For me it's a tie between these three.
Kitty Pryde- I liked her fine pre-Ultimatum but post-Ultimatum she really shined. She completely stepped up as a leader, and showed what a capable bad-ass she can be, the best leader of the X-Men to date in the ultimate universe. My only real criticism about the character was, why on earth would she leave the X-Men to join the street level All-New Ultimates? I still don't get that to this day. (Honestly, I think I love this version of Kitty more than the mainstream version.)
Spider-Woman- I really liked how for once Peter had a clone, and everything actually turned out okay for said clone. She really shined, successfully leading her own life as Jessica Drew, even joining the Ultimates and becoming a S.H.I.E.L.D agent. I do wish she and Peter had more interactions together, since they were pretty much brother and sister, but it was pretty cool she stepped up and acted as a mentor and surrogate older sister to Miles. (Also straight up, I like this version more than the mainstream one.)
Reed Richard/The Maker- Okay, Reed was so-so when he was still Mr.Fantastic, but he really became a favorite after he went dark, and became the Main big bad of Ultimate Marvel after Magneto died. This was a major alteration to an iconic character and it was just completely well-done from top to bottom. Not only that but it really serves as a dark mirror of what 616 Reed could become without his family with him. All his life he'd been trying to do major good, only to go through pain for it, his piece of shit father, Fury framing him, Doom sabotaging the teleporter etc. Eventually he just snapped.

• (Short story time)

Might be hard to believe, but growing up I had never played a Zelda game (yes people like me exist haha) so I figured better to start late than never. I had recently found and dusted off my old 3DS I found in the back of the closet and took the opportunity to look at old games I missed out on growing up. As I combed through the 3DS' most popular games and people's recommendations, one that kept sticking out was "Ocarina of Time 3D", universally praised and ranked number one on a lot of people's lists. So as someone 26+ years late to the party, I thought I'd finally play my first Zelda game.
So far, I'm loving the game. It's fun and charming, the atmosphere is so nice and immersive, and I finally discovered all the iconic music and sound effects I've heard for YEARS in other stuff LOL. Currently I'm still early on in the game, just landed into the Royal Family's Tomb in Kakariko Village.

• (Main Topic - Me getting stuck)

I've got a huge question though, is the game supposed to be frustrating and hard to follow? I'm no stranger to these types of games and am used to exploring, backtracking and traveling, but I kept getting stuck ALOT.
In the beginning of the game at Kokiri village, I got stuck immediately. I was told to go find a "Sword and Shield" before I could see the great deku tree. So I went to the shop and bought a shield, and then thought "Well they got a stick for sale in here, so maybe that's the make shift sword for now?" but obviously that wasn't it. After running around the village more, I found the entrance to the The Lost woods. Being such a grand opening of an entrance I thought I was supposed to go in there to find a sword. After running around for 15 more minutes and getting lost over and over I realized this wasn't it either. So after running around the village more I found the crawlspace to learn how to dodge the moving boulder and found nothing again? But I figured that couldn't be it so I keep running around in circles and missed the chest THREE times because of the game's camera controls (maybe this is just a 3ds version issue?). Was I supposed to have a hard time finding the first sword? No one told me it would be at the back of town, behind a small crawlspace, past a moving boulder. The only clue I got was "You need a sword and shield to pass through here". I thought it honestly seemed more like a place to find a secret item, rather than an important story piece?
When I progressed to Hyrule Castle to try and see the princess, I got stuck again. During the portion where you have to sneak past the guards, I found the vines growing on the side of the wall. And after sneaking past to the side of the castle, I found an old guy sleeping? He wouldn't wake up no matter how many times I talked to him and I couldn't figure out what to do. So I thought I missed something and went back to town. When I couldn't find anything different in town I went back to the castle and noticed there was a girl named Malon standing next to the vines now. I talked to her and she said her dad fell asleep on his way to the castle during a delivery and asked if I could "wake him up". I thought "ah, now that I've talked to this girl I can wake up that guy". I did think it was really weird how she wasn't there before hand though, shouldn't she have been there the first time I tried to sneak in? Anyway I snuck to the side of the castle again and the guy WOULDN'T WAKE UP. I was super confused why he wouldn't wake up after I talked to Malon. After running around for 10 minutes and finding nothing, I decided to look up a guide. It turns out Malon gives you an egg, but only after you talk to her TWICE. She only gives you the important item you need if you speak to her again, after she finishes talking the first time?? Wouldn't it make more sense for her to say "hey can you wake up my dad if you find him? Also here is an egg" all in one? Why would I need to talk to her two times in a row for the progression item I need? Anyway, I got the egg and snuck past the guards again and when I made it to her dad it hatched into a chicken. I'm going to be real here, I got stuck again lol. I thought I would just talk to Malon's sleeping dad and he would finally wake up and I would give him a chicken as a gift? I knew chickens were animals in Zelda (and that you're never supposed to attack one) but it didn't even occur to me that the chicken in my inventory was an item to be equipped and used to wake up Malon's dad. I had to look at another guide for that one.
My third time getting stuck was after I talked to Zelda for the first time. After I talked to Zelda for the first time, I got to see the cool cutscene and spy on Ganon in the window. Afterwards, I get the Princess note thing and Zelda stops talking to me (I'm free to move around). At this point, I had been playing for over 2 hours so I saved and closed the game. When I came back to it later in the day, I was SUPER CONFUSED why I was back in Kokiri village. After looking it up, I get sent back there every time I save and close the game unless it's a dungeon?? Shouldn't that be a warning when you save?? "Warning, closing your game will have you awake in your bed in Kokiri village the next time you continue". I was really frustrated that I had to run back to Hyrule on foot, sneak past all the guards AGAIN, and then when I talked to Zelda I had to watch the cutscene AGAIN. It only took like 17 minutes, so it wasn't a huge deal but it was really frustrating how saving and closing the game made me lose progress.
The most recent time I got stuck was at the graveyard in Kakariko Village. After entering Kakariko village, I couldn't find anything to do since I couldn't progress into the mountain without the King's permission. I kept hearing about the graveyard though, so I figured that's where I should go next. I found the graveyard at the edge of town and read the gravestones one by one. When I got to the royal family's tomb some ghost popped out and I defeated them. The ghost told me some things and then disappeared afterwards. After that, I thought I was done in the graveyard, no chests, no branching paths, just the graveyard tour which I assumed was a minigame to get some rupees?. My train of thought was, okay so now maybe the king will be in town and I need to find him so he will give me permission to enter the mountain, I'll probably need to play my ocarina for him since Impa said the song will give me credibility for knowing the royal family. Guess who was wrong lol. I spent 30 minutes running around town checking every nook and cranny for something that would progress me forward. I gave up and looked at a guide again. Turns out I needed to play my ocarina at the royal family tomb to progress forward. Was I supposed to know to do that??? Did I miss some dialog at some point that tells me if I see a triforce symbol to play my ocarina on it? No one told me to do that. It seemed obvious when I thought about it, but there wasn't any tutorial or hints from Navi about it.

• (Conclusion)

Am I just incompetent?? Is progression in OOT supposed to be smooth sailing and I'm just fumbling the bag? I'm genuinely confused why I got stuck so many times this early on in the game. It's just really frustrating and disrupts the flow of what would other wise seem like a great story. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to keep playing, I love the gameplay and the visuals so far, plus it's kind of exciting since it's my first Zelda game. But man, is it supposed to be this frustrating for me? Are all Zelda games like this? Or is this just how games were in 1998? Am I just bad at this game? Lol

I never really have done a “review” so to speak of a film, but after sitting through to ‘properly’ watch my favourite Saw for a first tonight I really have to praise every little bit about it. What Leigh and James et al did with such a tiny budget is nothing short of phenomenal.
A big criticism of the first film is about its pacing, with many calling it a bit more “boring” than the instalments to follow. However, I think Saw 1 is excellent at combining its horrific trap plot and the detective story into one with such an intimate set of characters you can invest in. The later films build a bigger and bigger gap between the trap plot and the ‘police’ segments of the film, with the gore being the main focus. But in Saw, they’re practically a part of the bathroom trap. It helps that Tapp and Sing are written as close to Gordon already, more distanced from the main police force, allowing the pursuit of Gordon and the hunt for Jigsaw to be far more personal and unique and less bland with characters who are actually associated with each other. Saw 1 feels like one long story that puts all its pieces together, rather than two separate plots that only join together come the ending. It’s thus very consistent and developed if you can involve yourself.
The film’s tiny budget also means that there is a cut back on how much gore they actually managed to get in there, and I feel this helps a lot. While other films like X have proven that high budget gore does not have to be the highlight of the film, along with the ‘soap opera’ sort of plot that runs through all the films, I think Saw’s mystery of the Jigsaw killer makes the investment in the film far greater and interesting than that of just watching it for repetitive violence. The story itself I found to have good pacing, with the flashbacks, though slightly repetitive at times (cough car park scene cough) and the editing being slightly questionable, feeling necessary and a healthy addition to the film’s developing plot if you can get yourself involved with it. Simply put, there’s no real “filler” in the film, with even the more laid back scenes still fitting the topic and thus keeping you both interested and on-edge, as you have zero idea what to believe on a first watch; it’s also nice to look back on how the different characters acted and thought once you do know the full lore behind the film.
The actors brought so much energy to the film, and were 100% a big part of its success and legacy. Though questionable at times, the bond between Lawrence and Adam which take up a bulk of the film’s 103 minute run time never manages to fall flat, with their actual journey and development being very powerful as we are stuck with them traversing through this escape room. Once we find more about both of them, we can only feel more emotion for the situations they’re in. Others, like Glover, do an amazing and underrated job at ensuring their key characters help develop the story and make it believable. Tapp is both a unique and a very human character, and his descent into madness and obsession is portrayed excellently as he stalks Gordon like a lunatic. Emerson as Zep is also key, with him playing the film’s big bad until the ending. The orderly definitely comes across as a psychopath, and the horror of the scenes with Diana and Addison really help add to the mystery and to the horror of the film and Jigsaw. Side note: I love the more classic horror scenes, like Zep in the closet and Adam’s apartment search - they’re super well done and give the film such a great variation on top of its torture + body horror.
Such a story for me, with there being more of an emphasis on Jigsaw’s motive, and why he targets people (as demonstrated with the film’s characters) and traps just being his symbolic method make the movie far more powerful. While it’s cool to see gore and effects from such a bold film, along with the thrill, I feel it’s so much more rewarding when it comes from a story you’ve followed and been a part of. After all, it is the flipping of what we know and the story finally being pieced together with the revelation of Jigsaw, on top of the filmmaking, that make the ending scene one of the best in movie history; it’s not the iconic shots alone that make the scene so great, it’s the build up and our minds being freaking blown that do as well - it sends a chill down your spine after such a rollercoaster of a movie, and it’s rewarding to discover it in such an epic way.
As messy as this analysis is, I really just wanted to get my love for this film out of my system. I love Saw for both the engaging pursuit of the mysterious Jigsaw killer and the escape room that develops throughout the film all falling into one intimate, entertaining and re-watchable classic. It’s easily my favourite horror and is one of my favourite films of all time, defying the “torture porn” label and showing just how unique and entertaining the Saw franchise can be at heart.

Okay first off, I am genuinely surprised with how much worse it is in comparison to the Netflix dub. And it's not just that I'm not used to the voices though some of them simply don't fit the characters as well for me.
Many of the voice line deliveries are so much weaker than how I remember in the Netflix dub, this is pretty well exemplified in the scene where thorfinn stops Einar from attacking the guards to help Arnheid. If you compare the deliveries of the lines, the crunchyroll dub feels so flat in comparison.
And yes while I'm one hundred percent sure a lot of bias influences this but the majority of the voices simply don't fit the characters for me, I mean I love Chris Sabat and Ian Sinclair but their voices to me simply don't fit snake and Einar. The ONLY exception to this is Canute, not only do I perfer grelles performance and think he's a better voice actor, but I also think that his voice fits the older Canute better than Griffin's voice does (though I really like Griffin as young Canute). However I still associate Griffin's voice with Canute so despite the fact that I think that Grelles performance is the superior one (not to discredit Griffins performance), I still see associate Canute with Griffin.
Also I have to mention how much I don't like askalads voice on the crunchyroll dub, it feels like the removed all of his wit and charm in exchange for a deeper and more "cool" voice, and I just genuinely think that the voice does not fit the character, and honestly makes him sound to young. no hate to the voice actor who played him (don't know who did it for the Crunchyroll dub) but Kirk Thortons performance as askalad was iconic, and genuinely fantastic and for me will always be askalads true voice.
Also one weird nitpick that I noticed when watching the crunchyroll dub was that I felt a lot of the voices seemed way too smooth, I liked how rough and raspy a lot of characters voices were in the Netflix dub.
And of course I can't keep going without talking about the "I have no enemies" scene, and while I know that it was because of the lip flaps and trying to keep the meaning fully intact, I still prefer the way Aleks changed some of the previous lines in order to allow himself the space to properly fit in the exact "I have no enemies" wording. The crunchyroll VA wasn't necessarily that bad for thorfinn, hell some of his screams were actually quite good but his performance simply does not compare with Aleks. Just let me glaze Aleks lee as a voice actor because goddamn is he a fantastic VA and I'm so happy that he's getting more noteriety though his role in solo leveling.
In short it's not like the crunchyroll dub is truly horrible by any means of the imagination, but I do feel it's quite lackluster in comparison, and I will wait as long as I need to when season three comes out to watch the Netflix dub version. If you disagree then good for you, I have my opinion and you have yours. Thanks for reading.

Love how quickly they escalated Powers’ slip into full time Blight. The voice acting as he got angrier and angrier was top notch. Iconic delivery “I don’t even know who you are” before it was cool too lmao. They didn’t even need it to be a two parter to really nail the plot with this one. Love the note they ended it on as well. That being said, how the fuck did we not get a Blight movie to cap off this series? ROTJ was great, but the finale of the show itself was any old episode, a good one but still. Really could’ve used another major event episode or movie. The little tease at the end of Ascension that Blight is still alive was practically begging for a high stakes future episode. Anyways, great episode.

Welcome to the first post in the prophesied Design Notes Series, which will see periodic releases during the (probably long) wait until 3.0, and will preview and discuss upcoming content.
As was mentioned in the Anniversary post, I am working on 3.0 whenever I find the time and motivation; treating it like homework did not do wonders for my creativity, back when I started. So this Series is meant to serve as an appetizer and periodic reminder that progress is still being made.
The Design Notes Series will also have prompts in the comments; questions from me about the things discussed in the post.
Let's get into it!

Weapon Art?

I am considering renaming the phrase "Special Ability". As casual language, pretty much everything in SW is an "ability" that is "special," so the term always felt ambiguous to me. But more importantly, it just doesn't shine. I'm a fan of vivid, evocative language in fiction, and nothing about the phrase "Special Ability" actually feels special to me. It's... generic.
So I may rename it to "Weapon Art." No less clichéd, really, but the point isn't to make the word unique, just unambiguous, evocative, and a maybe little more iconic.
And I would just do it, if it weren't for the fact that find-and-replace is really glitchy in Inkscape (of course it is), so I would have to manually replace every instance of the phrase.
Since I haven't decided yet, I'm going to use the phrase Weapon Art for the rest of this post, to try it on and see how it fits. Let me know what you think of the term, and whether you think it would be an improvement worth taking the time to implement.
Personally, if nothing else, I think it enhances clarity.

The Importance and Function of a Weapon Art

Weapon Arts are the defining heart of a Weapon Class. If I can think of a unique Art for a weapon, it gets a Class. If I can't, it doesn't. But how do I decide what Art to give to a weapon? I have a process, and it goes a little something like this:
The Function of the Art should be to...

1. Make it Possible to use a weapon that is otherwise too impractical for combat. If this isn't applicable, it should instead...
2. Compensate for a Weakness of the weapon. If this isn't applicable, it should instead...
3. Amplify a Strength of the weapon.

Examples of Function 1 — Cleaver, Boomerang, Yo-yo. Examples of Function 2 — Polearm, Crossbow, Bolas. Examples of Function 3 — Sword, Bow, Boots.
(Besides these guidelines, every option in SoulWeapon must synergize with other potential choices; that's the Golden Rule for Everything, since the very start).
There are a few exceptions, like Cane Sword or Wand, where the Art hones in on some thematic principle of the weapon or does something unique entirely. I would define these as Arts that enable a trope, which is sort of a hidden 4th Function.
But there are other exceptions I am less happy with. There are some Weapon Arts that have always struck me as incorrect, or just insufficient, but they stayed because I could never think of anything better.
But I've reevaluated the principles behind Weapon Arts. As a result, a number of Weapon Classes—some of which have been unchanged since 1.0—are seeing new Weapon Arts in 3.0.
Let's talk about a few of them.

Knives

For such a common, bread-and-butter weapon, Whisper Walk is a really niche ability that is specific to certain settings/builds. In general, if a weapon is something that gets used a lot, I want its Art to be something that gets used a lot as well.
Cane Sword is a rare and weird weapon that is already almost exclusively used as a way to conceal a weapon or exude style and poise. So the Art reflects that stealth-based nature. But knives are used in a variety of ways besides stealth: open melee combat, ranged attacks, etc. So its Art should at least be a little broader.
The new Art serves Function 2: Compensating for Weakness. One of the weaknesses of the knife is its short range in melee; it's difficult to get past the defenses of most standard-sized weapons to where knives can thrive. The new Weapon Art is called Close-Quarters Combat.
If you really liked Whisper Walk, or had some builds that depended on it, don't worry: it will still be possible to access the effects of Whisper Walk in 3.0.

Mace

If Sword is the "default" bladed weapon, Mace feels like the "default" blunt weapon. (Even if it can technically have spikes on it, its purpose is nonetheless to smash, where the Sword's is to cut). Seems like it has a similar versatility and number of design Variations as the Sword, too, doesn't it? It feels appropriate, then, that they would be reflections of each other, with Sword leading the charge on Page 1, and Mace leading the charge on Page 2.
So, since Sword grants improved skill and and a buff to Runic Potency, Mace shall grant improved might and a buff to Runic Potency.
This feels really really right to me, whereas the old Art (Brute) felt pretty lackluster. Swords are about precision, so they buff your skill, and Maces are about crushing power, so they should buff your might. Both weapons buff Runic Potency, and so you have twin "default" melee weapons that act almost as spokespersons for their broader weapon types. As a bonus, the new Art sort of encompasses what Brute did, so it's a strict buff at the end of the day.
You might think the other "default" weapons to be Knives (the default throwing) and Bow (the default shooting). These haven't gotten parallel Runic Potency -type abilities, but their Weapon Arts have been buffed or reworked in other ways.

Tonfas

Non-Lethal was very cool, but it did not feel like a Weapon Art. Its effects have been moved to a section that makes much more sense for the type of ability it is (you can probably guess to where, if you grok the design philosophy of SoulWeapon).
It has been replaced with a new Art that better suits the beat-and-block nature of Tonfas: Missile Deflection. This lets you intercept projectiles and helps with blocking melee attacks, so you can close the distance on ranged foes and then out-defend them. It's meant to be strong enough to effectively invalidate mundane archers and make the lives of Soulbound archers rather difficult; tonfas are a below-average weapon, so they deserve an above-average Art to compensate.

Kusarigama

Shadow Creep had the same problem as Whisper Walk: stealth is too niche a boon for Weapon Art; it restricts the potential of a Class by limiting its use-cases.
The new Art fills a niche we for some reason didn't have before: a true spinning chain weapon. It is called Spin Control, and it is to Corded weapons as Hover Spin (Giant Shuriken) is to Throwing weapons. It has a little extra bonus of allowing you to remotely control the orientation of the blade (separately from the chain), which can have some niche utility applications beyond just ensuring the kama hits your target point-first when you spin/fling it.
As with the others, the effects of Kusarigama's old Art will be accessible one way or another in 3.0; nothing is getting truly left behind.

Conclusion

There are a number of other Classes that have had their Arts updated or completely remade, but you'll have to wait until release to see those.
Future Design Notes posts likely won't be as long as this one, as most of them will focus on one single item instead of an entire design philosophy.
And
See you in the next! (And don't forget to let me know what you think of the new name).

All right here it is finally, thank you all for your patience and let's hope chapter 5 is a little more expedient. As usual I hope you enjoy and would love to get everyone's thoughts.
4: Memory transcription subject: Zeak, Harchen orphan, citizen of the Venlil Republic. Date: standardized human time July 13th 2136.
The sky was a roaring mass of fire and pungent black smoke that choked out the light of the sun. As I ran down the street, green blood flowed like a broad shallow river. It splashed up with every step I took, sticking to my scales, the smell of it made me feel sick. As the piercing wail of the emergency sirens seemed to grow louder and louder with every step I took making my ears ring and filling my head with a thunderous pain. My heart pounded, my lungs were on fire, and my legs felt like they were made of lead.
A herd of towering blurry figures appeared out of nowhere and ran past me, some almost knocking me down. In their panic they began to look more like crazed wild animals than people. I cried for help but they couldn't hear me. I waved my paws then grabbed one of them a male Venlil, tightening my grip with all the strength I had hoping this would get his attention. He threw me off like I was trash, less than trash. I turned around and continued pleading for anyone to help me, reaching out for others. But their frantic idiot eyes looked only straight ahead and not down, never down, as the herd passed me.
I turned back around and continued to run, blood splashing up soaking me all the way to my knees. I stumbled, my legs were so tired I could barely stand, and I fell down catching myself, plunging my paws into blood as deep as my wrists. I felt myself scream but I couldn't hear it over the ringing in my ears. A scrap of paper gently floated past me, a single word written on it that echoed in my mind “Weakling.” It passed and four more took its place, “Coward”, “Liar”, “Oath breaker”, “Murderer.” I screamed in rage and slapped the pieces of paper aside, blood splashing onto my snout, but the meanings of those words remained. Getting back up I stumbled forward, and fell down again. Then with an effort born out of sheer desperation I managed to stand again lurching forward. My legs were too tired to run but I had to keep going, I had to save them. Or at least her, please Protector if you're listening please let me save at least her.
It felt like I was searching for an endless time. Lurching forward, stumbling, falling down, getting back up, lurching forward once more. Eventually I saw it and my heart fell into the pit of my stomach. My family's car was turned over on its roof, the driver's side had been caved in. It was engulfed in fire and thick black smoke that rose up into the sky. I struggled forward and when I reached it I collapsed, my knees hitting the hot pavement. The smell of burning metal and something else I didn't know assaulted my senses making my stomach turn. Every muscle in my body begged me to run away. Calling out their names l looked inside, and a wave of nausea and horror flooded through me.
I turned away and vomited, then reached up with my blood soaked paws and covered my eyes. Those words thundered in my head making me think it was going to burst open, as hot tears welled up. “WEAKLING! COWARD! LIAR! OATH BREAKER! MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER! “I'm sorry I'm sorry, I should have stayed, I should have helped. Why did I run?” I wailed, still unable to hear myself. Someone rested a delicate paw on my shoulder, and the world went quiet. As the pain in my head melted away.
My eyes snapped open and I was greeted by the gentle ringing of my alarm. In a rush of adrenaline I leaped out of bed not even bothering to wipe the sleep out of my eyes. Running out of my bedroom and down the narrow hallway towards the living room. Convincing myself It had all just been a horrible, horrible nightmare and everything was alright. Mom and Dad would be fixing breakfast, Dad softly singing a Harchen folk song while making something savory and delicious as mom sang along in harmony, preparing something special for my baby sister Naila. Oh yes and Naila, she would probably be sitting on a cushion in the sunny part of the living room. Holding her crooked tail, a birth defect which my parents said could be fixed when she was older. And making excited chirping noises at my arrival, while sunlight shone against her emerald scales. I loved my baby sister, I knew other kids resented having a younger sibling. Dismissing their responsibilities and spending less time with their family and more with their friends. I never once felt that way, the moment Naila hatched I devoted every spare minute I had to her. Finding music that would help her fall asleep, watching over her when my mom needed a break. Excitedly telling her about the day's events and what I learned at school, especially what I learned in computer science which was my favorite class.
“Mom! Dad!” I yelled bursting into the living room. “I just had the worst…” My voice trailed off as I was greeted with nothing “dream.” My heart tightened painfully in my chest, as I frantically ran through the house throwing open every door, knowing that they had to be here somewhere. They were just playing a game on me that was all, a game I would tell them I didn't appreciate. After the final door had been opened and no one was there to yell “Surprise!” My body slumped and I felt heavy as reality set back in, and the memories of what happened hit me like a hammer. I made my way back down the hall to my room, tail dragging behind me as I crawled back into bed. Wrapping myself tightly in a blanket, trying to find some comfort.
It must have been hours I lay there feeling numb all over, wishing I could get up the energy to just cry. I think I might have fallen asleep at one point. If I did it was a dreamless sleep, thank the stars for that. Eventually I did get up, sitting cross-legged on my bed, resting my chin in my paws, staring holes into the wall. I took a deep breath and side numbly looked out the window, searching for anything to distract myself with.
It was overcast, and eerily quiet. The emergency sirens had stopped blaring yesterday mere hours after everyone had gotten to the bunkers. The bodies of the dead had already been collected and their blood cleaned from the pavement. So as to not attract any predators into the neighborhood. I saw my neighbor A'shul was home, his white vehicle was sporting some new dents. I wondered, when he got into his vehicle yesterday morning and drove to the nearest bunker; did he try to help anyone? Or was he thinking only of himself? I suppose it didn't matter really. Nothing mattered.
I turned my head away and looked around my small room taking in everything, every trinket, misplaced item, my old second-hand desk, a big green crackle finished monster. Better suited for a Venlil than a young Harchen, heck I needed a stool just to use it. I had gotten it for basically nothing about a year ago, when the local extermination office was getting rid of their old furniture. All it took was a small bribe and they put it in my bedroom when no one was home. My parents, but especially my mom we're not happy when they saw it the next day. They would tell me at least once a week that It was too big for me and they were going to get rid of that eyesore. “Wouldn't you like something a little more modern dear?” My mom would ask, practically pleading for me to say yes. I used to pray that my parents would just shut up and stop bugging me about that stupid desk. I thought it was great, it made me think of private detective Bal from the exterminators show. Bal was a no nonsense Harchen who was so often pivotal in tracking down the predator or predator diseased person. My desk was very similar to his and that's why I wanted it. But at that moment, I would have given anything to hear those words again.
On the desk there was an ornate wooden box, with a fruit tree in full bloom delicately carved into its lid. There were also scuff marks where it had been dropped, and a deep crack running down the center. It was known as a blessing box, Naila's blessing box to be specific. When she hatched nearly ten months ago the whole neighborhood had been invited to come and write a blessing on a scrap of paper and put it in the box. I had written one too, not a blessing but a promise, a promise I couldn't keep. The belief was that if kept near the infant, the combined power of all those blessings would keep the hatchling safe until their first birthday. Where on that day the box would be set on fire and burned to ash. Releasing those blessings back into the world so they may protect someone else. It was an old tradition and not commonly practiced anymore, but as my dad always said “It is important to keep the old traditions alive my son. Both in song and action.” I remember asking him why? And he looked at me like he had been waiting for that question for a long time. “Because” He said, his tail moving with authority. “Someday when you lose your way, and you don't know where to turn to. You will always have something to guide you back to your center.”
Looking away from the box not wanting to look or think about the damn thing, I shifted my gaze down to my bedside table. There was a little holographic projector showing pictures of me, Mom, Dad and Naila on holiday back on Fahl, the Harchen home world to see family. I was born and raised on Venlil prime, so I didn't really know any of my extended family. There was a picture of my mom and Naila sleeping at the beach. Naila’s crooked tail coiled around mom’s arm, their scales a deep emerald in the light of the sun. The picture changed to me and Dad putting the finishing touches on a sand skyscraper taller than him. I had to sit on his shoulders to place the last bucket full of sand on top. Both of our scales were as blue as the ocean. My tail flicked sadly thinking of that day. I reached over and turned the holo protector off.
My holopad lay next to me flashing, alerting me to an urgent message. I hadn't really looked at my holopad since yesterday morning. Picking it up I tapped the flashing icon. It was an official government statement signed by Governor Tarva herself, saying that the humans Noah and Sarah were peaceful explorers, and that they only wished to be our friends. ‘No, that's impossible, they’re predators. Predators don't want peace, they want to conquer, kill and eat us,’ stunned and confused I kept reading. The rest of the message stated that the two human scientists were completely unaware there was intelligent life of any kind on Venlil prime. ‘No! Lies! Predator lies!’ I yelled inside my head. Something hot began to form in my chest as I read the last bit. Governor Tarver had shown the two predators footage of the Arxur torturing Venlil pups. It said that the humans were capable of empathy and felt deeply saddened and angered by what they saw. They vowed to do everything in their power to get their united nations into the war against the Arxur.
I scrolled all the way down and what I saw stopped me cold. Standing in her office being flanked by General Kam, stood Governor Tarva. Beside them looming over the two Venlil one bigger than the other, both of them covered in some sort of protective suit. Their faces were obscured by dark visored helmets. It said that the larger of the two Noah was male, and the smaller one was Sarah female. Sarah had her hands clasped in front of her, while Noah kept his to his side. Neither were acting threatening, and neither Tarva or Kam looked to be harmed in any way.
Something in me snapped, that hot thing inside my chest erupted and I could feel my scales turn black. I very carefully set my holopad down beside me, then I uncrossed my legs and got out of bed. I stood there in the center of my room shaking slightly, feeling terribly calm as white hot rage flooded my body, spreading to my paws and all the way out to the tip of my long tail. It never had to happen, the panic, the stampede, the death, we could have stayed home and avoided those people. ‘No… no not people,’ a bitter thought came over me. ‘They're not people at all, people stop and help, like that Venlil girl Kayleik, she was a person maybe the only one. But the rest of them were just wild animals, masquerading as sentient beings. ‘Do you really think you're any better, coward?’ Some internal voice said.
A sudden impulse took control of me and I grabbed my desks stool and hurled it against the wall. It dented the wall and bounced off still in one piece. Enraged, I leaped forward grabbing it by the legs, then turned around and slammed it into my desk. The sheet metal dented and the green crackle finish paint flew off, but the stool made of good dense wood from the string fruit tree stayed whole. “DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM!” I screamed, slamming the stool down again and again, my tail whipping wildly, striking the bed and the floor. The tip of my tail began to hurt, which only fueled my anger. Finally I heard cracking and wood began to splinter off. They didn't have to die, we could have stayed home. The muscles in my shoulders burned and my heart pounded as hot tears began to well up. I brought it down one final time narrowly avoiding the blessing box, and the stool broke in two. I hurled the pieces away from me, one slamming into the corner the other crashing through the window.
I leaned against the desk catching my breath as tears flowed freely. ‘Well that definitely showed them didn't it. Hey I got a great idea! Let's go break some more stuff, that will definitely make you feel better. Idiot!’ That internal voice said all coldness and bitterness. As I cried, the burning in my chest cooled, and I was filled with the same numbness as before. After a while my stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't eaten since yesterday. I moved sluggishly out of my bedroom and went straight to the kitchen, quickly grabbed some fruit and left to go and watch the view screen or something. The moment I entered the living room, memories came flooding back. Mom and Dad laughing, Naila sleeping peacefully, the lingering aroma of breakfast, and the warmth of our home. But now it was all gone and I was alone. For the first time in my life, I had no one to go to.
It was right then I realized I couldn't stay here anymore. This place felt like a tomb, all cold and filled with the memories of the dead. Besides, if I stayed here someone would eventually send the authorities to come and get me. Ship me off to an orphanage, foster care or maybe to my extended family back on Fahl. I balked at the idea of being forced to live with people I didn't know or trust. Memories of yesterday's stampede invaded my mind and I shuddered. I couldn't trust any of them not anymore. No, there was one person I could think of that maybe I could trust. Turning around I went back to my room, found my backpack and grabbed my holopad, the blessing box, the holo projector and my blanket stuffing it into my pack. Then I went to the kitchen and filled my pack up the rest of the way with dried fruit and vegetable snacks. With my backpack looking like it was going to burst I shouldered it and made my way to the front door. When I rested my scaly paw on the door handle I stopped and looked back at the place that was once my home. “Goodbye” I said in a shaky voice, knowing this would be the last time I would never set foot in this house. With my head low I opened the door and stepped out, into the dim light of a new unfamiliar world.
Previous First

Season 5- This may not be everybody's favorite, but it's mine! The Dark Swan arc was my favorite of the show and I would've been happy seeing Dark Emma for an entire season. It also covers a lot of the Dark One lore, which I find intruiging. I really enjoy the underworld arc as well. It's really cool seeing characters that have died appear again. Hades is a cool villain.
Season 3- This is a top notch season! The Neverland arc is great and Zelena is an interesting villian. The shift in the status quo at the beginning of 3B is cool and the time travel episodes might just be my favorites of the whole series.
Season 6- The Land of Untold Storylines was a neat storyline. I think it could’ve been explored more, but there was some good stuff there. The Evil Queen is an iconic villain of course and Mr. Hyde is great. I was disappointed when he died. The Gideon/Black Fairy storyline was alright. There were some good things there, but I don’t think it fully lived it up to the potential. The musical episode may be favorite of the series!
Season 4- I like the Frozen storyline, though it feels a bit out of place. Anna and Elsa were good and Igrid was an ok villain. The author storyline was pretty interesting and added some cool lore. The team up of Rumple, Ursula, Cruella and Malificent sounds awesome, but I feel like it didn't live up to the potential. There was some good stuff there though.
Season 2- This is another good season. Everybody has their memories back! We get introduced to great characters Hook and Neal (as an adult at least) and see the return of hate-able villain Cora. Seeing Emma in the Enchanted Forest is cool and I love seeing her interact with her newly discovered parents. The Greg and Tamara storyline is neat and leads well into the next season.
Season 1- This is a good season. The reason it’s this low is because prefer the seasons where the characters remember who they are. It sets up the universe and characters quite well!
Season 7- I like this season, but it’s definitely my least favorite. It was such a jarring change from the rest of the series and ultimately felt unnecessary. Season 6 felt like a good series finale. I like that we got to see Regina, Gold and (Alternate) Hook again as main characters, but it suffered from a lack of Emma, Snow and Charming. Andrew J. West was a good addition to the cast, but it was sometimes hard to view him as the same character that we were following for 6 seasons.

** We are now full, feel free to send DMs just incase we get drops, or if you want me to consider you next time, but for now we are full, tyvm *\*
Hi LFG!
Come join me try out a fun system, Icon. I am getting a group together, online only, to do a small adventure about saving a small forest village from demon raids. TLDR: the system is blades in the dark meets fire emblem lets try it out together!
Estimated session count:
5-6 (give or take some depending on roleplay... combat sessions will take entire session most likely)
Schedule Availability:
Fri-Sunday 6pm EST-12pm EST.
Player count:
3-4... 5 if we need to stretch.
System:
Icon(https://massif-press.itch.io/icon) is from the same maker as Lancer (https://massifpress.com/). It is currently not published fully but is "Finished" (lacking some polishing touches). For those familar with lancer they will feel right at home, if not, it is a split system... in no, or low stakes combat you play a system incredibly similiar to blades in the dark... but in combat its a very crunchy tactical rpg, similar to fire emblem, or final fantasy tactics. Imo its very satisfying and the abilities are very cool and integruging. Nothing like you can find anywhere else. The art is also beautiful.
Adventure:
You are icons, capable mercenaries for hire. . you have been sent on an expedition to a forest village to get the the bottom of a series of demon raids. The adventure is a semi-linear classical adventure. You will go from level 0, to level 1.
Who im looking for:
It is a crunchy game especially in combat. Players should either: be somewhat experienced with tactical games, be familiar with blades in the dark, be familiar with lancer, or be eageopened minded/quick to learn crunchy style board games. As long as you dont get overwhelmed at nerdy board games or have some previous experience with similar games, i am confident i can teach this system. Also this isnt just a board game, i roleplay in voice, it would be nice if players are comfortable doing the same.
Also while we all have schedules that shift and change, and canceling is inevitable, if everyone cancels just once, this could extend a month. So please try to keep to schedule.
Who am I:
Ive been GMing for 7 years, i enjoy exploring and teaching new systems that people may not have heard of. I love just trying new things to see how i can constantly improve. I enjoy constructive criticism after the game is done, and I look to make the game as fun as possible for everyone. Im LGBT friendly, and i want everyone to have a fun, but engaging time. While it will be a linear-ish adventure i try to encourage tackling challenges your own way.
DM me and I will add you to a discord...
Hoping to start a session 0 next week.

So I visited Japan for 2 weeks between the middle and end of April after consuming a bit too much of this channel, and of course I had to try a bunch of things that get recommended or memed on here.

1. Famichiki - Oh my god, I get it. I get it now. (Lawson's Karaage-kun is also pretty good)
   
2. CC Lemon - Out of all the sugary soft drinks I tried on this trip this was easily the most smooth and refreshing, carried me on a few sunnier days. Pocari Sweat Ion Water is a close second.
   
3. Crunky - Goofy name aside, decent but pretty unremarkable chocolate.
   
4. Energy Jelly - Tastes alright, feels a bit weird to be "drinking" jelly and there's not much of it. Sadly didn't summon Dr. Jelly to my location.
   
5. Izakayas/yakitori - Was a bit intimidated by izakayas at first, but seeing the good time (and good food!) Chris and co. has in them convinced me to seek them out on this trip, and I don't regret it. Munching on freshly grilled skewers with all the noise and smells surrounding you is one of the best vibes you can get in Japan, would recommend.
   
6. Kamakura - Recommended as a day trip from Tokyo in Chris' 14 days in Japan video, came here after Mt. Fuji didn't work out due to weather, and I'm glad I did. Nice major change of pace from Tokyo's hustle and bustle, and mixing in nearby Enoshima Island made it one of the highlights of the whole trip.
   
7. Ramune - Tried this in the same place that Chris did in the original JAJ, in Miyajima. Cool bottle opening gimmick, but after that it basically tastes like Sprite/7Up.
   
8. Sukiya Cheese Gyudon - Mentioned by Chris in the original JAJ as his training "reward". It's nice filling cheap junk food, not amazing but hits the spot after a long day when you're not in the mood for anything fancy or adventurous.
   
9. Calpis - Forgot where Chris mentioned this one, but he did bring it up at least once. After getting over the most unintentionally hilarious name for a dairy-based drink, I actually liked it! Pretty unique but delicious and refreshing.
   
10. Tokyo Tower - Pretty cool place, iconic and surrounded by some nice parks. I came here on April 14th, there was a bit of a commotion involving two loud British men and an even louder American. Don't know what that was about.
    

Curious if anyone else who's visited or lives in Japan has done things specifically because they got mentioned or featured on the channel, and what your experience was like!

Teams allows users to set a custom away message, up to 280 characters. You also have the option to show this message above the text box where they compose their message to you before they send it, ensuring they see your status.
I've decided I need to take advantage of this and put ridiculous things there. I've got a running list of messages to use which I'll cycle through daily.
Some are original, most are not. A lot are taken from pop culture references, TV shows, commercials, podcasts, etc. Some are niche and very work specific (I use SAP) but most are absurd and nonsensical.
Please help me brainstorm custom away messages to entertain and confuse anyone who messages me.
Here's what I've got so far:

• Did you check LT23 first?
• Ask me about SLED extensions!
• Warning: You are messaging someone known to the catholic archdiocese to be a condemned heretic.
• Did you know? One of the function keys on your computer controls the sliding doors to a grocery store in Burbank California.
• Did you know? The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.
• The captain has turned off the fasten seatbelts sign.
• It's 10 o'clock. Do you know where your children are?
• To the owner of a red four-door sedan, you left your lights on.
• And that's the way it is.
• Just the facts, ma'am.
• I thinkn't therefore I amn't.
• I’m the real slim shady.
• Danger, Will Robinson!
• Pardon me, would you have any grey poupon?
• Is it just me or do the clouds seem more judgmental lately?
• We’ve been trying to reach you regarding your cars extended warranty.
• As an AI language model, ___ can make various types of mistakes. Some common ones include..."
• From WBEZ Chicago, it's This American Life. I'm Ira Glass. Today on our program, an inventory technician that can't find what he's looking for, a boss that has to tell one of his employees to quit doing this, and more. Stay with us.
• Ingredients: Zinc Trisodium, Aspartate, Sorbatale and Bisulfate, Oxide Beta Caratine, Lactic Acid, Carab Bean, Grade A milk emulsified, Malto-dextrin alkalide, Silicon deoxylite, Calcified synthetic salt, Artificial barley malt, Glycerine and aspartate, Folic acid...
• I'm filling in for Clifford Banes who is staying off the grid until things cool down.
• I'm filling in for Clifford Banes who messed with the wrong people and got himself involved in some serious stuff.
• I'm filling in for Clifford Banes who is racing to the airport to catch the woman he loves.
• I'm filling in for Clifford Banes who is the new mayor of Baltimore.
• Dress for success. Put on your tall hat, and rubber gloves, and long grey coat. Success requires this specific outfit.
• There are two wolves inside you. One of them wants an order cancelled. The other also has a different order they need cancelled too.
• Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe, and hit that bell icon.
• I bring a silly goose energy to the workplace that the serious geese don’t appreciate.
• Bananas are hardly that slippery. But watch your step anyway.
• By messaging me you agree to the EULA.
• Today's air quality is mauve and speckled.
• "I’m Batman." -Batman
• No soup for you!
• Now in Technicolor!
• It’s pronounced gif.
• Gone fishing.
• Busy counting paperclips.
• Now available gluten free!
• If it’s urgent, please mail a bag of Reese’s to me, I’ll respond immediately.

I remember ALttP on GBA having Young Link's voice. Even though all the artwork depicted him as adult Link, I felt it was contradictory. Someone on a forum brought up that Miyamoto saw Link as a child. This lines up with Young Link being the main character of Majora's Mask and then the child Toon Link as well.
But who was most popular in the west? Adult Link. He was the cool badass like Cloud in Final Fantasy VII or Goku in Dragon Ball Z. For us who grew up in the 90s, that was the iconic way to us.
Never mind that Wind Waker ended up being a fantastic game that exceeded everyone's expectations, my own included. But it seemed to solidify that the direction Zelda was going differentiated from the fan expectations. Whether it was Adult Link being the main protagonist or following the dark storyline direction of Majora's Mask, I sometimes wonder if Zelda would have been in a different place in the 2000s were it not for fans in the west.
Twilight Princess catered heavily to those fans. It's also one of the best games of all time. But it also truly feels like the end of an era in some ways and I think its darker overtones never branched out. The only thing we got since was this amazing teaser from 2012 and the majestic Hyrule Warriors designs.
What's most amazing is the series' flexibility. Whether it's WW, TP, BotW, or even the 2D games including ALBW and LA remake, Zelda has lived through multiple art styles without ever losing its charm or its soul. Each one has fans and some dedicated to favoring a particular style.
But I also think TP is special for changing the direction of the series for the fans of adult Link, but not just in the west. Let's not forget that Masahiro Sakurai opted to retain the TP Zelda designs in Smash 4 even though Skyward Sword had been out for several years at that point.

27/28. Batgirl Begins - 4/5 (Starting this in medias res was a good choice, since if you're already familiar with Batman stuff, you know Barbara was gonna become Batgirl in this (and even if you don't, the title would reveal as much). So starting with a Poison Ivy fight made me more curious to see everything that lead up to it was opposed to just waiting for the "reveal" that Barbara becomes Batgirl and Pamela becomes Poison Ivy. Plus, Barbara's snarky narration was amusing. Introducing Batgirl as Batman's first sidekick (even if this was merely due to a stupid embargo) as well as making Poison Ivy be her best friend turned arch nemesis is pretty fun because of its uniqueness alone. Especially because it makes the stakes more interesting when Ivy has a personal grudge against Gordon. And I liked Batman's "not every child gets the opportunity to rescue their parent" comment. Yeah, it's cliché, but that stuff is the core of Batman, so it's nice to see this side of him acknowledged, since it rarely is in this series. Also, making Gordon not able to recognize Batgirl as Barbara because he wasn't wearing his glasses was pretty "clever". "Clever" in quotations because it's still dumb, but since most DC shows love to sell you on the idea that people cannot recognize each other's face by simply putting a mask on the top half, it's funny that this series bothered to give an explanation at all. He should still have recognized her voice, but you can't win 'em all.)
29. A Dark Knight to Remember - 3/5 (Freezing Poison Ivy in the previous episode, then defeating the Kabuki Twins by freezing them in this as well? Batman is becoming Mr. Freeze. Anyway, here's a pretty standard amnesia cartoon episode. Decent gimmick, and they also added a stock Secret Identity Almost Discovered:tm: plot to spice things up. The circumstances of Bruce's amnesia being the perfect cover for Barbara dropping the idea that he could be Batman is fun, but Bruce's actual amnesia is just cartoonishly illogical. Even if he lost memories of his last few years as the Batman, how would that also genuinely make him a self absorbed playboy? He was always a broody guy with a heart of gold, even before donning the cape and cowl.)
30. A Fistful of Felt - 3/5 (This is just a poor man's Double Talk. It treads the exact same stuff; Wesker is cured of Scarface so he lives a peaceful life before Scarface forcibly reappears at the hands of someone trying to bait him and he succumbs to it before Batman eventually confronts him and Scarface gets destroyed. Except this is way less substantial and lacking in drama and emotion. It's a shame, because during the group therapy scene, I was excited that this could potentially be a formula bender, having it take place entirely in Arkham Asylum and focusing on Wesker's recovery process. But then I remembered this is The Batman, so yeah. Also I HATE Snooty's design!)
31. RPM - 2/5 (Wow, after seeing this, I immediately went out and bought The Batman Batmobile #2 with working lights & sounds, firing disc launcher and opening cockpit! No, but really, did I actually just watch a toy commercial for 20 minutes? I get that that's where action cartoons make their profit, and that's fine, but this was so blatant it's not even funny. Like that scene of Batman arriving in his new CGI Batmobile as the camera spins around it. Give me a break. Not to imply the writers were being hacky or anything. It was clearly an executive mandate. They just wrote a lame episode around it. Gearhead wasn't very interesting, although it's cool he was voiced by Will Friedle I guess. And the episode is just about cars, a subject I do not find interesting. I did laugh at Barbara asking Gordon "taking the car?" and he just opens the door and stares at her.)
32. Brawn - 4/5 (At this point they should rename the series "The Batgirl" since most episodes now put her in the main role, having to save Batman's butt. Not a complaint, it's a nice change of pace from the repetitive Batman Stops Villain:tm: plots. This episode is pretty darn good though, which is surprising since it's really nothing but a long fight scene. Most of it consecutively takes place in real time on one street street as they duke it out. You'd think that would get boring, but Bane-ified Joker is a cool enough concept to genuinely carry enough entertainment value on its own. And Batgirl using the Batbot was fun.)
33. The Laughing Cats - 4/5 (Two Joker episodes in a row? Also a Catwoman episode, which... Yeah, Joker being in it was obviously an improvement. Making her team up with Batman to stop Joker was more interesting than had it been about Batman stopping another one of her generic jewel thefts. Them being stuck in a maze with Joker using their gadgets was fun, and I liked that his hyenas were not loyal to him at all, LOL. As a side note, Kilgore Steed's hunter schtick makes NO sense. Capturing animals to put them in a giant maze full of traps that will just automatically kill them is not much of a "hunt".)
34. Fleurs du Mal - 3/5 (I guess the show isn't going to acknowledge any drama between Barbara and Poison Ivy and she's immediately relegated to stock villain who does her villainous schtick and gets defeated? Clayface all over again. It also wasn't much of a mystery who the villain could be since it literally begins with the mayor being taken over by flowers. The characters themselves uncovering the mystery and battling the plant replicas was neat enough, so whatever. And Batman punching an old lady was funny. I don't understand why Poison Ivy replaced Penguin, though. She's replacing the people who control Gotham, and he's a washed up nobody who's lost his fortune. Also, Batman is lucky he only fought the plant replica or he would have killed Penguin. He fell right into spinning blades which clearly shredded him... Although he's still intact when they land, so I guess logic took a break for this scene. Side note, the show is getting WAY too reliant on ending with a zoomout of Batman and Batgirl as she makes some snappy comment.)
35. Cash for Toys - 2/5 (So Cash can return but not Yin? There is no justice in this world. He wasn't funny in his first appearance, and he's...slightly less unfunny here. So yeah. Add a straight up Toyman ripoff instead of just Toyman, for some reason, and you get a pretty lame episode. I get that he's a Superman villain, but the series didn't have a problem using Solomon Grundy, so Toyman shouldn't have been off the table. You could assume they just embargo'd him because he made cameos, albeit speechless, in JLU. But then, Grundy was the main focus of a JLU episode less than a year before Grundy's Night, so this doesn't add up! Not that Krank being called Toyman would make a difference, because I still wouldn't like him. So, YEAH.)
36. The Apprentice - 4/5 (Joker getting a sidekick is definitely a fun idea, and while I obviously liked this episode, it plays out exactly how you'd expect. I liked how wholesome Joker was to Donnie at first when he was brainstorming ideas and then turned grim when Donnie didn't want to hurt people. It definitely adds at least one more layer than the average Joker Shenanigans:tm: episode. You can definitely feel how genuinely scary it would be to simply be around this lunatic, especially if he has it out for you. Also, Donnie's jokes probably doesn't get laughs because he's in high school doing kindergarten tier jokes.)
37. Thunder - 3/5 (It's Maxie Zeus, the most iconic DC character of all time, doing his typical Olympus schtick. Yeah, so, the episode isn't really about him. His scheme is just a setup to show how well Batgirl can carry herself. And in that aspect, I do find it fun. It's a bit dumb that she yaps to Batman about how she wants to be in the loop though, as if she isn't just Batgirling of her own accord. He never agreed to be a team, she just stalks him. Side note, Gordon sternly correcting Grange with "batarang" made me chuckle.)
38. The Icy Depths - 4/5 (Despite being the umpteenth episode about stealing jewels, this was refreshing due to presenting it more as an actual mystery and having two villains, alongside Alfred and his old chum, trying to uncover it. It was fun how they all got the upper hand on one another, and I always like Alfred being involved in an adventure. I don't understand why Batman even needs to stop this "crime", though. The treasure doesn't belong to anyone anymore. And if it DOES rightfully belong to someone, that would be Penguin. What was up with a random rotating shot of the boat here though?)
39. Gotham's Ultimate Criminal Mastermind - 3/5 (Mr. Freeze's Arkham number is 800B5. I bet they thought they were really funny with that one. Unlike the previous BTAS ripoff episodes, this was only vaguely a ripoff of Heart of Steel, so I'll cut it some slack. But it's pretty thin. D.A.V.E. is just super smart and wants to defeat Batman, then Batman wins by just telling him something that does not compute. I guess it's neat that they finally built on those vague hints about Hugo Strange being "evil". It's just a shame the antagonist is merely his robot, not actually him. And why does he get locked in Arkham after being caught? He's not insane.)
40. A Matter of Family - 3/5 (Who sharpened Bruce's jaw?! Also, Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy. As for the actual episode, I was underwhelmed. It's a pretty straightforward telling of Robin's origin story, but it rushes the emotional moments and doesn't let them get too "heavy", which makes them less effective. Zucco is a pretty upfront mustache-twirling villain instead of a mysterious figure, and they don't really acknowledge how devastating such an event would be, or the awkwardness of immediately being adopted by a rando. Dick just gets some watery eyes then he's instantly comfortable at Wayne Manor. But I liked tying "Robin" into something his mom used to call him. Batman speaks with a much deeper voice in this episode. Must've come with the new jaw.)
41. Team Penguin - 4/5 (Did it really take seeing teamwork in a movie for Penguin spawn the brilliantly unique plan of "more villains = harder for Batman"? This was a fun teamup, though. I'm glad they didn't go for the obvious choices like Joker, Mr. Freeze, Riddler etc and instead opted for the "misfits". Croc is the only one of the group I didn't care for. But I liked seeing Ragdoll again, and Killer Moth was pretty funny. I liked that he remained a suckup even after being horribly mutated. I liked the theme of teamwork the episode had, since it ties nicely together with the valid jealousy Barbara would have for some rando in red becoming Batman's sidekick and knowing his identity when she has been wanting that for ages. Also, Robin immediately wailing on Penguin for calling him a lackey made me laugh.)
42. Clayfaces - 4/5 (Nice to see my buddy Bennett again. Guess they wanted to redeem themselves after the nonsense they pulled with Grundy's Night. But given this is his last appearance, this was a pretty unsatisfying "arc". Him going full-blown villain didn't make sense from the start. His desire to take revenge on Joker I get, but aside from that, it shouldn't have taken him THIS long to realize he should use his powers for good instead. Basil Karlo wasn't a super compelling character or anything, but him being an ugly dweeb was quite funny, and the spectacle of two Clayfaces duking it out more than makes up for it, because that was pretty awesome. Side note, why is this company so picky with who they cast in their fricking dog food commercial? It's dog food. Just show dogs.)
43. The Everywhere Man - 3/5 (I like the concept of the Everywhere Man, but was disappointed at how little they truly utilized it for story/action potential. The first half is just a mystery where you're supposed to think it's two guys (provided you did not read the episode title), then Johnny just expositions how his powers work and Batman fights a bunch of copies. The villain himself being a copy is a cool twist, but it would've been more interesting if the copies mostly worked as a hivemind and they utilized that to make fighting them really hard for Batman since they'd be such a perfectly synchronized army. The episode wrapping itself around some girl saying Johnny was cuter as a nerd, and then the real Johnny getting the girl in the end was so random it's almost hilarious.)
44. The Breakout - 4/5 (Black Mask being in this episode is pretty neat, as he is a fairly well-known character who, despite that, doesn't seem to appear in animation a lot. That said, he was not very compelling. He's just a stern, no-nonsense mob boss. Which for the plot of this episode is all he needs to be, so I won't give him flack for that. It's a fun change of pace to have a mostly Batman-free episode with focus on his sidekicks instead. Batgirl and Robin have a pretty charming dynamic; I liked when they guessed what Black Mask's face looks like and he got pissed off. LOL. And it was interesting how it's sort of a bottle episode, with most of it taking place within the police station as they try to prevent Black Mask's militia from breaking in. Batman ending the episode by telling them to wash the Batmobile was a certified LOL.)
45. Strange New World - 5/5 (This was great. I really like Hugo Strange, so it's fun to actually see his sinister side now that he's been outed as a villain. And while at first it felt mostly like a standard zombie story, the dramaic tone and hellish visuals, alongside the crazy ways the zombies jump around, made the whole thing a pleasure to look at. But the twist is what really got me. I didn't put it all together myself until right as Batman was figuring it out, and it really made all the scenes of him fighting zombie Batgirl/Robin/Gordon amusing to think about in retrospect. That said, isn't this a Scarecrow-tier scheme? I guess since he couldn't be in this show they just gave it to Strange.)
46. Artifacts - 3/5 (For an entire episode set in the future, I was expecting more than just the spectacle of a generic Mr. Freeze battle. But that's really all there is to it. That said, I liked the W I D E Batman design. I know it's an homage to The Dark Knight Returns, but I've never seen or read that, so yeah. Mr. Freeze blatantly saying that title after seeing the Batman was so funny, though. It works contextually, but when you know the reference it felt no different than if he had said "Batman: The Animated Series". LOL. I see Barbara will go the Oracle route in this show. Sad. Also, they can blatantly reference Bennett and Yin, but refuse to show them any further regardless? Screw. You.)
47. Seconds - 4/5 (The Batman's take on Clock King? He's not officially named as such, but it's pretty much a Cosmo Krank/Toyman situation again. I found his time travel abilities fairly interesting, as it was fun to see some random schmuck effortlessly upstage Batman. HOW he got those powers though... He got bored in prison and was surrounded by clocks, so one day he could shift time. What? Also Batman has an atomic clock that is not affected by time literally shifting backwards. What?? Yeah, so, this episode has a lot of "okay buddy" moments. But really, they just added to the fun. If you're gonna be nonsensical, might as well go all in. And that ending really caught me off guard. Imagine reliving 17 years of your life like that, only to still end up a fricking clock repairman. He really couldn't have invested in stocks he knew would have gone up?)
48. Riddler's Revenge - 4/5 (I certainly wasn't expecting this series to try and pull off an emotional Riddler episode. One that actually works, no less. But here we are. It's not the deepest thing in the world, but I thought seeing his origin handled this "seriously" was an fun take, and it was interesting that his own origin was a "riddle" that he got wrong. Wrapping the origin around him and Batman being trapped in a crate was pretty clever. Although after unwrapping his entire life story to Batman, I would've thought he would be a little less hostile towards him after they escape. But no, he just goes back to being evil. I liked Batman's final line though. "When is a villain, not THE villain?".)
49. Two of a Kind - 4/5 (They got Paul Dini in just to write the Harley episode. It's pretty good, though. The different take from Mad Love is amusing to see. I think showing Harleen as a loudly outspoken ditz makes her descent into jester-themed criminal more believable. Especially since they directly give her a personal vendetta to push the criminal aspect further. But since this episode is mostly banking on showcasing the "unique take", it's hard to look at it past comparisons. Without them, it's sort of just The Apprentice but with Harley instead of Donnie. But Harley is funnier, and generally I liked all the zany stuff she and Joker gets into, so this is the better "Joker gets a sidekick" episode. Plus, it has a whole ass Joker musical number.)
50. Rumors - 3/5 (The Batman's take on... Lock-Up? Okay, not really, but the similarities did cross my mind. The premise here is pretty basic. Rumor was not a very thrilling antagonist or anything. He's some generic guy who works for another generic guy, who's just a red herring because he blames being a cripple on Batman. Really, the spectacle of Batman fighting all his past villains in the final scene is the best part of the episode. Although I'm confused why some of them are even there and in costume. Cluemaster only had one goal, why would he still be Cluemastering? And is Spellbinder really Gotham based? How did Rumor even capture him? He's a psychic! And Harley Quinn literally JUST became a villain. I liked Penguin begging Batman to stop him, though. LOL.)
51/52. The Joining - 4/5 (Oh geez, it's Martian Kronkhunter. Couldn't Patrick Warburton voice him instead of Cash Tankinson? I liked the way he casually outs knowing Batman's identity. But on that note, they sure talk about that in public a LOT here. Including the aforementioned scene, both Robin and Bruce himself yaps out "Bruce Wayne is Batman" on two separate occasions. Robin says it in a crowded street, Bruce in a small diner. Yeah, I'm sure absolutely NO ONE within the vicinity could have possibly heard those things. It's not like Bruce and J'onn are having a lengthy conversation about it right where the waitress, chef, and any potential surrounding customers could hear it or anything.
This was a pretty basic alien invasion story, and it's quite a leap in stakes compared to the usual jewel thievery. But I liked the usage of Martian Manhunter. I thought he and Batman had an interesting chemistry. Their initial fight scene was so stupid, though. "Oh no, the Batman discovered I'm an alien. Better not explain anything and instead just beat him up and run away until he catches up and then say I'm on his side". I thought the emotional anchor of Batgirl and Robin feeling unwanted was a bit undercooked, but the moment when Batman says he worries about losing them was sweet, so whatever. And I liked the scene of the villains helping the police fend off aliens.)
53/54. The Batman / Superman Story - 3/5 (With the show finally being allowed to bring in more expansive DC lore, the first thing they make is the most generic Superman story they could think of. Yeah, okay. I liked the way Batman discovered Superman's identity, and seeing the villains of Gotham take him down was fun. But a whole episode just for that that setup, with the second being a prolonged Batman vs. Superman fight scene and then stopping Lex Luthor from doing something evil? Yeah, I didn't really jive with it. Also, with literally ALL of the sky available, did Superman really just fly right into Robin? AND ignored it? Not very boyscout-y.)
55. Vertigo - 3/5 (This was decent, but it mostly thrives off of the novelty of being a Green Arrow crossover as opposed to being an organic Batman story. In fact this would have been improved by cutting out Batman entirely. I liked seeing Green Arrow's origin, and they could've explored his attempt to take revenge on Vertigo and such on his own. And while he DOES do that here, since it's a Batman show, most of it is from Batman's perspective as Green Arrow recaps his story. So, ultimately, they should just make The Green Arrow.)
56. White Heat - 4/5 (Neat revamp of Firefly. He was never a particularly compelling character, but the fact that he was already established in this show makes his descent from petty thief to molten monster in this more compelling by default than had this been his first episode a la Killer Moth or something. And with the inclusion of his girlfriend, it had some genuine emotion. Not a tearjerker or anything, but his last appearance being his girlfriend dumping him and walking away as he's stuck in a pitch black prison cell with him still faintly glowing in the dark is pretty bleak. So the fact that they managed to get all of that out of an episode that can be summed up to "Batman stops molten villain cause he's too hot" is impressive. The battle at the power plant itself was pretty awesome though. But Bruce is really risking his identity fighting with half his face exposed like that.)
57. A Mirror Darkly - 3/5 (Just like the Superman episode, the writers barely do anything to justify its existence besides thinking I should be thrilled by the mere presence of Flash. Well, when the plot is as generic as one of Flash's iconic rogues coming to Gotham to be evil so Flash stops him and Batman helps because it's a Batman show... I'm not. And just like Superman again, Flash didn't leave much of an impression of me. Adding the trait that he talks incredibly fast was amusing, I suppose.)
58. Joker Express - 3/5 (I would have thought with free reign to utilize all of DC lore, this show would be over their generic Joker Scheme:tm: episodes. Guess not. There's literally nothing to be said about this one that hasn't been said about the others, though. Batgirl being infected with Joker's laugh was definitely a very enjoyable scene. But after that, it's as predictable as Topsy Turvy, JTV or The Apprentice.)
59. Ring Toss - 3/5 (Green Lantern. I wonder what fresh, unique plot The Batman crew will conjure up for this one. Oh, Sinestro comes to attack Hal Jordan, but Hal wins. And Batman helps in between, because it's a Batman show. Starting to sound like a broken record here, but that's how unimaginative these episodes really are. It's competent, but it's pretty much shut-your-brain-off-and-enjoy-the-action tier. This one does have the middle part of Penguin with a power ring, which was genuinely gold stuff. The only problem is, it doesn't last for long enough, and ultimately Penguin's inclusion is really just time filler in between Sinestro being defeated.
60. The Metal Face of Comedy - 4/5 (Let me get this straight, Joker is digitally copied by wearing a helmet connected to a laptop while getting shocked? On top of the common trope of cartoon writers not understanding how video games work, logic is clearly not this episode's strong suit. The phrase "mentally download money" pretty much speaks for itself. Regardless, the prospect of Joker vs. Joker is fun enough alone. All the wacky antics Joker 2.0 is able to get into with his morphic abilities were visually fun. It's especially amusing to see the real Joker completely discombobulated by being upstaged and betrayed by, well, himself. Even cheering on for Batman to win.)
61. Attack of the Terrible Trio - 3/5 (The Terrible Trio were fun as a group of misfits, but it's pretty laughable how these college students are being bullied like it's middle school. Also do they really expect me to believe the hot, edgy chick is considered a loser? Jake is the only loser here. It's cool that this show actually had them transform into animals, even if the designs are little...awkward. It's also neat that they gave them a connection to Barbara's personal life, but at the same time it's disappointing that they didn't put Batgirl in a bigger role because of it. Batman's still the one saving the day. Also I was a little disappointing David's final transformation wasn't any more creative than just a griffin. As a side note, it's nice that this closes the door on Langstrom's Man-Bat arc.)
62. The End of the Batman - 3/5 (Fake title, there's three more episodes. The idea of an Anti-Batman and Robin is pretty fun. Wrath served as an entertaining foil to Batman what with figuring out his identity and everything. I think the ending is a little cheap, though. Joker uses his smile-gas so much, you'd think there would be a common antidote by now. Not like Wrath and Scorn are gonna be like that for the rest of their lives. Also a portion of this episode is pretty reminiscent of Team Penguin. Something which they even acknowledge themselves. But just because they point it out doesn't make it not true! Joker being annoyed by being put on menial tasks was funny though.)
63. What Goes Up... - 4/5 (Same as the previous Justice League members, Hawkman didn't leave much of an impression on me. But this time it doesn't matter as much because the episode doesn't put half the spotlight on him. It's mostly focused on Batman stopping Black Mask's, a villain whom I already thought should be utilized more, scheme. Which is stealing a whole building! I mean how cool of an action setpiece isn't an airborne building? On top of Robin being nth metal'd, it was a very fun watch. Really, Hawkman and Shadow Thief feel more like afterthoughts. But even that isn't a bad thing, because they had very enjoyable action scenes. And geez, poor Number One #2.)
64/65. Lost Heroes - 4/5 (Oh, the actual Toyman appears in this show. "Toyman" my ass, that's a damn Jester. Cosmo Krank is more of a Toyman than you will ever be, bud. This episode is pretty fun, if only because I think the narrative of non-superpowered heroes proving their capabilities and humbling the heroes with superpowers when they can't use theirs is amusing. Batman and Green Arrow as a duo was good, and everybody fighting their robot counterparts was cool. I think the robots had pretty rad designs. The only "bad" aspects of the episode is rehashing The Joining as the threat again, and Hugo Strange's inclusion. Not that I don't like him, I think he's a great villain. But this wasn't really a story fitting for him. He's better working from the shadows with the intent of studying the behavior of his victim, not just being a pawn to some alien robot.)

Introduction:
Good marrow and greetings people of the Realm! My name is Curtis Ashford and I am a game developer, father of 3 (soon to be 4), and Neuroscientist that publishes in Alzheimer's disease research. My background is in making cognitive tests that are used in medical research with a focus on reliability, precision, and accuracy of assessing brain function over time. I have been gaming my whole life, almost 40 years and my early favorites include Sierra's Kings Quest, The Prince of Persia, and Duke Nukem.
A Player Built Throne Room by: Patty Brown (great work!)
Player Built Tavern!! by: Sir Vibes the Positive, created last night!
Snap-able Castle Walls - Lots of Building Pieces by: Player Unknown
I am a huge fan of the early Diablo franchise 1 and 2, World of Warcraft, and survival games like Rust. I try to play almost every title I can get my hands on! Base building in survival games has a special place in my heart and I love the gathering of resources and making something that is functional and I can be proud of. That is what I am trying to capture with my game Crestfallen.
The Graveyard NOOB Starting Area is a Bloodbath, created by Bloodbath Studios :)
Blending my Alzheimer's research with game dev, cool Quest Item! - The Skull of Eternal Dementia... Terrifying
But what is Crestfallen?
Crestfallen: Medieval Survival is a place to be whatever you want; Role-play out medieval fantasies, explore the creations of our imagination, and have fun while playing alongside others in an ever evolving universe. I think multiplayer interactivity is such an amazing part of gaming, building and fighting others makes the game feel very special.
Want to try it out for free? Download the demo on steam here - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2293680/Crestfallen_Medieval_Survival/
If you like it and want to join our multiplayer servers before launch and help us find bugs and add ideas to the discord you are more than welcome. If you like it I would really appreciate a Wishlist to help with my visibility as we approach Steams Next Fest where I will be streaming for 6 hours.
There are quests to explore, portals to venture into, factions of enemies to fight against, and people to make lasting memories with. You can form parties, guilds, and interact with each other with in game voice chat and be whatever you want to be.
The Map of IronGuard Summit
Choose a progression into magic, farming, or master the blade with a skill and stat point progression system to level up. As we grow out our team we look forward to expanding the maps, adding more magic, and more everything as we move along in our development. Some of my favorite parts of the game are fighting the harder knights and bowmen up at the Castle and attempting to overthrow the Evil King within and his (SPOILER).
Full Plate Armor - Tons of Crafting Stations and Craftables
I was inspired to make this game by a friend who I met in the Medieval Survival game Reign of Kings. We used to host The Kingdom of Camelot server together and as Keeper of Justice I would publicly execute cheaters with our community, great memories! Seeing the game not progress, but loving the core concepts of it, I took it upon myself to try to make a similar type of game with more interactive elements and PvE areas to explore with updated graphics in Unreal Engine 5.
Crystals of Cinder and Glacial Knowledge
Ever Unfolding Destiny:
Review our Living Roadmap - The Path of Ever-Unfolding Destiny
Growing up I loved to build with Legos, as a lot of kids do, and I was very fond of creating huge Castles and destroying them with my besieging armies. Castles and base building are so fun for me and it's very exciting how I have been able to get it to work online in a multiplayer setting where people can build huge Kingdoms together. By utilizing a snapping building system the options are endless for the Castle pieces we can add and the different tiered structures / workstations to build around the Castle.
HUGE Castle Walls
In addition we have been adding farming, cooking, and incredibly intricate crafting recipes to progress your character as you explore more difficult areas and fight more dangerous monsters. I plan to devote at least the next 10 years of my life to building this alongside my fledgling community that shares the passion for building, crafting, intertwined with the medieval genre.
How To Decorate A Castle
Time for a Bloodbath:
A Starting Boss to Avoid Spoilers Demon Lord Morgrate and his UBER rare glowing sword
In addition to building another major focus for me is on a new fighting system that feels realistic, bloody, and gruesome. I love the feeling we have created by researching medieval combat and using animations that are inspired from the medieval era. It still needs a bit more blood in my opinion but the squelches and screams really make a rewarding experience when in a fight against a bunch of enemies.
Another massive base build!
The fire magic feels great to wield but had to nerf our meteor storm as it was discouraging for players to have their bases wiped out so easily with fiery death. Siege weapons like ballista, catapult, and trebuchet are starting to work well, with the trebuchet being one of my personal favorites with how it turned out. My roadmap includes the addition of siege towers and battering rams in the near future.
To The Dungeons:
Any idea and all feedback is welcome, I really appreciate the criticism as it helps me learn and grow. Making this game involving the community is so important for me as it helps it grow in a positive non toxic direction. This was almost published by Snail Games USA, but I declined the offer based on their reviews and reputation of their CEO cheating in ARK.
The Keepers of Justice WILL Prevail!! - My Quest System Says So At Least
My strategy to help combat cheaters and toxicity is by hosting official whitelisted servers that are managed by something similar to DND Dungeon Masters! Having active admins that can manipulate world variables and help unfold the story of a server with different admin tools could make for some very interesting and innovative online multiplayer gameplay.
This has been a very hard 2 years for me, I have done 3 point studio lighting on thousands of our assets to make the icons beautiful, integrated some of the most amazing systems ever built, and have had the honor and blessing of receiving help from hundreds... maybe thousands of talented geniuses from all around the world. Ensuring everything works well, looks great, and sounds amazing has been a true scientific task and to see player build, craft, and create amazing things and enjoy their time humbles me and bring great joy to my heart.
This Tavern may look like a bar to you but to me its something indescribable, a collection of my favorite assets adjusted and fine tuned to be craftable, placeable, and functional... have a seat... all chairs and thrones are fully functional. It is my dream to create a massive fully intractable world and we are well on the way!
Past Work:
I made my first game Best in the West in Unity, a 10 man micro royale where you ride an old steam train into a wild west town and as the train whistle blows and the doors swing open it's a run and gun em down shoot em up cowboy style - free to play. Unity was not very fun for me and after switching to Unreal Engine I felt that I really got to focus on the game development and not the optimization of textures and culling properties.
So lets press on together and keep doing our best to bring people together through building, adventure, and making a GG (GOOD GAME NOOB!) with love. <3
Now that we made it possible to build in lakes - NEW DRAW BRIDGE COMING SOON SO EPIC!!
All the criticism on my steam page I have personally addressed and appreciate as it gives me a chance to listen and learn. The critical feedback has been very helpful to identify problems and brainstorm with players and strategize to fix things.
Official Crestfallen Logo
"Omnes Una Manet Nox."
The Dark Night Awaits Us All.
-King Burkheart The Keeper of Justice
"JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED!!"
Join our community in Discord and help us make the game better, all ideas and people are welcome - https://discord.gg/89jpe8YyYj
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the moderator: RMouldoun for helping guide my path here including the people who rightfully flamed my first post.
Thank you to newagedne for helping me keep things professional and improve, I always appreciate the opportunity to learn.

I am looking to get a model for my birthday this summer for a little bit of fun (as an adult who finally has a little money and the largest model I have done before is the 4k pcs bucket wheel).
I only recently heard about these types of models and there are a few I like but cant decide what to start with.
My top choices right now:
MOC Executor (about 7,200 pcs) - iconic from my childhood when I was not able to get one
ISD Monarch (12,000 pcs) - reviews seem to say the design of this model is high quality and I think a cool ship
Mould King 17007 (8,500 pcs + moving parts) - seems expensive vs. others and stretches the budget a little to far. Could be a fun challenge if the instructions are good along with the quality of the pieces.
The large Mellennium Falcon (12,000 pcs + angled stand) - big and iconic, meh on the falcon itself.
The union pacific train look interesting (3k pieces, so not the biggest of the bunch)
Once I narrow down the model then I will figure out the best place to order from.
Anything I should look at in more detail or things to stay away from? I know Mould King as a company has some questionable practices, so other alternatives of similar size would be nice to look at.

I loved the idea of finally getting a bit of survival aspect to the game. So I was really excited to start a new play after not touching the game since pretty much October.
I was doing the mission to rescue Barrett from Crimson Fleet and end up in an outside fight with dozens of pirates. Useless to say in a -100°C environment with no atmosphere, my character heavily suffered from hypothermia and radiation damage. Which I find super cool, it gives a sense of urgency. My maximum health went down to less than 25% and, since I didn't have the proper med equipment to heal, I went back to New Atlantis without really looting anything - I was dying - to get to the doctor.
After paying the whole 750 creditd, I saw the icons of sickness disappear, but the health limit was still there. I figured out, maybe after sleeping for a while. Nope. My health is not going back up, the bar is orange and red. At this time, I've slept about 48 hours between the Lodge and my ship and still no sign of being able to do any mission whatsoever and my HP goes to 1 when I don't eat for 30 minutes 🙃
Anyone encountered that bug?