Wanted to share our journey of building Tweetlio, our all-in-one solution for Twitter growth. It’s been a wild ride, full of ups, downs, and everything in between. We’re gunning for $10,000 MRR at launch, and we’re even throwing in a sweet 50% discount for our early adopters here on Reddit. Here’s the story.

How It All Started

So there we were, drowning in Twitter chaos. Crafting tweets, scheduling them, engaging with our audience—it was a full-time job. And let’s be real, we were failing at it. One night, my co-founder and I were ranting about how tough it was to keep up. That's when the idea for Tweetlio hit us. A tool that does all the heavy lifting for Twitter? Yes, please!

Building the MVP

We jumped in headfirst, coding like maniacs and surviving on coffee and ramen. Building Tweetlio wasn’t a walk in the park. We wanted it to write and craft tweets, schedule them, and even engage with followers. Oh, and let’s not forget the 10,000+ viral tweet database we included to help users get more traction.
The first version? Total mess. Bugs everywhere. But we kept at it, fixing one issue after another. We reached out to anyone who would listen, trying to get feedback and users. It was exhausting, but slowly, it started to come together.

Testing the Product Beta

Convincing people to try Tweetlio was tough. We got ghosted more times than I can count. But then we started getting some wins. Users were loving the auto-engagement features and the viral tweet database. Seeing tweets blow up and getting thank you messages felt amazing.
There were still setbacks. Our server crashed during a demo with a big potential client. Talk about embarrassing. But every failure taught us something, and we came back stronger.

Building Our Community

The real magic happened when we focused on our community. We started holding virtual hangouts, sharing tips, and celebrating each other’s wins. Some of our beta users have been using Tweetlio to grow their followers by crafting new tweets from our viral tweet database and scheduling them for optimal times. Seeing their follower counts increase and their engagement levels rise has been incredibly rewarding.

The Big Goal: $10,000 MRR

Now, we’re aiming high. We’re gunning for $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue at launch. It’s ambitious, but we believe in Tweetlio. To sweeten the deal, we’re offering a 50% discount to our early adopters here on Reddit. You guys believed in us first, and we want to give back.
We also thinking of giving on Product hunt the same offer and other place but still not sure. The Growth plan is of 99$

My Experience:

1. Embrace the Grind: Building something great takes time and effort. There will be long nights and setbacks, but keep pushing.
2. Listen to Feedback: Your users are your best resource. Listen to them, learn from them, and make improvements.
3. Build a Community: Engage with your users and create a space where they can connect and share.
4. Stay Resilient: Failures are part of the process. Learn from them and keep moving forward.
5. Believe in Your Vision: If you’re passionate about your idea, others will be too. Keep that fire burning.

Soory for any typo.
Thanks for reading, Reddit! If you’re looking to up your Twitter game, come check out Tweetlio. We’ve got your back.

Wanted to share our journey of building Tweetlio, our all-in-one solution for Twitter growth. It’s been a wild ride, full of ups, downs, and everything in between. We’re gunning for $10,000 MRR at launch, and we’re even throwing in a sweet 50% discount for our early adopters here on Reddit. Here’s the story.

How It All Started

So there we were, drowning in Twitter chaos. Crafting tweets, scheduling them, engaging with our audience—it was a full-time job. And let’s be real, we were failing at it. One night, my co-founder and I were ranting about how tough it was to keep up. That's when the idea for Tweetlio hit us. A tool that does all the heavy lifting for Twitter? Yes, please!

Building the MVP

We jumped in headfirst, coding like maniacs and surviving on coffee and ramen. Building Tweetlio wasn’t a walk in the park. We wanted it to write and craft tweets, schedule them, and even engage with followers. Oh, and let’s not forget the 10,000+ viral tweet database we included to help users get more traction.
The first version? Total mess. Bugs everywhere. But we kept at it, fixing one issue after another. We reached out to anyone who would listen, trying to get feedback and users. It was exhausting, but slowly, it started to come together.

Testing the Product Beta

Convincing people to try Tweetlio was tough. We got ghosted more times than I can count. But then we started getting some wins. Users were loving the auto-engagement features and the viral tweet database. Seeing tweets blow up and getting thank you messages felt amazing.
There were still setbacks. Our server crashed during a demo with a big potential client. Talk about embarrassing. But every failure taught us something, and we came back stronger.

Building Our Community

The real magic happened when we focused on our community. We started holding virtual hangouts, sharing tips, and celebrating each other’s wins. Some of our beta users have been using Tweetlio to grow their followers by crafting new tweets from our viral tweet database and scheduling them for optimal times. Seeing their follower counts increase and their engagement levels rise has been incredibly rewarding.

The Big Goal: $10,000 MRR

Now, we’re aiming high. We’re gunning for $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue at launch. It’s ambitious, but we believe in Tweetlio. To sweeten the deal, we’re offering a 50% discount to our early adopters here on Reddit. You guys believed in us first, and we want to give back.
We also thinking of giving on Product hunt the same offer and other place but still not sure. The Growth plan is of 99$

My Experience:

1. Embrace the Grind: Building something great takes time and effort. There will be long nights and setbacks, but keep pushing.
2. Listen to Feedback: Your users are your best resource. Listen to them, learn from them, and make improvements.
3. Build a Community: Engage with your users and create a space where they can connect and share.
4. Stay Resilient: Failures are part of the process. Learn from them and keep moving forward.
5. Believe in Your Vision: If you’re passionate about your idea, others will be too. Keep that fire burning.

Soory for any typo.
Thanks for reading, Reddit! If you’re looking to up your Twitter game, come check out Tweetlio. We’ve got your back.

Wanted to share our journey of building Tweetlio, our all-in-one solution for Twitter growth. It’s been a wild ride, full of ups, downs, and everything in between. We’re gunning for $10,000 MRR at launch, and we’re even throwing in a sweet 50% discount for our early adopters here on Reddit. Here’s the story.

How It All Started

So there we were, drowning in Twitter chaos. Crafting tweets, scheduling them, engaging with our audience—it was a full-time job. And let’s be real, we were failing at it. One night, my co-founder and I were ranting about how tough it was to keep up. That's when the idea for Tweetlio hit us. A tool that does all the heavy lifting for Twitter? Yes, please!

Building the MVP

We jumped in headfirst, coding like maniacs and surviving on coffee and ramen. Building Tweetlio wasn’t a walk in the park. We wanted it to write and craft tweets, schedule them, and even engage with followers. Oh, and let’s not forget the 10,000+ viral tweet database we included to help users get more traction.
The first version? Total mess. Bugs everywhere. But we kept at it, fixing one issue after another. We reached out to anyone who would listen, trying to get feedback and users. It was exhausting, but slowly, it started to come together.

Testing the Product Beta

Convincing people to try Tweetlio was tough. We got ghosted more times than I can count. But then we started getting some wins. Users were loving the auto-engagement features and the viral tweet database. Seeing tweets blow up and getting thank you messages felt amazing.
There were still setbacks. Our server crashed during a demo with a big potential client. Talk about embarrassing. But every failure taught us something, and we came back stronger.

Building Our Community

The real magic happened when we focused on our community. We started holding virtual hangouts, sharing tips, and celebrating each other’s wins. Some of our beta users have been using Tweetlio to grow their followers by crafting new tweets from our viral tweet database and scheduling them for optimal times. Seeing their follower counts increase and their engagement levels rise has been incredibly rewarding.

The Big Goal: $10,000 MRR

Now, we’re aiming high. We’re gunning for $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue at launch. It’s ambitious, but we believe in Tweetlio. To sweeten the deal, we’re offering a 50% discount to our early adopters here on Reddit. You guys believed in us first, and we want to give back.
We also thinking of giving on Product hunt the same offer and other place but still not sure. The Growth plan is of 99$

My Experience:

1. Embrace the Grind: Building something great takes time and effort. There will be long nights and setbacks, but keep pushing.
2. Listen to Feedback: Your users are your best resource. Listen to them, learn from them, and make improvements.
3. Build a Community: Engage with your users and create a space where they can connect and share.
4. Stay Resilient: Failures are part of the process. Learn from them and keep moving forward.
5. Believe in Your Vision: If you’re passionate about your idea, others will be too. Keep that fire burning.

Soory for any typo.
Thanks for reading, Reddit! If you’re looking to up your Twitter game, come check out Tweetlio. We’ve got your back.

To develop a custom WordPress website, plan your site structure and design. Next, install WordPress on your hosting server and choose a suitable theme or create a custom one. Customize the design and functionality using HTML, CSS, and PHP coding as needed. Add content, including pages, posts, and media, to populate your site. Finally, test your site thoroughly across different browsers and devices to ensure it functions correctly before launching it to the public.
What are the initial steps to create a personalized WordPress site?

1. Define your goals and objectives for the website.
2. Choose a suitable domain name for your WordPress site.
3. Select a reliable web hosting provider that meets your needs.
4. Install WordPress on your hosting server.
5. Choose a theme that aligns with your brand and design preferences.
6. Customize the theme settings and appearance to match your desired look and feel.
7. Create essential pages such as Home, About, Contact, and Services.
8. Install and configure necessary plugins for added functionality.
9. Set up user roles and permissions as per your requirements.
10. Develop a content strategy and plan for creating and organizing your website content.

Step-by-Step Guideline Develop a Custom WordPress Website

Step 1: Choose a Domain Name and Hosting
Your domain name is your website's address on the internet, like www.yoursite.com. Choose a domain name that's easy to remember, relevant to your brand, and not too long. Next, you'll need hosting, which is like renting space on the internet to store your website files. Look for a hosting provider that offers reliable service, good customer support, and enough storage and bandwidth for your needs.
Step 2: Install WordPress
WordPress is a popular platform for building websites because it's easy to use and highly customizable. Many hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation, which makes getting started a breeze. Simply log in to your hosting account, find the WordPress installer, and follow the prompts to set up your site. Once WordPress is installed, you can log in to your site's dashboard and start customizing it to your liking.
Step 3: Select a Theme
A WordPress theme determines the overall look and layout of your website. There are thousands of free and premium themes available, so take your time to find one that fits your style and the goals of your site. Look for a theme that's responsive (meaning it looks good on all devices), easy to customize, and well-supported by its developers. Once you've chosen a theme, you can install it on your WordPress site with just a few clicks.
Step 4: Customize Your Theme
Once you've installed your theme, it's time to customize it to make it your own. Most WordPress themes come with built-in customization options that allow you to change things like colors, fonts, and layouts without needing to know any code. Use the theme customizer in your WordPress dashboard to tweak your site's appearance until it looks just the way you want it to. Don't be afraid to experiment until you find the perfect look for your website.
Step 5: Add Content
With your theme customized, it's time to start adding content to your website. Create pages for important information like your Home page, About page, Services page, and Contact page. Use the WordPress editor to add text, images, videos, and other media to your pages. Write clear, engaging copy that tells visitors what your website is about and encourages them to explore further. Remember to proofread your content carefully before publishing to ensure it's free of errors.
Step 6: Install Plugins
WordPress plugins are like apps that add extra features and functionality to your website. There are thousands of plugins available for everything from contact forms to social media integration to search engine optimization. Think about the goals of your website and choose plugins that will help you achieve them. Be selective about the plugins you install, as too many can slow down your site and cause conflicts. Install and activate your chosen plugins from the WordPress plugin directory, then configure them to suit your needs.
Step 7: Optimize for SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving your website's visibility in search engine results. A well-optimized website is more likely to rank higher in search results, driving more traffic to your site. Install an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack to help you optimize your content for relevant keywords, add meta tags and descriptions, and improve your site's overall SEO performance. Take the time to research keywords relevant to your niche and incorporate them naturally into your content for the best results.
Step 8: Test and Launch
Before you launch your website, it's important to test it thoroughly to ensure everything is working correctly. Check your site on different devices and browsers to make sure it looks good and functions properly. Test all links, forms, and interactive elements to make sure they work as expected. Once you're confident that everything is working as it should, it's time to launch your website and share it with the world. Celebrate your hard work and take pride in your new custom WordPress website!
Step 9: Maintain and Update
Building a website is just the beginning – maintaining it is an ongoing process. Regularly update your content to keep it fresh and relevant, and update your plugins and themes to ensure your site stays secure and performs well. Monitor your site's performance using tools like Google Analytics, and make adjustments as needed to improve usability and user experience. Listen to feedback from your visitors and make changes accordingly to keep your website running smoothly and meeting the needs of your audience.
What do you consider to select hosting and a domain name for your WordPress site?
Firstly, you'll want to choose a hosting provider that offers good speed and reliability. Look for one that has a solid reputation and good customer support in case you run into any issues. Consider your budget too, as hosting costs can vary.
As for the domain name, it's important to choose something that's easy to remember and relevant to your site's content. Avoid using complicated or obscure words that might be hard for people to spell or remember. It's also a good idea to check if your desired domain name is available on social media platforms to maintain consistency across your online presence. Lastly, think about whether you want to use a .com, .net, or other domain extension, keeping in mind what best suits your site's purpose and audience.
How do you evaluate and choose a theme that suits your brand and design preferences?
Firstly, consider your brand identity and the message you want to convey to your audience. Look for a theme that aligns with the style, colors, and overall feel of your brand.
Next, think about the functionality you need. Do you want a theme that's highly customizable or one that's more straightforward? Consider features like layout options, customization options, and compatibility with plugins you might want to use.
It's also important to check the responsiveness of the theme. Make sure it looks good and functions well on various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Lastly, take some time to browse through different themes and read reviews from other users. This can give you a better idea of what to expect and help you make an informed decision that suits your brand and design preferences.
What essential pages should you create first?

• Homepage
• About Us/About Me
• Contact Page
• Products/Services Page
• Blog
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Legal Pages (Disclaimer, Copyright Notice, etc.)

How do you decide which plugins to install?

1. Identify Needs: Determine the specific functionality you require for your site.
2. Research: Look for plugins that offer the features you need.
3. Ratings and Reviews: Check plugin ratings and read user reviews to gauge reliability and performance.
4. Compatibility: Ensure the plugin is compatible with your WordPress version and other installed plugins.
5. Active Installations: Choose plugins with a high number of active installations for reliability and community support.

Example:

• Yoast SEO (for search engine optimization)
• Contact Form 7 (for creating contact forms)
• WooCommerce (for e-commerce functionality)
• Jetpack (for security, performance, and site management)
• WP Super Cache (for caching to improve site speed

How do you integrate custom features and functionalities into your WordPress site?
Integrating custom features and functionalities into your WordPress site involves adding extra capabilities beyond what comes with the standard installation. One way to do this is by using plugins. These are like apps for your website, and they can add all sorts of new features, from contact forms to e-commerce shops.
For example, let's say you want to add a feature for visitors to book appointments on your site. You could search for a booking plugin like "Bookly" or "Appointment Booking Calendar." After installing and activating the plugin, you'd typically set it up by following the provided instructions, which might involve configuring settings, creating booking forms, and placing them on your site where you want them to appear.
Another way to integrate custom features is by adding code directly to your site. This could involve writing your own custom functions or modifying existing ones. For instance, if you wanted to add a custom sidebar widget displaying your latest Instagram photos, you might need to write some PHP code to fetch the photos from Instagram's API and display them on your site.
In summary, integrating custom features and functionalities into your WordPress site can be done through plugins or by adding custom code, allowing you to tailor your site to your specific needs and preferences.
How do you manage user roles and permissions?
RoleCapabilitiesHow to Manage AdministratorCan do everything, including managing other users, installing plugins, and changing themes.Go to Users > All Users in the dashboard, find the user, and change their role to Administrator. EditorCan publish and manage posts, including those of other users.Go to Users > Add New, fill in user details, and assign the role of Editor. AuthorCan publish and manage their own posts only.In Users > All Users, select a user and change their role to Author. ContributorCan write and manage their own posts but cannot publish them.Add or edit a user and assign the role of Contributor. SubscriberCan only manage their own profile and read content.Change the user role to Subscriber in the Users section.
What security measures should you implement to protect your custom WordPress website?
To protect your custom WordPress website, you need to implement several security measures. Here are some specific steps:

1. Install a Security Plugin: Use plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri. They offer features like malware scanning and firewall protection.
2. Use Strong Passwords: Make sure all users have strong, unique passwords. A good password includes letters, numbers, and symbols.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security. Users will need to enter a code from their phone in addition to their password.
4. Keep WordPress Updated: Always update WordPress to the latest version. Updates fix security vulnerabilities.
5. Limit Login Attempts: Use a plugin like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded to prevent brute-force attacks.
6. Change the Default "admin" Username: Don’t use "admin" as your username. Choose something unique to make it harder for hackers to guess.
7. Use HTTPS: Get an SSL certificate to encrypt data between your website and visitors. Most hosting providers offer this for free.
8. Backup Your Site Regularly: Use plugins like UpdraftPlus to create regular backups. If your site gets hacked, you can restore it.

How do you ensure responsiveness and mobile-friendliness in a custom WordPress site?
To ensure your custom WordPress site is responsive and mobile-friendly, follow these steps:

1. Pick a Responsive Theme: Start with a theme known for being responsive, such as Astra or GeneratePress.
2. Use a Mobile-Friendly Plugin: Install plugins like WP Touch, which help make your site mobile-friendly.
3. Apply Media Queries: Add CSS media queries to adjust your layout for different screen sizes. For example:

(Css code)@media (max-width: 768px) {
.sidebar { display: none; }
.content { width: 100%; }
}

1. Flexible Images and Videos: Ensure images and videos resize properly with:

(Css code)img, video { max-width: 100%; height: auto; }

1. Mobile Menu: Use a plugin like Responsive Menu to create a user-friendly mobile menu.
2. Optimize for Speed: Compress images using a plugin like Smush and enable caching with a plugin like W3 Total Cache.
3. Testing: Regularly test your site on different devices and browsers. Tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and BrowserStack can help.

How do you troubleshoot and debug issues that arise during the development of a custom WordPress site?
Troubleshooting and debugging issues during the development of a custom WordPress site involves several steps. Here are some real-world challenges and specific issues you might encounter:

1. White Screen of Death (WSOD): This issue often occurs due to PHP errors, plugin conflicts, or exhausted memory limits. Solution: Enable WordPress debugging by adding define('WP_DEBUG', true); to your wp-config.php file to display error messages. Check the error log for specific issues.
2. Plugin Conflicts: Plugins can conflict with each other or with the theme, causing functionality problems.Solution: Deactivate all plugins and reactivate them one by one to identify the conflicting plugin. Check for updates or consider alternative plugins.
3. Theme Issues: Custom themes might have coding errors or compatibility issues with WordPress updates. Solution: Use a child theme for customizations to avoid losing changes during updates. Validate your theme code using tools like Theme Check.
4. Database Errors: Corrupt or misconfigured databases can lead to errors or data loss. Solution: Use phpMyAdmin to check and repair database tables. Ensure regular backups are in place to restore data if needed.
5. Broken Links and 404 Errors: Incorrect URLs or deleted pages can lead to 404 errors, affecting user experience and SEO. Solution: Use a plugin like Redirection to manage and fix broken links. Regularly check for 404 errors using tools like Google Search Console.
6. Slow Performance: Poor performance can result from unoptimized images, bulky plugins, or inefficient code. Solution: Optimize images, use caching plugins like W3 Total Cache, and minimize CSS and JavaScript files. Profile your site using tools like Query Monitor to identify slow queries.
7. JavaScript Errors: JavaScript errors can break site functionality, especially interactive features. Solution: Use the browser’s developer tools (F12) to inspect the console for JavaScript errors. Fix issues by debugging the scripts or checking for library conflicts.
8. Security Vulnerabilities: Sites can be vulnerable to attacks if not properly secured. Solution: Regularly update WordPress, themes, and plugins. Use security plugins like Wordfence, and implement strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
9. Responsive Design Issues: Ensuring the site looks good on all devices can be challenging. Solution: Use responsive design techniques and test the site on various devices and screen sizes. Tools like BrowserStack can help simulate different environments.
10. User Role and Permission Problems: Incorrect configuration of user roles and permissions can lead to security and functionality issues. Solution: Use the User Role Editor plugin to manage and troubleshoot roles and capabilities. Ensure that users have appropriate access levels.

How do you create a seamless user experience (UX) in a custom WordPress site?
To create a seamless user experience (UX) in a custom WordPress site, start by choosing a clean, responsive theme that looks good on all devices. Ensure your site loads quickly by optimizing images and using caching plugins like W3 Total Cache. Simplify navigation with clear menus and breadcrumbs, making it easy for users to find what they need. Use readable fonts and sufficient white space to make content easy to read. Add a search bar so visitors can quickly locate information. Implement intuitive forms with clear labels and error messages. Regularly test your site on different devices and browsers to ensure everything works smoothly. By focusing on these details, you can make your WordPress site user-friendly and enjoyable to navigate.
How do you implement e-commerce functionality in a custom WordPress site?
To implement e-commerce functionality in a custom WordPress site, start by installing a reliable e-commerce plugin like WooCommerce. Set up your store by adding products with detailed descriptions, prices, and images. Configure payment gateways such as PayPal or Stripe to accept online payments securely. Customize the appearance of your store using built-in themes or by modifying CSS styles. Create user-friendly navigation with categories and filters to help customers easily browse products. Implement shopping cart functionality to allow users to add items and proceed to checkout seamlessly. Set up shipping options and rates based on location and weight. Test the entire purchasing process to ensure it works smoothly for users. Regularly update plugins and monitor sales to optimize your e-commerce site for success.
Conclusion
Creating a custom WordPress website involves several key steps. You start by deciding on your site's goals and picking a domain name and hosting provider. Then, you install WordPress, choose a theme, and customize it to match your brand. Next, you add content, like pages and posts, and install plugins for extra features, such as contact forms or SEO optimization. You'll want to make sure your site is responsive and works well on mobile devices. Lastly, you test everything thoroughly before launching your site to ensure it's ready for visitors. And don't forget to keep it updated and secure over time!

Original Prompt

Don't Do This At Home
Joe tapped the auto-focus button on his phone and backed up quickly. He shielded his eyes from the early afternoon sun and squinted to see how the screen looked and, satisfied, he stood upright. With hands on hips he put on his 'Video Voice' - as his boyfriend liked to call it - and smiled.
"Heya Exterminators!" he said, using the colloquial term for the fans of his channel, "I'm here with another Pouring ready to go."
He gestured to the left at a large ceramic pot over a fire pit he'd set up before the video. "There I've got about two gallons of molten aluminum, and here," he pointed down to the right; a meter away was a patch of brown grass with some bugs flying around. "Yellowjacket nest."
"Now, Yellowjackets are usually beneficial to their ecosystem so I don't condone this as standard; but these are German Yellowjackets. Invasive to the region. The nice old couple that own this land asked me to take care of it since they got grandkids that play around back here and we don't want'em to get hurt. So, let's see what it looks like."
Joe paused the recording and then re-set up the phone tripod near the nest, zooming in and re-focusing. Then he very carefully poured the liquid metal into the brown patch of grass, down into the narrow opening.
An hour later, he recorded digging up the grass and extracting the aluminum casting of the nest.
"And here we go, Exterminators." He held up the ball-like clump of metal. "Oh yeah, look at those layers. Let's get this back to the garage and analyze it." He reached out to turn off his phone when he smelled smoke; the fire pit had ignited the nearby grass.
"Oh shit!"

There's been a lot of discussion about the game's future, especially with 1.3 looming on the horizon. There's understandably been a bit of pessimism, but also many discussions with suggestion and feedback regarding how the game should continue to be updated.
Over a month ago, I threw my hat into the ring in one such thread and suggested a bunch of stuff I'd like to see for the game in the future. After 1.2, I ruminated on the ideas more and ended up writing a Google Doc with detailed versions of these suggestions, plus additional ones with the intention of sending it to the dev team. What follows below is the result of that and hopefully it's an interesting read at least. Feedback would be awesome so that these ideas can be refined further.
This is the Google Doc in question. It's quite long, so here's a cliff notes version:
QoL fixes:

• Improve Sigil Transmutation further:

Higher Knickknack Voucher limit, allow Sigil and Wrightstone locking during mass transmutation, and more.

• Add a specific hotkey/button for AI hold/auto SBA usage.
  
• Improve the AI by letting them Link Attack better and not die for having Stout Heart buff.
  
• Improve Gold and Silver Dahlia Badge acquisition rates, especially from online Quick Quests.
  
• Allow players to receive one Terminus Weapon of their choice every 25 Proto Bahamut kills.
  
• Make part damage scale partially with actual damage, and also remove secondary part break drops like Mirage Munitions.
  
• Allow players to reroll one Overmastery line at a time for 5000 MSP each reroll. Also, allow players to save Overmastery presets.
  

High Priority Additions:

• Add Tier 4++ Sigils as a “sidegrade” reward to encourage more trait variety in builds.
  
• Add Sigil Fusions to improve the endgame grind and reduce randomness-related frustration.
  

-Lets players make rare Sigils like Supplementary Damage 5+.
-Makes excess Tier 4 and 5 Sigils way more useful.
-Serves as a Rupie sink.
-Is forward compatible with higher tier Sigil additions.

• Add Wrightstone Refinement and Enhancement so optimal Wrightstones are reasonable to get.

-Wrightstone Refinement lets players fuse traits from 3 different Wrightstones together.
-Wrightstone Enhancement lets players consume Wrightstones to increase trait levels on another Wrightstone up to the maximums of 10/7/5 (or higher if stronger Wrightstones are introduced).

• Rework a number of existing traits so that they’re a little more useful.

For example, Attack Up would slightly increase Attack by a percentage and the EXP/Rupie/Mastery Point boost Sigils are all stronger.

• Add Historiath, Maglielle, Gallanza, and Rolan as playable characters. They should not have paid early unlocks.
  
• Add Id Nihilla, Angra Mainyu, and Lilith as Proud mode bosses.
  
• Add a Boss Rush feature that lets players fight a series of bosses for points that can be traded for loot at the end.
  

-There would be three courses of increasing difficulty and length.
-This game mode should have multiplayer matchmaking support, making it an alternative to Quick Quest.
-Players choose Blessings to empower themselves after every fight.
-Players could activate Toils for Rupies to make the Boss Rush harder in exchange for increased point gain.
-There would be an Endless Mode with some tweaks for players who want an endurance challenge.
-Points could be used to buy T4 Curios, among other useful items.

• Add a Rogue Mode Exploration feature that (initially) uses the Ruined City Vallion map to create a new single player game mode.

-Similar to the Gauntlet from Old School Runescape or level 1 dungeons in Chunsoft’s various Mystery Dungeon games. Also similar to battle royale games, but without the PvP.
-Players start with only their character at level 1, no Masteries, no Sigils, and a level 1 generic weapon.
-Players have a specific amount of time to explore the area for party members, loot, and enemies to increase their strength.
-After the time limit expires, the player must fight a powerful final boss.
-This game mode would be a good source of Damascus Ingots and Azurite’s Splendor - drop rate is based on the chosen time limit.
-Future large, open area maps could be used for this game mode too.
Long-term Additions:

• Paid expansions would be awesome to have.

-Main feature that players pay for would be the story content. New stories could be added or existing stories from the mobile game could be adapted.
-New areas should be made with a focus on exploration to accommodate specific content.
-Expeditions would be a new type of exploration content similar to MMORPG overworld content and the Guiding Lands from MHW:IB that takes place in the aforementioned areas.
-Updates after the expansion release should still be available to all players, not just to buyers of the expansion.
-New bosses and characters should also be available to all players.

• Add a personal space called the Captain’s Quarters that could be decorated with new cosmetic rewards.

-Said rewards could come from various sources such as achievements, treasure trade, and existing content.
-The Expeditions suggested above would be one major source of these cosmetics.

• Add a party AI development system that allows players to fine-tune how their AI party members behave.

-AI characters could be developed towards specific tendencies that relate to aggression, self-preservation, and support. Increased development unlocks and reinforces new behavior.
-AI settings could be tweaked further once a character is fully developed based on how they were developed.
-Mastery Points could be spent to develop the AI faster.
Monetization:

• Ongoing development needs to be funded somehow.
  
• Cosmetics and expansions are good, but please don’t make them overpriced.
  
• Paid early character unlocks are fine as long as they can be unlocked for free too.
  
• Don’t sell items that increase power like rare Sigils.
  

Hello! I made a couple of posts ago detailing some insights I had while reading about enneagram, and while I'm pretty sure that I have a lot of E1 traits, someone brought up that I may be a SO9, which can share some general traits with SP1. You can see my last post here, if you want to read the post where I provide some general background and things from my childhood.
But to put some context: I'm extremely self-critical and I tend to define myself by the things I do. If I stop doing, I lose my sense of self. I'm very hardworking and I place a lot of importance on being competent so I can more effectively help people around me with whatever they need. I need a sense of purpose, otherwise, I feel lost and I don't like that. I'm extremely independent and I feel uncomfortable receiving help from others, but I love giving and helping people. All of this, plus the description of E1 disintegrating into E4 under stress, led me to believe that I'm for sure an E1.
Before I run into the same comments: I don't relate to any aspects of E2 or E3 besides wanting to help people and being hardworking or career-focused. I don't see myself in either of their respective disintegration (I'm not domineering or demanding, at all, and neither do I cling to titles or achievements to prove my worth to someone), so I've discarded the heart triad for some time now.
Something happened a couple of weeks ago that made me think about how I behave during stress, and maybe this could help a bit knowing if I'm truly E1: I currently work from Monday to Friday and attend college on the weekends, leaving me pretty exhausted overall. I had an assignment to work on with a classmate, but some things happened at work that demanded I put in more time than usual and I couldn't have it ready as soon as my classmate wanted. They got really mad at me and said I was ungrateful for all the help he had given me before, and I just apologized and felt horrible about it. However, another part of me was resentful because my classmate is unemployed, and their income comes from some Airbnb his family manages, so they have a lot of free time to do whatever they want. They can get their homework ready as soon as possible, while I can't because I rely on my job to survive. I really wanted to say that to them, I felt like they weren't trying to be understanding towards my circumstances, but I felt like it was ultimately my fault for not managing my time properly, and I didn't have the right to say they had it "easier" than me.
Anyways, I felt horrible about that, I started avoiding them out of shame and I just kept thinking about how I ruined everything. It also didn't seem like they were convinced by my apology either. I still think they could have seen things from my side as well, but I don't know why a part of me insists that it's always my fault and I don't have the right to demand anything from anyone. I'm very averse to conflict and sometimes think a part of me is convinced that if I blame everything on myself, things get resolved quickly and nobody else has to feel bad about themselves. But then I feel this resentment that nobody tries to see things from my point of view, nobody tries to put themselves in my shoes, and I never can bring myself to ask someone to understand, maybe it's because I don't expect them to.
In real life, I dislike arguments and conflict. I do everything to make sure I never disappoint someone or let them down. I hate to be put in a spot where I have to pick sides because I want everyone to get along. I know it's obvious by now, but I have a lot of trouble asserting myself.
Previously, I typed myself SP1 because of the inner critic and holding myself to high standards. But there's a key part of E1 that I don't resonate with, and it's expecting perfection of others and demanding it as well. I feel extremely uncomfortable when I have to give criticism or evaluate someone at work, mostly because I'm afraid they'll get mad at me or that I may unintentionally start some drama. I hate drama. Especially because I know some people don't give a damn about apologies, no matter how sincere you are.
Another thing is that I have understood better the instinctual variants and while I do resonate with the description of self-preservation, I often neglect my physical needs in favor of doing whatever I need to do for either my family, my coworkers, or my classmates. I used to pull all-nighters just to have homework ready as soon as my classmate did so they wouldn't blame me of slacking off, even if that meant I'd doze off at work the next day.

Self-Preservation: The Self-Preservation instinct focuses attention on and shapes behavior around issues related to survival and material security. It generally directs energy toward safety and security concerns, including having enough resources, avoiding danger, and maintaining a basic sense of structure and well-being. Beyond these basic concerns, the self-preservation instinct may place emphasis on other areas of security in terms of whatever that means for a person of a specific type (once it mixes with one of the nine passions).
Social Interaction: The Social instinct focuses attention on and shapes behavior around issues related to belonging, recognition, and relationships in social groups. It drives us to “get along with the herd”—our family, the community, and the groups we belong to. This instinct also relates to how much power or standing one has relative to the other members of “the group” in terms of whatever that might mean for a person of a specific type.
Sexual Bonding: The Sexual instinct focuses attention on and shapes behavior around issues related to the quality and status of relationships with specific individuals. Sometimes referred to as the “One-to-One” instinct, it generally directs energy toward the achievement and maintenance of sexual connections, interpersonal attraction, and bonding. This instinct seeks a sense of well-being through one-to-one connections with people in terms of whatever that means for a person of a specific type.
Chestnut, Beatrice. The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge

Then, I'd be definitely a social type, with a slight inclination towards self-preservation, SO/SP if I have to be sure. But then reading the description of SO1, I can't relate much. Sure, I make long posts on the internet about my opinions and I may get into an argument on Reddit or PDB, but I'm very meek in real life. My go-to strategy is to gain as much skill and knowledge as possible to help people solve their problems, but I don't have this cold attitude in which I think I'm better than them. I do believe that once I reach an answer, that must be the correct one and I can tell others that this is the right way to do it and save them some trouble with it, but if someone comes up with a different solution, I'll definitely consider that and not cling to something that may not work anymore.
Another thing that I didn't see much in E1 was the terrible sense of identity. As I was saying before, I define myself by the things I do. I don't know who I am without that. I know it shouldn't be like that, but I was never given space to develop my sense of self in my childhood, I'm in my late 20s now and I have lost hope I'll ever improve in that area. But this is something that I've seen more reflected in E9, the lack of inner self, the disconnection from one's psyche. Yes, I am perfectionistic and self-critical, but if someone took away all the things that make me feel like myself, I'd be lost and empty.
While I know that usually E2 and E7 can be self-indulgent, I didn't see it much in E1. Whenever I'm stressed, I distract myself with food or drinking. E1 can do it, but it seems like it's to release themselves from the burden of their own self-imposed standards, but I do it to forget about the stress and pressure for a while. I don't know what enneagram does that.
One last thing that makes me doubt, but not as much as the above, is that I'm ENFJ and I've seen a lot of people say that it's not compatible with E9, and that only introverted types can be E9. But SO9 does sound like an extrovert, so I'm confused here.
I'm sorry if it looks like I'm just blurting out information in a disorderly way, I'm feeling sick and my brain is in auto-pilot. Thanks for anyone who read through all that, and feel free to ask any questions!

https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/quadrant2024
Header Image ^[Imgur]
Next weekend, Halo esports is taking over London!
Team Quadrant will be hosting the first-ever Halo Infinite EU Major at the Twickenham Stadium from May 31st to June 2nd. Join us as the world's best teams throw down for their share of $250,000 and a paid trip to the HCS Atlanta Major this summer!
The action kicks off Friday May 31st at 7a ET / 12p BST - Watch live on Twitch and YouTube!

Contents

• Key Info
• Tickets
• Pool Play
• $5K FFA
• Side Events
• Travel
• FAQ

Halo Championship Series Major London 2024, hosted by team Quadrant. ^[Imgur]

Key Info

Date: May 31 - June 2 Location: London UK Venue: Twickenham Stadium	Tickets: Available Now! Team Pass: Available Now! Watch: Twitch + YouTube	4v4 Prize Pool: $250,000 FFA Prize Pool: $5,000 Side Events: $5,000

Tickets & Team Pass

Join us live from London - Grab your tickets now!

GA 3-Day Tickets

Buy Tickets

- Price: £30.00 - Entry into the venue for the entirety of the event. - Free Access to compete in FFA and Side Tournaments. - GA will receive a Halo Waypoint token that unlocks all in-game Twitch Drops offered during the event.

Discount Codes

In order to provide extra value to fans and also allow fans to support their favorite teams directly, you can use any of the codes below at check out to receive a 10% discount on your tickets. When you save 10%, the Teams receive 10%!

CLOUD9 COMPLEXITY *FAZE * *OPTIC * SENTINELS SPACESTATION QUADRANT

Support your favorite team and get a discount on spectator tickets. If you use a team's code, be sure to share on Twitter and tag the teams so they know you've supported them!
Halo players competing in the Open Bracket at the H C S Arlington Major 2024 ^[Imgur]

Team Pass

Team passes are available now - Assemble your squad and throw down live in London!
Buy Team Pass
If you plan on competing at any HCS events, be sure to check out the links below!

- 2024 HCS Major Event Rules - 2024 HCS Player HandBook - 2024 HCS Code of Conduct

Tournament Format

HCS Major tournament structure for 2024 will be similar to the tried-and-true format we used in Year 2.

- 64-Team Open Bracket - 16-Team Pool Play - 12-Team Champ Bracket

Open Bracket

It wouldn't be a proper HCS Major without a bustling passion pit.

- Open Bracket will start and end on Friday May 31st - Top 4 teams will advance to Pool Play

Congratulations to the following teams on earning Travel Coverage to compete through the London Major Open Bracket!

NA Native Gaming - aPG - Barcode - Gilkey - Mikwen	EU Mamma Mia - i7948 - Mqse - Phlux - Shad	MX SWAT Esports - Acid - Drift - Noblc - Tapping Buttons	ANZ MindFreak - Plasma - Scoobmeistr - Swayz - Wryce

Pool Play

Pool Play at the London Major will feature 12 Auto-Qualified teams and 4 teams from the Open Bracket.

- 4 Pools of 4 - Single Round Robin - 1st/2nd in Pools go to Winners Round 1 - 3rd in Pools go to Lower Round 1 - 4th in Pools is eliminated

Pool Play Qualified Teams
HCS London Major - Pool Play Teams ^[Imgur]

CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

The Championship Bracket is where the best of the best will clash for their share of $250,000 and a paid trip to the HCS Atlanta Major!

- 12-Team Double Elimination - Top 6 teams will lock in those seeds at the HCS Atlanta Major

$250K 4V4 PRIZE BREAKDOWN

1st: $100,000 2nd: $60,000 3rd: $30,000 4th: $17,500 5-6: $8,000 7-8: $5,000 9-12: $2,500 13-16: $1,625

Team Quadrant celebrating with a fist bump on the H C S mainstage ^[Imgur]

$5,000 FFA Tournament

As with every Major, HCS London will feature a $5,000 FFA tournament open to all event attendees!
Registration will take place on site!
FFA PRIZE BREAKDOWN

1st: $2,000 2nd: $1,200 3rd: $800 4th: $425 5th: $200 6th: $150 7th: $125 8th: $100

HCS Side Events

Attendees will have the chance to compete in side tournaments featuring various Halo titles! Registration will take place on site and will be first come, first served - see the schedule below!
HCS London Major - Side Events ^[Imgur]

FRIDAY, MAY 31 MCC Halo 3 2v2 - Prize: 1st. $600 / 2nd. $250 - Capacity: 16 Teams - Sign-ups: 3:45p BST - Start: 5:15p BST Halo 5 2v2 - Prize: 1st. $600 / 2nd. $250 - Capacity: 16 Teams - Sign-ups: 4:45p BST - Start: 6:15p BST	SATURDAY, JUNE 1 Halo Infinite 2v2 - Prize: 1st. $1,200 / 2nd. $500 - Capacity: 64 Teams - Sign-ups: 12:00p BST - Start: 2:15p BST MCC Halo 3 4v4 - Prize: 1st. $1,200 / 2nd. $400 - Capacity: 16 Teams - Sign-ups: 4:30p BST - Start: 5:45p BST

Spartan Cosplayer enjoying Halo Infinite matches in the crowd at an HCS event ^[Imgur]

Where To Watch

Catch all the action live May 31 - June 2.

A Stream: ** Twitch.tv/Halo *B Stream: * Twitch.tv/HCS **C Stream: Twitch.tv/HCS_Red D Stream: Twitch.tv/HCS_Blue All Streams: YouTube.com/@HCS Co-Streamers: Halo Infinite Live Streams

Twitch Drops

Tune into the HCS London Major all weekend and you will unlock exclusive Twitch Drops!
Stay tuned to @HCS on socials for more info on which Drops will be available!

Travel

Airport: London Heathrow (LHR) Ground Transportation : Uber Hotels: Click here for a list of nearby hotels.

Image ^[Imgur]

FAQ

Event FAQ

When will the HCS Major London 2024 take place?	The HCS Major London 2024 will take place May 31-June 2, 2024.
Where is the event taking place?	The HCS Major London 2024 will take place at the Twickenham Stadium. Twickenham Stadium, 200 Whitton Rd, Twickenham TW2 7BA, United Kingdom
Where can I purchase tickets?	You can purchase Spectator passes here.
I am with the press and would like to cover the event. Who should I reach out to for information?	Please contact events@quadrant.gg and xboxpress@assemblyinc.com.
I can't attend the event, but want to watch online. Where can I tune in?	You can tune into these links to watch the action: Twitch A stream - twitch.tv/halo B stream - twitch.tv/hcs C stream - twitch.tv/hcs_red D stream - twitch.tv/hcs_blue YouTube All Streams - YouTube.com/@HCS
Is there an age limit?	All 4v4 and FFA Players must be 13 years of age or older to compete at HCS Major London. Players 13 years of age or older require a signed parental consent form if under the age of 18. Spectators 13 years of age or older require a signed parental consent form if under the age of 18. Spectators under 13 years of age will need to be accompanied by guardian. Children ages 3 and under will not require a ticket, but will require a completed parental consent form and be accompanied by a guardian at all times. Download the Parental Consent Form. Please bring the completed form to the event and have ready to hand in at the ticketing desk.
What if I am under the age limit at the time of qualification but meet the age requirements by the event date? Can I still participate?	Players will need to be of age by May 22, 2024 to compete.
What time do the doors open?	Doors open at 10:00 AM BST
Where should I park and is parking free?	Please refer to the Twickenham Website for Parking Info. https://www.twickenhamstadium.com/getting-here
Do you have appropriate seating and parking for individuals with medical conditions?	The event is ADA compliant and accessible.
Are pets allowed?	Only service animals are allowed at the event.
What is your bag policy?	Spectators: All Bags must be clear and under 12in x 12in x 6in to be allowed in the venue, and are subject to wanding and searches as needed. Wallets and wristlets no larger than 5in x 8in x 1in are permitted - Anything larger must follow the clear bag guidelines.
Are there any prohibited items?	Halo Championship Series Prohibited Items ACCEPTABLE: - Cosplay and other costumes determined to be safe by security - Prop/Replica weapons as part of cosplay or other costumes: Must be submitted to security for review. Cannot contain a functioning bolt mechanism or fire a projectile of any kind. Any bow-type weapons must be unstrung or strung with a low-tensile thread. All prop arrows must have soft, non-metal, blunted tips made out of foam or cardboard only. Cannot be pointed at any individual in such a way to cause fear of harm or distress. Cosplay firearms must have brightly colored safety tips. Must be visibly tagged and visually identified as “safe” or “peace bonded”. - Cell Phones - Action cameras, such as GoPro’s - Prescription medication (you must have the prescription/label in your name with you) PROHIBITED ITEMS* (below list is a guide, not all inclusive): - Illegal or illicit substances, drugs, or drug paraphernalia - Weapons of any kind including, but not limited to, guns, ammo, pocket knives, sharp-edge blades, self-defense sprays, or any item deemed as unsafe by security staff. - Flammable items or liquids including aerosols and fireworks - Bags lager than 12″ x 12″ x 6″ max - Coolers, sleeping bags, tents, and chairs: An exception will be made for medically necessary items after thorough inspection. - Outside alcohol - Outside food and beverage - Bicycles, skateboards, hover-boards, scooters, or personal motorized vehicles - Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles - Animals except for service animals assisting an individual with a disability. “Comfort,” “therapy” or “emotional support” animals do not meet the ADA definition of a service animal. Security may permit working dogs or other animals as required. - Laser pens, laser pointers, or similar focused light devices - Noisemakers such as megaphones, air horns, sirens, whistles, or other devices which may interfere with others’ experience - Any item that is not lawfully permitted to be carried in the locality or City of Seattle - Additional items may be prohibited at the discretion of Microsoft staff or security *Note: Prohibited items and items determined to not be appropriate for entry into Halo Championship Series will be the responsibility of the attendee and cannot be accepted, stored, or checked by Microsoft or Convention Center.
What are the closest hotels to the event venue?	Please use this link to find nearby hotels options and rates.
I have other questions – where’s the best place to ask them?	For London specific questions, email us at events@quadrant.gg For HCS program and eligibility questions, email us at HCS@ee.gg

Player FAQ

Where can I find the Event Rules?	Click Here: HCS London Major 2024 Rules
Where can I find the Handbook & Code of Conduct?	Click Below: - HCS Handbook **** - Code of Conduct
Will there be a Free-For-All (FFA) competition at this event?	Yes! The event will feature a free-to-enter Halo Infinite FFA tournament, which will be open for up to 512 players and spectators. Best of luck to those competing for their share of $5,000! Must have a Spectator ticket to participate. Registration will take place on site!
I don't live in the UK. Can I still compete in this tournament?	To check your specific country’s eligibility, please see the list of eligible countries as listed in the Handbook here.
Is there a limit to the number of teams eligible to compete in this tournament?	Yes. The 4v4 tournament open bracket has a max capacity of 48 teams.
When do rosters lock?	For Pool Play and Travel Coverage teams: 6:00 PM EST on Monday, May 13th. If teams earned travel coverage via the Major #2 Online Qualifier they must retain that same roster. For all other teams, roster lock is Monday, May 27th at 10:00a EST / 3:00p BST.
What equipment should I bring if I'm competing?	All players competing must bring: - Your preferred wired peripheral (Xbox wired Controller or Mouse and Keyboard) - USB cord required for your preferred peripheral - Headset with no power outlet and a 3.5 mm plug - Wired Earbuds (needed for Feature Station and Main Stage play) - If you plan on competing with Keyboard & Mouse, you must submit your model number for each device to hcs@ee.gg ahead of the event. Mixamps will be provided. Bringing backup equipment is recommended.
Which monitors will be used for the tournament?	All tournament and warmup monitors will be the Zowie XL2540K model.
How do I earn travel coverage?	Lodging and travel coverage will be offered to 12 pool play teams based on previous Major placement, placement in the Major #2 Qualifier, and HCS Points. Additionally, 1 NA team& 1 EU team will be granted travel coverage based on aggregate points after the Major #2 Qualifier. 1 ANZ team & 1 MX team will be granted travel coverage based on placing 1st in their respective Open Championships. NA Players may qualify through: Top two (2) placement in the Major #2 Online Qualifier. Top two (2) in HCS points after the Major #2 Online Qualifier EU Players may qualify through: 1st place in the Major #2 Online Qualifier. Highest team aggregate HCS points after the Major #2 Online Qualifier MX Players may qualify through: 1st place in the Major #1 Open Championship. ANZ Players may qualify through: 1st place in the Major #1 Open Championship. For further information including complete tournament format and seeding , please review the Event Rules. Note: Teams who earn travel coverage for the HCS London Major 2024 via the Major #2 Online Qualifier must compete with the same roster.
How does travel coverage work?	More information on how to use earned travel coverage will be delivered to qualified teams after the completion of the Major #2 Online Qualifier.
What is the Prizing Breakdown?	HCS Major 4v4 - $250,000 prize pool 1st: $100,000 2nd: $60,000 3rd: $30,000 4th: $17,500 5th/6th: $8,000 7th/8th: $5,000 9th - 12th: $2,500 13th - 16th: $1,625 HCS Major Free-For-All - $5,000 prize pool 1st: $2,000 2nd: $1,200 3rd: $800 4th: $425 5th: $200 6th: $150 7th: $125 8th: $100
What is the Pro Point Breakdown?	Pro Points Breakdown - HCS Major 4v4 (Team Total) 1st - 25,000 2nd - 15,000 3rd - 11,000 4th - 9,000 5th - 6th 8,000 7th - 8th 7,000 9th - 12th 5,500 13th - 16th 4,500 17th - 20th 3,000 21st - 24th 2,000 25th - 32nd 1,800 33rd - 40th 1,600 41st - 56th 1,400 57th - 72nd 1,000 Pro Points Breakdown - HCS Major Free-For-All 1st: 15,000 2nd: 13,500 3rd: 12,750 4th: 12,000 5th: 11,250 6th: 10,500 7th: 9,750 8th: 9,000 9th - 10th: 6,000 11th - 12th: 5,250 13th - 14th: 4,500 15th - 16th: 3,750 17th - 20th: 2,800 21st - 24th: 2,450 25th - 28th: 2,000 29th - 32nd: 1,650 33rd - 40th: 1,300 41st - 48th: 1,125 49th - 56th: 950 57th - 64th: 750 65th - 128th: 375
I have other questions – where’s the best place to ask them?	For London specific questions, email us at events@quadrant.gg For HCS program and eligibility questions, email us at HCS@ee.gg

Ticket FAQ

What types of payment do you accept? Online and onsite?	All major credit cards are accepted. Cash payments will not be accepted at the event.
How will I get my tickets if I buy them online?	You will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite with a QR code and printable tickets. Digital or print tickets will be accepted and scanned at the door at the event.
What if my tickets are lost or stolen?	Please contact events@quadrant.gg for more info.
Do you offer refunds?	We offer refunds up till 7 days before the event. Note: Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.
What if the event is cancelled?	If the event is cancelled all tickets purchased will be refunded in full.
Can I show my tickets on my phone at the door or do I need to have the physical tickets with me?	Digital or print tickets will be accepted and QR codes scanned upon entry. You must have all members of the parties accounted for with multiple tickets present to check in at the same time. Tickets are only scanned once. Fans will receive a wristband that corresponds with their ticket type.
Do you offer military or senior citizen discounts?	If you are purchasing a ticket online - please use the code MILITARY or SENIOR to receive 10% off your ticket. For the Military discount, please be prepared to present your Military ID. For a senior discount, you must be 55+ years of age. Any questions about codes or eligibility please email HCSeventsNA@ee.gg.
What does general admission mean?	General Admission (GA) refers to seating or standing areas that are not assigned or reserved.
Will my seats be together?	Seating or standing areas are occupied on a first-come, first-served basis.
What should I do if I don't receive my tickets?	Please contact events@quadrant.gg for more info.
Is my multi-day ticket good for either or both days?	3 Day GA tickets are acceptable for all days of the event. You will receive a wristband or credentials that you must keep with you for all of the days to re-enter.
The name on the ticket doesn't match the attendee’s name. Is that okay?	This is allowed, however you must have all members of the parties accounted for with multiple tickets present to check in at the same time. Tickets are only scanned once.

This post was made by a script written and maintained by the Halo mod team to automatically post blogs from Halo Waypoint. If you notice any issues with the text output or think this was posted by mistake, please message the mods.

https://imgur.com/a/SGeXLOT
hey y’all!
i have come to the sad time where my film collection has outgrown my counter space and the missus is encouraging me to downsize. it’s been a fun time collecting so hopefully i can share some of these pieces with you! i’m mainly shooting digital these days on a fujifilm x-t10 and am looking to use these proceeds to upgrade to a camera with the x trans 3 or 4 sensor.
i’m open to offers and am willing to discount if you want multiple pieces. will require video call (facetime or whatsapp) prior to sale. prices do not include shipping. PayPal G&S to the lower 48 or local Houston meetup.

• [available] rollei 35se with flash - $325 obo

a wonderful little zone focus manual camera. mechanically sound and includes the external flash unit. you’ll see the lens ring has fallen off but it doesn’t affect performance. not sure about the light meter but it does receive power with 4 LR44 batteries (converter included). clean viewfinder and in great condition

• SALE PENDING [available] pentax k1000 with sigma 35-80mm lens(fungus) - $30

i love my other k1000 and picked this one up as a project or in case i needed parts. both the lens and viewfinder have fungus and need a cleaning which is why i’ve priced it as such. if you like to tinker, this is a fun little camera to do so

• [available] yashica electro (as is) - $20

can’t get the shutter to work and i personally prefer fully manual cameras (i love my canon 7). yours for parts or fixing

• SALE PENDING [available] yashica mat 124g - $175

mechanically sound TLR that has the blemishes to show its age. i’ve owned three of these and they’re built like tanks. since i’ve got another TLR already, it’s time to part with this baby. clean viewfinder and shutter fires at all speeds. not sure about the light meter

• [available] yashica 44 - open to offers

a super cute 127 format camera in the rare rose brown/maroon color way. it is missing the iso/asa cover on the focus knob but otherwise it’s in excellent condition. pristine viewfinder and lens

• [available] voigtlander vitessa t - $40

haven’t tested this baby and don’t have the time or patience to tinker with it lol. there’s a dent on the lens cover but it doesn’t affect functionality

• SALE PENDING [available] konica c35 - $75

light meter works and is in superb condition given the lens filter that stayed on it. light seals need replacing and there’s the previous owner’s name and address engraved on the back

• [available] konica auto s - $30

untested and unbothered

• [available] mamiya/sekor 1000tl w/ 55mm 1.8 and 200mm 3.5 lenses- $50

untested. seems mechanically sound other than the film counter sitting out of place. it will come with both lenses

[ First / Previous ]
Memory Transcript Subject: Vili, Venlil Citizen
Date [standardized human time]: December 1st, 2136
The absent adults were due to arrive any time by now. I navigated the crowd of children who milled about the field, taking a head count to ensure everyone was in sight.
Those who had family attending the excursion were bubbling with excitement to see their relatives while a couple others trailed behind me, asking me yet more banal questions about venlil society and how it feels to have fur and a tail.
“I’ll let you in on a secret,” I had told April once. “It’s really, really… itchy. Have you ever had a bug crawling on you? Feels just like that. All the time.”
Chihiro didn’t approve as much of me saying that but Mercy seemed to enjoy the reaction I managed to get from the other kids. While I felt bad for exploiting the apparent human fear of insects, they were quick to forgive me, citing they “couldn't stay mad at a face like mine.”
Truthfully, I too began to enjoy seeing the children react to the things I'd tell them; the genuine nature in everything they did was more than I'd have expected from humans when I first arrived. Some of them would watch me with curiosity and wonder as we spoke, reminding me that this was a species who had only just been introduced onto the galactic stage and still had cause to gawk at the aliens.
Well, most of them.
Toward the edge of the gaggle of children was Lukas, moping away while trying to hide the black eye Amber had given him. A part of me was - flattered - disappointed that she'd risk herself to enact retaliation on my behalf, but I knew she wouldn't understand me were I to even tell her off about it.
Over the last few weeks, I'd gotten to know many of the children, though Lukas remained as distant as ever. In a way, I felt pity to see him so small even after witnessing the pleasure he got from putting others down and how infuriating I found his antics. He was full of anger and clearly had it misdirected at all non-humans for the actions of those who participated in the extermination fleet - at least he has reason.
I brushed at my ear to ward off the tingling sensation and let out an irritated growl. My hackles raised when I heard a sympathetic growl come from behind.
Turning about, I found that the source was Amber, also swiping at her ear in a mimicry of my action. I was far less bothered by her giddy snarl after having her do it every time she approached me, though it didn't make the itch at my back from almost jumping in fear go away.
“You do that a lot,” Amber giggled. “Is your ear itchy? Wait, don't answer that because I won't understand it.”
My ears whirled about and I tilted my head slightly to look directly at the strange little girl who'd been so eager to make friends with me from the very beginning. I'd accepted that, at least in her eyes, I was “Luka” and that I existed for her to talk to endlessly about her favorite hobbies despite her knowing she wouldn't understand anything I said in response.
Even then, I was still rather worried that I'd been so frequent with admonishing the more - sensible - pushy one that Amber had taken note. How many others could have noticed? I wasn't even sure how humans viewed me, but it wouldn't matter so much now that I was getting ready to return home to Luka.
I took a seat on the grass and found myself surrounded by a small following of kids that did the same. Amber, too, took a seat, but directly on my lap instead. I grunted as the surprisingly heavy child settled and I brought her head upon my scruff, allowing her to play with my paw.
“You only have three fingers and a thumb. That's pretty weird.”
“And you only have hair on the top of your head, that’s pretty weird too.”
“I’ll assume you were giving me a compliment…”
The other of the kids understood me and giggled at the back and forth as Amber raked a nail under my claws. While I was certain they were clean, Amber's scrutinizing stare felt as if I was being judged by my mother again.
“Your nails feel like a dog's. Maybe not as sharp.”
My translator interpreted that word as a “domesticated Terran predator” and I flicked my tail in indignation. I'd tried to shut out those who claimed I had traits akin to Earth fauna, though the accusations kept coming regardless.
From what I'd gathered, they believed my fur resembled that of a “sheep”, my tail and paws resembled a “cat”, and my ears were that of a “bunny”; now, I could add claws of a “dog” to that list. I had to keep reminding myself these humans didn't grow up knowing any other metric than that of the creatures from their home planet.
I knew the Terran Richard would return in the group that was due to arrive - Ma had made a point to inform me of such. The mention of the human's name spoiled my mood each time he was mentioned, and yet the Blackfox women continued to speak of him as though he was the most harmless thing.
I was not over the way he seemed to look down on my brother as an obedient servant, laying hands on him as though he were a dumb animal rather than a person. Luka had been the pillar that held me up since we were barely able to walk and talk, and it burned me up inside to see him crave the validation of predators when I knew he didn’t need it.
Amber, seemingly bored with one paw, grabbed the other as I let my arm remain limp. At first, I felt only the tickle as she played at the knuckles on this one as well, but there was a pause as she turned it over to face the palm outwards.
“Where'd you get this?”
I looked at my own palm and felt my heart skip a beat as Amber's claw pointed directly at the cut in my paw. I'd thought she had noticed it before, but the fact she'd call attention to it now when I was surrounded by the other children made a chill run up my back. I was still uncertain if bloodlust was a learned trait, and so being surrounded by juvenile predators at a moment like this did not sit well with me.
Trying to retract my paw, a lump raised in my throat as the human child’s grip hardened on my wrist. The other children watched with curiosity and neither of my assistants nor Martha were around to call for advice. I was to settle this on my own.
I asked with a shaky tone, “Amber?”
She rolled her head back until the tip of my snout brushed against her forehead. I got to look into the depths of her arboreal eyes, letting me see every red-blooded vein, every muscle twitch, every flash as they glistened in the red sun's light while the predator gave me her full, undivided attention. She even offered me her usual flash of the teeth. “Yeah?”
“Pah… Per… Pwers?”
I wiggled my arm in an attempt to indicate what I was asking to have released.
“Hold on, I'll let go in a sec.”
She understood me this time, but I sighed as she promptly ignored my request. She once again played with my claws, twisting them back and forth gently as she hummed to herself.
“Looks like it was made by your claws,” she concluded while continuing to toy with them. “This is why my momma always had us trim Butterscotch's claws, because she kept scratching me up when we played.”
The name once again tripped up my translator, describing it as a candy made from melted sugar and congealed milk fat. I tried to suppress the bile that built in my throat as I considered that worse than the item's description was the fact that she'd named an animal which had a reputation for scratching her after it.
Please, please don't throw away everything we'd built in this one moment.
“I miss Butterscotch,” she muttered. “But now I have new friends! Alien-friends!”
She rolled her head back again and looked back up at me.
“Like you! We're friends, right Luka?”
Her eyes shone with bright innocence and juvenile glee, making my fears melt away.
“Ie-e… I’ezz, frn'dz,” I confirmed. Apparently, my vocals didn't lend themselves to speaking Amber's tongue any better than hers did mine. Every word I spoke felt as though I needed to clear my throat after.
“Cool!”
With that conclusion, the dark-haired girl snapped back to my arm and pressed her lips to the back of my paw. I went slack as she did so and it felt as though all of my muscles had lost their function at once as I sat motionless and silent. I could see and hear the world around me and yet it didn't register that anything existed.
I felt her face lift from my flesh and Amber proclaimed proudly, “Momma did that every time I got bruised up and told me it helped with healing! So maybe you'll get better too!”
“Ah-hah,” was the only response I could manage, made on impulse as the rest of my brain felt a million light years away.
“Alright, everyone,” a voice called from behind us. “They're here, so clear out so they have somewhere to park!”
There was a commotion as the children all scrambled to their feet, including Amber, and they rushed with zealous squeals back toward the body of the camp. But not me.
My jaw remained slack as I stared at the back of my paw, focusing on the wet spot imprinted in my fur. It was a bite of sorts, described exactly as Tac had told me, and yet not a mark was left on my flesh save for the tingling of nerves as I seized up.
My back hit the grass and I let my tail curl around my leg as I held my paw to the sky. “Wuh…”
Something approached and kicked up the grass as I laid still and glared at my decidedly unharmed paw. My eyes traveled up to find Mercy standing over me with the corners of her mouth turned downwards.
“You good?”
“Why did you bite Tac?”
“Lord help us all,” she mumbled while rolling her eyes. “C'mon, let's get you outta here before you’re turned into ven-paté under some truck.”
“Uh huh.”
The elder teen’s grip helped me to my feet as I regained faculties, though I still felt weak. “It was a legitimate question, though,” I told her.
“It's just a sign of affection, I guess. I never really considered it so much before, y’know? It's not like you really think about why everything is when it's so normal, right?”
Speak for yourself, I wanted to tell her, though I held my tongue.
As I took a seat, the thrumming of engines could be heard coming from over the brow of the hill. Apparating as though it were a giant, segmented insect were the adult humans in their ramshackle vehicles, rattling down the hill with each occupied by at least five or six bodies in each of the dozen autos.
The children and elders alike rushed to greet their family as they parked and disembarked from the chain of gas guzzlers. Parents lifted their children in the air and hugged them while the elders chatted with them. But among the troupe of humans that had arrived, I knew something felt off.
“They’re one vehicle short,” I noted to Mercy.
“Hm?”
“I counted them when they left. They’re one short.”
Her piercing gaze scanned the fleet herself before she nodded. “Mike’s missing.”
Michael was the driver that Richard had departed with and so that helped explain the deadpan Terran’s absence. Luka and Hileen both recounted the same human by name when talking of their experiences with them, with both drawing the conclusion that he had to be the worst driver on Venlil Prime.
“Psst,” came a voice hissing from behind. “Mercy.”
Mercy turned to give attention to Tac as he sulked away from the crowd as usual, though I remained with my back turned to him while watching the humans interact.
The tip of my tail tickled at the grass watching children get smothered in affection by their parents, and they in turn received hugs from their elders as others chattered. I itched at the back of my palm where Amber's mouth had been as Johnny's parents each planted a similar bite on his cheek and forehead. Chihiro carried her brother on her shoulders as she chatted with her own parents with brimming snarls.
“Looks like Mike had a bit too much fun and ran his truck off the road,” Mercy told me as she came back from talking with Tac. “They're on their way.”
“I can do without seeing Crow.”
“Yeah, well, I could do with a place to practice rock climbing, but we can't always get what we want.”
“You humans really are strange for wanting to climb stuff.”
“It's in our nature, no matter how deeply buried.”
She playfully bumped me on the shoulder and I returned with a gentle lashing of my tail against her ankle to which she welcomed with hissing laughter. The teenager wandered off in the direction of her family's tent.
The crowd that had gathered to greet the returning humans was slowly beginning to disperse as the vehicles were unloaded of a variety of equipment. I was relieved to find that there were no signs of blood or death to be seen, assuaging the deep-seated worry that I had of the humans being on the hunt. As little trust as I had for Crow, there'd be no redeeming one so sordid as himself were he to be everything he was as well as a murderer.
I looked forward to seeing Luka again, even if the only thing he had to tell me was stories of his human coworkers. Perhaps now I had stories of my own experiences with humans to tell him and maybe I'd get to see that glimmer in his eye once again that had so long ago been tarnished.
Amber's delighted shrieks were heard over the commotion and I could spot her being held in the air above her father's head as her toothy snarl became somehow wider. Her legs kicked while she wriggled in the hefty human’s embrace and turned attention to her mother as she was lowered into her grasp.
Even here amongst predators, thoughts of home still hounded me. The closest I could recall mom or dad ever coming to that was when they brought me along to one of their outings for dinner where I was allowed to pick the venue. I was still not permitted to talk to other people even then, but I didn't mind at the time.
The gurgle of another gas-powered engine roared over the brow of the hill, prompting a few others and I to turn our attention upwards.
Breaching the horizon came the last truck, though I was curious to note that it appeared to be driving backwards. Tilting my head didn't give me any more of a vantage to figure out why the truck backed up down the hill, nor did it help decipher the mindless chanting that ramped up as the vehicle closed the distance.
“John Wayne's teeth, hey-a
John Wayne's teeth, hey-a
Are they plastic, are they steel-a”
A claw tapping me on the shoulder spooked me, though I had grown to suppress the instinct to jump and make a fuss. “Momma would like to talk before we send you off,” Mercy told me. “She's in our tent.”
I obeyed the summons, almost forgetting how to navigate the maze of rickety shacks and tents to find the Blackfoxes’ residence. It was a simple task, though, once I remembered that the elder sibling had given it a “groovy” paint job.
Approaching the government-issued yurt that had been painted with vivid flowers, I found it odd for it to not have a horde of humans gathered around. They'd typically mill about Martha's tent while she spoke with each of them about their concerns, though what became of their talks was beyond my knowledge.
I ducked inside without notifying Martha, finding her seated at the squat table that was situated in the middle of the tent. The matriarch turned her eyes up to face me and she happily set her insulated cup down.
“There's not really any room for more chairs,” she told me. “But feel free to take a seat anywhere.”
My ears gently brushed against the top of the tent before I sat down just to the right of where she rested. In this claustrophobic environment, I'd have assumed I was being lured into a trap before. At the very least, I still kept my ears on a swivel for signs of trouble, but now confidence outweighed caution.
We sat for a moment without saying anything as Ma adjusted her seat to look at me directly, leaning an elbow against the table as she reclined.
She asked, “Enjoy your stay?”
I scratched the scruff on my neck as I wondered that myself.
“No. Not at first.”
“But now you can say you did?”
“Everything here is a new experience. For me, and possibly every other person who'd have grown up under the Federation.”
“You pulled through, despite being surrounded by predators. That's more than can be said for the lady who stabbed a guy in panic on the first day of the Exchange Program.”
My ear waggled in entertainment to think someone had set the bar so low. What fool would brazenly assault a predator to begin with?
“There were a few times where I thought I'd need to run for the hills,” I explained. “The children you raise are an unadulterated look into what life was like back on Earth, if nothing else.”
Martha chuckled and covered her snarl with a palm as she spoke, “I will choose to believe that's a compliment, given your opinion on us before.”
“I'd say it's a stellar review in the face of almost drowning while under your employment.”
Her face fell a bit and she rubbed the back of her neck while averting her eyes. “Yeah…”
“That is to say!” I blurted out hastily. “Th-that everything else has made it worth my time.”
My desperation to clarify myself felt embarrassing and my ears turned warm as they went flush. Martha sat still for a moment before she spoke again.
“When Richard hired you, he told me you wanted to up your price. 1200 credits?”
“It's a big ask in hindsight, I know. I didn't realize how tight your budget was at the time and I'm grateful that you've offered me—”
She waved a hand with a shushing hiss.
“We don't need to worry so much about that now. Where I was going with that was, that you agreed to our terms yourself, and accepted with only a reasonable upcharge. No other local would've been so quick to take on this job for even quadruple the price!”
“Brashness is a quality of mine I'm becoming more familiar with,” I joked.
“Must be something in the water. But payment is why I summoned you here, actually. We have only a few members who were on board with having an ‘alien’ presiding over the children, and fewer still who contributed any funds.”
“So what you're offering is out of the pocket of only a couple of contributors. I see.”
“I hope it doesn't lessen your opinion of us to tell you that.”
I scratched my snout and exhaled, shaking free the impulse to inquire any further with a flick of my ear.
“So I suppose all there is left to do is arrange payment, and I'll be on my way?”
“It would seem so.”
Heavy footsteps shuffled across the grass outside though conversation from the crowd remained distant. They stopped right outside of the entrance and the canvas foyer rattled as knuckles rapped against the cloth.
“Martha, it's me,” growled a familiar voice. “Everyone decent?”
“You’re clear, come on in.”
The flap shot open and my paw balled into a fist as Richard froze upon spotting me. The predator’s blank gaze didn’t hide their confusion when I could clearly spot their eyes flicking between Martha and I.
“Sorry, am I interrupting something?” Crow asked.
“We were just finishing up,” I responded, making no effort to hide my contempt for the interloper's presence.
Martha waved a hand to one of the chairs. “Have a seat, and I'll be right with you.”
Richard seemed almost deflated as he sulked over to the table. I resisted the opportunity to trip him with my tail in front of Martha to humiliate him, instead glowering at him as he afforded me a quick glance. I turned my attention back to the leader figure that was present while he took a seat.
“So 1100 credits was the agreed upon price, yes?”
“It was, though if there's anything else you desire outside the monetary value, you need only ask. We can't offer much, but I'm sure I have the ear of someone who can.”
“Hopefully you don't mean that literally,” I jested, putting on a facade of worry.
I could spot Crow watching Martha chuckle at my quip. His miserable expression was almost unreadable, save for the furrowing of the pelts on his brow.
Let him watch me charm his kind as easily as he thinks he can mine.
I raised my tail behind my head while I leaned against the table and curled the end loosely to convey appreciation. It was a sign that was rarely used outside of close bonding - that is to say, it'd been a while since I had been able to use it.
Recognition didn't light up in Martha's expression but I was content with projecting affection in any way I could. Understanding wasn't as important as the gesture itself.
“So might I at least know the names of those who did contribute? I'd like to express my thanks to them.”
Richard was the one who responded, “I wouldn't ask questions I wouldn't want the answers—”
“What he means,” Martha interjected. “Is that most contributors wouldn't like being mentioned by name. Aliens are still a polarizing subject and can crop up arguments that others may be obligated to avoid.”
My ears and tail sagged a bit. “Did my presence bring up that much of a problem?”
“More like it's one of a million other things these people can't agree about. But of those who I think would enjoy a bit of gratitude, you may already know some of them.”
“Oh? Tell me!”
I made eye contact with Crow who remained quiet as he cradled his chin in his palm against the table. His bored demeanor irked me in ways I couldn't describe.
“The Ito family, of whom you're already familiar with their daughter Chihiro, were the first to pledge. They're good folk and will happily accept your thanks. Next was myself, though I didn't give much. One of our cooks, Raksh, also contributed a bit, though that may have been more out of courtesy than anything else. And lastly…”
She lazily extended a claw toward Richard.
“... is Mister Crow here, your biggest donor who paid damn near half of your wage!”
Slowly, I felt myself deflate as enthusiasm made way for disappointment. I gritted my teeth to keep any brash words from escaping my lips.
“Closer to a third, actually,” he corrected her. “And with me already having the contact details of your brother, that means I can help set up the rest of the transaction.”
Even when I think I'm winning, he finds a way to one-up me.
“Would you mind giving us a moment, Vili? I think Mister Crow came here to say something and I’d hate to keep you from saying your goodbyes.”
Obliging her request, Martha and Richard waited patiently as I shuffled out of the tent. I hadn't realized how tightly my paw was clenched before reaching the outside where I felt my joints creak with relief as the fist unballed.
In the short time I'd been away, I secretly began to crave interaction from any of the humans I'd become acquainted with. My mind drifted to the slop that Big Joe always served, and how he always laughed every time I tried to inquire as to his full name. It wasn't quite dinner time, though, and so I then considered if any of the kids were still roaming about for me to tell stories to.
Whispers came from the tent before I could set a destination and my ears immediately perked up. I'd found that the humans’ ears were not nearly as effective as mine and so I found it easy to go unnoticed around them. I assumed they thought I was out of earshot by now.
I crouched on one knee and raised an ear to listen, though it was garbled hisses from this far. Curiosity got the better of me and I shuffled on my knees toward the tent, hiding in the shadow cast by an adjacent tent to mask my presence.
“... playing games with the lives of children,” came the low growl of Crow.
“Miss Ito and my own daughter are both very capable of defending themselves and the children from a venlil, Richard. You need to have faith that things can turn out alright.”
“Faith! She wanted to—”
There was a pause before I heard heavy stomping through the canvas. The mesh flaps that acted as windows were quickly torn shut one by one. I feared Crow would spot me, but he seemed too focused on hiding whatever it was he was talking about.
“She told me that she would've used my brains to add character development to a fucking snowglobe. Faith wouldn't have saved me if she carried through.”
“The fact that she informed you of her plot should be some small comfort that there's a piece of her that trusts you.”
“We don't know how many pieces there are! Should we wait for her to try to gore me on the street a second time? Perhaps you’ll get some insight if she sticks a claw through my eye?”
“I'd never let it come to that. I do wonder why it is that you're so worried about her. Did you not tell me you knew someone in her position?”
I heard a huff leave Richard before he spoke, “That was while she was getting help from professionals! What, do you hope to get her the therapy she needs from some squalid nowhere shantytown when we're eating out of the aliens’ trough ourselves?”
“It's a preferable alternative to leaving her at the mercy of the Federation's methods of ‘healing’. At least this way, she's getting help that matters.”
By this point, their voices had lowered into hissing whispers that even I strained to hear.
“I expect that you'll be more open with the others about your motives in the future, Martha. Maybe I have no rock to stand on when I say this, but your actions could very well draw the UN's eye, and the last thing I want is to have the Blues down here.”
“Is it related to your incarceration? Perhaps you were on parole before the bombing and fear the UN will be after you?”
I listened to rustling coming from my left and the conversation grew quiet. I turned to see Tac trotting along, surprisingly unaccompanied by Mercy as he shoveled a bowl of stew into his maw. He stopped mid-bite to look at me hunched over next to the Blackfoxes’ tent and narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
Shove off, I signaled to him. Come back later.
Weird, he replied before trotting off without fuss, thankfully.
There was something of a release from within the tent as I heard Crow and Blackfox alike exhale.
“I assure you, Richard,” Martha started again. “Whatever fears you have, you're protected by venlil laws of asylum as well as having the backing of myself-”
“We can do therapy later,” Crow butted in. “I'll take Vili home. I hope you're prepared to explain to your son that this mission we've embarked on wasn't the quest for glory he thought it'd be.”
“I've tried my best to tamp his expectations down, but I was hoping that Kanek would be open to publishing our actions. The bus that is taking the ones you rescued into town should be arriving shortly, and Kanek will be here soon after she's shushed them.”
I scampered off when I heard Crow trudge out of the tent, using my paws to crawl as quietly as I could manage out of sight. Blowing dirt off of the scab on my punctured paw, I walked off to find people I wanted to say goodbye to.

Most of the kids were already spending time with their families, but the few who still milled about and played were happy to give one last goodbye. Riley broke down in tears while we embraced and I now had a stain on the fur of my belly where her tears had soaked through.
I tried shifting by a group of the adults that were celebrating their return around a campfire. The looks I got as I did so were unnerving now that I understood the discourse that my presence had caused.
Approaching Crow, I pretended I didn’t know why he was slinking between groups and milling wanderers with a leering eye. He turned about to the sounds of my paws shuffling across the grass and threw his head backwards in a lazy greeting similar to how Mercy would.
“Are you ready to head back home?”
“I'm sure Luka has held the place down on his own… but yes.”
“Good, I'll bring the truck around for you and we'll be on our way.”
“Richa-a-a-a-ard!”
My ears perked up and I snapped my head about to meet the approaching Amber with her arms outstretched. Her voice bounced with each step as she rushed toward the towering Terran. Crow let out a grunt as she forced her arms around his waist and jumped about with glee.
“Mama said you were a party pooper! You told me you'd stay cool!”
“Aw, I'm sure you can forgive me for keeping to myself, Amber. Did you enjoy your time alone?”
Amber turned the corners of her mouth down in a pouty expression. “No, I didn't have anyone to help me with my homework!”
Richard patted the young girl on the back and began trying to pry her arms from him.
“I'm sure you managed just fine, you're smarter than the average second grader. And how did Vili treat you?”
I folded my ears back when Crow's eyes turned back to me.
“Vili? That's Luka!”
Amber finally unlatched herself from Crow and rushed over to my side, jabbing a claw toward me.
“See? The ear is the same color! And she knows when I say her name! Mercy told me venlil don't have boobies like human girls do but she's a girl! You were wrong!”
A couple of the voices closest to us erupted in the familiar, grating laughter that accompanied humans everywhere. I tilted my head while trying to grasp what it was Amber said that had earned such a response. Human and venlil physiology was different for sure, but I'd never considered it so entertaining.
Perhaps it's some in-joke that I'm not knowledgeable on, I thought, humans seem to like those.
Crow lowered his eyes to the ground and pursed his lips before squatting down and beckoning Amber toward him. She obeyed and the taller Terran cupped a hand over her ear, whispering quietly.
Amber's eyes lit up as Crow continued and her mouth hung agape. “Lu- ah, er…you're a twin?!”
In a rush, Amber grasped the fur around my ribs and began shaking me back and forth. “You were hiding it from me-e-e!”
Given this small child was still two-thirds my weight, I wobbled like a sapling in the wind as I tried to grab for the scolding child's wrists.
“Please. Stop. Gonna hurl.”
The little girl groaned and buried her face in my stomach. “You must think I'm pretty stupid too, huh?”
Mustering as much of my understanding of English, I belched out, “No.”
Amber buried her face deeper into my pelt while exhaling.
“l'ou… no donb.”
She raised her head to look me head-on, something which I couldn't return in full for the placement of my eyes.
“I'ou's… Zm’rd. Kappy. Ngai'z.”
“You stink at English,” Amber giggled while shooting me one last face-splitting snarl. I mashed her cheeks between my paws and she relented her grasp.
“I neeb go, fr'nd! O’gee?”
“Okay! I promise I'll try to know how to say ‘hi’ next time! And more.”
Richard butted in, “I'm sure she'll hold you to that promise, but I think it's time we got going.”
As soon as he had suggested as much, I caught sight of a human who was only covered in pelts from the waist down stagger into view. The glassy eyed stare and uncoordinated movement were all too familiar to me even without knowing where they were before.
They growled, “Fucks the alien still doing here?”
“Just about to get going, Paul,” Richard shot back. “Don't concern yourself with her.”
“It has been here long enough! Move along, little lambchop!”
“Man, lay off,” another human intervened. “She's as welcome here as any other guest.”
“Nah, Paul has a point. How do we know she ain't some Baby Burner spy or some shit? Get the xeno outta here!”
The humans quickly began bickering amongst themselves and I felt the firm grasp of Crow on my shoulder tug me away from the commotion. Amber trailed behind, watching the debates unfold behind us while we made our way along.
Crow opened the door in a raggedy truck in even worse condition than the others, standing aside for me to enter. While I didn't want to test the predator's patience in light of the tension behind us, I whirled about to give Amber one last goodbye hug. Her grasp around my neck was like iron though the wet streams on her face were all I needed to know that I should let her have this.
“You're gonna come back, right? You and your brother are gonna come and say hi?”
I saw no point in trying to cobble together an articulate sentence in her own language that'd fall flat as soon as I spoke. I considered my words carefully while I clasped her hands in my paws.
“I want to, but I have class that I need to catch up with, as well as I'm in need of a stable job once I'm through with this one. I don't know when I'll be back, but I want you to know that you've made this the best two weeks I've had in a long time, Amber. I don't know how much of my language you understand, but your enthusiasm has surpassed all barriers.”
She stared back up at me with her lips locked in an “oh” pose before turning to Richard who still watched with a lazy gaze.
“She said ‘maybe’.”
That seemed to suffice for Amber as she broke free and ran off squealing with her arms in the air as she always did when she was excited. I'd gotten used to the ear-splitting shrieks of the kids, and my ears didn't even fold back on reflex anymore.
“That's not what I said,” I grumbled to Crow.
He clicked his tongue as he held the door open for me. “Less is more. She's a kid, so she may not fully grasp your struggles anyway.”
With a huff, I crawled into the truck and kicked my feet up onto the dashboard while Crow ducked in behind the wheel. He twisted the key and the vehicle gurgled to life.
Strangely enough, I found that instead of the truck lurching forward, Crow put the vehicle into reverse, using the mirror to navigate up the hill. The truck seemed to make sure we felt every rock and bump that it struck, and I eventually decided to straighten out my posture so that I didn't get folded in half by a particularly bad bump.
Richard seemed unfazed by the sickness-inducing commotion, guiding the truck up the hill with a steady gaze. Stopping at the top, he whipped out his holopad and tapped away while quietly mumbling to himself.
“... hundred-fifty year-old country shit, sure why not.”
He tapped once more and the truck's audio system whirred with the melodic twang of a stringed instrument accompanied by simple percussion. A human's strange croon came over the speaker in a curious tune.
“You held me up, held me down
Made me crazy, then turned me around…”
Richard twisted the knob to bring the volume down to a more agreeable level and I caught a glimpse down at the camp. A group of humans were now gathered where I'd been talking with Amber just moments before.
Now, I could spot the human Paul bumping chests with a human much larger than he, noses almost touching in a clear display of aggression as they howled at each other. Humans pointed claws at one another and argued while yet more flocked to the scene of the commotion. Whether their motives were to disperse or exacerbate was yet to be seen.
“You were my shelter and my storm
Made me cold, then you made me warm…”
Crow finally put the truck in gear and we rolled backwards yet again, leaving the only sight before me the peaks of the Belimal retreating beneath the grassy brow.
As I let the truck shuttle me back to my brother, I yearned for the comfort of my own bed and blankets, for the soft hum of my own air conditioning unit, and for the obnoxious snoring and sleep-talking of my own flesh and blood.
From here, one might even be able to see the highest of the foothills from which my roots would lay betwixt, a reminder that the pangs of home weren't just knots in my stomach. Luka and I had a long way to go to get away from home, and even longer to be rid of it.
“One step forward and two steps back, nobody gets too far like that
One step forward and two steps back, this kind of dance can never last.”
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If you’ve been around this subreddit for a while, you might be aware of Genshin Impact, an open-world Action RPG developed by Hoyoverse (formerly Mihoyo). However, the actual core gameplay of this game is not as important to this post as it is to others. Instead, the game’s gacha aspect and how it doles out its rewards is what is important here. If you know what gacha games are, feel free to skip this next paragraph.
Gacha games are free-to-play games that, instead of base pricing, battle passes, or direct microtransactions, base most of their revenue around the gacha, a randomized lottery system where you exchange some premium currency for the chance to get what you want. If you, say, wanted to get Jeanne D’Arc Alter in the game Fate/Grand Order, you would put premium currency (Saint Quartz) into her banner (special pool of characters and items). This submission then corresponds to a certain number of pulls, each of which has a set chance to get the character you want, and usually a larger chance to get characters and items of lower rarity. Additionally, many games have a “pity” system, which guarantees that you will get the character or item you are trying to pull for within a certain (usually large) number of pulls. Got all that? The key thing to understand is that while you can pay to get premium currency, this premium currency can also be gained “for free” through normal gameplay. This is the social contract between players and gacha game developers: have fair rates and generous rewards (preferably in that premium currency), and players will stick around to pay and play.
When it comes to Genshin Impact, this social contract between player and developer can be strained. Few would dispute Genshin’s overall quality: its story, exploration, characters, and general production values are through the roof compared to other gacha games and most games you can play for free on a phone.
However, the gacha system itself is considered to be quite strict: each pull on a limited banner has a 0.6% to summon the limited 5 star character. As such, many players will have to rely on the pity system to reliably acquire 5 star characters. The chance to get any 5 star will increase after 75 pulls, and on your 90th pull you are guaranteed to get a 5 star unit. Key word a 5-star unit, because this guarantee comes with the caveat of the dreaded “50/50”, where there is a chance of getting a standard banner item or character instead of the limited character you actually wanted. As such, to guarantee a limited character, you have to be prepared to spend upwards of 180 pulls on their banner. This would be fine if the game gave a lot of rewards, but that isn’t entirely the case: with 160 primogems per pull, the average player usually gets about 70 pulls per patch (a 6-week content cycle).
This has led to some grumblings and even outrage in the past when players have felt that Hoyo is too stingy with rewards (see 1st anniversary drama). Nevertheless, Genshin players have generally gotten used to this treatment and kept on playing. It’s not like there would be a better game coming along anyway. (Dun dun dun)

v3.6 and a new challenger approaches

On April 26, 2023, during Genshin Impact version 3.6, HoYoVerse announced the launch of a brand new gacha game named Honkai: Star Rail (HSR). Unlike Genshin, which is an open-world RPG with exploration as a key mechanic, HSR is a turn-based RPG without exploration that focuses more on combat.
From the instant its servers opened, HSR was compared to Genshin. Some of this was deliberate, as the two games are by the same developer and share many design elements:

• anime art style
• legacy “expy” characters like Bronya, Raiden Mei, Seele
• gacha (obviously)
• same gacha system (160 currency per pull, 90 hard pity, 50/50 mechanic)
• gear based on RNG
• and so on…

Both players and content creators gave HSR a go, both because of it being a new game by the same company, but also because of a phenomenon in Genshin’s yearly content cycle known as the “dry patches”. As mentioned before, Genshin releases its content in the form of 6-week-long patches, which contain new characters as well as events and sometimes main story content. However, the main story of Genshin is confined to Archon Quests, which only last for the first three patches of a version. This has caused many players to perceive patches released later in a version as “dry” and lacking in meaningful content. Sumeru was no exception, as the main quest wrapped in version 3.2, and by version 3.6 and the release of HSR, Genshin was in its usual lull season.
But there were also other grievances in the Genshin community at the time besides the usual complaints about dialogue or lack of endgame. Version 3.5 saw the release of Dehya, a highly anticipated character from the Sumeru Archon Quest, whose kit was generally considered underwhelming and disappointing. HoYoVerse did not respond to player requests to fix Dehya, and the main Genshin Impact subreddit blocked people’s complaints. While this could be an attempt to avoid spam, blocking all discussion of Dehya’s flawed gameplay resulted in even more anger among Dehya mains. While one could argue version 3.6 had content in the form of a new exploration region and story, it was another desert region, which people were growing a bit tired of. Suffice it to say, that many Genshin players were dissatisfied with the state of their game, and were looking to find other games.
To someone who might be burning out of Genshin, HSR had many attractive elements.

• a guaranteed standard 5-star in your first 50 pulls
• more humorous writing, without the involvement of a third party like Paimon
• Simulated Universe - an actual endgame mode
  • on the topic of endgame modes, HSR also has multiple endgame modes that test different characters’ strengths, but Genshin’s only endgame is the pure damage-focused Spiral Abyss
• more pulls (BUT: HSR releases more 5* characters, this will become relevant very quickly)
• auto-battle mode
• no time-gated materials
• PERMANENT EVENTS

Additionally, many of those elements listed above were not available in Genshin.
The full value of those features is a matter of personal taste, but overall, Genshin’s dry state made it easier for players to appreciate a sister game bursting with content. And so it went for several patches, with Genshin and HSR players scuffling back and forth about which game is better.

L + Ratio

In its version 1.6 Livestream, the HSR developers announced they would be giving out Dr. Ratio, the newest 5* character, for free as a thank-you gift to players for supporting the game. Importantly, this news came out of nowhere.
While a cynic might suggest that this was just a marketing tactic used to get players back in time for version 2.0, the sudden news poured gasoline on the Genshin/HSR civil war.
Infamously, unlike many of its contemporaries, Genshin has never given a 5* character for free. There has never been a standard banner selector, and while there was an early game rumor that players would obtain Kamisato Ayaka at AR42, this was misinformation that has become community layspeak for false rewards and not believing everything you hear. The closest they have ever come to that is giving out Aloy, a collab character who is widely regarded as bad and forgettable.
Moreover, Dr. Ratio was…a good unit. While some people believed he would be weak because he was free, they were quickly disproven once players were able to test him out. So not only was HSR giving out a free 5* character, but that free character was actually usable and competitive in the meta.
With that information in mind, the Genshin and HSR communities devolved into open warfare. The phrases “Genshin could never” and “Genshin is the middle child” were thrown around endlessly.

Why is Genshin Less Generous, Anyways?

There are several potential answers to this question.
Firstly, characters in Honkai Star Rail are probably cheaper to make. The game has a lot less freedom of movement, so characters have fewer moves to worry about. For example, in Genshin, characters can run, jump, glide, and swim in the overworld, but in HSR, characters can only run. Overall, this leads to characters taking less time and money to make, which then corresponds to a higher output of new characters. More rewards may be compensation for this increased flow.
Secondly, there’s the issue of competition. Genshin came out at a perfect time during the pandemic with a new gameplay model that had never been done before in a gacha game, which led to a first-mover advantage that the game still reaps the benefits of. Because of this advantage, Genshin does not have much in the way of viable competitors, so it may feel no need to try to retain players with many rewards.
This last reason is more of a conspiracy theory. While both Genshin and HSR are made by Hoyoverse, they do not share developer teams. Genshin is directed by one Cai Haoyu, a company co-founder who also directed Honkai Impact 3rd (Hi3). Hi3 was also known for being pretty stingy on rewards until Cai left as director. His replacement was David Jiang, whose arrival coincided with much more rewards for players. And Jiang is also the director for Honkai Star Rail. Hmmmmm….

Conclusion - What did we learn, if anything at all?

So why did this drama occur to begin with? One main reason is envy and the sunk cost fallacy. Gacha games demand a lot of time and money, so a player would want to make sure every last minute they give to the game is worth it. What if the game you spent thousands of hours and dollars on is disappointing? Walking away is difficult, because after all, you did spend thousands of hours and dollars on the game, and if you left that would all go to waste, right? (No it’s not). All you can do is wallow in the salt and betrayal.
As of right now, the drama between Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail has mostly died down. Even when HSR celebrated its highly anticipated first anniversary, people weren’t raging or review-bombing the App Store, despite the fact that HSR technically gave more rewards and could thus be interpreted as “more generous”. While yes, there remain people who chant “Genshin could never” at everything Star Rail does, the majority of the player bases have moved on from the feud. After all, when all is said and done, player infighting benefits no one except for HoYoVerse themselves, who reap the profits no matter which game is marginally liked more.
If you ever feel like engaging in a flame war over two gacha games that only benefit the multimillion-dollar company running both of them, stop and take several deep breaths. It’s not worth your time.

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2	13 comments	[Software] [6 YoE] New to Silicon Valley w/ 6 Years of Frontend, Looking for Resume Feedback in US Culture
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score	comment
14	kevj333 said "detailed experience available on request" is one of the most wild things I've ever seen on a resume. Why do I have to be the one to ask for more information? Your resume should clearly and concisely ...
11	KateN1996 said Even if you didn't do any work, you should have seen the tech stack that others worked with. I would put something regarding that (making sure that study up on the languages) and see if you ca...
9	secretlyyourgrandma said if there's space, it can add interest. I've bonded over music when job interviewing in multiple fields.
8	introversion23 said I wouldn't even know where to start. You don't have bullet points, just some text about what you did and what is there certainly doesnt follow the star, xyz, or car formats. Why would you put your hig...
7	jonkl91 said If you are active in it, you can put it. These are additional things that add to your profile. They don't matter much if you don't have your bases covered.
7	Oracle5of7 said Thanks for doing this. Only skimmed it but it seems you covered everything pretty nice. One thing. What I noticed the most on resumes from students is that their point of view for the resume is inco...
6	casualPlayerThink said Hi, Fellow engineer here, I have some note for you that might help: * Please do not use dots at the end of your bullet points * Consider to check out the wiki for template and for order of your...
6	Mexicant_123 said If you haven’t captured someone’s attention by the 4th or 6th bullet point you certainly wont get it on the 15th. A part of engineering is being able to take complex topics and condense them down into...
5	Mexicant_123 said Not reading this. Read the wiki and repost.
5	PhenomEng said Congrats! It's great to hear feedback and know that in some way, we were able to help!
5	WritesGarbage said This resume isn't great, it's going to take a decent amount of work to fix, if the market wasn't so terrible you would've found something by now. ##### First Thoughts - There's a lot of whitespace bet...
5	trentdm99 said I'd rewrite your Summary at the top. More on that in a minute... Experience ... I would like to personally thank you for not saying "Collaborated with cross functional teams" anywhere in your resume...
5	DL_Outcast said Hey u/Alarmed_Airport_2897, I'm a recent EE graduate and despite my specialization, I secured an entry-level FPGA position. Two key takeaways I noticed: entry-level roles often focus on validation rat...
4	dusty545 said I like to start with the following format. Sure it can be rearranged, but starting with the task (what you were told to do/what you intended to do) helps by placing the strongest [ action...
4	Oracle5of7 said Please read the wiki and follow its advice. You do seem to have good stuff here, it’s just presented terribly.
4	PhenomEng said 1. You've been out of school for a year. You need to broaden your search to all industries and locations. The longer you wait, the harder it's going to be. 2. You had an internship...after gradua...
4	eggjacket said I would change your first job title to “technology analyst” and then drop the last two bulletpoints. Makes it clear that this is relevant work If you’re a current student or new grad, then the first...
4	not_a_gun said I wouldn’t say you started as a technician in your current role. That’s starting the reviewer with the idea that you didn’t do engineering there. You also need more bullets under your current role of ...
4	dusty545 said Simply listing them doesnt do anything for me. Writing a STAR bullet about what you achieved while supporting that club is valuable. If you have the white space, use it. If you run out of room, re...
4	JadedTiger120 said Well done!
3	Oracle5of7 said You bullet points are all terrible. Every single one of them is a task. What exactly did you implement from the wiki?
3	Oracle5of7 said You already have good comment derailing the second bullet. Let me help you with the rest. The biggest problem us that you’re not adjusting your point of view. You are still presenting yourself as a ...
3	Oracle5of7 said This has been a rough one. I know everyone is asking you to read the wiki and it is frustrating because you read it and as far as you are concerned you following it the best you could and you wanted t...
3	PhenomEng said >'Reduced the amount of parts being sent back with issues by 25% and ensured quality standards by using various inspection methods and tools such as calipers, thermometers, pyrometers, and multimeters...
3	KiwiExtra8002 said Can you include like numbers or any impact you had on the business? Like how did you actually increase revenue? Some sentences can be split into multiple bullet points, I feel. You have 6YOE, you don'...
3	Tavrock said Congratulations!
3	Anonymous_299912 said Congratulations! Damn 3 bachelors, each one known to be quite difficult, with work experience?! You're that guy lol.
3	PhenomEng said Just about all your bullets are meaningless. Please read the wiki and resubmit.
3	AutoModerator said Hi u/wagababababobo! If you haven't already, review these and edit your resume accordingly: * [Wiki](https://old.reddit.com/EngineeringResumes/wiki/) * [Recommended Templates&#...
3	jonkl91 said Personally unless you are a fresh grad or career transitioner, put experience first.

 

This comes from Cults and Nonconventional Religious Groups: A Collection of Outstanding Dissertations and Monographs, "Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism and the Soka Gakkai in America: The Ethos of a New Religious Movement", Jane Hurst, 1992, pp. 204-205 and 235. Keep in mind that "NSA" was the earlier name of the current organization "SGI-USA", and that Hurst tends to take an extremely sympathetic, uncritical view of the Dead-Ikeda cult.

So in spite of the way it looks on paper, NSA's organization does have the small-group, personal quality that Gerlach and Hine say is the key to movement success.

I wonder how she would regard the SGI-USA's assigned (non)discussion meeting scripts. Where's that "personal quality" in reading off something you've been ASSIGNED rather than designing it for yourselves?

An essential element is the charisma of NSA's leaders. Theoretically, charisma is an event which takes place between a leader and a group. Charisma exists only as it is perceived in someone by others and cannot be artificially produced.

The flip side of this, of course, is that you'll often find that "outsiders" aren't at all impressed by the supposed "charisma" of people addicted to a cult; this is an indoctrinated view that must be adopted via the communal abuse that exists within this community of cult believers, who are so dedicated to "unity" (aka "conformity"). What gains an SGI member admiration within the Dead-Ikeda-cult SGI is very often something that is not highly regarded at all within mainstream society, as you'll see below in the David A. Snow anecdote.

It is a wholly subjective designation. In the case of NSA, leaders seem to gain charisma in the process of exercising their office. Perhaps this is partly the result of participating in an organizational structure headed by a charismatic President, which the first three Soka Gakkai Presidents clearly were.

Or not - nobody's ever accused Makiguchi of being "charismatic". This whole persona is something that was imported from Japan; it's an aspect of Japanese culture that really doesn't fit very well in American culture, but nonetheless is emphasized within the Dead-Ikeda-cult SGI, which has always been a Japanese religion for Japanese people. At the point this was written, there was still a LOT of Japanese-language terminology in use within SGI, effectively cutting SGI members off from the public, who did not understand their language.

NSA members would say it is the power of the Gohonzon. In fact, members themselves gain charisma by participating in various NSA activities, such as street shakubuku, giving experiences, or taking part in culture presentation.

From related research, David A. Snow identified these "NSA activities" as "performances" that were carefully scripted and choreographed - a "dramaturgical", or "theatrical" arrangement - for "experiences" here and "discussion meetings" here. A Japanese scholar described the Soka Gakkai's "discussion meetings" as "intensive indoctrination courses", and he wasn't wrong.

Someone who has this charisma is described as "incredible, full of energy, dedicated, creating happiness." It is difficult to explain how this spontaneous quality appears in such structured circumstances, but it does.

Only if one is unwilling to look at the obvious focus toward that end within the indoctrination. As I said, Hurst is a bit of a Dead-Ikeda-cult cheerleader.

Gerlach and Hine say that, in movements, charisma is communicable; and that seems to be the case here.

Note that it apparently doesn't occur to her that she's simply seeing another manifestation of "monkey see, monkey do", with SGI members copycatting their leaders, and SGI leaders copycatting their leaders.
"Charisma", as defined within SGI, has the characteristics of a façade, a performance in which a given individual adopts the idealized persona defined within the cult in order to impress other (both within the Dead Ikeda cult and without). The individual is praised within the cult for how much they adopt this idealized persona; behaving in a manic, effervescent manner is described and praised favorably as "youthfulness" and as demonstrating a "high life condition", for example. The Soka Gakkai believed that using the precious members' sincere contributions for kosen-rufu to build special, extremely expensive facilities reserved exclusively for Ikeda would "increase his charisma" (and then there's Ikeda's "chair dominance"), so you can see that, within Ikeda's cult of personality, there's a WHOLE lot of trickery and manipulation going on, all in the name of increasing Ikeda's "charisma". Ikeda was ALL about appearances - HIS appearance in particular. Useless wanker...
You can see how this focus on "appearances" has perpetuated within Ikeda's stupid cult:

[Top SGI-USA leaders] then went off on how when we create these big-ass meetings, we shouldn't have to look into the crowd and see, and I quote, "A bunch of old-ass motherfuckers" The words of my "superiors", not mine. I think this is when they brought up the idea of 50K to my co-leaders and me.
The way they talked about having "old-ass motherfuckers" in the crowd is like they almost don't like having anyone over 35 in the crowd, whether they look their age or not. Their willingness to please their Japanese counterparts to have "youth" just proved to me that not only do they LOVE and develop a pedophile-like attraction to youth, but at the same time, they straight-up HATE "old" people. Their expression for disdain is almost as if old people were the cancer of all the meetings that were taking place and that any effort made to leave them out should be executed immediately. Source

All about the appearances...
From the related endnote:

(5) One former NSA leader clearly had lost this charisma several months after dropping out of NSA. He seemed to be a different person, his energy and manner subdued. His life force, as NSA would put it, was at a low ebb, especially as compared to his vitality as an NSA leader.

I have thoughts about that verdict, but I'll wait until the end.
What actually happens in real life is that the person who starts spending a lot of time in the Dead-Ikeda-cult SGI within the community of the Corpse Mentor culties will begin to adopt their mannerisms, as is typical within groups, and to someone who is familiar with what these are, it's quite obvious, as you'll see from this observation by David A. Snow, in his book Cults and Nonconventional Religious Groups: A Collection of Outstanding Dissertations and Monographs, "Shakubuku: A Study of the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist Movement in America, 1960-1975", 1993, pp. 147-149; I may need to expand on this in a later post. For background, Snow joined NSA as "an active participant observer for nearly a year and a half", and has this to say about the effect of his involvement on his wife:

Finally, I want to acknowledge the enduring patience and support of my wife, Judy. When I was contemplating prospective dissertation topics nearly twenty years ago, she indicated that she had no strong feelings about what I studied except for one thing. "Don't study a group of offbeat, religious zealots," she said. I did, at least from her perspective, and she paid for it dearly. For the better part of a year and a half she spent many weeknights and most weekends alone as I was out doing my field research. It was not much fun for her, especially when she was badgered about joining the ranks, but she grit her teeth and endured, knowing, or at least hoping, that this preoccupation of mine would pass in due time. It did, of course, but not without her patience and support. - from 1992, in the Preface, pp. x and xiii

Snow had some interesting "guerrilla resistance" techniques he came up with to maintain his image as an all-in member of the group while NOT participating in their zealotry - I'll give that its own post because it's kinda hilarious.
But here's something he noticed:

Given the emphasis that is placed on being a "winner," it is reasonable to wonder to what extent are members actually "winners" in their respective lines of work. That is, to what extent do they adhere to the directives and instructions outlined above when engaged in the mundane activity called work?
This is obviously a difficult question to answer, for it was well-nigh impossible for me to observe members at work. And even if I had attempted to do so, my observations would have been suspect in that my mere presence and their knowledge of what I was up to would have probably functioned as a cue that they were in a movement-related situation (any situation in which two or more members are knowingly in the presence of one another) and thereby compel them to attend in part to their membership role.

That in itself indicates a high degree of communal abuse, which is commonplace within high-control abusive community like the Dead-Ikeda-cult SGI - the fear behind getting caught not being "on", of being seen letting your mask drop by someone who might call you out to your SGI leaders.

As a consequence, it would be most difficult to generalize about the behavior of members beyond movement-related situations without relying on various subterfuge and perhaps unethical techniques.

The glasses + false mustache disguise.

There is, however, another possibility: that is when the participant observer accidentally comes upon another member or presumed member engaged in work, but who has no knowledge of the participant observer's membership. This opportunity presented itself to me quite by accident one afternoon during my tenure as a member, and was described in my field notes as follows:

My wife and I stopped at a McDonald's establishment in Santa Monica for an early dinner. While waiting for our order, I mentioned to her that I bet the fellow waiting on us was an NSA member. Even though I had never seen this fellow before, I sensed that he was in NSA because of the way he conducted himself. That is, he looked, acted, and talked as if he were in NSA. He spoke in short choppy and exuberant sentences - a parroting of Mr. Williams' style of speaking.

Americans don't typically speak in that manner, for example - it's an affectation developed through spending time around others similarly affected. Their leaders adopt the mimicry first; this then spreads through the membership - I saw it myself many times. This person noticed the same thing; several individuals in the comments there confirmed the phenomenon.

He worked at a frantic pace, moving around in an exceedingly quick manner. To be sure, most everyone at McDonald's scurries about when busy, but this guy was ahead of the pack. NSA members also scurry about, always making haste. He was also exceptionally pleasant and well-mannered. And he wore an enormous grin and seemed most happy - again like many NSA members.

So upon returning with my order I asked him if he was in NSA. Sure enough. He extended his hand, flashed an even more radiant smile, and asked what chapter I was in. We spoke for a minute and then parted.

Although one might question whether this outward appearance and behavior - the super smile, exuberance, and excessive animation - are reflective of an inner state or merely reflective of an attempt to project a certain image, an image suggestive of competence, happiness, and "winning," the important point is not whether it was a sincere or insincere presentation. Rather, what is significant is that this fellow's behavior suggests that at least some members take the above direction and instructions seriously and do, in fact, attempt to act like "winners," presumably in hopes of furthering both their own interests and those of NSA. And this is especially significant in light of such additional directives as the following:
To practice True Buddhism means to develop the attitude and ability to become the best worker, the best student, the best son or daughter.
For an NSA member to be truly worthy of the title, he should strive to be victorious and successful in society. Through this purpose, he shows other people the power of the Gohonzon.
NSA, just as good Calvinists, thus places a premium on "winning" in one's daily life. But unlike the followers of Calvin, it is not to win the favor or good grace of God; rather, it is to win the favor and respect of the larger public within its society of operation. - pp. 147-149.

Is the SGI still telling the members to consider themselves "ambassadors of the SGI"? SGI clearly expected all the SGI members to continue their performance in hopes of impressing others with how superlative they are - SGI leaders used to tell the members that their "high life condition" would draw people to them who would ask what it was that made them so different, what they did that created that result, and this was supposed to open the gates to widespread shakubuku. (It didn't.)
Now, back to the Hurst account at the top - her description of the former NSA leader here:

(5) One former NSA leader clearly had lost this charisma several months after dropping out of NSA. He seemed to be a different person, his energy and manner subdued. His life force, as NSA would put it, was at a low ebb, especially as compared to his vitality as an NSA leader.

I think we here at SGIWhistleblowers have a VERY different perspective on what was going on with that former SGI leader. Once you become disillusioned enough with the cult that you leave, you will have lost confidence in its teachings and recommendations. And let's face it - pretending to feel a certain way in order to project an image that has been assigned by others, that can feel exhausting, particularly for introverts! In fact, many describe feeling utterly exhausted by the time they finally decide to throw in the towel on the Dead-Ikeda-cult SGI - as explained here: "I did the right thing by leaving, because I couldn't have 'tried harder' or 'chanted harder' or done 'more responsibilities' by the end - I was absolutely burnt out."
Hurst doesn't even consider the possibility that this former NSA leader was experiencing trauma in the wake of separating from this consuming group that especially at that time was eating up ALL his free time (as described here). How he might have been in a more introspective mood as he examined what he'd been indoctrinated to do and be as opposed to what HE genuinely felt was right for him to do and be. In a conformity-pressuring cult like SGI ("unity", "mentodisciple"), all the members are expected to adopt a specific persona, identified clearly here (from 2010). They are expected to take Ikeda's self-glorying fanfic Mary Sue avatar and remake themselves in that image, even though it was a fictional persona. Those who are most successful at replacing their genuine selves with this cardboard cult-guru cutout gain the most praise, respect, and status within Ikeda's cult, after all. AND genuinely PHONY. I'm sure that former NSA leader was a much more authentic person, that "charisma" Hurst states that he'd "lost" simply being the cult-approved behavior required by the cult. And he's WAY better off without that!
I don't know about you, but when I finally ditched the dead-end Dead-Ikeda-cult SGI, I became somewhat withdrawn. First, I had no one to discuss my cult experience with (so important to processing what you experienced) because by that point, ALL my "friends" were fellow SGI members and of COURSE they SHUN you when you leave, but also, I needed to figure out who I was, what I liked, and what was important to me. So I started by catching up on some of the things I'd missed out on along the years, from being too busy doing SGI garbage. And a lot of this involved reading, watching different films and series, and just plain sitting quietly with myself. You can see a bit about the challenge that comes when one sheds an addiction like SGI here - and it involves becoming more in tune with yourself. Healing from an addiction requires that you become independent of everything relating to that addiction that colored your behavior, priorities, and overall worldview.

Copied this over from the wfhgearguide.com blog so you have it right here on reddit.

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Ultime Comfort, Posture, and Productivity

When it comes to working from home, finding the perfect office chair is essential. It should prioritize ultimate comfort, promote good posture, and enhance productivity.
Spending long hours at your desk demands a high-quality chair that positively impacts your well-being and work performance. In this section, we will explore key factors to consider when selecting an office chair for your work-from-home setup.
By focusing on (1) comfort, (2) posture support, and (3) productivity features, you can create an ideal working environment that allows you to thrive.
Let’s delve into what to look for in an office chair to achieve ultimate comfort, promote good posture, and maximize productivity while working from home.

What to Look for in an Office Chair for Work from Home:

Ergonomic Design

An ergonomic office chair is designed to support your body’s natural curves and provide optimal comfort during extended periods of sitting.
Look for chairs with adjustable features, such as seat height, backrest tilt, and armrest height, to customize the chair to your individual preferences and body type.
An ergonomic design ensures that your spine remains properly aligned, reducing the risk of back pain and discomfort.

Lumbar Support

Adequate lumbar support is essential for maintaining good posture while working. Look for chairs that offer built-in lumbar support or have adjustable lumbar cushions that can be positioned to support the natural curve of your lower back. This feature helps prevent slouching and supports the proper alignment of your spine, reducing strain on your back muscles.

Comfortable Padding and Breathable Materials

Choose an office chair with sufficient padding on the seat and backrest to provide a comfortable seating experience. Look for chairs made from breathable materials, such as mesh or fabric, which allow for proper airflow and prevent excessive heat and moisture buildup during long work sessions.

Adjustable Armrests

Adjustable armrests are crucial for maintaining proper posture and reducing strain on your shoulders and neck. Look for chairs with armrests that can be adjusted in height, width, and angle, allowing you to find the most comfortable position for your arms and shoulders.

Mobility and Stability

Consider the mobility and stability of the office chair. Look for chairs with smooth-rolling casters that allow for easy movement around your workspace. Additionally, ensure that the chair has a sturdy base and provides stability, especially if you tend to move or shift positions frequently.

Productivity Features

Some office chairs come equipped with additional productivity features, such as built-in headrests, adjustable headrests, or integrated technology support. These features can enhance your work experience by providing extra comfort and convenience, allowing you to stay focused and productive.

The Best Classic Office Chairs for 2023 Curated to You

Staff Pick:

Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic Office Chair

The Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic Office Chair is a top-of-the-line chair designed to provide exceptional comfort and support. It features a unique pixelated support system that conforms to your body’s movements, promoting healthy circulation and reducing the risk of back pain. The chair’s breathable fabric helps regulate temperature, keeping you cool during long work hours. With its adjustable armrests, seat depth, and backrest tilt, you can easily customize it to fit your preferences and work style.

Most Popular with WFH Gear Guide Members

Steelcase Gesture Ergonomic Office Chair

The Steelcase Gesture Ergonomic Office Chair is known for its versatility and adaptability. It is designed to accommodate various sitting positions, making it ideal for individuals who tend to shift and move while working. The chair’s flexible backrest and seat pan mimic the natural movements of the body, providing optimal support and comfort. It also features adjustable armrests, allowing you to find the perfect position for typing or resting your arms. With its durable construction and high-quality materials, this chair ensures long-lasting performance.

Best Value without Sacrificing Quality:

Autofull C3 Gaming Chair

The AutoFull C3 Gaming Chair is an impressive piece of office furniture that proves to be more than just a chair. A fusion of ergonomic design and modern gaming aesthetics, this chair offers a bevy of features that are beneficial not only for gaming, but also for long periods of working from home.
The chair’s standout feature is its Excellent Ergonomic Lumbar Pillow Design. AutoFull has evidently put significant thought into the lumbar support, creating a back pillow designed in alignment with the natural curvature of the spine. It’s made of high-density native memory foam, which provides firm support while being soft enough to prevent discomfort, effectively dissipating back pressure over prolonged use.
In terms of functionalities, the AutoFull C3 is rich. The backrest can freely tilt from 90°-165°, providing plenty of flexibility to find your preferred sitting posture, whether you’re gaming, working, or taking a break. Speaking of breaks, the chair’s built-in footrest and 20° rocking function make it perfect for quick naps and fatigue relief. The armrests are equally impressive. They’re adjustable in four directions – up, down, left, and right – providing personalized arm support and helping to save space when required.
The AutoFull C3’s construction is robust, boasting an all-steel frame that’s reinforced and filled with high-density foam. Weighing 56.8 lbs, it’s 20% heavier than many other gaming chairs, adding to its overall stability. The SGS level 4 certified gas cylinder and an explosion-proof chassis further underscore the chair’s commitment to safety and durability.
Assembly is straightforward, with a PDF-format installation manual included. As per the user reviews, the process is relatively easy, but it’s recommended to follow the instructions diligently to ensure correct assembly.
AutoFull’s commitment to customer satisfaction is apparent in their offering of a 30-day unconditional return and exchange service, as well as a 36-month parts replacement or repair service. This goes a long way in assuring peace of mind for users, in case they encounter any issues with the chair.
As a popular choice among over a million users worldwide and a long-term strategic partner of top-tier leagues such as LPL/KPL, AutoFull has a strong reputation in the gaming chair market.
In terms of comfort, it scores a perfect 5 out of 5 according to customer ratings. For gaming, it ranks 4.3, while the ease of assembly and support both stand at 4.2. Although these ratings suggest that there might be some room for improvement, overall satisfaction is high.
In conclusion, the AutoFull C3 Gaming Chair, with its solid construction, ergonomic design, and multi-functional features, offers exceptional value at its price point of $249.99. Whether you’re a professional gamer or a work-from-home professional seeking comfort and support, this chair makes a compelling case for itself. Don’t forget to apply the $20 coupon for an even better deal!

Under $150 with Top Reviews

The KERDOM Ergonomic Office Chair is the best value chair we found, and from the amazon reviews, it looks like customers agree. The reason it’s a great chair for the price is that it comes with an ergonomic mesh design and includes a headrest that mimics expensive chairs like Steelcase or Herman Miller. Take a look on amazon.

Optionality and Customization:

Office Chair With Recliner

The Ergonomic Office Chair, Reclining High Back Mesh Chair from the EDX Store will do the trick. At just over $100 dollars this sits well and allows you to lounge if you are short on space.

Office Chair With Massager

Yes, it exists! And it’s awesome. We are talking about the Ergonomic Massage Office Chair with Heated, Faux Leather High Back from the Winner Store. It offers:

• Heated messaging seat cushion
• 4 powerful massage motors
• Motors provide soothing relief to upper back, lumbar area & thighs
• Heat therapy
• Cushioned lumbar area
• 3 powerful motors provide soothing relief to upper back and lower back
• Heat therapy and cushioned lumbar area provide ultimate relaxation

The Best Rolling Office Chair

If movability is important to you, we’ve found the office chair with the best rolling ability.
It’s the Duramont Ergonomic Office Chair – Adjustable Desk Chair with Lumbar Support and Rollerblade Wheels
BrandDuramont ColorBlack Product Dimensions26″D x 23.6″W x 42″H Size26D x 23.6W x 42H in Back StyleSolid Back
MaterialMeshItem Weight44.6 Pounds Frame MaterialAlloy SteelSeat Material TypeMesh