#why is it just nago

[tragicallycrispygirl]

Nagoriyuki is utterly perplexing to me as a character, specifically because of his weaknesses compared to the rest of the ggst cast.

Like, okay, they made a character who can get huge screen carry off of most of his buttons, big damage off of a lot of his combos, solid pokes, and scary pressure that builds pretty good meter.

In exchange, if you fail to open your opponent up with your pressure or go for a combo extension at the wrong time, you end up at huge disadvantage. You also have INSANELY committal moves and some of the worst movement in the game (yes you can fukyo > beyblade but that's very committal, situational, and risky.)

That's fine! There's nothing inherently wrong with that! Looking at Nago alone, that is a solid character!

Except... His exceptional strengths aren't really all that exceptional. Half of the cast can get those half-health huge damage combos. Maybe not as easily as Nago, but they also don't slowly die for playing the game, and can usually run (Sol is a good example of this)

That's fine, though. Is it annoying? Yeah. Is it good balance? Absolutely.

The thing that drives me up the wall though is that Nago is forced to interact to keep his blood low, unlike LITERALLY EVERY OTHER CHARACTER WITH A SIMILAR METER

It's baffling!!! Sin has a similar concept with a meter to use on his specials, for fucks sake, XRD Sin and Nago have the same gimmick!!! How do you refill Sin's meter? Let two seconds pass. You can get hit, you can block, you can keep attacking, you can use supers, you can do WHATEVER YOU WANT while your gauge passively refills!

But, okay, Sin doesn't get the same things from his meter, a better example is Asuka and Happy Chaos! Who get to use their meters to force you into almost impossible to contest blockstrings and ambiguous strike/throw mix and then BACK OFF AND REFILL THEIR METERS SAFELY

Asuka is the worst for this - so many of his spells are plus 80 million on block (metron arpeggio - the portal with the red cubes - is genuinely +113 on block) so he can sometimes just stand in front of you and leisurely peruse his spells and refill his mana, AND HE ALSO GETS HUGE DAMAGE AND SCREEN CARRY

Happy Chaos uses one of his meter refilling moves DURING his long-range pressure with reload cancelling!!! What!!!! His concentration refill lowers the rate at which concentration decreases by half!!!

I'm not saying that Nago needs a buff, he's in a good spot (the wwa nerf definitely hit him the hardest I think though) it's just monumentally frustrating that ArcSys did it right ONCE and then used the "this character has meter management" to give characters almost no weaknesses while not forcing them to take risks like Nago does to actually manage it.

[lokh]

you know that redraw meme going around

[b4kuch1n]

more sk8. I think the cindereki stuff is extremely stupid but I am not immune to trying to conceptualize a princess gown in any setting

[tillman]

i saw it yesterday but someone posted a fake johnny MU tierlist (note: 2 weeks before johnny is added to strive) and i havent been able to stop laughing at it since its genuinely so funny to me. the phrase "As usual Zato has gained another losing matchup :/" keeps sending me into hysterics

[veveisveryuncool]

kine is based off mola mola sunfish, which are about 6ft in size!!therefore i raise you: mola mola sunbathing party!! (+ the slightly more realistic animal friends :DD)

OKAY i did a lot of research on animals for this one!! feel free to read my notes under the cut 👇

kine: is a mola mola/ocean sunfish, specifically from pacific waters! i'm in love with the idea of this six foot behemoth next to all the tiny creatures of dreamland, and as someone with a crippling obsession with fish, i had to draw him :] pacific mola molas match the distinctive petal-shaped clauvus (not a caudal fin!) that kine has, but don't have a lot of iconic lip action, which is why i tried to make it seem like a... discolored snout? molas are typically one color, and the blue color could seem natural from an angle, so let's pretend that real!kine just has lots of cool barnacles.

coo: is taken from @starflungwaddledee's dusky eagle owl notes! they literally look so much like coo it's insanee + i added the stripes to his wings. finding the bird-to-cartoon ratio was kinda hard actually 😭 birds are hard to draw what

rick: is based on a golden hamster (aka syrian hamster)!!! he's exactly the type of hamster you think of when you think of a normal hamster. golden hamsters are technically one of the largest hamsters, but still only stand at about 7 inches— so i decided to use his cartoon logic to keep him somewhat relative to coo

chuchu: SHE'S A FLAPJACK OCTOPUS SHE'S LITERALLY A FLAPJACK OCTOPUS!!!! scientists actually wanted to name the species "adorabilis" and just look them up please they're so cute!!! you can tell that DL3 character designers had flapjack octopi on their minds when they designed her. their fins look similar to a bow, and i obviously couldn't get rid of that, so i gave her both :]]

nago: is a calico cat. he's not overly cartoonish in his game design in regards to how he looks as a cat— he is undeniably a cat. i let my middle school warrior cats obsession take over for that one. calicos are almost always female, so i also raise you trans nago 🫶

pitch: resembles a warbling white eye, according to wikirby. i tend to draw him similar to one anyways, thanks to adeleine's slightly more realistic drawings in the DL3 credits. he's definitely also been sized up to fit in with the rest of the cast, since a 4-inch bird wouldn't exactly be visible.

thanks for listening to my rambles about animals!! i tried to keep a good mix between realism and video game designs just for kicks and giggles, hopefully it doesn't fall into a weird uncanny valley haha :] ✌️

[rats-hyperfixation-corner]

gg ship tier list bc fuck it (explanations under cut)

F

Asuka x HC: i don't like mentor and mentee dynamics, also i headcannon HC as aro/ace and really not wanting a relationship unless it's for the memes

A.B.A x Ramleathal: i don't want ram to get hurt

all the bedman ones: isn't he like at most in his teens?

I-no x HC: i don't think i-no likes HC at all

Millia x zato: i think their dynamic is more father/daughter. i just think that makes Zato's redemption far more interesting

D

Sol x Ky: let them be rivals

May x Chipp: why? i think they'd kill eachother

Chipp x Nago: why? (pt.2)

Bridget x Sin: would be great friends, but i can't see them as a couple

Gio x Goldlewis: see above

C

crushing apathy for all of them

B

Pot x Gabriel: i like it

Johnny x leo: a fun himbo x himbo bRomance

I-no x Jack-o: the silly

Goldlewis x Vernon: i get he hates his job, but old man yaoi

Bridget x jam: i wish i could tell you. i just think it's fun

April x May: they give comedy duo vibes, and comedy are always homoerotic

Anji x Chipp:

Anji x Asuka: Anji flirting with the dude who blew up his home will always be funny

Asuka x I-no x Raven x Jack-o: i would not want to be next to their booth at dennys. so i like it

Asuka x Raven: (see april x may)

A

Asuka x Sol: weird enemies to lovers that i like

Sol x Axl: i like the idea of the comic relief x the MC

Ky x Dizzy: not the best but im a sucker for cannon, and their marryed

Chipp x Answer: nerd x dumbass. i like it

Leo x Ram: i think it's super cute

I-no x Axl: LORE

Millia x Elphelt: wasn't expecting to like it as much i as do, but i find it sweet

S

Robo-ky x Venom: my sillies

Slayer x Sharon: dandy

Johnny x Testament: my other sillies. also fanartists do better with this one

A.B.A x Paracelsus: i love these two

Baiken x Anji:

Aria x Sol: most of the plot comes from this so yeah it's a given

Sol x Jack-o: super wholesome ,and also I tend to like cannon ships a lot

[mr-president]

hello helloooo ^^ (on anon bc i get anxious talking to cool ppl)

so i have been. completely obsessed with your revived bedman au that you made. the one where he’s Chaos’ research assistant

so i wanted to send in an ask to see if you had anything else to share about it! like lore bits or headcanons or anything really!! :3 i’ve been so deeply autistic about this au i need more material to think about and mentally shake around in my head like a pinball machine

okay that’s all ^^ keep doin your thing you’re very talented and cool friend!!

howdy! thanks for your kind words!

and luckily, i have quite a bit to share:

A lot of this au is based on Chaos’ words that in another story, he could easily make himself the hero, rewrite GG reality, and rinse and repeat. Hence, Bedman’s role is to research how Chaos can feasibly insert himself into different realities or rewrite them in a way that wouldn’t completely eradicate time and space as we know it, likely in exchange for ensuring Delilah’s safety and health. As depicted, I’m certain Chaos’ taste for eccentric…”camp” that makes existence agonizing for everyone else is a clashing point between the very utilitarian Bedman and him.

Bedman’s absolute world would have any wish or any will come into fruition, like a lucid dream, essentially eliminating suffering and consequence and opening up infinite possibilities. Chaos’ ideal world is that of overcomplexity, unnecessary suffering, and tropes. It’s a fun dichotomy, especially since they’re both complete yappers just with entirely different ideologies.

Either way, in a sense, this is Bedman’s personal hell, and he himself views this experience as “punishment.” Not like he has a choice in just disobeying anyways.

But another thing i really wanted to explore in this AU is that of Bedman and Nagoroyuki, both who are unwillingly exploited by Chaos. Nago’s kind of a “frame of reference,” a “straight man” in all of this, as well as an unwilling actor.

They both have to see the other suffer, basically, and in a sense, they both want the other to get out and forget this whole experience. For Nago (who doesn’t have the frame of reference that Bedman did, in fact, commit terrible atrocities), this is some child Chaos exploits for his own gain. For Bedman, this is an unwilling bystander caught in the crossfire and chained and muzzled and ordered like a hound.

I can imagine their relationship paralleling that of Baiken and Delilah over time, and maybe that way, they can overcome Chaos. If there was to be a good ending, which I think there would be.

Also, Bedman’s able to retain more sanity than Asuka thanks to Nago being there and also being like “yeah that guy is Fucked Up, you shouldn’t have to deal with that.” But also Chaos just thinks Nago’s the coolest shit ever, which is why he creates storylines for both of them specifically.

I’d imagine if this was legit, Axl would be the one to fix everything, recalling when he waltz’d into Bedman’s dream world in Xrd. Or maybe Asuka would see himself in Bedman, and Bedman in him, helping prevent the inevitable spiral into madness from dealing with Chaos every waking moment

But that’s all I have for now—if you have your own ideas, I’d love to know :]

[gallusrostromegalus]

What kind of wildlife is around in the Spirit World/Realm? The show had riding boars and river fish that I can remember, and if they grow things then the right kinds of little bees and gnats must be Around, but Just Those don't make for a full healthy environment, right?

We don't see a lot of animals in canon because animals are rarely a problem that shinigami have to deal with but some notes:

Thylacalines are not extinct in the spirit world! Actually, it's kind of a problem- Thylacalines will ONLY reincarnate as Thylacalines, and since there are none on earth, the entire peak population of them lives in the southern Rukongai. This is a problem unique to Thylacalines, as most extinct animals will reincarnate as other extant animals or humans or whatever, but nope. Not these assholes. Furthermore, killing a thylacaline in spirit world just makes it respawn elsewhere in the spirit world, as it was and with it's memory intact and those motherfuckers hold GRUDGES. They're also not native to any of the places the human souls in Soul society come from so nobody has a damn clue what they're doing here. Well, they know what they're doing- Mostly eating anything that will fit in their mouths and occasionally mauling people who don't respect their personal space- but why they're doing that HERE is unclear.

The Migratory Bird Act of Year 1066 was established shortly after the Seki-Seki stone wall and spirit barrier surrounding the Seireitei was established, and within the week, catastrophic numbers of birds died flying into the invisible barrier. The act was actually spearheaded by Yamamoto, who was immensely distraught by the unintentional carnage, and had to actually threaten the Central 46 with bodily harm to get them to legally change the Kido spell on the barrier to only block Sapient Souls and let the birds come and go as they please. It was a landmark legal case that established the soul society's remarkably robust environmental protections, and the Central 46's policy of isolation from the Shinigami, which would prove disastrously fatal to the organization almost 1,000 years later.

Many creatures we have on earth exist in Spirit world, but at massive Scale and varying degrees of intelligence. The Nago Boar was a wild boar of average porcine intelligence, but spectacular scale- 15 feet tall at the shoulder and many tons in weight. It was an infamous monster that made the Nago region borderline uninhabitable from it's rampages. It was one of the rare animals that became the problem for the Shinigami, who tried in vain to kill the beast for the better part of two centuries but unlike a Hollow who acts on instinct and has a very breakable mask, the boar was quite cunning and ended up with three zanpaktou lodged in it's cranium to no ill effect before the Gotei-13 decided to just pay the remaining farmers to leave in 1219. It was slain by a hired swordsman protecting a geological survey in 1308, and the battle was immortalized in the Epic Multi-scene Screen Painting "The Slaying of The Nago Boar" by Minami Zasso, who was working as a surveyor and illustrator when he witnessed the event firsthand. The swordsman in the painting is unnamed, but there is a persistent rumor that the distinctive facial scar of the unnamed swordsman matches that of Eleventh Division Captain Zaraki Kenpachi, but that would mean the man is at least 700, more likely over 1000 years old! Surely not!

The Eleventh Division has another peculiar association with an animal of ridiculous scale. In 1272, the annual "Ranking Day" tournament (in which the members of the 11th division and anyone bold enough to take part would battle for ranked positions in the division- including the right to be captain) took place outside the Seireitei in a relatively isolated area of the rukongai because 1271's Ranking Day had turned into an outright riot that destroyed part of the city. The commotion and blooshed attracted the attention of a supernaturally large Monitor Lizard, who joined the fray without hesitation, and devoured the 4th Kenpachi. Having met the requirements of "Defeat the standing captian in combat in front of 200 witnesses", and because nobody was brave enough to remove the captain's haori from where the lizard had become entangled in it, Tokagero Kenpachi was named the 5th captain of the 11th division. Tokagero Kenpachi remained captain of the 11th division for an astounding 234 years, the longest reign of any Kenpachi, and via highly suggestive hissing and occasionally eating people she disagreed with, lead several important reforms within the division like "Pants Required" and "No showing up to work drunk" and "instituting the first 5-day work week and successful labor strike in Soul Society" though that last one was mostly the work of her long-suffering lieutenant, but her apparent taste for strikebreakers certainly helped the cause. Tokagero Kenpachi was lost in the infamous Tonsure Riots of 1606 when she vanished down an open manhole cover and into the sewers. No body was ever recovered, and her wherabouts remain unknown to this day.

[solradguy]

i’ve seen people complain that it’s a plot hole but i really like the twist that it’s actually ky that been sandbagging his duels against sol this whole time. even after finding out sol was a gear he never saw him as a monster but as a person and rival. even when sol thought of himself as a monster. i mostly play +r so seeing ky go fight me seriously sol only to easily lose against him every time is funny as fuck. no wonder why sol’s so sick of his ass. nago immediately clocked ky on this too.

that silly little twist recontextualizes the most uneven rivalry of all time.

not mention it just makes how ky survived the crusades make sense. the twist doesn’t take away ky’s flaws. when it comes down to ky’s ideals if he were to fight sol “fairly” he will lose. it doesn’t do the cheap, ky’s just been humoring sol this whole time thing. ky really just has an inferiority complex and is messed up.

Is it a plot hole? When Ky finally beats Sol at the end of Rev2, he's got the Gear cells and he's always been better than Sol when it comes to technical skill. He just didn't have the reflexes or strength until then because he was just a human. In the GGXX Drama CD side Red Ky dies during the Battle of Rome to Gears too. I think him surviving the Crusades was mostly him being lucky and his men trusting him

[icedragonlizard]

What if any of Kirby's friends were to catch him being really sad or even crying?

These are my headcanons for how Kirby's friends would try to comfort him or cheer him up whenever they catch him crying, or just being really sad in general.

A really sad Kirby is not something that anyone wants to see!

King Dedede would give Kirby big comforting bear-hugs while also listening to him ventilate on why he's crying. He'd also try to say some funny things in an attempt to improve Kirby's mood. Maybe even offer him a little hammer to go bash objects for kicks and giggles.

Meta Knight would want to know the reason why Kirby is crying, and if it's someone who caused it, then he'll beat them up. He'd attempt to give advice and comfort Kirby, even if he's not exactly the best at that, but he'd do his best to make sure his little buddy feels better.

Bandana Waddle Dee would pat Kirby's shoulder a bunch as well as offering a hug to try to comfort him. He'd also ask him if he'd like to play a fun game together to make the rest of the day better.

The animal friends would all be very concerned if they caught Kirby really feeling down and would want to know why he's upset. Rick, Nago, and ChuChu would all give him hugs, with Nago being a literal cuddle-bug! Coo may potentially also give a hug, but would usually carry him in the air to give him some good breeze. Kine would tell him jokes and maybe also give him a ride inside his mouth while he swims through a pond or something. Pitch would also tell him jokes, and perhaps ask Kirby if he wants to play around.

Gooey would ask Kirby if he'd like something to eat, and may also let Kirby hug him to give him some comfort. He would likely also ask if he'd like to play. He may even offer to sleep with Kirby inside his house for the night to help improve the rest of his day.

Marx is the reason why Kirby is crying. Marx needs to get his butt kicked! LOL.... just kidding. In all seriousness, while Marx is generally not good at comforting people, I think he'd try to cheer Kirby up by saying funny stuff, or making funny faces. He may also take him out to go have some fun.

Adeleine would ask Kirby if he'd like to draw with her to help get his mind off of things! If he doesn't want to draw, then she'd offer to let him watch her, and she'll be willing to paint anything he'd want her to paint. She may also summon food through art to cheer him up, too.

Ribbon would be very worried to see Kirby upset. She'd give him a hug. She'd take him to go find his very favorite food to help improve his mood. She would also tell him that tomorrow will be better.

Shadow Kirby would give his pink counterpart some pats on the shoulder and tell him funny things to help cheer him up. He'd also offer to go find food together.

Dark Meta Knight would let Kirby temporarily use his sword to play around with for a bit until he begins to feel better.

Daroach would offer to take Kirby to go "shopping" (stealing). He'd also perform some magic tricks for him as a way to make him see cool things to help get his mind off of things. He may also tell jokes!

Magolor would offer to take Kirby to Merry Magoland and rig the games to help him win the biggest prizes. Before Magoland opened, he would take Kirby on a quick ride to the Lor Starcutter to help cheer him up. He'd also tell him jokes and do his best to make him laugh.

Taranza would give Kirby a big hug. He'd ask him if he'd like to do a quiet activity such as gardening. He could also try to make cool things out of his magic to give Kirby some super cool stuff to look at to help cheer him up.

Susie would take Kirby out to get some ice cream somewhere, and they'd both eat ice cream together. She'd also give him a robotic toy or an electronic to play around with. If he feels especially down, she might also decide to sing him a soothing lullaby!

The Mage Sisters would all give Kirby head-pats and maybe even let him use their weapons for a bit to destroy things for fun. They may also put up a 'show' for him where they all coordinate in doing visually cool things with their weapons.

Elfilin would give Kirby a hug and ask if he'd like to play around. If he's in Popstar and catches Kirby sad there, he'd offer to open up a portal to visit Waddle Dee Town again for Kirby to have fun there.

That's basically how I headcanon Kirby's friends cheering him up if they catch him in a sad mood, whether it's him crying or just being very sad in general. Some of them may not be good at comforting but one simply does not like to watch precious Kirby be so sad. They'd try to help even if it may be awkward.

Thanks for reading if you've made it this far!

[bigupsdog]

I'm creating intro dialog for every character in Guilty Gear because im bored.

I'm writing these all where the character of the post talks second and I'm doing it in reverse character order because I wanted to start with ABA becausei like her. I'm also redoing dialog for characters that already have unique dialog with each other because I know I'll forget who had unique dialog with who.

Sol: You cause any mayhem and you'll get a high bounty on your head.

ABA: I am no fool in a china shop.

Ky: All my life I've killed those I thought to be monsters, then I realized I was the monster, so I won't judge you.

ABA: I've heard about your actions during the Crusades, you were the king of the kill.

May: You're married huh, you know I've always wanted to get married too.

ABA: Was that a coy attempt to flirt with Paracelsus?

Axl: I know what it's like to be ripped away from the person you love, I wouldn't do that to you mate.

ABA: I love Paracelsus more than anything in this world, no one will take him from me.

Chipp: Nothings faster than me.

ABA: You are the tortoise and I'm the snare.

Potemkin: If you're still looking for a way to give Paracelsus a body Zepp is always open to you.

ABA: No, I still don't trust you, your arms are too big.

Faust: Your… Injuries… need… Doctor...

ABA: An apple a day a doctor i'll slay.

Millia: Speaking from experience, no one likes a possessive partner.

ABA: I am not possessive of my Paracelsus, you just want him for yourself!

Zato: Love? I think I once knew that?

ABA: You seem to be haunted by shadows from your broadcast.

Ram: I also find the world confusing but that's what makes it beautiful.

ABA: Perhaps we can carve a place in this world for people like us.

Leo: You're about to hear me roar!

ABA: He's more meow than bite.

Nago: I sense an inner bloodlust coming from that ax.

ABA: His name is Paracelsus and you should fear me more.

Gio: My report says you can see invisible spirits.

ABA: Not all spirits are like that dog, some just want to be on their own.

Anji: If you love something you should set it free.

ABA: No, the saying is, if you love something don't let it flee.

I-No: Here's some dating advice, no man likes the jealous type.

ABA: My Paracelsus loves me just as I am and I won't let some harlet tell me otherwise!

Goldlewis: Two cryptids for the price of one.

ABA: You simply label anything different a cryptid.

Jack-O: That's a great Frankenstein costume, just needs the green paint.

ABA: Keep away from me I like how I look, as is.

HC: Never seen a romantic comedy like this before.

ABA: There is nothing comedic about our romance.

Baiken: You'll fall by my blade.

ABA: Fall down seven times, get up with hate!

Testament: You both seem to be doing better.

ABA: I suppose that was somewhat your doing, thanks.

Bridget: Hay, Roger and that key could have a playdate together.

ABA: Paracelsus is a living being, your not going to force him to do something he doesn't want to do like some toy!

Sin: Jezz, why do you use such big words, do you even know what they mean?

ABA: This fastidious fool has the gall to insult my vernacular!

Delilah: Is she using a giant living key as a weapon? That's weird.

ABA: Is she using a giant living bed as a weapon? She's copying us!

Asuka R#: Well, if it isn't the inspiration for my creation.

ABA: Another artificial lifeform? Perhaps I'm not so alone?

Asuka R Kreutz: You know I've created some life forms as well.

ABA: From what I've heard about you, you've only created death.

Johnny: I think you hold the keys to my heart.

ABA: Save it, my heart only belongs to one man!

Elphelt: Sooooo, what are you going to name the kids?

ABA: This is my love life. You don't need to chaperone every part of it.

[tragicallycrispygirl]

i have to say that i think strive Axl has genuinely some of the most fun combos in the entire game but some things about his kit just fucking astound me like

rensen 2 is uhhhhh for what i genuinely don't think I've ever effectively used it pls make it just one huge hitbox that covers his whole face to stop people who make it close enough to avoid rensen 8

5p hitbox extension ughhhhhhh give me an entirely disjointed normal like nagos fuckass j.d or j.h or whatever

and also give him a reasonable long poke that doesn't hit 2cm off the ground or just over most characters heads (if ram has those why can't he)

why is winter mantis so fucking slow. it has 81 total frames of existing, and ALL OF THEM ARE COUNTER-HIT

I would be fine with this if it gave you anything meaningful on hit, but the combo extensions from it kinda blow. maybe im missing something, but the best i could figure out was (with your back to the corner) one vision install > 5K > TKB > delay one vision activate > TKB > TKB and *sometimes* another TKB depending on wall health and stuff for like. 150dmg because winter mantis has fucking insane proration

he feels like he gets outzoned or outpaced by half the cast - why is happy chaos beating me at full screen? (trick question - happy chaos has no weak positions)

im not gonna claim im good at him, maybe my position will change, but he just feels a bit... incomplete. faust too, but i also love that bastard (seriously why is the second hit of his 2k the longest reaching but only sometimes it's so weird feeling)

but holy shit he's really fun.

[mocolococoffeesimp]

nago with a cat obsessed reader (like with cammy in sf with her cat stuff) and reader showing him all of their cats and kittens?

-Nagoriyuki at first thought you just liked cats. He had seen your phone cover, cat themed. Your phone wallpaper? Cat. Your bag? Cat chains hanging off it. He didn't really think too much of it. He especially liked it when you showed him pictures of your cats. The way you got excited about them, made his heart warm up. But, he thought you were adorable with all of your cat accessories and enthusiasm for them. He occasionally gets you new cat themed accessories at times. He knows you like them, so why not get some of them for you?

-When you brought Nagoriyuki to your place, he wasn't expecting cats to approach him. He was certain you had two, but he had no idea you had so many. The cats were scared of him. Understandably, he was a big man, and a vampire. He was pretty sure, they could somehow sense he wasn't a normal person. He at first, let them sniff his hand, only to be met with snarling. He knew it was going to be a long process to get the cats like him.

-Overtime, (And, numerous snacks.) The cats started to like him. So much so, they pretty much immediately jumped on his lap whenever he was over. Apparently, his lap was a warm spot to be in. You were glad that he got along with them. You aren't sure, how you could've lived, if they didn't

[arashi-no-saxlphone]

One of my main gripes with this new setplay zoning Axl is like, you're still letting other characters out-RPS his zoning with THEIR zoning! Why does Ram sword toss still beat Rensen? WHY DOES IT DELETE WHISTLING WIND???

This wasn't an issue before with the Rainwater vacuum, cause you could choose to run up and run pressure on her - you can't do that anymore. Ram's neutral and pressure and damage are ABSURD - she should NOT also have full screen presence and control. If you throw the sword into Rensen or Tornado it should INSTANTLY slam into the floor. The fact that Axl gets a HKD AT FULL SCREEN and can't set up ANY of his oki or run good pressure up close against her is flat out absurd.

I know people already think the new Ram is kind of an issue, and she is I agree, but just thought I'd give a quick rundown about how bad the MU is for Axl. It's always been really bad but like this is insane now. Honestly if Ram wasn't still doing so much damage she'd be fine as she is but the fact that she's chunking you with insane pressure and neutral that covers so many options is just wild LMAO.

Not really a like "fuck this shit" deal just something that's been on my mind. Shit like Nago Clone beating Rensen is fine cause he needs a way to move in with his restricted movement as a big body and also clone costs blood and works less reliably the higher blood he has, but Ram has normal movement. And good big, reasonably fast normals. And her swords come back on their own. You should have to actually think about your sword toss and throw them with an actual setup, not just mindlessly being like "This clears everything so I'll just chuck it so Axl loses for trying to use his kit" like come on now.

[the-space-junker]

Up and down: a Dandy's legacy

No matter how I look at it, I just can't be mad at Slayer for some of his past mistakes. I think his song fits perfectly into the rollercoaster ride that is this Dandy's life.

He may have his flaws and he was irresponsible, but in his mistakes, he also created and achieved so many good things. Life is wonderful, it will never be perfect, but even your mistakes can turn out good when you put some effort into correcting them and when you had good intentions.  

- Nago was on his verge of dying and even though Happy Chaos took control of him, he is still thankful that to even have a chance to see so much more than he would've been able to see, to experience and to learn in a human lifetime. There were some downs, but overall everything turned into something good in the end and Nagoriyuki - though he cherishes his own independence - is still a part of Slayers found family and looks up to him.

Also - Nago is a cool character and I can't wait to find out more about him.

- Zato was merely a little street rat who had to kill to survive and death was always his companion, be it the death of others, or the hard truth that he can die at any moment. There is something so heartbreaking about the way Zato saw his life. He was lonely, he was a monster for everyone around him- as he told Millia in Night of Knives -, and he was just another worthless kid like thousands of others that roamed the ruins of fallen cities and the abandoned battlegrounds of the crusades.

He had no one and the only reason why he was alive was, because he didn't want to die. His life was miserable and hopeless and I suspect that's what made him so dull in his emotions. Zato never learned what it was like to be loved and he certainly never experienced any kind of human closure. He also never learned what a healthy relationship, love or care looks like.

And suddenly someone saw a worth in him, took him in and showed him a way of life that was much more rewarding and safer than what he had before. You can say that Slayer was his Knight in Shining Armor who ultimately also saved his life. Zato looked up to him, hell he was clinging to him so hard, he must've followed him around like a lost puppy. He soaked up everything that Slayer taught him and it aligned with what he's learned in the streets - never hesitate to do what you have to.

But Slayer is a Nightless and his understanding of humans does have a limit. He saw beauty, elegance and keen intellect in Zato, but I have a feeling that he completely ignored the emotional impact he had on him, because Vampires are built differently and also feel different. He missed the part where a human being not only needs a task, manners, rules and approval, but also love, care and emotional support. Zato is a huge baby, because he craves to be loved and praised and cared for. Slayer missed the point - or was unable to provide him with human warmth.

If you can't see any parallel to Venom...I hope now you do!

Venom is like his younger self and it really breaks me to finally understand what Slayer wanted to tell him in his winning quote:

"If the prince never showed up for snow white, would you have just settled with that?"

Slayer was Zatos prince...and Zato was Venoms! Zato must've seen himself in Venom in EVERY way as he devoted his own life to Slayer and his teachings, to the guild that became his home and the people he once vowed to care for. And Zato could not deal with it.

Venom looked up to him, the same as he did to Slayer, because he was the one person that saw a worth in him. Zato never showed him love, or care, but at least mercy and kindness. And maybe...maybe because of that, Zato was always distant and emotionally unavailable to Venom.

Slayer left him in the end, even though Zato did everything he wanted him to, and maybe even loved him in his own twisted way, because he was his mentor and some kind of a father figure. Zato hated him for leaving his guild and his responsibilities without thinking twice (or so he thought). Slayer was a leader who abandoned his own subordinates and Zato wanted to prove that he was better than him.

But with all his flaws, his trauma and his fears, he must have known that he was just a mere human and if even a Vampire has his weaknesses and imperfections, how should he be able to surpass his own mentor? He wanted to keep Venom out of his heart to count in the possibility that - in his own weak moments - he might do the same to him, or even worse. Zato was never a good person to start with; he was absolutely willing to sacrifice everything and everyone to reach his own goals - even Venom and Millia.

And he knew it. He was aware of all his sins and still kept marching on, right to his own death.

And when he returned from the Underworld, he was stripped of his ego, his pride and the emotions tied to his overboarding temper. In the past Zato tried to contain his emotions and he often failed. He told Millia that assassins can't find happiness and that their fate is only death, but questioned his own life at the same time.

Zato just surrendered to his fate and automatically assumed that everyone who walks the path of an assassin, would do the same, sooner or later. He tried to be a leader and he tried to seal his emotions away, even with the price of his own life, his sanity and his happiness. Zato was so hell bent on being the number one and an ideal for his followers, that he even threw away his humanity to truly become a monster, to prove his point.

There are so many flaws in his thinking and when he came back, he was finally able to see them, because his stupid ego was no longer in the way.

Zato tried to actively improve the lives of those he wronged, without regards to his own feelings or the effort he had to make. For the first time in his life, he acted out of selflessness to help other people and to make up for the things he did to them. Even if it is just words - like telling Faust what really happened on the day he lost his patient, or warning Ky and Gabriel about the cradle and the conclave, it is a huge step for someone like him.

He did horrible things to Millia and Venom, things he can never undo, words he can never take back and he can never give them back the time he stole them. Zato ruined the lives of many people and it must've hurt him to realize that he treated those he was supposed to love the most with such inhuman cruelty.

Venom deserved the life of a human being, where he could find his own way to happiness. And that also meant a life outside of the Organisation.

When you love someone, let him go, even if it hurts. If you didn't fuck up completely, you can still be friends.

Millia's home was always the guild, even if she hated what Zato made of it. But it was the only place she felt where she belonged and to her, freedom meant to shape the guild to a place where she can exist and find happiness. With Zato's and Daryl's deal, the guild was finally able to transform into what Zato wanted it to be, but also a place where Millia can take control of its fate. Ironically they both got what they wanted in the end.

The guild is their home and their family (I want to see how 2Cave ties into that, PLEASE Mr. Ishiwatari!!!) and neither of them wanted to leave it.

But at the same time Zato, as well as Millia, found new meanings for their freedom and their happiness. Millia was finally free to make it on her own, Zato was finally happy to carve a way for her to reach that goal (and he also carved a way for Venom to be free and happy).

He learned to let go - as seen in Millias arcade mode where Zato understands that only if he stops treating her like a baby (or his possession), he can see the real potential of her and how strong she is, if he just let her do her own thing. Millia was always a strong person, but under his control she wilted like a dying flower.

"...but given some clean water and sunlight, it will bloom into something beautiful."

I think in the end, Slayer can really be proud of his 'little princess'.

Zato finally understood what the Code of Dandyism was supposed to be and acted upon it. His life was an up and down and it will continue to be, but he will never be the same person again and even if it is hard to forgive him, you can't ignore the fact that he tries his hardest to prove that even a monster like him can do better.

[xeno-p0ny]

I yap about Happy Chaos’ Arcade Mode

I played against some of the AI and most of his arcade mode to see some unique interactions, and I’m gonna ramble about them here.

For starters, I fucking hate stage 9 Nagoriyuki. I beat up to stage 8 in Happy Chaos’ arcade mode because I heard he drops some interesting lore bombs, and we’ll get to those in a sec, but JESUS FUCK is stage 9 hard. I beat stage Nago 8 by cheesing with pauses and throws, and it took about 20 attempts. Naturally, I lost all faith in living when I learned that stage 9 was the same thing except Nago started with blood rage (I quit after 5 attempts). How about that lore though, eh? Well, Happy Chaos basically goes on a whole exposition after beating I-No a second time that “Demi-humans” (Nago and Slayer) basically transcend their universe and can travel to ALTERNATE UNIVERSES and basically just dumb themselves down for everyone else to look like they’re not breaking reality. They don’t have “IDs” in the backyard, either, which is how they’re able to travel through universes since they’re basically not a part of the rest of existence. The existence of AUs in Guilty Gear is an interesting one, and I’m curious if it’s how they’re going to justify Lucy from Cyberpunk crossing over when she’s released. Maybe it’ll even play into the next game? I mean, at the end of Strive’s story mode, Sol loses his gear powers, Ky gives up the throne, and Axl gets his girlfriend back. The three main characters of Guilty Gear’s basically all finish their arcs, and it makes me wonder if they pull something in the next game where it’s like “this is Sol Badguy from another universe where he keeps his powers!” so they can still have the same main cast as the other games. It’d be kinda stupid if they did, and I think Daisuke probably wouldn’t do something so cliche and lazy for his main characters, but it’s an interesting possibility to discuss.

Happy Chaos mentions Bedman in the same exposition, saying that he also managed to negate having an “ID” in the backyard. He says “Bedman”, not “Romeo”, which is probably just to make things easier to understand for the majority of the audience who doesn’t know Xrd Bedman’s real name, but it still got me thinking about what it could be in reference to.

It could be Bedman’s dream world. Bedman says right before he dies that he could always make the Absolute World on his own, but my guess with this new information is that his access to both the Absolute World and Dream World are actually existing worlds, and him “creating” the Absolute World just brings him to an alternate universe that already existed with the properties that would let him revive the people he’s killed, save Delilah, etc.

Him negating the “ID” system could be why the character of ‘Bedman?’ exists. Somehow, when Bedman died, he didn’t actually die, but rather figured out a way to reincarnate in the bed itself due to his lack of an ‘ID’ that would allow him to cheat the system. Then again, I’m pretty sure Bed’s Strive theme is about him going to the afterlife, so this one is really just me being hopeful since Xrd Bedman is my favorite fighting game character.

After I gave up on Stage 9 Nago, I googled the ending cutscene to see what other lore there might be. There’s not a lot, but it’s kind of exciting what’s there. Happy Chaos basically tells Nago why he’s returning to the world, which is to protect it from destroying itself from its self-destructive nature. This almost implies that Chaos is willing to play the hero if needed for humanity’s survival, which is a possibility that’s also very in character with how Chaos acts.

I recently discovered that Sin and Chaos also have unique dialogue when fighting each other, and while one of the exchanges are a cute little interaction about sugar water and milpico, the other one frames Sin as the “hero” of the metaphorical show Chaos is always talking about, which would make sense since the upcoming anime is starring him and now that Sol and Ky both stepped down Sin being the next protagonist makes a lot of sense. Considering that there’s hints of both Sin and Chaos being protagonists in the next game and they already have unique interactions with each other, maybe we’ll see them working together in the future? I’m very excited for the future of Guilty Gear lore, lol.

Anyway. I’ll suppress my autism and shut up now, and maybe go draw Sin and Chaos hanging out drinking each other’s favorite beverages while I’m at it. Thanks for reading and I apologize if this makes no sense. I’m happy to clarify my theories in the comments <3