#well! finally‚ a gmax form i would actually use‚ if i remembered that this thing had one

[front-facing-pokemon]

[anti-anti-a-la-bi-bi]

Can you rant about pkmn sword? Rants are enjoyable to read

Alright, so it took me a bit to get my thoughts in line. Lets start with how I feel about the pricing: I am all for having 30 euro DLC over a third version for the full price, however, I do think that if they do that, as well as with the dex cut, they should quit with having there be two versions. Nowadays, with internet communication, it doesn't really do much for social interaction, it's just another hurdle for those of us who wish to complete the pokedex(and especially when they remove the GTS and make you pay for it later). It's still a scummy tactic, and no one will complain if there's just one version+DLC. It makes a big difference in the pricetag, since being forced to buy nintendo online, or two switches and two games to trade, are both mandatory payments to make in order to achieve one of the encouraged goals within the game. Furthermore, people within one family will likely be using the same cartridge, so if there is only one version, all in all, it'll make a huge difference for people who use a whole switch as a family as well. Also, I do not think that sword and shield are worth 60 euros. I think they're worth 30 at most, since the base game is worse than x and y/sun and moon. They also locked following pokemon behind a paywall, which is bullshit and yeah, fuck that. I think swsh are enjoyable, but not when they sell at the same price as games with way more content, games that look much better, and usually both combined. For what the switch can do, swsh look really bad, actually. There are a few pretty spots, but that's the exception, not the rule. To add on to things that I think are horrible; the raid battles, especially the more difficult ones, in single player. I don't have switch online, and as such, I need to do all raids alone. But, the raids are near-impossible in a lot of cases unless you get really lucky with the npcs and ai. I got two gmax Toxtricity by using wide guard with Zamazenta for over four hours until I finally got lucky for each. This is both to blame on the ai, and the horrible selection of pokemon. Pokemon that should have evolved at level 60, well, they are still in their first form, so you have magikarp and mudbray at a 5 star raid. At least have them evolved. They have good moves, yes, but their base stats are so low that it doesn't matter. Also, the shield mechanic. It is predetermined how much damage you can do, and if you land a supereffective hit, it's not unlikely for it to only do a sliver of damage and then the shield goes up. It's annoying, makes battles extremely difficult because a lot of npcs just won't attack while the shields are up, and it just becomes a waiting game if your pokemon is just there to act as support(such as my Zamazenta with wide guard to prevent Toxtricity from 2-hit ko-ing all my teammates). Also, the fact that even if you beat a gmax pokemon, there is still a chance not to catch them. It often takes ages to even defeat them, and then, 'Congratulations! You just wasted over half an hour of your life! Get fucked!'. I had this happen with Applin t w i c e. Also, the wild area is... It's okay, really. Nothing exceptional, my immersion is ruined by the sheer amount of pop-in, something that happens even when there aren't a lot of models on-screen, the Onyx in Motostoke being a rather infamous example. The trees look like shit, the berry trees look like they don't belong, to put it bluntly, it looks like something a student would make in unity. You'd expect something better from the highest grossing franchise in the world. The ai of the pokemon is often pretty bad, with them just moving in circles, I have seen so many synchronized pokemon at this point that it's just... Egh. Also, the customization options are still so limited? Can't choose eyeshape, can't choose clothes that actually make your character stand out, and you can't even choose your challenger uniform after you become the champion. Why does Leon get a special uniform? I have never seen a pokemon game so set on making you feel like a celebrity after you win, yet you don't get to have much of an identity in the game even after you win. It didn't have to be difficult, just a customization screen inside the dressing room of the Wyndon stadium, perhaps some extra clothing options? As for things I like: I like the atmosphere. The music, though sometimes repetitive, does help my immersion. The gym leader theme is dynamic, shifting with what happens in the battle, making me feel like I'm actually standing there, and the ambient themes work well as well, though those were rarely encountered at all. I love the characters, the trainer cards giving you some backstory on them, they are, together with the Unova leaders, the most present gym leaders today, with a history of their own. It felt amazing to just read the trainer cards(and I enjoyed making my own as well). The towns have their own themes, and while I can't remember the names, I do remember each location well. But. There was so much wasted potential. The castle in Hammerlocke? The large building in the east? Hammerlocke's castle: the vault, 1 room and a roof. The large building? Nothing. You don't even get to see the attraction inspired by the London Eye. Wyndon is so small??? It has a small shopping street, the stadium and the inn and that's about it. Castelia City was bigger than that. Overall, the game feels rushed. The gym challenges at the start were cool, but by the end it's more of "battle these trainers in a row haha". Also, the animations. Gamefreak claimed to need to remake all models(they did not, the 3ds models were used with better textures), and to make better animations(only for newer pokemon, most pokemon used their pokemon amie animations and further animations from the 3ds titles). The animations are still bad, especially for something as powerful as the switch. I enjoyed the lore behind the region, but I really, really dislike Dynamax. I like gigantamax because the pokemon usually changes in a way that is distinguishable, but regular dynamax... Nah. Give me mega evolution back, perhaps update its mechanics so it changes the gameplay more and requires more strategy, but Dynamax just feels like something that is so low-effort. Pokemon but beeg. The curry making, on the other hand, I love. Pokemon should not be a cooking game, but it made me feel like I was actually bonding with my pokemon, that they were present in the mc's daily life. I would love to see more additions like that, the possibility to become the kind of trainer you want. Enjoy swimming? Perhaps go for a swim with your pokemon? It doesn't need to be complex, but I'd just love to see my pokemon interact with each other and with my actual character more. The routes are too linear. The last route is literally a straight line with some trainers, with next to no effort in it. I also think that the handholding needs to be talked about. When you get to Motostoke and have signed up for the gym challenge, a staff member will lead you to the in, which is literally one screen to the left. Such examples are found all over the game, and I hate it. They do let you skip some tutorials, which is a welcome change, but characters are so willing to force you to stop with whatever you're doing and make you listen to their speeches that it still often feels like a slog, especially because you don't get to do shit besides gyms until the very, very end, in which the fucking champion tries to catch a legendary in a regular pokeball, not even a great or ultra ball. The lore is great, but the actual story is so nonsensical that I just didn't bother to pay attention. Hop literally recycles Hau's animations. I would love for him to have his own, so he'd feel more separate, because they ARE different characters, with different goals. But Hop is even more annoying than Hau because he just won't shut up. You walk 5 steps and he shows up somewhere, for no reason at all. Meanwhile, there's this big event going down, a crowd has gathered, you get there and... Leon has already resolved it. You just get a picture, that was what you wanted, right? That sums up most of the game 'the adults will deal with this!' . The picture doesn't even look good. Swsh is fond of just showing you pictures, for example, right before the climax when Rose and Leon are talking. There's no background music or anything, just pictures and the sound of the textbox. It feels so low-effort. Also, if you have a character that is a singer, and he uh, he sings, it MAY be a good idea to include VOICE ACTING. They had someone sing in Black and White 2! Surely they can do it on the fucking switch, several years later? The mouths flapping about just feels incredibly awkward. I would recommend the game if you can find it somewhere for cheap, not for the full price. There is enjoyment to be had, but it's subpar in comparison to other games for the same price. I may rant further depending on how much time I have.

[hqhaleyluhoo-archive]

There are not enough words that I could truly say to express my love for all of you and this wonderful family we have created. I know that Appreciation Week is technically over, but I just adore you all so much and had to tell you how I felt in a big post. Coming back to the RP world and finding all of you has been the greatest blessing ever. I love you all. 

Muns are listed alphabetically! Special shoutout to Alice for the graphic and inspo!

Alice: MY SWEET ANGEL CUPCAKE. You are the sweetest human being I have ever met and we do not deserve you. Thank you for loving everyone so well and for making everyone feel welcome and included. You are a stellar human being and I absolutely adore you. @ariagrans

Ally: I always love our convos, IC and OOC. I hope you know that you can always come to me with anything. You are so sweet and I’ve loved all of the interactions our characters have had. You’re incredibly hardworking and I really admire you. @hqmaia

Becca(EST): Sweet friend, you are such an amazing human and writer. Coming to this RP and becoming your friend has been the greatest blessing. You care so much about each of your characters and you are always so true to them. It amazes me how well you can grasp the essence of a muse. I love you with my whole heart. Thanks for all of the wonderful conversations and for all of the help and advice you give. You are amazing. Thank you for being you. @liliisms

Becca(GMT): Honestly, are you the real Taylor Swift? Because sometimes it feels like you are. Becca, I love you. You are so sweet. Thank you for fangirling over Taylor with me and for always getting excited about my characters achievements and things going on in their lives. You’re amazing. Keep being you! @teylcrswift

Beth: I love you and all of your silly boys. You’re a gem and a constant in this RP and I am so thankful for all of the attention you give to your characters and everyone else. You and Minnie are constantly causing me pain with Jaoirse but IT’S FINE. I still love you, I guess, bahahah. @jocklowden

Charlie: You’re my favorite person ever. I don’t even remember when we started talking but it was probably the best day of my life because it gave me such a sweet friend like you. Thank you for trusting me with Charles, I love getting to write him with Mads. All of your characters are so sweet and that’s just a reflection of you. Thank you for all caps convos and all of the fun chats. You are one of the greatest people I have ever met. I love you. @madelame-x 

Faith: I’m so glad we bonded over a love of musical theater. You are an amazing human and Aaron is a comedic genius. I adore you and I hope to write more with you in the future! So glad you’re 1/2 of the greatest slow burn ever created. Olsveit is OTP. @aarcntveit

Ina: MY SWEET INA. You are an absolute gem. This new friendship blooming between Nat and Halston is my favorite thing. You have always been so kind and welcoming and I appreciate you more than you could ever know. Thank you for being such a wonderful human. I’m so excited to watch has GMax takes on this new adventure. You’re a fantastic writer and an amazing friend. I love you so much. @itsgenevievegnt

Jaq: LOML. Are you Jaq or are you actually Cami? Sometimes I don’t even know. You are the sweetest person, thank you for putting up with all of my messages and for being the Cami to my Charles. I love writing with you and all of the friendships our characters have formed. I wish you weren’t so far away because if I could take you to see Jeremy Jordan in Waitress with me this weekend, I would. I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for being you. @hqcami

Katie: Absolute angel. You are so sweet and kind and wonderful. I love the way you write Dianna and I love seeing you on the dash. You are amazing and I’m so thankful to know you. We don’t talk much OOC which should change, but the friendship we’ve formed through Dianna and Haley is one of my favorite. Love you. @diannahq

Kay: Thank you for making my sweet Samantha’s Dove so happy. You are such a sweet human and I love seeing you on the dash. We should talk more OOC and we should get Sof/Luke talking more too. Thank you for you. @hwl-hemmo

KJ: Hello wonderful human. You’re another one where I’m constantly asking myself “is this KJ Apa I’m speaking to or?” ha. I love you so much and I’m so thankful for your presence on the dash. I’ll never forget you apologizing for Nessa coming at Sof after all of that drama, you’re the sweetest. I love writing with you and I especially love our KJ/Charles bromance and this hilarious friendship we’ve created with KJ/Halston. You’re an amazing human and I consider myself lucky to know you. Keep being you! @kjapayo

Lara: HI BEST FRIEND. I adore you and all that you are. We had an instant connection via Sof/Jordan that I will always be thankful for. Thank you for sending me shows to watch (I promise I’ll watch more of The Society soon, oops) and for making me that Sweet Pea/Ava video (my favorite thing ever) and for sending me pics of Jordan that make me go all heart eyes. I love you and I could say a million things about you but I don’t want to make this too long. Just please know that I adore you and you’re one of my very best friends and I’m so thankful to have met you. @jordnconnor

Laura: You’re the sweetest little angel. You inspire me with your ability to keep up with four characters. You give each one attention and put so much thought into your responses and the way that you play them. I absolutely adore you and all that you are. Thank you for being so sweet. I love every interaction our characters have. You’re the best! @tmhclland 

Maree: You are an absolute queen. I’ve never RP’d with someone playing Gaga, but you are truly so amazing. You bring her to life in such a way that makes me love her even more. You are so sweet and I have loved getting to interact with you here. Looking forward to more! @stefgaga

Minnie: You are an absolute gem of a human and I love you very much. You’re always around and always a constant on the dash and it makes me smile. I love your characters and hope to interact with them more. They are people that I never really knew much about before coming here and I’m so thankful to you for introducing them to me. I love watching you and Beth interact as Saoire and Jack even when you mess with my emotions. @irishxseahorse

Nikki: QUEEN. Thank you for bringing two of the cutest boys to our dash. Harry is an absolute angel and you play him exactly how I would picture him to be in real life. I also adore your Joe. Thank you for being such a sweetheart. I love you so much. @hcurly

Raven: Your Zendaya is so precious, just as precious as you! Thank you for being down for just about anything and for being so nice. I can’t wait to write more with you in the future! @dayaxxcole

Rose(PST): The Brett to my Haley. Thank you for giving me the sweetest ship known to man. I love you with my whole heart and I feel so lucky to be your Haley. You are one of the greatest people I have ever met. Thanks for making me laugh and for ranting about JTV with me. I love you like Haley loves Brett. You are the most special human. @brettdicr

Rose(GMT): The Cole to my Haley. My partner in crime. I absolutely adore you and the way that you have brought Cole to life here. Thank you for keeping me updated with FFA press and for being down for just about anything. You are always there to reply to a starter or get something started between any characters. You are so sweet and kind and wonderful and I love playing out this great Haley/Cole friendship with you. Thank you for everything. @hqcolem

Sadie: You are an absolute legend. Honestly, when I think of this RP I immediately think of Lizzie. Thank you for being 1/2 of the greatest slow burn ever. You have created Lizzie with so many dimensions and layers and I absolutely adore her. You also introduced me to Sorry For Your Loss which is an incredible series. I loved writing Troizzie with you when I played Troian. Thank you for being you. @ohlizzo

Sam: I love you! You are a wonderful human. Thank you for ranting about JTV with me and for being the sweetest ever. I love writing with your Grant. He’s an actual prince and I love writing with you. The friendship between him and Haley is one of my favorites. You are one of the sweetest people ever and I’m glad to know you. @theflashgrant

Samantha: THE DOVE TO MY SOFIA AND THE AJ TO MY HALEY. I absolutely adore you and everything that you are. Thank you for being so sweet and for fangirling over Descendants with me. You’re one of the greatest people I know and I absolutely adore you. Thank you for all that you are. I love you and all of your sweet characters. @dcvescameron

Sarah(GMT): Hey lovely! We don’t interact much and that needs to change! I love seeing Meryl on the dash! Thank you for gracing us with her presence. You are amazing! @xitsmerylstreepx

Sarah(EST): Hi cutie. I love you and your Bella so so so much. What we started with Sof and Bella during AU week was so fun. Thanks for loving my girl so much. You’re a wonderful human and I feel so blessed to know you. Keep being you and keep blessing us with the beauty that is Bella Hadid. I love you so much, sweet girl. @b-hxdid

Vic: YOU’RE BACK. I absolutely adore you and have loved every character you have blessed us with here. So happy to see you on my dash again babe. I love you and can’t wait to start interacting with your girl! @millvclarke

And finally, to Katie, Dee, and Rachel - welcome to the family! I can’t wait to start connecting with your ladies and to become the best of friends! So glad you are here! @acycias @briannelarsonx @lizseilligs