#long ass posts

[bc-johnson]

IP Freely

One of the really interesting things about this WotC / OGL thing (if it ends up coming to pass), is how it exposes a way they’ve shot themselves in the foot. I mean, other than the obvious.

Since you can’t copyright game mechanics (though I’m sure they’ll try to sue everyone anyway), D&D has two things remaining: brand recognition, and IP.

Their brand recognition is going to be the real hurdle, because it’s stronger now than anytime in the past, really. They’re about as close to mainstream as they’ve ever been. They got a Chris Pine movie coming out. They’re in the “generic” phase of popularity, where “playing D&D” is shorthand for the entire tabletop experience in all but the minds of the nerdliest of nerds (I include myself in this group, Deadlands4Ever!).

I’m not sure surmounting the brand recognition is possible for any new game (at least not on a short time scale), which is where the battle is going to be fought. Pathfinder has the strongest play, probably, if they can survive the legal fees they’re about to be assailed with. Sounds like Kobold Press is making some moves, too, and more power to them. Good luck, everyone.

However, WotC could have had an enormous second weapon in their arsenal, one they’ve systematically dismantled since around 3rd edition: their IP. Nowadays, I doubt many new players know anything about the D&D IP, and I don’t mean that in a grognard / gatekeepy way. I mean, the company used 3rd, 4th, and much of 5th (with exceptions) to wipe their own IP away in the name of ease of use. Which obviously worked for them - they clearly have the new player base they were looking for.

But, believe it or not, D&D used to have big iconic characters. Elminster and Tanis Half-Elven and the Dragon of Tyr. Fiction books on the best seller list. Spinoff game lore books in the dozens about each setting, packaged in full boxes with maps. Branded video games that introduced huge groups of non-dice rollers to places like Baldur’s Gate and Sigil. They had a mainstream Saturday morning cartoon show, for chrissakes.

Somewhere around 3e, though (when WotC took over), they started to seem embarrassed of their own IP. They released fewer novels, they alienated their own authors. They stopped making campaign settings (leaving 3rd parties to occasionally do it, but with little support or marketing), letting Dragonlance, Spelljammer, PlaneScape, Dark Sun, and Ravenloft wither on the vine. Generic Fantasy World A and B became the primary setting (Greyhawk in name only for 3e, the wildly beige “Points of Light” setting for 4e).

They certainly stopped trying to make movies or cartoons with their IP. Video games set in D&D worlds became thin on the ground, mostly just a half-hearted MMO no one remembers.

Why wasn’t there a Drizzt movie or cartoon? According to Telegram, the character sold 35 million novels and was on the New York Times Best Seller list dozens of times.

5e tried to make a course-correction. In the rulebooks, you started to see names like “Bruenor Battlehammer” in rules examples instead of the generic “Tordek” and “Mialee.” Curse of Strahd was probably the strongest IP exercise, single-handedly resurrecting Ravenloft and one of the brand’s most iconic villains for millions of new players.

But even these attempts have been lacking any real teeth. Ravenloft eventually got an anemic “Van Richten’s Guide” fully five years after Curse of Strahd became popular, a book that lacked sufficient detail for a true campaign setting - or sufficient flavor to excite newcomers. Dark Sun remains on a shelf. Dragonlance only recently started getting attention, but even those books have been premade campaigns pretending to be campaign settings. Spelljammer is probably their most notable effort in 5e, which actually came with multiple setting books, probably a callback to the heyday of Spelljammer (when D&D loved introducing you to new worlds).

But this isn’t about campaign setting books, though that shit contributes.

It’s more that WotC spent the past two and a half decades making D&D as generic as humanly possible, without all of the flavor and characters of their most interesting settings, and burying all of their actually valuable IP.

And now that people are looking to jump ship, the company has nothing more than branding to lean on.

I hate to say “I told you so,” but, well, shit. Turns out all those cool stories and settings hundreds of people worked on and millions of people loved had some value or whatever.

[uncooldotcom]

on god, someone will die if i see one more heritage post

[realrogerhours]

Thoughts About White Knuckle

Short version; I really enjoy several aspects of this title, primarily the aesthetics and the game design, the primary gameplay loop is addictive and it's got its hooks in me

long version;

Gamer disclosure; I have only reached the Pipeworks a couple times, not like a super speed gamer yet so I keep falling in the meat, keep this in mind

I'll break this down into three segments; atmosphere, game mechanics, and game design

Atmosphere;

The restricted colour palette in the deep storage and silo areas makes the game feel very daunting at first and allows you to get familiar with the mechanics in a low-distraction environment, which is complimented by the lack of music. These also build up a nice, thick atmosphere to start out with, acclimating the player to the setting without having to have some dipshit in your ear telling you about the war of 1997 or whatever while you try to focus on just climbing up

The fact that the colour palette and music both kick up as you're leaving the silos and deep storage really punctuates the fact that you made it out of the kiddie pool, you're in the real climber's world now, and it makes the feeling you get when you enter the pipeworks a little larger

The music itself feels just right, it's nice and grungy and has some crunch to it, I am a little unsure but I might be hearing some nice industrial influence in there

Game Mechanics;

This is a roguelite, you go on climbs and then sometimes you might unlock a little something for later, the layout of each segment is randomly chosen each time and items spawn random as well

What's a roguelite without things to do? Well, what you do is climb, you have TWO, count 'em, TWO hands, each has an independent stamina bar indicated by the hand turning red. You stop holding onto a handhold, your hand starts regenerating stamina, simple.

You can acquire various items to help your ascent go smoother, and you spawn with a hammer in your inventory, so you will find pitons and big rebar to throw and even rebar with, get this, rope on it. Use the hammer to apply force to pitons to make sure they stay, use the hammer to apply force to any creature trying to attack you, nice and simple

To keep the pressure on, there's a slowly rising mass of screaming and gibbering meat that is chasing you up the hole, keep climbing and you will eventually find some safe rooms to catch a breather. If you find any golden roaches then you can put them inside the vendors at safe rooms, and in some cases around the hole, to secure your generational bug wealth for later runs and to spend on useful items

Game Design;

Synthesis; Atmosphere, meet Game Mechanics, these two merge just right to form a gameplay loop that makes you want to go in for another run. It tells you when you reach a new highest height, or a new fastest climb, or even a new area, it always seems to tell you just what you need to know without explaining anything so as to preserve the joy of discovering

The fact that you are always under an amount of pressure lends this something that similar games like Lorn's Lure don't quite have; a reason to keep reaching for the top, it's less of a rage game in disguise and more of an active challenge. You want to keep going because you don't have much other option, it's either up or into the mass

These all swirl into a game that makes the next run an enticing option, you could always get higher next run, there's always a chance you'll make better moves and faster plays next time, or the item spawns will be closer to your playstyle

Overall;

i like the it

[my-cursed-prince]

Sunday Excerpts, Song Lyrics, No chill

Guys, I could be chill about this and be like here is one song.

But do I look like that sort of person? When have I ever been chill about anything ever?

No friends, instead, we are getting songs about Cherine and the people she’s intertwined together. Featuring: Azrail, Verity, Ray, Juni, and our beloved unaware Min. We’re also putting Jing’s arc in here. Why? Because, besides Azrail (who is Cherine’s literal cousin), he is the most intertwined. And because he’s my second favorite oc (Lao always gets first place). I just...really love him? Okay? I will die on this hill that Juni is amazing and deserves all the revenge <3

This will be a long-ass post, but it’s full of teasers for future arcs! Have fun. Ask me questions, and I may or may not answer you.

As always, anyone who wants to be added to the tag list, let me know!

@vsnotresponding @wheredidmymotivationgo

Cherine (Childhood to current arc)

Misfortune Seller Girl-Kikou  

Don’t do that, don’t do that,

Don’t treat her rough,

Don’t be mean–it’s an ordeal

Don’t do that, don’t do that

Don’t you think she’s had enough?

Why don’t you think of how she feels?

But you can only agree,

Can only agree,

She never takes a stand, has nothing to redeem,

Lonely as she dreams,

Gloomy so she seems,

That’s why she’s pure–but purely pathetic is she!

Sorrow, sorrow,

By selling sorrow, she can live a tomorrow,

She is wretched, she is wretched,

That’s the misfortune seller girl

Sorrow, sorrow

Sorrow, sorrow,

But even sorrow is a blessing if you know,

So unhappy, so unhappy,

That’s the misfortune seller girl,

Don’t do that, don’t do that,

Don’t do that, don’t keep her out,

Don’t be mean, or else you’ll see,

She will start to sprout,

She will start to sprout, 

Growing flowers of misery

Azrail (Prequel–Kai’s perspective of Azrail)

Must Have Been the Wind- Alec Benjamin

I heard a glass shatter on the wall in the apartment above mine,

At first I thought I that I was dreamin’

But then I heard the voice of a girl,

And it sounded like she’d been cryin’

Now I’m too worried to be sleepin’

So I took the elevator to the second floor,

Walked down the hall and then I knocked upon her door,

She opened up and I asked about the things I’ve been hearing.

She said, “I think your ears are playing tricks on you”

Sweater zipped up to her chin,

“Thanks for caring, sir, that’s nice of you,

But I have to go back in,

Wish I could tell you about the noise,

But I didn’t hear a thing”

She said “It must have been the wind, must have been the wind”

Azrail (Scattered Sunshine)

Groundhog Day- Em Beihold

All my friends are movin’ on,

Gettin’ hitched and then they’re gone,

And I’m alone

All alone

I’m in the same room as before,

With mom and dad right next door,

And I’m scared I might be here forever,

I love them but some ties need to be severed,

And I said I’d move out last year,

So why the hell am I still here? Oh, it’s easy to say I’m okay,

But this smile I’m wearin’ is fake,

I’m suffocation’

Livin’ Groundhog Day,

Day after day, day after day,

And I think I’m gonna break

Verity (Book 3)

I See Fire-Ed Sheeran

Oh, should my people fall,

Then surely I’ll do the same,

Confined in these mountain halls,

We got too close to the flame,

Calling out father oh, hold fast and we will,

Watch the flames burn on and on the mountain side,

Desolation comes upon the sky

Ray (When he is Eleven Years Old, also can be applied for end of We Lost our Sunshine-age about 16, 17, or 18. Depends on how much of a dumbass he is)

I See Fire-Ed Sheeran

And if the night is burning,

I will cover my eyes,

For if the dark returns then,

My brothers will die,

And as the sky’s falling down,

It crashed into this lonely town,

And with that shadow upon the ground,

I hear my people screaming out

Juni (We Lost Our Sunshine, Before he decides to help Wholesome Family)

Villain-Stella Jung (he’s having a crisis okay?)

I’m killing someone maybe,

You’re killing someone maybe,

I’m killing you maybe,

You’re killing me maybe,

We all pretend to be the heroes on the good side,

But what if we’re the villains on the other

Juni (We Lost Our Sunshine, he’s decided to help and now he has to out manipulate a pro manipulator)

Will you hold the line,

When every one of them has given up and given in? Tell me,

In this house of min,

Nothing ever comes without a consequence or a cost, tell me,

Will the stars align?

Will heaven step in? Will it save us from our sin, will it? ‘Cause this house of mine stands alone.

That’s the price you pay,

Leave behind your heart and cast away,

Just another product of today,

Rather be the hunter than the prey,

And you’re standing on the edge face up,

‘Cause you’re a natural,

A beating heart of stone,

You gotta be so cold,

To make it in this world,

Yeah, you’re a natural

Living your life cutthroat,

You gotta be so cold,

Yeah, you’re a natural

Juni (Scattered Sunshine, Beginning, I kid it’s really 24/7)

Oh my god-Alec Benjamin

Looking at the pictures I keep on my shelf,

‘Cause it’s been so long since I’ve looked like myself,

Burn another candle down,

Burn another candle down,

Running low on patience, running low on fumes,

I’m never gonna make it halfway to the moon,

But it’s too late to turn around,

I’m running out of oxygen,

I’ll never be the same again now,

Same again now,

Oh my god, I can’t remember,

Who I was just last December,

What have I done, how did I get here?

What have I done?

Juni (Scattered Sunshine, Middle to End)

Souvenir-Bump of Chicken (Juni X Wholesome Family-minus Ray, duh)

Walking, walking onward

Hurrying before I know it,

On this road to you,

Running, running onward

Feeling embarrassed,

Then walking again, on this road to you.

Placing a ribbon on each of the scenes my eyes picked out,

I’ll continue on my way home, collecting them like souvenirs,

The seasons greeted me and I picked up even more tears,

How should I begin to describe this way home you’ve given me?

Juni (Book 3)

Look What You Made Me Do-Taylor Swift (Most people who hear this song: think about their ex. Me: thinks about Juni’s revenge)

I don’t like your little games,

I don’t like your tilted stage,

The role you made me play the fool,

No, I don’t like you,

I don’t like your perfect crime,

How you laugh when you lie,

You said the gun was mine, 

Isn’t cool, no I don’t like you,

But I get smarter, I get harder in the nick of time,

Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time,

I got a list of names, and yours is in red underlined,

I check it once, then I check it twice,

Oh, look what you made me do

Min (Book 3)

Icarus-Bastille (before we panic about flying into the sun, I cut out the last two lines for a reason, Min is nothing if not the boy who almost flies into the sun. repeatedly. it’s his thing)

Look, who’s digging their own grave,

That is what they all say,

You’ll drink yourself to death,

Look who makes their own bed,

Lies right down within it

And what will you have left?

Out on the front doorstep,

Drinking from a paper cup,

You won’t remember this,

Living beyond your years,

Acting out all their fears,

You feel it in your chest,

Your hands protect the flames,

From the wild winds around you,

Icarus is flying too close to the sun,

And Icarus’ life, it has only just begun,

It’s just begun,

Standing on the cliff face,

Highest foe you’ll ever grace,

It scares me half to death,

Look out to the future,

But it tells you nothing,

So take another breath,

Your hands protect the flames,

 from the wild winds around you,

Icarus is flying too close to the sun,

And Icarus’s life, it has only just begun,

This is how it feels to take a fall,

Icarus is flying towards an early grave,

You put up your defenses when you leave,

You leave because you’re certain,

This is who you want to be,

You’re putting on your armor when you leave,

And you leave because you’re certain of who you want to be

[dreadpiratebroberts]

Ya know what movie I want? -Asked literally no one but Imma tell you anyway

A movie with a “villain” like Samual L Jackson’s character from Kingsmen, with a similar goal of ridding humanity of a shitton of people except instead of keeping all the rich, “pretty” Elitist people they just keep all the good people.

Like, they’re just like a Recent Comp Sci grad who “figured out a way to tell if someone is a terrible person or not and to what level.” (Obviously some of the movie would be exploring if this is even a possible concept or what makes a good or bad person), and it becomes like a really popular app and everyone’s taking this test but on a certain day people’s head just explode or some shit if they failed.

And the protagonist is originally motivated to wipe it out/stop the “villain” because like a close friend of their’s died because of this app but then finds out that person was a Neo-Nazi, or like some other similar shit, and then later we find out that Kyle personally killed Protagonist’s mother and like throughout the movie the protagonist just goes from like “MUST AVENGE KYLE” to “Well fuck, Kyle was a bad dude, but still wrong that he got killed” to “Okay, Kyle was the LITERAL WORST, maybe the world IS better off without him, but I gotta see what is the app’s basis for good/evil is”

Meanwhile the “villain” is on the run from like CIA/NSA/Secret Service Because technically they just killed the president and like, a metric shit ton of other officials, and that part of the movie is just like a comedy of errors as they just kinda luck their way away from these highly Trained, but non-millennial/GenZ, special forces operatives who are like “Shit, his computer is password protected, get someone from cyber down here now” while the creator is at a neighbours house and just sees the shit and the nice neighbours lady is like “oh, don’t go down that way dearie, I felt some bad juju in my knees, I lost them in the war you know? Had to dress up like a boy because back then they thought I couldn’t kick as much ass” and the creator eventually just like calls an Uber and goes to the airport or the bus station or some shit. And luck like that happens a lot, like he gets on the plane because the photo circulating of them is from like three years ago and they lost or gained some serious weight/muscle tone since then (like a Terry/Fat Terry situation from B99 I mean)

Anyway: I think I want:

Jim Beaver as the frustrated head of this inept task force, and I want him to go full Bobby with the roll

Betty White or Phylicia Rashad or both as the somehow always present grandmotherly figure

I have no idea who else I’d want to see and where if you have ideas for what is clearly going to be a masterpiece of Shakespearean proportions lemme know.

[squishyfruitloop]

I need y'all to learn how to use the goddamn READ MORE option on your fics. I'm sick of scrolling for years to get past it.

Like, Christ! It's not that hard to do! Fuck.

[astronsouls]

Sometimes

Do you ever feel like when your trying to scroll that you want to smach the words "read more button" on someones head because they don't realize that feature film exists? Like, you have to scroll through this huge post because they haven't found the amazing Read More optionm

[trash-lord-the-second]

If you make a super long post...

If there is no ‘read more’ to help it not clog up my dash, there is a 95% I will ignore it entirely and scroll past just to spite the post regardless of content My dinky net connection may die halfway and it screws with everything else loading because tumblr is a pile of stinking garbage.