#Game Tips and Tricks

[fogaminghub]

🚀 Are you excited to jump into FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH? We've got some essential tips for beginners that'll help you navigate battles like a pro! 🌍 From mastering the ATB system to uncovering hidden treasures, get prepped for an epic adventure!

[faunandfloraas]

Honestly I think a lot of people who have never made a gif for tumblr don't get that it does actually take time and effort, its not just rip it from a video and post it- you have to download the video, in my case I have a video player installed that grabs continuous caps, figure out what parts you need, you have to open those in photoshop or gimp, depending on where you got photoshop you might be paying for it every month and then on top of that is actually sizing, cropping, colouring, sharpening, adding text, etc. etc. like it is something that takes time and effort for which the only real reward is creating something that makes you happy and hopefully people reblog it with a nice or funny tag, so maybe keep that in mind the next time you think gif makers are being mean or unfair for being upset about reposts. It is its own little artform that is fairly unique to this website, and that's a big aspect of why I have always loved tumblr, if all the gifmakers stopped posting things would be a lot more boring around here.

[mortish-writes]

Here is a comprehensive look at the dynamics system across all story routes. If you already read it on Patreon yesterday nothing has changed, don't torture yourself reading it twice. Also I'll post that Kerach sneak peek tonight, promise!

These are the finalized dynamics, they may look somewhat different from the previous ones although they're largely the same.

It's quite long but I have done my best to format it for readability with icons and styling. I personally struggle reading big walls of text and I imagine you do, too.

Character Key: 🌕 Valdricht | 🌗 Serax | 🌑 Kerach Dynamic Key: ◉ What this looks like | ◎ How to build it | ◈ The appeal/thrill Group Dynamic Key: ▣ Overview | ▢ Intimacy | ▲ Pitfalls Range Key: ⬆️ High values | ↔️ Middle range | ⬇️ Low values Content Key: ※ Important notes

Introduction

In Bride of Shadows, romance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your choices shape how each love interest treats you. Each path teaches your companions how to respond, be it with dominance, gentleness, restraint, or something in between. The same love interest can become a completely different type of partner depending on who you are.

Think of it like so: Will Valdricht see you as his partner who shrewdly challenges him, or as his precious treasure to protect and cherish? Will Serax find himself drawn to fiery verbal sparring matches with you, or will your gentle nature bring out his softer side? Will Kerach be your midnight lover, or a platonic protector? Your choices create these dynamics organically.

Note that I've removed the traits. I feel like a lot of players were getting hung up on that, particularly trying to figure out how they could play enemies-to-lovers Serax while still be Valdricht's doormat. I see you. Play how you want to play and don't stress about the personality that will resolve itself as the prelude progresses.

Classic Route - Overview

Perfect for: Readers who love balanced polyamorous relationships and want to explore connections with all three love interests. This is the route you play on the public build.

※Special Note: You can mix and match these dynamics freely, there are no constraints. Kerach romance is optional. Serax & Valdricht are mandatory. No Kerach pregnancy.

🌕 Valdricht | Classic | Anointed Dynamic 🌕

◉ What this looks like: You earn Valdricht's respect through your intellect and careful judgment, becoming his trusted confidant. Your relationship is built on mutual admiration, intellectual stimulation, and the slow burn of proving your worth. You respect his authority as leader, but he values your input enough that you don't fear questioning him or (privately) challenging his decisions.

◎ How to build it: Question his authority (respectfully), show intellectual curiosity, maintain your independence even while accepting his protection.

◈ The appeal: Power couple energy. Respect as foreplay. The satisfaction of earning his regard after 2,000+ years of existence.

🌕 Valdricht | Classic | Devotee Dynamic 🌕

◉ What this looks like: You see Valdricht as your divine protector and guide, finding strength through trust and surrender. Your faith in him awakens his most protective instincts. When you look to him for guidance, something tender stirs within him. He becomes your shelter from the storm, and you become his reason to be gentle...only with you.

◎ How to build it: Accept his guidance gracefully, express gratitude for his protection, seek his wisdom, let him care for you.

◈ The appeal: Worship dynamics. Protective devotion. Submission kink.

⬆️ Anointed Dynamic: 75-100%

Trusted confidant who earns the right to question and challenge him, but still respects his superior experience and authority

↔️Balanced Partnership: 25-74%

Sometimes defers to his wisdom, sometimes asserts own perspective

⬇️ Devotee Dynamic: 0-24%

Sees him as her master, seeks his guidance, grateful for protection

🌗 Serax | Classic | Combustive Dynamic 🌗

◉ What this looks like: You and Serax are ice and fire, creating steam wherever you touch. Your relationship thrives on intelligent verbal sparring and the electric tension of two strong personalities who can't quite stay away from each other. Every argument is foreplay, every debate a dance.

◎ How to build it: Match his sarcasm with wit, challenge his cynical worldview, refuse to be intimidated, give as good as you get in verbal exchanges.

◈ The appeal: Enemies-to-lovers energy. Intellectual dueling. The thrill of taming each other.

🌗 Serax | Classic | Kindling Dynamic 🌗

◉ What this looks like: Your gentle nature melts Serax's rough edges, revealing the wounded man beneath the warrior's exterior. He finds himself speaking more softly around you, his touches becoming reverent. You don't fight his fire--you warm yourself by it.

◎ How to build it: Show vulnerability, respond to his pain with compassion, let him protect you, be the calm to his storm.

◈ The appeal: Healing love. Hurt/comfort. Watching a hard man go soft for the right person (metaphorically speaking).

⬆️ Combustive Dynamic: 75-100%

Ice and fire creating steam, thriving on intelligent verbal sparring and electric tension between strong personalities

↔️ Balanced Tension: 25-74%

Mix of challenging banter and moments of gentleness, sometimes sparring and sometimes soothing

⬇️ Kindling Dynamic: 0-24%

Your gentle nature melts his rough edges, drawing out his protective instincts and softer touches

🌑 Kerach | Classic | Entwined Hearts 🌑

◉ What this looks like: You see past Kerach's wolf nature to the man beneath, and he sees past your fragility to the strength within. Your connection is deep, emotional, and surprisingly passionate. You communicate on a level that transcends words.

◎ How to build it: Show tenderness toward his wolf nature, treat him as an equal, recognize his intelligence and nobility.

◈ The appeal: Forbidden love. Slow burn.

🌑 Kerach | Classic | Pack Mate 🌑

◉ What this looks like: Kerach becomes your most loyal companion and protector. Your bond is built on mutual respect, shared survival, and absolute trust. While not romantic, this friendship runs deeper than blood and will last lifetimes.

◎ How to build it: Accept his protection, treat him as a trusted ally, respect his strength without needing more.

◈ The appeal: Ride-or-die friendship. Platonic devotion.

⬆️ Entwined Hearts: 75-100%

Deep emotional and passionate connection that transcends words, seeing past his wolf nature to the man beneath [sexual relationship threshold]

↔️ Loyal Companionship: 25-74%

Strong bond built on mutual respect and trust, with moments of deeper connection hinting at something more [light intimacy, no sexual relationship]

⬇️ Pack Mate: 0-24%

Devoted platonic partnership based on protection and survival, respecting his strength without romantic desire [purely platonic relationship]

Classic Route - Potential Group Dynamics

Here are a few of the potential dynamics I've mapped out to give you a better idea of what your relationship could look like in Act I. This is NOT an exhaustive list but a short overview based on some of my notes.

The Power Trio Anointed Valdricht + Combustive Serax + Entwined Hearts Kerach

▣ Overview: Everyone brings something vital to the table, and decisions get made through passionate debate rather than simple hierarchy.

▢ Intimacy: Even intimate moments involve playful power struggles over positions, timing, and control.

▲ Pitfalls: All three compete for MC's attention through their different strengths, and protection disputes turn into ego battles over who knows best.

The Sanctuary Devotee Valdricht + Kindling Serax + Pack Mate Kerach

▣ Overview: MC becomes the treasured center where three different protective instincts create a cocoon of safety and adoration.

▢ Intimacy: Tender competition over who can care for MC best, with layers of gentle touches and reverent attention.

▲ Pitfalls: Smothering protectiveness that limits MC's freedom, and jealousy when she craves different types of comfort from each partner.

The Volatile Triangle Devotee Valdricht + Combustive Serax + Entwined Hearts Kerach

▣ Overview: MC's bond with Valdricht puts her at the top of the hierarchy. Serax resents MC's favored position even as he craves her, creating volatile undercurrents. Kerach operates outside this power structure entirely, challenging anyone when his instincts demand it.

▢ Intimacy: MC surrenders completely to Valdricht, clashes passionately with Serax before yielding, and matches Kerach's intense desire with equal hunger.

▲ Pitfalls: Serax's frustration at being outranked by MC in Valdricht's affections, and Kerach's willingness to challenge Valdricht creating friction.

Dark Maiden Route - Overview

Perfect for: Readers seeking intense psychological dynamics, Stockholm syndrome themes, and breeding-focused romance.

※ Content Note: This route explores psychological dependency, limited agency, and intense submission themes. All three love interests are mandatory romantic/sexual partners. MMFM. Kerach pregnancy.

※ Special Note: The dynamics are linked. Why? Because this is a linear route. Each decoupling is more writing.

Veiled Mate + Wild Beauty / Bound Mate + Tamed Heart are completely linked. You cannot mix and match them within the current narrative. Pick a lane.

Kerach's Fallen Vestal is loosely linked to Veiled Mate + Wild Beauty but can be decoupled.

🌕 Valdricht | Dark Maiden | Veiled Mate 🌕

◉ What this looks like: Your resistance engages Valdricht rather than frustrates him. Every hesitation becomes a puzzle to solve, every moment of internal conflict proof of your authenticity. He doesn't want mindless compliance--he wants to earn your surrender piece by piece.

◎ How to build it: Show internal struggle with desire, demonstrate reluctance to submission, hide your sexual desire from him.

◈ The thrill: Corruption kink. Earned submission. Watching innocence wrestle with desire.

🌕 Valdricht | Dark Maiden | Bound Mate 🌕

◉ What this looks like: You discover freedom through complete surrender to Valdricht's guidance. He becomes your anchor in the new world you've woken into, and you find peace in letting him carry the weight of decisions. Your trust awakens his most protective instincts.

◎ How to build it: Seek his guidance willingly, express gratitude for his protection, find comfort in his control, let him shoulder your burdens.

◈ The thrill: Total power exchange. Stockholm syndrome. That nightmare you sometimes have after waking at 7am so you can get into work by 9am and then spend the next four hours watching the clock for your lunch break with growing realization that you're a corporate slave and this will be your entire life and you just want to scream and then suddenly a hot guy shows up and drags you from your cubical and declares that you're his mate and he's never going to allow you to work again or do anything that doesn't involve having his babies and reading books in his giant library. Gross.

⬆️ Veiled Mate: 50-100%

Your quiet rebellion engages him and every act of defiance is a game he delights in playing

⬇️ Bound Mate: 0-49%

You find deep satisfaction in complete surrender to his control, discovering freedom through giving up all resistance

※ No middle grounds. Your choices in the prelude will put you on one path or the other, however your unique personality will determine how you react within each dynamic. For example, a Bound Mate with a stoic nature might quietly seek his embrace in the night, whereas one with a tender nature will openly display her affection for him.

🌗 Serax | Dark Maiden | Wild Beauty 🌗

◉ What this looks like: Your internal struggle feeds Serax's predatory instincts. He's drawn to the contradiction of your desire warring with your resistance. The more you fight what you want, the more determined he becomes to draw it out of you.

◎ How to build it: Show conflicted responses to his advances, demonstrate that you want him despite yourself, let your internal battle show through your reactions.

◈ The thrill: Predator/prey dynamics. Corruption through pleasure. Drawing out hidden desire.

🌗 Serax | Dark Maiden | Tamed Heart 🌗

◉ What this looks like: Your willingness to be claimed and sheltered brings out Serax's most possessive instincts. You become his creature to protect and cherish, and he finds satisfaction in being your refuge.

◎ How to build it: Seek comfort in his presence, let him soothe your conflicts, accept his protection, show how his attention calms your struggles.

◈ The thrill: Hurt/comfort. Protective possession. Being someone's safe harbor.

⬆️ Wild Beauty: 50-100%

Your resistance feeds his predatory instincts and he never wants the chase to end

⬇️ Tamed Heart: 0-49%

Your willingness to be claimed brings out his most possessive, caring instincts

※ No middle grounds. Your choices in the prelude will put you on one path or the other, however your unique personality will determine how you react within each dynamic. For example, a Tamed Heart with a provocative nature might boldly seek his attention, whereas one with a demure nature will blush and lower her eyes when he approaches.

🌑 Kerach | Dark Maiden | Fallen Vestal 🌑

◉ What this looks like: Each encounter with Kerach becomes a battle between moral conditioning and growing desire. You know accepting him violates everything you were taught, yet you find yourself unable to resist. The guilt only intensifies the forbidden pleasure.

◎ How to build it: Express internal conflict about intimacy, show shame warring with desire, demonstrate how your moral upbringing clashes with your body's responses.

◈ The thrill: Forbidden desire. Corruption through pleasure. Moral conflict as aphrodisiac.

🌑 Kerach | Dark Maiden | Willing Vessel 🌑

◉ What this looks like: You find empowerment in accepting Kerach's nocturnal visits. Rather than fighting your desires, you embrace them. Your willingness turns encounters into mutual connection rather than mere claiming.

◎ How to build it: Welcome his attention without shame, show curiosity about his nature, demonstrate comfort with intimacy.

◈ The thrill: Empowered submission. Breeding kink. Strength through surrender.

⬆️ Willing Vessel: 50-100%

You welcome him, finding power in acceptance

⬇️ Fallen Vestal: 0-49%

Your faith wars with growing desire as accepting him feels like a bridge too far

※ No middle grounds. Your choices in the prelude will put you on one path or the other, however your unique personality will determine how you react within each dynamic. For example, a Fallen Vestal with a demure nature might hide her face during intimacy to mask her pleasure, whereas one with a provocative nature will be intensely engaged, only to reflect on her shame post-intimacy.

Dark Maiden Route - Potential Group Dynamics

The Emotional Anchor Veiled Mate Valdricht + Wild Beauty Serax + Willing Vessel Kerach

▣ Overview: MC struggles with overwhelming desire and internal conflict around Valdricht and Serax, while finding refuge in Kerach's presence. He becomes her safe harbor during the storm of transformation.

▢ Intimacy: Passionate but conflicted encounters with V&S where pleasure wars with resistance, contrasted by comfort with Kerach who offers solace without judgment.

▲ Pitfalls: Valdricht and Serax may grow jealous of MC's easy intimacy with Kerach, while MC risks using Kerach as an emotional crutch rather than working through her internal conflicts.

The Conflicted Haven Bound Mate Valdricht + Tamed Heart Serax + Fallen Vestal Kerach

▣ Overview: MC finds peace through surrender to Valdricht and Serax, embracing her transformation and leaning on them for comfort. With Kerach, however, her moral conditioning creates internal warfare between duty and desire.

▢ Intimacy: Total submission with V&S, while encounters with Kerach are shadowed by moral conflict.

▲ Pitfalls: MC may struggle with the emotional whiplash of moving between complete surrender with Valdricht and Serax, and her guilt-tinged encounters with Kerach.

Fated Mates Route - Overview

Perfect for: Readers who prefer monogamous romance and don't mind a deliciously problematic love interest.

※ Note: Only Valdricht is a romantic option. You will be able to make him jealous, at the peril of Serax and Kerach.

🌕 Valdricht | Fated Mates | Anchored Maiden 🌕

◉ What this looks like: Despite the mate bond's pull, you refuse to let Valdricht's experience and age intimidate you into blind compliance. You recognize his attempts to guide and shape your responses, meeting them with shrewd observation rather than naive acceptance. Your careful resistance forces him to earn what he wants rather than simply taking it through manipulation.

◎ How to build it: Question his motives, assert your independence, maintain your independence despite attraction.

◈ The thrill: Age gap. Earned submission. Cat and mouse.

🌕 Valdricht | Fated Mates | Drowning Maiden 🌕

◉ What this looks like: The mate bond leaves you vulnerable to Valdricht's centuries of experience. He knows exactly how to guide your responses, using your inexperience and overwhelming attraction to shape your choices. You're drowning in feelings you don't understand, but survival means learning to use your submission as a strength.

◎ How to build it: Accept his guidance without question, show overwhelm at new sensations, demonstrate your inexperience.

◈ The thrill: Worldly/innocent. Power imbalance. Lost little lamb.

⬆️ Anchored Maiden: 50-100%

You refuse to let his experience intimidate you into blind compliance, meeting his manipulation with shrewd observation

⬇️ Drowning Maiden: 0-49%

The mate bond leaves you vulnerable to his centuries of experience as he uses your innocence against you

※ No middle grounds. Your choices in the prelude will put you on one path or the other, however your unique personality will determine how you react within each dynamic. For example, a Drowning Maiden with an idealistic nature might see his guidance as romantic destiny, whereas one with a cynical nature may recognize the manipulations even while being unable to resist his allure.

※ No group dynamics. Too many spoilers, play and find out.

Tips for Players

Building Your Ideal Dynamic

Be consistent: Your early choices set the tone, even in the prelude.

Play your truth: Choose options that feel authentic to how you want your character to respond.

Don't min-max: There are no "wrong" dynamics, only different love stories (and kinks).

Dynamics lock: After the prelude your dynamics are fixed, at least for Act I...

Dynamics evolve: Your dynamic will evolve with each act. More on that later.

Understanding the percentages

Numbers aren't everything: A 30% Devotee dynamic is just as valid and complete as an 80% Anointed dynamic. Once the prelude ends the percentages will disappear and you will be left with a detailed description of your dynamic.

Classic extremes are optional: You can absolutely stay in the middle ranges for more balanced relationships.

DMR & FMR have no middle ground: Your dynamic will be based on your final percentages in the prelude, with some choices (i.e. sleeping with Valdricht pre-Meyrrvik in Fated Mates or eager/reluctant first time with Kerach in Dark Maiden) carrying much steeper weight. Once your dynamic is fixed, your personality determines how your MC operates within the dynamic. No escape, only evolution through acts.

[thatsbelievable]

[hayatheauthor]

Ghouls, Ghosts & Poltergeists: What's The Difference?

When it comes to the supernatural, the terms ghouls, ghosts, and poltergeists often get thrown around interchangeably. However, each of these entities has distinct characteristics that set them apart. Whether you're a paranormal enthusiast, a horror writer, or simply curious, understanding the differences can enhance your appreciation of the spectral world.

Ghouls: The Graveyard Dwellers

Origin and Mythology Ghouls are creatures rooted in ancient Arabian folklore, often depicted as demonic beings that dwell in graveyards and consume human flesh. The term "ghoul" comes from the Arabic word "ghūl," meaning "to seize" or "to take." They are often seen as monstrous beings that prey on the dead and sometimes the living.

Appearance and Behavior Traditionally, ghouls are depicted as decaying, grotesque figures with a penchant for haunting cemeteries. They are known for their ability to shapeshift, sometimes taking the form of animals to lure their prey. Unlike ghosts and poltergeists, ghouls are corporeal, meaning they have a physical presence that can interact with the material world in a gruesome and tangible way.

Cultural Impact Ghouls have made their way into various cultures and media, often symbolizing death and decay. They appear in literature, films, and video games, usually as menacing creatures to be feared and fought. Their depiction varies, but their essence as flesh-eating, cemetery-dwelling beings remains consistent.

Ghosts: The Restless Spirits

Origin and Mythology Ghosts are the spirits of deceased individuals who have not found peace in the afterlife. Belief in ghosts is widespread, transcending cultures and eras. They are often thought to linger due to unfinished business, unresolved emotions, or a tragic death.

Appearance and Behavior Ghosts are typically depicted as ethereal, translucent figures that may resemble their former human selves. They can appear as full-bodied apparitions or as mere shadows and mists. Ghosts are known for their ability to pass through solid objects, and they often haunt specific locations tied to their past lives, such as homes, battlefields, or places of death.

Cultural Impact Ghost stories are a staple of folklore and have been passed down through generations. They appear in a wide array of media, from classic literature like "Hamlet" to modern horror films like "The Conjuring." Ghosts often evoke a mix of fear, sadness, and curiosity, reflecting our own fears and fascinations with death and the afterlife.

Poltergeists: The Noisy Spirits

Origin and Mythology The term "poltergeist" comes from the German words "poltern" (to make noise) and "geist" (ghost or spirit). Poltergeists are believed to be mischievous or malevolent spirits that cause physical disturbances, such as loud noises and the movement of objects. Unlike traditional ghosts, poltergeists are often associated with specific individuals rather than locations.

Appearance and Behavior Poltergeists are typically invisible and manifest their presence through physical actions rather than visual apparitions. Common poltergeist activities include knocking, banging, object displacement, and even physical attacks. These disturbances often escalate over time, creating a sense of fear and chaos for those affected.

Cultural Impact Poltergeists have been a popular subject in paranormal investigations and horror media. The infamous "Enfield Poltergeist" case in the 1970s, for instance, drew significant media attention and inspired numerous books and films. Poltergeists challenge our understanding of the supernatural by interacting with the physical world in inexplicable ways.

Conclusion

While ghouls, ghosts, and poltergeists all belong to the realm of the supernatural, they each offer unique elements to the tapestry of paranormal lore. Ghouls, with their corporeal form and ghastly habits, bring a sense of physical horror rooted in ancient mythology. Ghosts, as the restless spirits of the deceased, embody our deepest questions and fears about the afterlife. Poltergeists, with their noisy and often violent disruptions, blur the lines between the seen and unseen worlds.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and publishing tips for authors every Monday and Thursday! And don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey! 

[homeboygirl]

remember when "hack" used to mean "modify to my advantage" and not just "heres some tips and tricks! :)" i swear to god the word "lifehack" fucking ruined the whole word for mainstream internet

[juanpcff13]

Revista de Tips & Tricks de Estados Unidos 🇺🇲 de diciembre de 1997.

[notetakers-blog-of-holding]

D&D Tip:

A shield only gives a measly +2 to AC

But a HUMAN shield can give you up to +5 AC

[fogaminghub]

✨ Ready to conquer the "Protect the Sand Castle" task in DC Justice League Cosmic Chaos? 🎮 Our latest blog post breaks down everything you need to know to defend your castle from incoming foes! 🏰 Learn about hero strategies, positioning, and more. Don’t let the villains win!

[leota-nexus]

^ the process

v the result

[hardcoregamer]

This game is sneaky in the best way. It doesn’t shout its best features from the rooftops. Some of the most useful mechanics, coolest upgrades, and even collectible hints are just there, waiting to be discovered by curious eyes or stumbled upon by accident. And these tips will help you discover them.

[thatsbelievable]

[silkkorchid]

So uhh if anyone wants to friend me on Limbus Company here is my ID

T060889440

Still relatively new to the game ._.

[kiwisandpearls]

maybe I’m just Bad At The Game tm but playing nightmare mode as an f2p player feels like the game went “have this particular unit that does this super particular thing on your team or perish” and that’s…not exactly a good thing.

[ozzni]

In Stellaris, transgenders are CANON! This is because, after completing a cybernetic or synthetic ascension, the name of your species will have the suffix "trans" attached to the beginning (eg. trans-human), because now every member of that species is transgender.

This also implies that at least two of the genders in Stellaris are NOT male and female, but actually, biological and mechanical!

[camp-counselor-life]

"Secret" Scrap

Ok, so this is my "favorite" game. I did not create it in anyway, that honor goes to a teacher friend, who may or may not also have been the creator. As camp activities are like.

The purpose of secret scrap is this: have the kiddos pick up as much trash as you can without them complaining that they are cleaning.

How? Explain that there is a secret scrap on the floor and you will be playing "Secret Scrap" until someone picks it up. You don't have to pick a specific scrap, because the goal is to just keep cleaning until it's clean enough, but see variations.

Tips:

Works best with kiddos under... 6th ish grade, but your high schoolers may enjoy being in on the joke, so know your group.

You gotta sell it. Like, be super into it, "oh no, the secret scrap is still there," "oh, someone was close to the secret scrap," etc.

It helps when you also pick up scraps or clean.

Variations:

Play music as a timer for secret scrap. Yay camp appropriate playlist!

When the area is mostly clean, pick a scrap and have a "winner". Just don't make it obvious that you just barely picked the scrap.

You can even have a prize!

So, with a little theatrics and fun, you too can clean your program space in 3 minutes flat!