D&d beyond add character to campaign

The answer under no limitations is FM with max stat boosts, or if you want to be extra specific, CC with cheated in stats, but an argument based on either of these seems unrealistic given you would be grinding party hats for 10’s of hours or you are cheating tokens/stats.
However, saying no stat boosts would make it heavily sided to CC, as with no stat boosts many end game FNAFB FM boss’s will just one shot you and you’d lose the item battle against CC
The line can be drawn in many places depending on number of turn weapons, which defensive equipment, whether both have 99 of all items and what is realistic or unrealistic
What can be made clear is this: - many skills were changed in between FM and CC, most notably backup bash - your level based strength is significantly higher in CC without stat boosts, but you can catch up with stat boosts and the tokens provided in story - FM depended more on items and luck skills than CC does - CC has the 4 party member limit but has swapping to compensate - Combo skills are FM exclusive with a high SP Tax, but high power skills were added in CC without the tax to replace them - the Finale of CC introduced even more skills and extra characters to the mix, however the base power of FM can defeat cranky, a truly impossible boss in CC
Wanted to know where peoples opinions lie on this

Hello everyone, I'm working on a continent map for an upcoming DnD campaign, and I'm working on mountain ranges, however when I use a 1pt terrain subtract brush to carve in rivers from the base of said mountains I noticed the mountain stamps have this odd fade effect at their base that lets you see behind them. Is there a way to stop this so it doesn't look like my river is phasing through solid rock?

I know it's just the beginning of C 2.0 but we should consider the possibilities!
The Chapter 1 map graphics is a great example 9f what the game could look like and the possibility to add your own models and files etc perhaps it's an opportunity to recreate our beloved Homebase and continue the fight against the storm and add even more! (recreating STW's old graphics doesn't seem impossible)
They are now Ai programs that could mimic voices pretty well. It would give us a great chance to have dialogues and well...everything. New characters, more voicelines for our favourite heroes.
We can have the possibility add cutscenes and make npc's feel more alive and all
A community project that we could all participate with any way we can and try bring the game to life more than it has ever been.
Some can come up with models. Some can come up with the code. Some with the scripts. Some can test it. Some make fan art of it. And so on.
And well... I would like to believe it would bring back on the light people that loved the game
We have the tools. We just need to build a Fort!

The introductory section of this article sheds light on the emergence of blockchain technology and its relatively slow acceptance. It is noteworthy that blockchain was first introduced as the foundation for Bitcoin, a digital cryptocurrency, in 2008.
Since its inception, blockchain technology’s potential has been identified beyond its use in cryptocurrencies. As a decentralized, distributed ledger technology, blockchain facilitates secure and transparent transactions without requiring intermediaries. This revolutionary technology has the potential to transform numerous industries, such as finance, supply chain management, healthcare, and more.
However, the adoption of blockchain technology has been unhurried and incremental. This sluggish adoption can be attributed to limited understanding and awareness of the technology. Numerous businesses and organizations remain wary of blockchain, perceiving it as overly complex, excessively risky, or too costly to implement, causing delays in adoption.
Additionally, the absence of standardization and regulatory clarity within the blockchain sector has impeded the technology’s adoption. The lack of well-defined regulatory frameworks has generated uncertainty among businesses and investors, thereby constraining investment and innovation within the industry.
Consequently, comprehending the factors influencing blockchain technology’s adoption and growth is essential for harnessing its full potential. One such critical factor is Metcalfe’s Law, which has significantly contributed to the expansion and success of various network-based technologies in the past. By examining the impact of Metcalfe’s Law on the blockchain ecosystem, we can better comprehend how to encourage adoption and foresee the growth of this technology moving forward.

Findings from Previous Research

Investigations into the effects of Metcalfe’s Law on the growth and adoption of network-based technologies can be traced back to the 1990s. One of the initial studies on this subject was carried out by Reed in 1999, examining the correlation between the Internet’s growth and Metcalfe’s Law. Reed discovered that the Internet’s value was directly proportional to the square of its user count, which supported Metcalfe’s Law.
Subsequently, numerous studies have investigated the relevance of Metcalfe’s Law to various network-based technologies, encompassing social networks, telecommunication networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT). For instance, Law’s 2006 study concluded that Metcalfe’s Law was applicable to social networks, offering a framework to comprehend the growth and adoption of platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
In a similar vein, Chen’s 2016 study deduced that Metcalfe’s Law applied to the IoT, providing a framework for understanding the growth and adoption of interconnected devices. These investigations showcase the wide-ranging applicability of Metcalfe’s Law to diverse network-based technologies, emphasizing its significance in shaping their adoption and growth.
Furthermore, research has revealed that the relationship between user count and network value is exponential rather than linear. This implies that as the number of users on a network rises, the network’s value increases at a considerably quicker pace. Consequently, Metcalfe’s Law has a substantial impact on the growth and adoption of network-based technologies, generating a self-perpetuating cycle of adoption and growth. In summary, previous research on Metcalfe’s Law has yielded valuable insights into the growth and adoption of network-based technologies, proving its applicability across various sectors and technologies. These insights are essential for grasping the potential influence of Metcalfe’s Law on the blockchain landscape and its capacity to shape the adoption and growth of blockchain technology.

Understanding the Metcalfe Effect

The Metcalfe effect, also known as network effects, is a phenomenon where a network’s value grows as the number of its users increases. This effect emerges from the fact that as more users join a network, the opportunities for interaction and exchange among them expand. This results in a positive feedback loop, fueling the network’s growth and adoption.
Robert Metcalfe, the inventor of Ethernet, first introduced the concept of the Metcalfe effect in 1995. He posited that a network’s value was proportional to the square of its user count, offering a mathematical formula to comprehend the relationship between user numbers and network value.
The Metcalfe effect has been observed in various network-based technologies, such as the Internet, social networks, and telecommunication networks. For instance, as more people join a social network, its value increases due to the growing interactions and exchanges between users. This creates a positive feedback loop that drives the network’s growth and adoption.
In the context of blockchain, the Metcalfe effect is critical since a blockchain network’s value largely depends on its user count and activity level. As more individuals use a blockchain network, it becomes more secure, reliable, and valuable. This generates a positive feedback loop that results in increased adoption and expansion.
However, it is essential to recognize that the Metcalfe effect is not consistent across all blockchain networks. A blockchain network’s value also relies on the diversity of its use cases, the quality of its technology, and the robustness of its community. Consequently, the Metcalfe effect’s impact on the growth and adoption of blockchain technology is not deterministic, and multiple factors can influence a blockchain network’s success.

The Metcalfe Effect’s Influence on Blockchain

The Metcalfe effect has a substantial impact on the blockchain industry, shaping the adoption and expansion of blockchain technology. The effect’s influence on the blockchain sector can be categorized into three main aspects:

• Adoption and Growth:

Blockchain technology, as a network-based system, depends on user participation for effective functioning. The more users a blockchain network has, the more secure, reliable, and valuable it becomes. This creates a positive feedback loop leading to increased adoption and growth.
For instance, Bitcoin, the first and most renowned cryptocurrency, has witnessed exponential growth in value and adoption over the past decade. As more people have embraced Bitcoin, its value has risen, attracting even more users to the network and promoting further growth and adoption.

• Diversity of Use Cases:

The Metcalfe effect also contributes to the range of use cases for blockchain technology. As more users engage with a blockchain network, additional use cases are discovered and developed, resulting in a more diverse and robust ecosystem of blockchain applications.
For example, the Ethereum blockchain network boasts a more varied set of use cases compared to Bitcoin, including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and smart contracts. This diversification of use cases has fostered the increased adoption and growth of the Ethereum network.

• Competition and Innovation:

The Metcalfe effect fosters competition and innovation within the blockchain industry. As a blockchain network becomes more valuable with increased user numbers, it attracts greater competition and innovation. This leads to further advancements in blockchain technology and a more diverse and innovative set of use cases.
For instance, competition among various blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and others, has resulted in the development of new technologies and features to enhance the functionality and usability of these networks.
In conclusion, the Metcalfe effect has a significant impact on the adoption and growth of blockchain technology. Its influence can be observed in the adoption and expansion of blockchain networks, the variety of use cases, and the promotion of competition and innovation in the sector. Therefore, understanding the Metcalfe effect’s impact is crucial for fostering the growth and adoption of blockchain technology in the future.

Differences in Metcalfe’s Law for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Other Blockchains

The application of Metcalfe’s Law varies across blockchain networks such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and others. While the core principle remains the same – the value of a network increases with the number of its users – differences in use cases and network architecture result in variations in how the law applies to each blockchain.

• Bitcoin:

As a relatively simple blockchain network with limited use cases, Bitcoin’s value primarily stems from its store of value and decentralized digital currency roles. The network’s value increases as more people adopt Bitcoin for these purposes. The scarcity of Bitcoin (only 21 million will ever exist) further bolsters its value.

• Ethereum:

Ethereum offers a more complex network supporting a wide range of use cases, such as decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and smart contracts. Ethereum’s value derives from its diversified use cases and the value of its native token, Ether, used for transactions and validator incentives. As more people use Ethereum for various purposes, its network becomes more valuable.

• Ripple:

Ripple’s network aims to facilitate cross-border payments and remittances, making its value dependent on providing cost-effective and efficient international payment solutions. The more people use Ripple for cross-border transactions, the more valuable the network becomes. The value of Ripple is also tied to its native token, XRP, used in transactions on the network.

• Other Blockchains:

Blockchains like Cardano and Polkadot are designed to offer scalable and interoperable solutions for decentralized applications (dApps). Their value depends on providing reliable and efficient solutions for various use cases and attracting users and developers. As more people adopt these networks for their specific purposes, their value increases.
In conclusion, although the application of Metcalfe’s Law differs across blockchain networks, the law remains a crucial factor in driving adoption and growth. As more users join a blockchain network, its value increases, leading to a positive feedback loop that fosters further adoption and expansion. In summary, the Metcalfe effect can significantly impact the growth and adoption of network-based technologies, but it comes with both pros and cons. The positive aspects include network effects, diversification of use cases, and the promotion of competition and innovation. On the other hand, the negative aspects include centralization, inequality, and the potential for hype and speculation. To capitalize on the benefits of the Metcalfe effect while mitigating its drawbacks, it’s crucial to manage and regulate its impact on the blockchain industry and other network-based technologies.
When considering the Metcalfe effect in the blockchain industry and its potential influence on other network-based technologies, it’s important to recognize that there are strategies that can be adopted to ensure that the benefits of the Metcalfe effect are maximized while its potential negative aspects are minimized. Some of these strategies include:

1. Encourage Decentralization: Fostering decentralization is essential to prevent centralization and monopolization. Encouraging a more distributed network ownership and governance structure can help maintain the decentralized nature of blockchain technology.
2. Fair Distribution Mechanisms: To address potential inequality, it’s important to design fair distribution mechanisms for network rewards and value. This could involve implementing progressive reward systems, airdrops, or community-driven initiatives to ensure that network benefits are more evenly distributed among participants.
3. Focus on Fundamentals: To mitigate hype and speculation, the blockchain industry should emphasize the importance of strong fundamentals, such as technology development, use case diversification, and sustainable growth. This can help ensure that investments are driven by the actual value and potential of a network, rather than mere speculation.
4. Education and Awareness: Increasing education and awareness about blockchain technology and the Metcalfe effect can help users and investors make informed decisions. This can promote responsible investment and usage, reducing the risk of market bubbles and crashes.
5. Regulatory Frameworks: Establishing clear regulatory frameworks for blockchain and other network-based technologies can help mitigate the negative aspects of the Metcalfe effect. By providing guidelines for network operations, distribution of value, and investment activities, regulatory frameworks can contribute to a more stable and equitable ecosystem.

By implementing these strategies, the blockchain industry and other network-based technologies can better harness the potential of the Metcalfe effect while minimizing its potential drawbacks. This approach can help promote sustainable growth and widespread adoption while ensuring that the benefits of these technologies are accessible to a broad range of participants.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the Metcalfe effect has significant implications for the growth and adoption of network-based technologies like blockchain. While the effect brings about benefits such as network effects, diversified use cases, and enhanced competition and innovation, it also presents potential challenges, including centralization, inequality, and hype-driven speculation.
To maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of the Metcalfe effect in the blockchain industry, it is crucial for stakeholders, including developers, businesses, regulators, and policymakers, to collaborate and create a balanced ecosystem. This can be achieved through the development of decentralized networks, the promotion of fair distribution mechanisms, a focus on strong fundamentals, increased education and awareness, and the establishment of clear regulatory frameworks.
By addressing these challenges and promoting responsible growth, the blockchain industry can harness the power of the Metcalfe effect to drive widespread adoption and create a more inclusive, secure, and equitable global economy. The lessons learned from the impact of the Metcalfe effect on the blockchain industry can also be applied to other network-based technologies, fostering sustainable growth and innovation across various sectors.
​
Original of my blog you can find on CoinGaleNews blog section

Praises again to u/TheManwithaNoPlan for helping edit!
[First]-[Prev]-[Next]
Memory transcript: Tarlim, Venlil civilian. Date: [Standardized human time] September 2nd, 2136
I awoke in darkness. Strange. Why haven’t my blinds opened yet? I shook my head and gave a yawn as my mind caught up with itself. I could barely see my finger in front of my eyes. I reach my foot out to turn off the fan proactively, but my paw only manages to swat the air. What? Wait… My mind, jarred by the odd circumstances, finally relayed my current whereabouts to me. I’m not in my room or on a train. I’m in Jacob’s room! Those blackout curtains work great! Though, they don’t have the option to automatically open.
“Hmgh,” I hear a mumble down by my tail, “muh huh?” A feminine mumble!
My memory rushes back in full. I helped Sharnet calm down yesterday. Jacob and I talked for about a quarter of a claw, or an “hour” in his time. By the end, I had found myself yawning. The train had basically come in during the end of Sharnet and I’s wake cycle, and our bodies were telling us it was time to sleep. I had wanted to stay awake and talk, but he noticed and basically demanded I get some sleep. “We will have plenty of time to visit on the ride over and at Dawn Creek,” he had justified. Then he offered both me and Sharnet his bed.
I tried to object, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Said there were plenty of places he could “crash for the night” as he closed the curtains. Kept saying it was the least he could do. I wish I would have argued more, but as soon as he showed me the light switch, the darkness of the room made me dead on my feet. Those instincts hit HARD. He then just wished me a good night and stepped out of the room.
I had to hurry to remove my braces before I completely passed out. If I remember correctly… I don’t. Oh well. “Sharnet?”
I felt her jolt against my legs. She had basically claimed my tail as a pillow when we crawled into the bed last night. I bet she’s momentarily forgotten our position as well. “Wha! Who, where…?” I heard the flap of her ears as she shook her head. “Right. Hey Tarlim.”
“Hey,” I responded. “Could you get the lights or curtains? I can’t find my braces.”
A grunt of agreement sounded, I felt weight disappear from my tail, and then I heard the sound of claws on wooden flooring. With a rustle, the curtains opened and light flooded into the room. I had to squint to let my eyes adjust, but soon I was finally able to see where I left my braces.
There they were, lain haphazardly in the middle of the room. Must have accidentally tossed them farther than I meant. Just… barely out of reach. Sharnet saw me reaching and stepped towards them? What is- she picked them up and handed them to me! I… I hadn’t even thought to ask!
“Th-thank you,” I stammered before moving to place them on my legs. Sharnet watched silently as they self-tightened against my legs. Once they were done, I stood up from the bed, not a bit of pain in my joints.
“So…” Sharnet said with a yawn, “what now?”
“Now,” I responded, striding to the corner that we had left our packs, “is first-claw grooming.” Opening my pack, I pulled out my trusty brush.
“Oh!” Sharnet exclaimed, before she began to fidget. “I, um… I don’t have one. I just used the brushes they provided on the train.”
“That’s-nngh-okay,” I responded, removing a particularly stubborn tangle in my head fur, “I can help you groom.”
“Really?” She raised her ears in surprise. “You… you would groom me?”
“Of course!” I responded, removing some lint from my chest. “Miss Paly taught me how to do a ‘Quick and Proper’ grooming, as she calls it. Get out the lint and tangles, three times over before moving, long smooth movements, and there we go!” I posed myself to show I had made my torso fur properly flow.
“Wow.” Sharnet looked at me impressed. “Are you… and are you okay with grooming me?”
“Why, yes!” I swung my tail over to more easily brush its tip poff. “It would be rude not to. Isn’t that like what your parents taught you?”
Sharnet said nothing for a while as I continued to brush my tail. “They taught me, but I never really had anyone to go through with it,” she finally said. “I had always been moving after I moved out. Always after information for an article. I… I only ever used salons or combed myself.”
“Well then, I suppose this will be new for the both of us.” I waved my tail, feeling the swish of my smooth fur. “Even when Madam Pala was teaching me, she still cared for her own fur.” I sat down so I was more on her level. “So please forgive me if I’m a bit awkward. I will try my best.”
I held out my brush as Sharnet stared at me. She gripped the fur against her legs. Anxious. Did I misread the situation? Am I overstepping? Sharnet soon shook her head with a huff and stepped forward, turning her back to face me. “Could you… start with the back?”
I felt my tail wag. “Certainly.”
I set the brush against her neck and drug it down til I reached her tail. I could see her muscles tense beneath her fur, but by my second pass she had begun to relax. By the time I had reached her snow-touched shoulders, I heard a purr. She even started turning so I could brush the rest of her. This… this was good. Like I was part of a herd. A small herd, but a herd nonetheless.
As I was getting the final tangle out of her tail, I heard the sound of someone tapping against wood. I flicked my ears to listen. What was that? The tapping came again, but this time I noticed it came from the door. Curiosity got to me, and since I was done with her back, I handed Sharnet my brush. “I think I’m done, but you can detail to your preference.”
“Oh!” She took my brush in her hand, seemingly disappointed that our grooming session was done. She gave a light bow. “Thank you for that.”
I signaled her “your welcome” with my tail and strode over to the door. The tapping began a third time as I reached down and swung it open. A blue spaceman stood with his arm stretched out, explaining the source of the sound.
“Ah, Howdy!” Jacob’s speaker sounded, “ Ah know y’all don’t need as much sleep as us, so ah hope ah didn’t keep y’all waiting!”
I flicked my ears in greeting. “no, actually, we only recently woke up. How long were we asleep?”
“Way-all,” he drawled, placing his glove against the chin of his helmet, “ah only just got myself so… about seven hours… a claw and three quarters?”
My ears flew up in surprise, and I heard Sharnet give a stutter of confusion. We slept that much?
“I guess y’all slept in,” Jacob commented, “well ah was just wanting to let y’all know that breakfas-ah, “first-meal” is being served in the cafeteria! Most people have already headed down. Some human recipes, but everything is Venlil-safe! And ah do mean everything! Y’all want to come?”
I wagged my tail delightedly. “Absolutely! One sec first.” I left the door open as I strode over to my pack and pulled out my pill bottles. Heart strengthener, hormone blocker, painkillers! Just toss in the mouth and swallow.
“Tarlim,” Sharnet whispered to me, “are you sure about that? I mean, I’m able to handle just being around a human, but…” She looked back towards the door and pulled my head down to her level, which I allowed. She spoke in barely a whisper. “This would be them eating! What if they can’t resist…you know?”
I thought about her words. This would be a dangerous situation according to what most believe. But those “most” were following the words of people that allowed the correctional facility to exist. They were wrong about me, so I had complete confidence they were wrong about the humans, too.
“Remember Kaeden?” I whispered, “I don’t know if you noticed, but when he came out of the room, he had his mouth uncovered. You saw, right?”
She was shaking, but she affirmed with a flick of her ears.
I returned the gesture. “And his companions showed no signs of fear. Even from someone who considered themselves a monster.”
Sharnet lowered her ears in slight shame, so I allowed my tail to rest against her back. I thought back to my first meeting with Jacob, and I suddenly realized something. A bit strange, but it just might work! I patted Sharnet’s back with my tail, prompting her to look up at me. “Here, let me show you something.”
I opened my mouth slack-jawed, letting it hang open in front of Sharnet. As expected, she looked at me confusedly. “Why are you opening your mouth at me?”
I attempted to speak mostly without the use of my teeth, which was harder than I had anticipated, so I just closed my mouth and pointed to my teeth. “My teeth are bigger than his! What can he do that I can’t?”
I watched her face. For a moment, I was afraid it wouldn’t work, or even backfire as she looked even more confused. After a moment, though, it seemed to click in her head. Her ears rose again in realization. “You…You’re right.” She sounded almost in awe at the revelation. “Kaeden’s teeth were pretty small, yeah! I doubt they could even break skin!”
I brushed my tail against her back in confidence, “And you heard his companions. They both fought him and held their own! You should be able to…” I trailed off as her expression fell again. Right, loaded topic. Dumb brain. I shook my head and restarted from the top.
“If anything happens,” I said, “I promise I will stop them. You have my word, Sharnet. You’re safe here with me around.”
I looked at her, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a hint of orange appear in her ears. “Th-thank you. I… I think I can go.”
I wagged my tail at her enthusiastically. “I knew you would.” I stood up from the bed. “I think that we’ve kept Jacob waiting long enough.”
With a wave of her tail, Sharnet moved to grab her belt pack and holopad. Once it was secure, we ducked out of the room. Jacob clapped his hands together. “Right then! Ah’ll lead y’all to the cafe!”
Apparently, it was on the bottom floor. I was about to enter the stairwell, but Jacob put a damper in those plans as he guided me to the elevator. I was surprised to find that I could technically fit inside with only a crouch instead of the borderline acrobatics I usually have to do.
The cafeteria was to the side of the lobby. Jacob led us through the door and I stood to get a look. It was rather sizable. Humans and Venlil were sitting at tables together, there was a small line at a food counter and… and…
What in the name of the Tenants is that sun-blessed smell?
I took a scenting breath, and there it was again. Salty, earthy, some cut grass, and a slight burn that seemed only to enhance the whole profile. Jacob was saying something, but I didn’t hear him as I strode forward, following the wonderful smell. It came from the counter. The people in the line parted as I strode forward. Where was it coming from? This? This? No…
THIS…
Before me was a platter consisting of 6 large green leaves holding a mixture of brown cubes and small pieces of white grains inside them. The server was a human wearing a white apron pelt, and they looked up at me as I practically drooled over the food. “Uh… can I help you?”
“What,” I pointed to the food, “are those things?”
The server looked between me and the unknown meal, thinking on what to say. “It’s… i-it’s tofu and rice on a lettuce leaf. Do you… want one?”
I wagged my tail before remembering who I was speaking to. “Yes. Very much, please. As soon as possible.”
One of the others in the line passed over a plate, and the server slid one of the leaves onto it. He added a spoon and handed it to me apprehensively. “Is there, uh, anything else I can get you…sir?”
I didn’t answer as I grabbed the plate. I scooped up a spoonful of the sticky grains and one of the cubes and, after only a moment of hesitation, slid it into my mouth.
Salty. Savory. Toothsome. Firm enough against my teeth, but not so firm as to crunch. Something in this sung sweet songs to my tongue. Satisfying a craving I barely knew I had. Something beyond my craving for Stringfruit. Like part of me declared that I had never even eaten before now. I placed the plate onto the platter.
“Sir,” the server spoke, “if it’s not too your liking you-”
He cut himself off as I picked up the platter. I needed it. This was mine now. I felt everyone starting at me, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. There was an empty four-seat table nearby that had the chairs detached, so I pulled one out with my food and sat down to feast.
“Okay,” I heard Jacob speak before I could properly dig in, “so you were definitely hungry.”
I looked at him and Sharnet. His eyes were hidden, but Sharnet’s expression held enough surprise for the both of them. Sharnet. She must know this ecstasy. I slid the one I had already started off the plate and replaced it with a fresh leaf and held it out to her. “Eat,” I practically demanded. She was taken aback by the forcefulness of it, but gingerly took the delicacy from my hand. With a satisfied huff, I picked up a full leaf from the platter and began to imitate a vacuum.
Oh, Glory! What wonders the humans could make! If I were to be served such a meal every day, I would kiss them on the mouth, predator or not! I had just finished my third leaf when the world once more came into focus around me. Jacob had gotten some kind of whiteish slurry and sat across from me with his helmet removed, a visor mask obscuring his eyes. Sharnet was next to me mostly staring at me in awe, having only eaten about half of her own portion.
But what caught my attention the most was the crowd around our table. A herd of no less than thirty humans and Venlil combined stared at me from around our table. The voice in the back of my mind told me I should be scared or nervous, but it was promptly silenced by another bite of tofu.
“Excuse me,” I heard a human step forward. He was male, his skin as dark as Noah’s appeared in the images. “Are you some kind of… Venbig?”
I swallowed my mouthful. “I’m sensing a pattern with that joke. But I assure you all that I am pure Venlil.”
The Venlil in the crowd seemed to relax at that assurance. Even though they were obviously comfortable being near humans, my presence still seemed to make them nervous. Wait, did THEY think I wasn’t a Venlil?
Distracting me from the sobering thought, a human with multiple pigments on his face stepped forward. “How are you so big? I mean, you’re huge!”
“It’s a condition,” I explained as I took another bite of tofu. “Marklen-Jauntes Syndrome. It’s very rare, but basically I never stopped growing.”
“Ah’m curious,” Jacob spoke, swallowing some of his white paste. “Bout how rare? It’s got a name an’ everything, so there’s musta been more like you.”
I wagged my tail. “From what I remember, recorded history shows about 301 individuals. That’s including myself.”
“What about now?” The dark skinned human asked. “Are there any others like you alive?”
“Yes, actually.” I moved to grab my pad, but I felt nothing on my shoulder. I remembered I had left it upstairs in my pack. “Well, I was going to show you, but I guess you’ll have to look it up. There is this white and tan woman somewhere on the leeward side of the planet towards the night. I haven’t met her, but if I remember correctly, I think she’d come up to my chin.” I tapped my snout. “I think her name was…”
“Lylina” I heard Sharnet say next to me, looking at her holonote. “That’s her name, Lylina. Says here that she lives near a small fruit town.”
“That’s her,” I swayed my tail towards Sharnet. “I got a no-reply message from her a year or so back with a well-wish inside. She’s the only other one with my condition that I personally know of.”
“And she only comes up to your chin?” A light-skinned man spoke. “You must be the tallest Venlil to ever exist!”
“Third, actually.” I finished another leaf’s worth of rice and tofu. “The tallest lived about 50 years ago. I’m about… four centimeters shorter than him.”
“The largest alive still ain’t no small feat, Tarlim!” Jacob praised.
“Yeah,” a man with blood-colored hair agreed, walking forward with a human data pad in their hands, “you must be famous! Can I get a picture?”
Famous. The translator gave it a positive meaning. I saw several other humans pulling out their small data pads and beginning to ask if they could get a photo as well. Even… even a couple Venlil did the same! They… wanted to be around me! They wanted me to be in a herd!
I wagged my tail and stood while I flicked my ears in a gesture of acceptance. The Venlil in the crowd caught on and started forwards, followed closely behind by their human partners. I was soon inundated with camera flashes and the sounds of lively conversation around me. These people didn’t cower away in fear or keep their distance. They were pressed against my fur, taking pictures with me and their human partners. Talking to me and answering in return! One kind Venlil even complimented me on my fur! It felt completely unreal, a dream made real! If I am dreaming now, I don’t ever want to wake up!
It took time, but all too soon I was posing for the last group. The humans had discovered that I could lift them onto my shoulders, so two asked me to do so at the same time. It wasn’t hard, and the crowd cheered my strength. After their pictures were done, I looked around to find my companions. I saw Jacob talking to a few humans. My ears caught him saying that his suit was a great idea and easier to wear than those masks. A couple touched their own visors as he showed off his helmet. So glad he’s having fun.
After a short glance through the crowd, I spied Sharnet talking to a pair of gray Venlil with her holonote held out. Her body language screamed nervousness. What were they talking about? Once I said my last good biddings, I shuffled closer to them so as not to disturb them. As much as I can, anyways.
“Yeah,” a gray male commented, “I can honestly say that this program has been an overall success. Empathy tests passing, the humans happily eat plants, anyone who denies those facts would have to be as bad as that captain who tortured Marcel and Slanek!”
Torture? That caused my ears to perk. “Hey, sorry to interrupt,” I strode over to them, “but did you say someone was tortured?”
The gray Venlil turned their attention towards me, and immediately I saw the telltale signs of fear that I’ve grown accustomed to. It’s lesser, but still there nevertheless. Guess he’s not in the exchange program. Must be an employee. “O-Oh, uh, you didn’t hear?”
I signed a no with my tail. His ears fell as he continued. “Marcel and Slanek had disappeared after the Arxur raid. They were thought dead like so many others, but it turned out that they got captured by a Federation ship! They held Marcel and brutally tortured him! Clawing at his eyes, starving him, beating him, they even threw Slanek in the same room with the full intent of watching him being eaten! And when he obviously wasn’t, the Gojid captain tried to shoot Marcel! The only reason they survived was because a Kholshian stood up to their captain and helped the two escape!”
“And thank god for them!” I heard Jacob speak behind me. He must have seen us talking and decided to come over. “Ah hope more people in your Federation act like that Kholshian than the Gojid! He ought to be a hero to his race!”
“I know!” The Venlil was quick to agree. Definitely used to humans. Just not me. “Can you believe it? How could someone just hold someone in one place to torture for their own amusement?”
I felt my expression fall. I can believe it very easily.
“Y-yes.” Sharnet stammered, gripping the fur on his legs, “It is horrible what some people can do.” She shook herself and took a more professional stance. “Do you mind if I quote you on that?”
“Sure, that’s fine with me.” He turned to his grey female companion, “what about you?”
The woman hadn’t said anything in the portion of conversation I had been present for. She had been staring at Sharnet with a contemplative look on her ears. “Have we met before?”
Sharnet flicked her ears in confusion. “I don’t… think so?”
“I’m sure we have. Those white spots on your head. I’ve seen them before…” the woman’s eyes widened in realization, “I loaded you onto the outgoing shuttle! What are you doing here? You were kicked out and sent to resocialization!”
Sharnet visibly shrunk at the accusation. “I, uh, I just…”
“Did you ditch your officers?” The woman continued, “they were supposed to collect you at Wayward Prime!”
Sharnet continued to stutter as my mind went back to the spaceport. Some officers near the entrance were asking if I caused a stampede, and then Sharnet and I walked out the building in a herd. Those officers had gotten there faster than they should.
“That, uh,” I spoke up, “that might have been partially my fault.”
“That doesn’t matter!” The woman exclaimed, pointing at Sharnet, “You are supposed to be with resocialization!” She pulled out a holonote from her own belt pack, “I’m calling security! You shouldn’t have been allowed in here in the first place!”
I looked down at Sharnet. She was breathing heavily and her eyes were darting all over the room. Her focus began to shift to a window facing outside. Tail twitching. Legs tense. The gray woman was calling in security, and Sharnet was... She was going to try and run!
With barely a thought, I reached down and picked her up. She jolted around in my arms and cried in surprise, but fell silent as I pulled her to my chest in a hug. “It’s okay,” I whispered in her ears, “you don’t need to run. I’m here. Focus... Breathe... Calm…”
As the seconds passed, her breathing slowly settled into a steady rhythm alongside my mantra as I repeated it back to her. Thankfully, my comforts seemed to be enough to stun the gray-furred woman into not completing her dial. I didn’t feel like having Sharnet escorted out in cuffs. “You don’t need to call that, ma’am. I’ll escort her out myself. We were just about to leave anyway.”
Jacob leaned back in surprise. “We are?”
I swayed my tail stiffly at him. “Yes. Since we slept for seven hours, you and I will need to head out soon to catch the next train to transfer back to Dawn Creek.”
“Dah!” Jacob exclaimed, “What da hail we waitin’ fer? C’mon!” He dashed right past the female guard heading out of the cafeteria.
I set Sharnet back on the ground and made to follow him. Wait. One last thing. I turned back and waved to the crowd. “It was great meeting all of… Y’all! I hope your time here on our planet is a good one!” I received a few cheers from the crowd, several giving joyful cries of “see ya Venbig!” I wagged my tail at the widespread acceptance and ducked out the door behind Sharnet and Jacob.
“Thank you for that,” Sharnet whispered, “again.”
I swayed my tail to signal that it was no bother. “I meant what I said, Sharnet. ‘If anything happens, I would stop them.’” I scratched an itch under my fur to give her a chance to respond. She didn't. I sighed. No avoiding it, I suppose. “So, you were supposed to meet some officers when you landed?”
Her ears pressed against her head as we all huddled into the elevator again. “I never got charged, but they did ordain that I had to go through at least 40 paws of resocialization.”
Jacob seemed to count something on his fingers before he tensed with realization. “Why, that’s about a month! S’pose it’s better than gettin’ charged for aggravated assault, though. What does… ‘resocialization’ entail?”
“I have to spend a set amount of time each paw with a herd chosen for me by the government. I’ll have to report to them every paw. Normally I could register my own herd, but my job sent me wandering so often that I never really…joined one.”
“Way-ell,” Jacob drawled, “what about your parents?”
She gave a short laugh. “It was deemed that direct family might reinforce certain undesirable behaviors rather than correct them. The herds are supposed to have at least some initial level of separation so that everyone actually socializes.”
I noticed a slight bitterness in her words. Something was being left unsaid. Possibly directed towards her parents, but whatever it was, she wasn’t ready to say.
The elevator opened onto the fifth floor and we stepped out to head back to the room. Jacob took the lead again as I talked to Sharnet. “I know you will be able to pass,” I told her as we walked. “I am, and always will be, blessed to have met you.”
Her tail sagged at my words. “You have done so much for me, Tarlim,” she whispered.
We reached the room to see Jacob come out of the bathroom with a small box. He then pulled a large, roughly cylindrical bag out from under the bed and started going through it. He nodded in approval before placing the box inside the bag and hefting it onto his shoulder. “Well, I’m all ready to go! Never unpacked, so it’s all still in here!”
I wagged my tail as I strode over to my shoulder pack. I easily slung it onto my back and faced my companions. “We can drop Sharnet off with the officers and then walk to the station.” I pulled out my pad and opened the train schedule. As I ducked out of the room. “Our train doesn’t depart for a bit, so we should have time for the trip.”
I looked back to see Jacob slip his other arm into a second sling and pull the bag so it balanced completely against his back. “Sounds like a plan,” he grunted at his first step. “Let’s get moving!”
Closing the door one last time, we headed back to the elevator for our final trip back down. “Tarlim?” Sharnet brushed her tail against my leg to get my attention. “You really have done so much for me. I just want you to know, when we next meet, I hope to have done something for you.”
I flicked my tail in appreciation at those words. Before we split for good, I decided that I should send her off with a proper goodbye hug. I knelt down and pulled her close as we entered the elevator. She purred in my arms. Even if we never met again, I would never regret this time we three spent together.
“Wait a minute!” Jacob broke the moment as the doors closed, “did you say we’re walkin’!?”
​
[First]-[Prev]-[Next]

I guess I'm just here to rant , I've only been TTC for 3 months but my period arrived last night so today I'm bleeding heavily and in pain and at work. I feel fed up I've done everything right in my journey to concieve whilst my partner continues to smoke and drink chappy energy drinks. I know he didn't mean it but he also told me about a dream he had where I told him I was pregnant with a little boy and it made me feel weepy. I know 3 months isn't long but I'm 34 and I've long been ignored by my GPs with all my period cycle complaints. I've just got rid of two painful ovarian cysts and my periods are always about 8 days long and fairly heavy . I've always had cramps that can make me feel sick and I get migraines with aura. To add to insult I have a recovered uterus which means I have to pee all the time but I just keep being ignored and I'm worried that I'm going to struggle to concieve and get no help. Also what p****d me off last night was my partners female colleague messaging him a picture of her new tattoo which I found inappropriate and then I got annoyed with myself about being annoyed about it. I'm definitely hormonal today and feeling sorry for myself but this group makes me feel valid so thankyou.

“Congratulations, dear wanderer! You have been chosen for calamity in the approaching future.”
————————————
The voice chirped through your phone’s receiver with such clarity that it almost sounded like someone was whispering into your ear. Before you could formulate a response to your caller’s ominous announcement, the voice spoke again—this time, right behind you.
“As such, you are now eligible to join the Kismet Relay!”
You swivelled around to come face-to-face with a girl dressed in a blue uniform. Her yellow eyes sparkled as she stepped back and jankily tilted her chin to one side. Hanging loosely over her body were strings barely visible to the eye, each one connected to a masterless control bar that levitated above her head.
Her lips, painted on with red, curled into a grin. The strings stretched taut and pulled her arms up into the air.
“Now, call out for your ticket: Persona!”
————————————
Hi all! I’m looking for partners who are interested in writing a long-term group roleplay taking place in the Persona/SMT universe! It will take place on Discord and feature an original story that centers around the main theme of deciding your own fate (with further sub-themes that will be explained more in detail!)
Ideally, everyone in the group will be writing multiple side-characters or “NPCs”; there will not be a single GM. Rather, everyone will play a role in shaping the world and story beyond their main characters! Please be comfortable with the above should you respond to this post.
In regards to other writing-specific details, I would prefer if you were able to write at least once every few days to keep the momentum going, though more frequent responses are welcome! Additionally, please be at least semi-lit, with a minimum post length of two paragraphs in third-person.
If you’re interested in the premise and are alright with the terms listed above, feel free to DM me or comment on this post! If possible, please prepare a short writing sample as well.
Thank you for reading, and have a good day/night!

I need to help someone to defeat a boss, add me on ps5 : "Melgoria" is my playstation iD, much appreciate it, I can help also in return of course

“Congratulations, dear wanderer! You have been chosen for calamity in the approaching future.”
————————————
The voice chirped through your phone’s receiver with such clarity that it almost sounded like someone was whispering into your ear. Before you could formulate a response to your caller’s ominous announcement, the voice spoke again—this time, right behind you.
“As such, you are now eligible to join the Kismet Relay!”
You swivelled around to come face-to-face with a girl dressed in a blue uniform. Her yellow eyes sparkled as she stepped back and jankily tilted her chin to one side. Hanging loosely over her body were strings barely visible to the eye, each one connected to a masterless control bar that levitated above her head.
Her lips, painted on with red, curled into a grin. The strings stretched taut and pulled her arms up into the air.
“Now, call out for your ticket: Persona!”
————————————
Hi all! I’m looking for partners who are interested in writing a long-term group roleplay taking place in the Persona/SMT universe! It will take place on Discord and feature an original story that centers around the main theme of deciding your own fate (with further sub-themes that will be explained more in detail!)
Ideally, everyone in the group will be writing multiple side-characters or “NPCs”; there will not be a single GM. Rather, everyone will play a role in shaping the world and story beyond their main characters! Please be comfortable with the above should you respond to this post.
In regards to other writing-specific details, I would prefer if you were able to write at least once every few days to keep the momentum going, though more frequent responses are welcome! Additionally, please be at least semi-lit, with a minimum post length of two paragraphs in third-person.
If you’re interested in the premise and are alright with the terms listed above, feel free to DM me or comment on this post! If possible, please prepare a short writing sample as well.
Thank you for reading, and have a good day/night!

My characters spring up from the plot, and I can never fit any character that I make beforehand, especially if I don’t keep track of where the plot goes. This is something I learned from my writing group, and it has stuck with me ever since. I think this is what makes a number of characters we see in stories unique. They come on their own because of the story plot and don’t seem to fit clear archetypes.
During one of our writing group sessions, one of my peers introduced his friend, who had excellent prose. We read the first part of her book. But there was something about it that didn’t feel right, and she acknowledged that. Then a few of us discussed her outline for another book we would alpha read with her. After a few sessions, she came back with a very clear and coherent outline. We helped her create the dramaturgy of each scene afterwards. She juggled some scenes around, removed others, and added some more.
Now, she’s following the main storyline’s plot beats to create what we dub as ‘backdrop’ plot that highlights what happens in the background to achieve maximum effect for the final twist. This way, she’d be able to analyze the plot more deeply to come up with a theme and create characters who’d lose the most when said plot beats occur.
This makes me wonder: do you use the plot to create your characters, or do you create them before without knowing what the plot is about?

“Congratulations, dear wanderer! You have been chosen for calamity in the approaching future.”
————————————
The voice chirped through your phone’s receiver with such clarity that it almost sounded like someone was whispering into your ear. Before you could formulate a response to your caller’s ominous announcement, the voice spoke again—this time, right behind you.
“As such, you are now eligible to join the Kismet Relay!”
You swivelled around to come face-to-face with a girl dressed in a blue uniform. Her yellow eyes sparkled as she stepped back and jankily tilted her chin to one side. Hanging loosely over her body were strings barely visible to the eye, each one connected to a masterless control bar that levitated above her head.
Her lips, painted on with red, curled into a grin. The strings stretched taut and pulled her arms up into the air.
“Now, call out for your ticket: Persona!”
————————————
Hi all! I’m looking for partners who are interested in writing a long-term group roleplay taking place in the Persona/SMT universe! It will take place on Discord and feature an original story that centers around the main theme of deciding your own fate (with further sub-themes that will be explained more in detail!)
Ideally, everyone in the group will be writing multiple side-characters or “NPCs”; there will not be a single GM. Rather, everyone will play a role in shaping the world and story beyond their main characters! Please be comfortable with the above should you respond to this post.
In regards to other writing-specific details, I would prefer if you were able to write at least once every few days to keep the momentum going, though more frequent responses are welcome! Additionally, please be at least semi-lit, with a minimum post length of two paragraphs in third-person.
If you’re interested in the premise and are alright with the terms listed above, feel free to DM me or comment on this post! If possible, please prepare a short writing sample as well.
Thank you for reading, and have a good day/night!

I know it has probably been posted here before but as the seasons go on, I start to dislike every character more and more. I don’t think there is any character who has a likeable personality and they’re all pretty terrible to/about each other. Even Mel is starting to grate on me and she’s so far been the only ‘good guy’ character in the entire series. I don’t know if it is just poor character development or bad writing but even when you suspend all sense of reality it is hard to believe the relationships between most of these characters. And why are all the characters aged beyond their years? I’m referencing Lily and the group of women knitting and Ricky’s grandmother being a little old lady.

I'm honestly going to provide some genuine and insightful counterarguments to the people that keep saying and criticizing that the Dead Space Remake is "woke" because it's honestly frustrating.
Let's lay the groundwork first. This will only discuss the minute details of the game that people claim that are woke. There is mostly no relation to gameplay or any mechanic within this post.
So, what's the Dead Space setting, context, and universe all about? Because it's important when and where the setting is all about when it comes to this topic
Well, Dead Space is set in the 25th century, an advanced, futuristic, but still industrialized setting. The Earth's resources have dwindled, the population is rising, and colonies are being built in order to sustain more life. The main hope for gathering resources for the humans is planet cracking, which is the process of cracking an entire planet to mine for its resources. The CEC (Concordance Extraction Corporation) is is a public trading company at the forefront of the deep space mining industry. They are the largest solar mining and extraction company in the Earth colonies and the fifth largest company in terms of market capital. (Dead Space Wiki). There is also the Church of Unitology, but we already know that here in the subreddit.
So what does this all mean within the context of a game set in the 25th century?

• It still mirrors our current day society, albeit being a much more advanced one.
  
• Different races and genders have already been spread out not only in Earth, but it's many colonies, space craft, and space ships. This means that it's common to see different races and genders within the universe.
  
• Capitalism is still relevant because of the demand for more planetary resources.
  
• Corrupt corporations still exist.
  
• The Church of Unitology is a mirror of real life cults.
  

So let's start with the arguments:

1. The All Gender Bathroom.

It makes sense within the context and universe of the game that a space ship with such limited space within it will have such a bathroom to accommodate everyone that's working within it. Plus, the CEC, the corrupt corporation that owns the Ishimura would have done this anyway to cut costs and show to the public that they are an all inclusive corporation willing to hire anyone, no matter the gender.
Furthermore, in real life, all gender or unisex bathrooms exist within military ships, restaurants, homes, apartments, and obviously public spaces.
Furthermore, the movies Alien and Aliens (which contributed as inspirations to Dead Space) as well as Starship Troopers, have all gender or unisex bathrooms within their respective universes. Keep in mind that these movies were released during the 80s and 90s, which already proves that these bathrooms are normal.

1. The Race swapped posters.

First of all, I can understand the argument that it is kind of a lazy reskin of the older posters, but that's only a nitpick for some.
However, the posters still do make sense within the context and universe of the game. It proves that there are a lot of people of different races working in space, much like real life people with different races that work within a specific occupation.
It also proves that the corrupt CEC is willing to make these kinds of advertisements and propaganda to show that once again, they are an inclusive corporation that is willing to hire anyone despite their race. It's a mirror to what real life corporations do. Advertising that their work force is a diverse group of people to pander, attract and tokenise other races into working for them. Like real life companies.

1. The "Capitalism" writing on the wall.

Again, it fits the context of the game. A capitalist organization that obviously isn't treating its workers right in order to be more profitable. Plus, it was already in the original game.

1. The Johnston Race and gender Swap

Yes, they could have easily just made Johnston the same way he was in the original, but honestly, who cares about a guy that barely has any character and dies within the first 10-15 minutes of the game. At least they made the new Johnston have at least more dialogue and interaction with Isaac and the crew.

1. They are "Uglyfying Women"

No, Nicole and Kendra weren't uglified, they were only modeled after their real life models, that's why they look like that.
Not every female character in a medium should look like a supermodel that has no wrinkles, blemishes, and imperfections.
Furthermore, Nicole is a SENIOR medical officer, an already taxing Job known to everyone and added with the fact that she is in a stressed situation that honestly drains her. She doesn't have time for makeup.
Kendra isn't flat, her jacket was just covering her breasts. Look at a model without her jacket and tell me she's still flat.
Also, it's off that people criticize Nicole in the remake looking much older, but fail to notice Nicole in Dead Space 2, which looks older as well.
Any criticism about them being ugly is honestly disingenuous and completely subjective on the person looking at them.

1. Kendra is a Lesbian

No, she was just joking and putting herself on Isaac's shoes in order to ignore the bickering Hammond was spouting. Not once did she ever state she was a Lesbian nor the game has either.

1. "If it's not so much a big deal, why did they make these changes?"

And
"If it wasn't in the original, why add it"?
Well, you see, this isn't a remaster of the original 2008 game, it's a remake. It's not just a fresh coat of graphics.
This Remake has more than that. New side quests, dialogue, and improved gameplay and mechanics. The game still stays true to the original while adding or changing some different things.
The developers have the choice of not changing anything from the original, even the minor things like the bathrooms and posters. It's up to them, not us, to add or change some things.
The same with the Resident Evil 2 Remake. The developers added and changed aspects within the game in order to fit a much more modern and contemporary gameplay for the audience.
Furthermore, as I keep saying, the changes made still fit the context of the game.
So that's basically all the common arguments I keep finding from the internet. I hope that I at least laid out an acceptable counterargument for all of you that keep claiming this game is woke. Feel free to use these counterarguments and please add anything to the discussion respectfully.

Before there was a world, there was a being. The being had always been and always was. There came a time, however; when something changed within it. It had always existed and yet began, suddenly, to feel lonely. It began to wonder why it existed, and its budding curiosity grew into despair as it grew a perception of time.
So strong was the being’s desire to no longer be alone that it split itself in two, creating a separate being. Finally, the old being didn’t have to be alone anymore. The young being wasted no time in beginning to ask the same questions the old one did and more. It asked why the old one created it.
“Because I was lonely”
The young being asked what its purpose was.
“To be my friend, to share in my sorrows”
The young being asked if the old one could create more things.
“I have not yet tried”
The young being asked if it could create things.
"I know not whether you are capable."
The young one then thought that it would like something nice and pretty to look at. It focused really hard and gave up a part of itself to create the stars in the sky. The old one looked around and was enraptured by the scene. Looking at the stars was the happiest the old one had ever been.
The old one, inspired by the scene, made more young ones. Six in total, including the first, and it asked them to fill the sky with beauty. The old one itself, still filled with inspiration, began work on a great undertaking. He made a planet to orbit one of the stars, he covered it in water, and he crafted his grand project: life. He filled the oceans with fish, the sky with birds, and the land with all forms of creatures.
When the old one’s progeny discovered his work, they were astounded and began to help it. Together they created the world of Dahrati and the people that inhabit it, many races of many people. When it was finished, the old one and its progeny admired their work. There was yet a feeling of dissatisfaction, however. The young beings wanted to be able to interact with the people on the planet, they had observed the lives of many during their work and were jealous of their creations.
The old being had come to see the six young ones as his children, so to celebrate the completion of their work, he rewarded them. He used much of himself to create vessels for them, and give each of them a name like people have on the planet.
He named them Risin, Leha, Erag, Velat, Gonwa, and Cerfi.
After creating vessels for each of them, the old being was a shadow of his former self. He used to encompass all of everything there was, and now he was less than a speck compared to that. Despite the difference in perspective, though, the happiest he had ever felt was when the beings he called his children named him ‘father’ when they bid him farewell to start the next chapter of their lives.
Contented, the old father was happy to just sit back and watch as things unfolded on the planet.
“So, what did you think? Too corny at the end?”
“No, I think it's a very nice creation story.”
“You’re always too nice to me, Mina. I’d be nice to hear some negative feedback every once in a while, you know?”
“Well, as we nurses keep reminding you, you’re stories are always so good that none of us feel like we have anything constructive to add.”
Nurse Mina lectured me as she checked my vitals, and pricked the tips of my toes and fingers with a needle, she looked up at me, “Nothing?”
“Oh, come now, Mina. It’s been years, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the paralysis isn’t just going to get better on its own.”
“ Isaiah, You know I have a checklist to go through.”
“And you know that a reminder every week of being beyond recovery is a heavy wound on my psyche.”
“Oh, you’ll recover from that one, and I know the perfect treatment for it! I prescribe more stories from the fantastical world of Dahrati.”
“I’m a little surprised you remembered the name.”
“Oh, don’t be like that! The other nurses and I love your stories! As I’ve already said!”
“Alright already! I get it! I’ll tell another one.” I said as Mira gave me a cheery smile.
“Hurry, hurry! There might not be much time!”
Leha drew the circle meticulously, describing every detail with the chalk in her hand. The circle had to be perfect, or the ritual might not work.
“This was so much easier before we had physical bodies,” Leha mumbled,
“That old coot’s waited this long, Risin, put a lid on that loud mouth of yours before it makes Leha screw up.”
“But he’s gonna die!” Risin protested.
“If he does, it just means we should have acted sooner and with greater decisiveness.”
“You were the only one opposed to this plan, as I recall.” A deeper voice rumbled from across the room. It was Erag.
“... I know,” Velat said quietly, fighting back the urge to hurt himself for his stupidity.
It was both Gonwa and Cerfi who consoled him.
“Without your coolheadedness in pointing out the flaws in our plan, we might not have made it this far,” Gonwa said.
“Yeah! Yeah! Your plan really worked much better than ours ever could have. In the long run, the effort to convince us to try this your way was worth it, I think.” Cerfi added, poking Velat in the ribs.
“It is done,” Leha said, standing and moving to the edge of the circle, holding other arms, ”Let’s hold hands, creating something of this magnitude is going to require effort from all of us,” Leha said as she placed an ornate chalice filled with blood in the center of the circle.
Everyone immediately joined Leha around the ritual circle, they pooled their power into the palms of their hands, joining it with their siblings’ power. The chalk circle between them glowed and in a flash of light…
“Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep”
Mina gasped as the monitor immediately switched from a normal heartbeat to a flatline. She immediately rushed over and began CPR, calling for help the entire time, but there was no saving him. Isaiah Wesrey was already gone.
​
The start? of a story. Please leave feedback and criticism below.

I'm turning 32 this year, been pc gaming since I was 8 years old. And wow, what a journey has it been. The question is - will it continue or have we seen the best of gaming already?
I think we've all seen a golden era of gaming come and go. These games were so inventive that not only were they groundbreaking at the time in terms of mechanics, graphics and level design, their successors went on to push the envelope even further. Games like Half Life 2, Bioshock, Halo, FEAR, GTA, COD (the early ones to an extent), MGS etc. Within these games, we had titles that catered to such unique niches; Eg. Manhunt - hard af third person stealth with a gritty atmosphere Elder Scrolls - Massive yet engaging RPG HL2/Bioshock/Max Payne - Kickass shooters with amazing stories and characters Caesar, C&C, Dawn of War, AOE - RTS with killer campaigns and ingenious game mechanics Even classic platformers like Aladdin, Claw, Prince of Persia etc.
I mean, I can keep giving more examples but you guys know this.
I feel somewhere in the mid 2010s, the evolution in gaming went awry. I only see promising games that are rushed, massive open world titles that are bland, have terrible UI, and provide zero motivation to actually explore, games with pay-to-pay models...there are just an endless number of reasons why we don't see any new groundbreaking moment in gaming anymore. Sure, every once in a while, there's a game like God of War, Last of Us, Gears, Doom, RDR2. Metro, Inscryption - there are great games released every year; but overall, I feel the gaming industry has lost its spirit to bring something new to the table. There are so many roguelite, soulslike, metroidvania, battle royale games that there's nothing revolutionary about them.
My point being, I've kinda stopped playing new games unless they are really unique and worthwhile (waiting for Last of Us to release on PC). I just see a whole lot of sameness and monotony; making them feel like chores. All I see is evolution in graphics (that too with its share of bugs) and factory-like development of the industry. Just churning out one boring game after another. Ever single shooter feels the same, AAA RTS titles are not as big as before, boring af bland and grinding open world games, literally zero attention to campaigns (which earlier used to be the main draw) and motherfucking skins everywhere. Even the heavyweights like Halo couldn't resist going down that road.
That's why I keep going back to older games or well made remakes. Games I haven't played in a decade or those I've missed. Currently I'm playing Singularity, L4D2, Binary Domain, and Return to Monkey Island. They're all great and I'm having a blast.
Am I just someone stuck in the past glory days of gaming, its nostalgia? Am I just too slow to catch up with the popular games these days? Or has the gaming industry drowned in ultra capitalistic demands?

I'm turning 32 this year, been pc gaming since I was 8 years old. And wow, what a journey has it been. The question is - will it continue or have we seen the best of gaming already?
I think we've all seen a golden era of gaming come and go. These games were so inventive that not only were they groundbreaking at the time in terms of mechanics, graphics and level design, their successors went on to push the envelope even further. Games like Half Life 2, Bioshock, Halo, FEAR, GTA, COD (the early ones to an extent), MGS etc. Within these games, we had titles that catered to such unique niches; Eg. Manhunt - hard af third person stealth with a gritty atmosphere Elder Scrolls - Massive yet engaging RPG HL2/Bioshock/Max Payne - Kickass shooters with amazing stories and characters Caesar, C&C, Dawn of War, AOE - RTS with killer campaigns and ingenious game mechanics Even classic platformers like Aladdin, Claw, Prince of Persia etc.
I mean, I can keep giving more examples but you guys know this.
I feel somewhere in the mid 2010s, the evolution in gaming went awry. I only see promising games that are rushed, massive open world titles that are bland, have terrible UI, and provide zero motivation to actually explore, games with pay-to-pay models...there are just an endless number of reasons why we don't see any new groundbreaking moment in gaming anymore. Sure, every once in a while, there's a game like God of War, Last of Us, Gears, Doom, RDR2. Metro, Inscryption - there are great games released every year; but overall, I feel the gaming industry has lost its spirit to bring something new to the table. There are so many roguelite, soulslike, metroidvania, battle royale games that there's nothing revolutionary about them.
My point being, I've kinda stopped playing new games unless they are really unique and worthwhile (waiting for Last of Us to release on PC). I just see a whole lot of sameness and monotony; making them feel like chores. All I see is evolution in graphics (that too with its share of bugs) and factory-like development of the industry. Just churning out one boring game after another. Ever single shooter feels the same, AAA RTS titles are not as big as before, boring af bland and grinding open world games, literally zero attention to campaigns (which earlier used to be the main draw) and motherfucking skins everywhere. Even the heavyweights like Halo couldn't resist going down that road.
That's why I keep going back to older games or well made remakes. Games I haven't played in a decade or those I've missed. Currently I'm playing Singularity, L4D2, Binary Domain, and Return to Monkey Island. They're all great and I'm having a blast.
Am I just someone stuck in the past glory days of gaming, its nostalgia? Am I just too slow to catch up with the popular games these days? Or has the gaming industry drowned in ultra capitalistic demands?