid belt littered with Space Hulk wreckage from the past and even future).

Etherion IV's planetary culture consists of a Capitalist Corporate Oligarchy with proxy wars of genegineered Abhuman Hive-Gangs, called "Splicer Gangs". The wide variety of genegineering among segments of the native population gave Arch-Genetor Rozza a broad canvas of potential aspirants for her various experiments in Astartes creation.

In addition to the stasis Primaris extracted from Cawl's secret cache, a small amount of Astartes genetic tithings were diverted so that Firstborn Marines could also be made. The primary source was the Space Wolves, but some Blood Angels Progenoids were also in the mix of what could be illicitly redirected. While carrying the Geneseed mutations of these parent Chapters, the Marines created from this supply were entirely divorced from the homeworlds of Fenris and Baal, carrying no cultural context for any Chapter-specific flaws that develop.

The Stormwolves are not a full strength Chapter, and lack much of the heavier hardware. What vehicles and aircraft they do have are often archived museum pieces whose storage records were "misfiled" or unused prototype schematic designs pulled from mothballs at various Forge Worlds to then be manufactured locally on Etherion IV.

Due to their covert "founding", the Stormwolves are also at risk of being misidentified as a Renegade Chapter or even surviving Heresy-era Blackshields. Or they would be, if they hadn't been trapped by a severe time-distorting Warp Storm keeping them isolated while time ran at widely disparate rates inside and outside of the storm. This Storm lasted several centuries and did not fully dissipate until the middle of the Indomitus Crusade.

Due to the research-based charter that was their unofficial founding, the Stormwolves have a non-Codex structure.

Chapter Leadership is referred to as "Control" and consists of Firstborn Marines that have not been experimented on. They assist the Arch-Genetor with her experiments, and also lean hard into the monastic side of being an Astartes. Their unique power armor color scheme is often not fully visible due to cloaks, robes, tabards, capes, and hoods in black, red, and royal purple. Control also almost exclusively carries high-powered relic combi-weapons.

Then come the Bloodstorm Squadrons which are batches of Firstborn who have had their Geneseed experimented on. Their armor scheme is a variation of Control's colors, with more red. Conscripts from the Abhuman Splicer Gangs are also assigned to Bloodstorm as they wait to see if they get chosen for Marine implants.

Both these Firstborn sections are outnumbered by the Primaris Marines of the Stygian Wolves Division. Sporting a much darker paint scheme, the Stygian Wolves are a mostly Phobos-armored Vanguard Force and are typically grouped into 5 Marine squads, one of which is always a Helix Adept. These squads are either designated as Obscuratus Pack if they are equipped with Omni-Scramblers and Comms Arrays, or as Phantom Pack if they eschew this extra equipment in favor of mobility. The Helix Adepts in both types of Pack are charged with monitoring the genetic health of the rest of their squad in addition to all their other normal Helix Adept duties. Both Obscuratus and Phantom Packs wield the locally produced Etherion-Pattern Marksman Bolt Carbine, a design that takes cues from both the Instigator Bolt Carbine and the Stalker Pattern Bolter. Occasionaly, smaller fire teams armed with either Bolt Sniper Rifles or Las-Fusils are also employed.

Uncommonly, the Stygian Wolves also use Tacticus Configuration of Mk. X Power Armor, frequently in combination with Plasma Incinerators in a Hellblaster-style loadout, in squad formations lead by an Apothecary and known as Sterilization Detail. Very rarely will the Intercessor-syle loadout with the Cawl Pattern Bolt Rifle be used; this equipment profile is typically reserved for in boarding actions. Rarest of all are the Gravis-armored Multi-Melta wielders of the Extermination Crew.

The devotion to monitoring their own genetics in the pursuit of constant improvement is not just limited to the Stygian Wolves Division, as Control is also very Apothecary heavy, with many Apothecaries assigned to a leadership role by the title of Helix Keeper. Helix Keepers also frequently assume the command position over Bloodstorm Squads. The Helix Keepers, Apothecaries, and Helix Adepts of the Chapter take the place of Chaplins, as the Stormwolves have no Chapter Cult of their own, their worship is directed solely towards genetic experimentation. The quest for purity also has weeded out most all forms of random mutation, including the Psyker genes, so the Chapter also lacks Librarians. (The deliberate genengineering of potential aspirants is an exception to the purity mandate.)

The Stormwolves often fight alongside Auxiliaries draw from the troops assigned to Rogue trader Keldon's fleet. Keldon's Elite Personal Guard, the 1st Selene Contingent, is the most powerful of these. They provide an additional avenue for Arch-Genetor Rozza to experiment on enhancements that fall outside of the Inquisitorial charter to research Space Marine genetics and the Primaris Project. The true nature of these side experiments by the Arch-Genetor are shrouded in secrecy for unknown reasons. While there is always the possibility that the sub-project could be something considered to be Heretical by either the Mechanicus or the Imperium, Sigma Stroke Niner is aware of the details, and permits the work to continue. It is of note that the 1st Selene Contingent is an all-female unit.

[raenparade]

weekly update - 22/05/23

We have a significant amount of progress this week, wow! 

Unfortunately I’ve spent most of my time in Eldon and the library, so my brain has effectively been rendered to mush. I’m also going to New York City/Canada for a week and a half this week, so while my work will slow down for a little bit I’m hoping to go to some really nice places and museums and such! 

I finally have my final designs for both JJ and Jamie, which I’m just super proud of. 

While I would like to add some alternate outfits, such as JJ’s spacesuit and maybe a more casual outfit for each of them, these are most of it! I’d also like to give them both a proper ‘character sheet’, with some expressions and other elements on them. 

I also got back into boarding, woo!

I started off with the scene in which Jamie and JJ meet, and kind of just boarded ahead, with not much thought to anything?

I quickly realised, this was pretty pants! I didn’t like it! The movement was okay, and it was something, but it wasn’t something I’d be happy to go over to clean up. 

Instead I gave myself just under an hour to write a small script, and just let myself see where that could take me:

While JJ doesn’t actually appear in this script, and I didn’t even really finish it, it certainly gave me a good place to continue.

I did what I normally do, which is set myself another time limit and use my traditional board template to assist before I plunge myself into Storyboard Pro.

Since I had a lot of dialogue, I didn’t want to write it all down, nor spend a bunch of time annotating my script. I hadn’t boarded in ages, I just wanted to draw!

And draw I did - for more than a weekend! 

I am so incredibly proud of this, even if it is a minute over what I wanted each scene to be, and doesn’t include one of my main characters! I think I did a pretty good job with everything! 

While this is still a rough draft, I think before I go away I’d like to put the .pdf file on Speakerdeck, so I can start building up the Storyboarding section of my portfolio website! 

I also want to try and board/draw/make a film(?) while I’m away, to try and challenge myself in a way! 

[lottes-little-place]

After seeing @tvickiesims’s post with phoenix_phaerie’s Manor House trees made seasonal I realised I still had to finish my own project with their hedges and topiaries from the same set so I finally put myself to it. Also their policy does not exactly allow this, but they’ve been inactive for over 12 years now so I think that’s long enough to be considered retired.

They are not exactly made seasonal, but they finally have proper winter states now. If you look at the pictures you can see what I mean by that. I have put the two base game’s own hedges left in the picture so you can see the difference. They are now fully covered in snow in winter instead of having a little, little layer of snow on top of them (seriously, just look at the tower topiaries, it makes me laugh everytime I try to spot the snow).

They are (like the originals) repositoried to the base game’s Boxy Lady (that’s the smallest hedge).

I’ve also made some other small modifications. They are now all visible from neighborhood view (not all of them were for some reason?) and I’ve made it so that the big shrubs only use one GUID (instead of 4) per piece now. This does mean that they are considered a new object by the game, so if you already had these pieces and you install mine you have to manually replace the big topiary ball, cone and oval in your game. The others are replaced without problem. They use the same GUIDs as the originals so keep only one of them in your game.

They were all cloned from Gwenke33’s Seasonal hydrangea bush so that I could make sure they would not overgrow and would not need trimming like the originals.

Credits: phoenix_phaerie (meshes) and Gwenke33 (template)

Download

17-05-2022 Update! Fixed the Manor House Garden Mid-Size Hedge conflicting with Gwenke33’s Seasonal hydrangea bush.

[ariibees]

AItober Day 31: Goodbye, Gordon.

"Must this really be the end of our time together? Perhaps you could take the science team's data, transfer us somewhere else, hmm?"

What if Gordon transferred the Science Team's data, per Coomer's last request...onto his desktop?

Introducing the Science Team Ukagakas, downloadable characters that sit on your desktop -- they'll talk to you and to each other, hang out and perform functions for you, and you can interact with them (such as by giving them gifts, asking them questions, and so on.)

They're still in very early development, but there's some more info below the read more!

Before anything else, I would like to state that they are not currently available for download, but ideally will be downloadable once I've gotten them to a basic working level. I'd also like to try and set up automatic updates, but I can't guarantee that that last bit will work. Their text bubbles are also temporary, though I don't look forward to trying to design new ones, haha. I'm new to programming Ukagakas, hence why I'm using Zarla’s template/tutorial (I can’t link or Tumblr will eat this post, but Googling the ashido ukagaka tutorial should get you there), and while I'm getting the hang of the actual coding part, the art takes some time and I'm not the best at writing dialogue for these characters, so bear with me. :)

Ukagakas can have up to two characters together at once, so the Science Team comes in sets -- Bubby and Coomer are always together, Tommy is a single character (to make it easier to potentially add Sunkist or G-Man later), and Benrey is also alone. They function fine just within their "sets", so, for example, you can have only Benrey open at a time and he'll function just fine and have his own content, but he'll also interact with the others if they're open.

You can also customize things such as the pronouns you go by and what name you take, though keep in mind you can't steal their names, and if you continue to go by some variation of "Gordon," they'll have some special dialogue/nicknames. I'll also note that Benrey will continue to say things like "that's pretty gay, bro," no matter what pronouns you use.

Ukagakas also have a feature where you can track mouse movement/clicks on the character themselves, leading to some fun interactions with being able to pretend you're petting/punching/whatever them; as you can see in the shots above, I'm definitely making use of that.

Anywho, long-winded speech over! I'll make a proper introductory post once they're available for download. If you have any ideas for character interactions/dialogue/questions to ask/things to gift and so on, feel free to share! You can even have ghosts remember if you've done something before, and how many times, allowing for me to have relationships build/change over time. Lots of potential, if only I can actually get it all coded in! So- yup, feel free to send a PM/ask with any suggestions, or additional questions/comments.

Thanks for reading! :)

[littleeyesofpallas]

So a "fun" problem with misuse of the mythic Hero's Journey structure is that in its proper context, the myths the Hero's Journey draws from are all ancient and pretty seminal to their respective cultures. If we take Campbell's assertions as to the psychological significance of the Hero's Journey at face value (which, btw, more broadly we probably shouldn't but in this specific context just humor me, here) then an extremely relevant contextual detail is that this format of telling stories about heroic "men" to adolescents boys as a means of offering a kind of road map to maturity. And consequently we can not overlook that that threshold in these at the time of these myth's creation and primary function was around the age of 13-15. So when they talk about these epic heroes, they're talking about kids between maybe 15 and 20, because that was the age a child would be when they stopped having to be instructed by adults on everything they do, started contributing to the small local systems of survival and social interaction, and in general be given the autonomy to function as an adult, or at least on most levels as equal there to. And that practical context has not carried through into the modern day. So one of two major problems occur...

1 - Characters start embarking on their Hero's Journey as teenagers, seemingly "just" like their ancient predecessors, but.... society at large does not afford them the autonomy of an adult, regardless of other magical plot devices in play.

Its cool that you learned how to throw fireballs at age 15, but you have no work skills and can't own property. Even if circumstances do allow you to "save the world" the process of the Hero's Journey aren't really maturing you in a way that matters, because the world of the mundane you're escaping from and ultimately returning to, doesn't actually acknowledge your journey as maturation or growth.

The point of becoming mythic The Hero is that it's a projection of the process of becoming a functional member of you community/society. But a 15 year old who learned how to cast fireball, and maybe murdered a wizard, has not learned how to integrate into society as an adult in any way that matters. That's not a completion of the Hero's Journey.

2 - Alternatively, if you age your hero up to meet the criteria for a more modern profile of Save The World capable badass, but otherwose play the Hero' Journey out unaltered, then by setting them down the path of the Hero's Journey, you've basically illustrated that they're a mentally and emotionally stunted man-child.

Because a "badass" top of his game, 20-something pro fighter who is only just learning to venture into the unknown for the first time, to accept their own limitations, to respect women, and that becoming "just like daddy" isn't a sufficient life goal is not a cool dude with an interesting and compelling character arc ahead of him... That's a dude who peaked in high school.... and by "peaked" I just mean "stopped maturing."

And this, combined with some of Campbell's (and by proxy Jung's) more dated and generally less applicable concepts inherent to the Hero's Journey, are why it's important to have enough of an understanding of the Hero's Journey to know when to ditch the step-by-step structure of it, and focus instead on replicating the overall function of it, even if that means working outside of Campbell's neatly outlined formula.

And granted, in a lot of fantasy settings, or even very specifically structured fictional settings, the Hero's Journey can still be applied more or less exactly as written if you really want to. But the point is knowing when that's really an option or not.

As an obvious go-to example: Tolkien's works of Middle Earth are written in a specifically meta fictional style, as if they have been translated into English from some old Middle Earth texts, and as if those original stories were written down by some ancient people telling the mythic history of their own culture. Even if it's a fictional culture, the pretense of a writer telling stories reflecting human nature to an audience of contemporaries allows for the stories of Middle Earth to be read and even analyzed on a functional level, as if they were genuine myth. And then they also have the added treat of being able to be read and analyzed on that additional elevated meta textual level of Tolkien himself having constructed these false histories.

Another viable, but sometimes tricky situation the Hero's Journey can be used as-is is in a setting that specifically accounts for children coming of age sooner than in the real world, present day. Fantasy achieves this by using older states of civilization as a template, but you can create strange new speculative or expressly futuristic social structures that excuse this.

But of course the third option beyond just taking the Hero's Journey as offered, or pursuing your own customized/updated version of it, is to seek out a different psychological model of development entirely to use as the backbone of your story... Because although Campbell's work does incorporate much of Jung's essential concepts, it was never really reincorporated into psychology as a fully functional model. (although it can be super fun to use it as a loose one and map onto some people where they failed their Hero's Journey, just for funsies) But there is, you know, all of actual developmental psychology as a field that you can turn to if you want to find something that feels pertinent and meaningful for you and your characters and story...

[theres-no-protocol-for-this]

Shower

Combat SecUnit enjoys a shower and gets some not-destroyed clothing. Part of the same ‘adopting a CSU’ fanfic that I’ve been posting way too much of. Also on AO3.

Seeing Tatiana threaten my current handler confused my already-frazzled and mis-configured governor module further. It was still programmed with my previous chain of command and considered the corporate-affiliated human my direct supervisor. Meanwhile, Cass’ makeshift connection had associated her as my primary handler, and the governor now had two competing priorities.

It resolved this dilemma by shocking me. I took the punishment without protest.

I struggled to point the weapon at the newcomer and was silently relieved when Cass directed me not to hurt the corporate handler. The woman on the floor was a coward and an asshole who had never hesitated to blame others for her personal failures, but she had charisma and knew how to wield power to get what she wanted.

I knew that first-hand.

And she could still hurt me. Her threat lingered in my organic neural tissue, which dredged up memories of previous punishments and flooded my body with fear chemicals. In response, my performance rating plummeted. Cass glanced over at me as a flurry of data traversed our connection and updated my database to reflect that only my current handler could trigger the governor module in addition to automated punishments.

A cocktail of calming chemicals flooded my organic components when Kris led the woman away and Cass gave me permission to patrol the ship.

Walking through Serenity's narrow corridors helped me orient myself and release some of the pent-up restlessness. I connected to the ship's meager supply of internal cameras and stationed a small intelligence and espionage drone in the room where they were holding Tatiana.

Through the drone's fish-eye lens, I could see the woman pacing her cabin, only stopping occasionally to tap at a display surface.

Cass pinged me with a friendly sigil midway through my review of the ship's security protocols. Thank you for monitoring the corporate. Please let me know if you need any help.

Affirmative, I replied and detoured to medical.

Serenity’s ancient medical cubicle was not equipped to handle constructs and had only a vague idea of how to help me. It patched up the worst of the organic damage and applied wound sealant to the rest of the cuts and bruises. Before I left, it injected a hefty dose of painkillers into my bloodstream, which was enough to boost my performance rating by 15%.

Feeling more confident in my understanding of the ship’s layout and security profile, I went to examine the crew living areas and came across the cabin that was assigned to me. Cautiously, I looked into the room.

It was entirely unlike my transport box. Big and open, with plenty of room to move around, it was a very human-centric space. Under normal circumstances, I would not be permitted to spend time in a cabin like this one.

You can take a shower, if you want, my handler suggested when I came across the attached hygiene closet. A moment later, she asked hesitantly, Have you had a shower before?

Negative. Units are hosed down when they become too dirty to maintain proper hygiene standards, I explained.

Never again, Cass promised. Let me come give you a hand.

At a repair center, when a unit became too dirty for cleaning wipes, technicians would use cold water and caustic cleaning chemicals to remedy the problem. The experience was jarring and often unpleasant, though still better than the sterilization protocols of a repair cubicle. I anticipated a shower would feel similar, so I wasn't looking forward to it.

Instead, Cass instructed me to remove my torn skin suit and recycle it, and then stand in the shower stall. I braced for freezing water and was pleasantly surprised when warm liquid sprayed from the shower head attached to the wall above my head. The sensation of water touching sensitive skin was immensely pleasant and my organic parts demanded more. My inorganic parts didn't mind the cleaning, either.

Cass waited a few minutes and then asked, "How about washing your hair? Do you know how to do that?"

Unit Jae has no protocol for this, my buffer answered for me. I had manually added my new designation to the buffer because… I liked it.

"Oh." My handler sounded more saddened than surprised. "I guess I should've guessed that. I'm going to come in for a moment and show you. Humans don't normally do this. We're very private about our hygienic rituals."

I had not been aware of this and didn't understand the details, but remained perfectly still in a neutral position while Cass demonstrated where to find shampoo and how to apply it. I bent my head down so she could reach my hair and her touch was so comforting that I leaned into her hands without meaning to.

The human sighed and used more water to rinse off the chemicals.

Then, she grabbed a human-grade towel from the recycler and held it out me. "Have you used one of these?"

I shook my head. I knew what a towel was but had never been permitted to use one.

“I’m going to dry you off,” the human explained, “because I’m willing to bet money they don’t do that either.” More stuff fell out of the same recycler. “And then, new clothes. Serenity made a uniform in your size, similar to ours, but with some adjustments for your weapon ports.”

I’d never touched anything as soft as the towel, and the uniform was equally soft and comfortable. I didn’t need any help dressing, but Cass didn’t leave until she’d confirmed at least three times that the clothes fit correctly and I could still access my arm cannons. The shirt had short, loose sleeves, and the pants flared out at the ends to accommodate my non-human leg and foot structure.

“We weren’t sure about the shoes,” Cass admitted. “So we went with the same kind of boots as your previous ones. Will these be OK?”

Affirmative. It was better than OK. I couldn’t articulate how I felt in that moment, but safe came the closest.

“Good.” The human nodded to herself. “There’s a recharge unit under the bunk, but for any resupply purposes, you’ll have to visit the medical cubicle. Serenity configured it to provide the nutrient mixture that you need. We’ll get more appropriate parts and a copy of a construct template the next time we stop somewhere.”

Kris came on over the feed just as Cass finished explaining. When you’re done taking care of Jae, come to the bridge. We’ve got company.

Who? Cass asked.

I sent her an image of three small-sized tugboat rescue vessels on approach. They were barely visible in Serenity’s external cameras.

Can we offload the crazy corporate for them to deal with? My handler joked.

I wish, Kris grumbled, his voice rough and upset. But I think she might actually have the authority to commandeer our ship. She claims she’s the head of security for the Astoria Group, who has a monopoly in this sector. I'm checking into it now.

Cass paled and headed for the door. She can’t have Serenity, Kris. Absolutely not.

I didn’t understand what was happening, and I had no protocol for any of this, but I followed my handler, regardless.

Link to AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30234135/chapters/74809071