#while the game still runs

[cat-n-rabbit]

Today on... cool things in SaGaRS that are no longer available.

Modern heroes! Or.. all the funny prefecture collabs edits and other events where the 7 Heroes just had fun.

Unfortunately all of these were from post Polka's arc where the game got little to no writing anymore so all these events have no story beyond what you can come up with while reading the descriptions. I don't know why it was so difficult to attach some dialogue and exchanges between the characters in a pixel art game but I suppose that was too much to ask for from the small indy developer SQUARE ENIX ...

These are now only available in the game's custom battle design option, and I don't really remember others, but anyhowsies.... here we go, for they are a lot!

We start of with the Music Fes 2022! It was one of my favorite events. It was so colorful and so many SaGa characters were having music/performance styles! The event came with a raid event and bosses with their own stages. Wagnas had not only a banner style but raid boss style too!

I don't remember the BGM that played on his stage but I assume it was one of the 7 heroes arrangements. Modern world pop star Wagnas?

Sadly majority of the events didn't get any story context. The best you could do is piece together a narrative based on their banner lines...which wasn't much. Given how Final Emperor had a music festival style too along Wagnas makes me wonder how were they both talked into this? Then again Wagnas seems to easily hop into festivities.

Next up is all the Saga prefecture collab bosses! RS will often have collabs with the saga prefecture in Japan and as result have raid events designed over various places in the prefecture. At various raid nodes you would have bosses who seem to be enjoying the activities there!

Your guesses of what's going on here is as good as mine xD;

Beyond Subier got drunk and claimed the spa pond(?) and Dantarg is out there to eat all the goods and you just happen to be on the way... I have little clue what's Kzinssie's deal. Did he try to eat a crab and the crab tried to eat him??

I assume these are the prefecture flag/colors? Bokhohn just had to control a giant...whatever that is (giant goby?) and we had to fight it at some point of course. I recall Rocboquet had a banner style during that event with skill especially targeting the giant gobby. It's a shame we never got story attached to these cause it felt like there was something going on here!

And lets not forget ... ... balloon Wagnas.

-Deep breathes- the source of my PTSD... Balloon Wagnas. Now, now... I know the event is gone and the game will disappear at the end of November, but let me just... just explain the pain and suffering. We had to get a drop from every prefecture boss from this event to turn in and get gems, typical grindy stuff. Usually RS is not too bad with drops. But not Wagnas, oh no... He claimed the skies with his balloons and he would not drop a dang balloon. 200+ fights later I finally got it, normally it would take like less than 50... Wagnas, what have I done to you!?? I've always collected your styles and used you in battles T^T;;;

Anyhowsies... so you know... Wagnas likes his ballons and he ain't sharing any. Not until you cry and beg I guess.

And last but not least.... That one time when idk what Bokhohn smoked but he went full Grinch/Scrooge mode and decided to ruin christmas for everyone !

Not only he was a boss he also had a banner style where he was all about riding a mechanical sleigh with puppet reindeers and raining bombs over Avalon! What was the context behind that? Who knows! It was event without any story context once again. I was especially sad we got no story cause Noel had a wonderful christmas style where he seemed to be enjoying himself for once. And Final Empress had a style on the same banner as Noel and it looked like a truce to enjoy the festivities.

Hokay... forgot about the School banners! The RS Academy events which... got a short 3 part manga comic but not an in-game story for some reason. But! We got... Astronomy Teacher Wagnas! Trickster illusionist Bokhohn and Janitor Kzinssie!

I remember in the manga Wagnas was being a bestie with Gerard and nerding about stars which I thought was really sweet, especially considering one of Gerard's styles does have Galactic Rift (strongest light spell!) and It's just me here connecting the dots like some wild conspiracy theoriest but I guess nerdy boy Gerard also enjoys astronomy!

Bokhohn seemed to be a student this time...which is funny cause isn't he supposed to be older than Wagnas? He mentions he prefers illusions and tricks to actual magic. Maybe in modern world he will be all about card tricks!

And... that's all I could pull from the vault!

I hope it was fun read. :>

I will miss the sillies RS provided. . . u_u; You could randomly miss a character regardless of which SaGa game and log into RS then put them in silly hat and go smack a random old boss or something... I only hope they will make a new SaGa mobile game at some point cause RS even in Japan is not doing well right now.

[watchingwisteria]

listen there really was just something about how in the book, snow’s 3-page descent from hesitant lover boy to deluded mfer happens entirely in his mind. lucy gray gives him no indication whatsoever that she suspects him, that she’s going to leave or betray him. he’s just sitting quietly in the cabin waiting for her to return when that seed of calculated suspicion, which he has needed to survive the capitol, takes a hold of him and chokes the life out of any goodness left inside him. it really drives home your terror as a reader that “oh my god did he kill her? did she escape? what happened to her? why would he even think that?” in a way that when the movie had to adjust for visualization it lost some of that holy shit this guy has lost it emphasis.

[vngful]

im sorry this made me laugh so f*cking hard i had to share it here too

[phoenixcatch7]

Okay but it's super interesting how

Din = Power = Ganondorf

Naryu = Wisdom = Zelda

Farore = Courage = Link.

Because Din, in the hylian creation myth, created the physical world. Naryu then created the laws - gravity, time, etc. And Farore finally created life - plants and people.

Din created the body, naryu the mind, Farore the soul.

And the triforce and its wielders so perfectly reflect that.

Ganon is physical power, he is big and intimidating and he breaks things. He is cunning and determined, but that's not what he focuses on. He is might makes right.

Zelda is wisdom and cleverness. She is stall tactics and information and team work. She is a powerful mage with a spine of steel, but that's not how she'll win. She is the pen being mightier than the sword.

Link is courage and persistence. He is the wild card sneaking behind enemy ranks, always moving, plunging into terrifying situations head first. He's a phenomenal fighter with a keen wit, but that's not what will get him through his challenges. He is bravery not being the absence of fear but the triumph over it.

They sit in perfect parallels to each other.

And ganon is reborn through his body - his resurrection is immortality. No matter how low he is cast, as long as he has a body he can claw his way back. He can cling to his power, build it ever higher.

Zelda is reborn through the magic of her bloodline. It's the accumulated knowledge handed down for generations, the unique power she must master, the skills she must develop to survive and get her kingdom out the other side intact. Even her name, the knowledge of herself, is handed down from all the way from the very first. Her ancestors knowledge of her future presence, her stability, is what gives her the edge.

Link is reborn in spirit. He is not bound by flesh or blood. Just like his wanderlust soul he can reappear in any time or place. His variation, his unpredictability, is exactly how he fights. It's what makes him so hard to pin down.

Ganons need to build strength means he can't chase after link. Links impulsiveness means zelda can outwit him. Zeldas stationary predictability means she's an easy target for ganon.

But the other direction?

Fire melts ice, ice redirects lightning, lightning burns fire.

And that's the very essence of the triforce.

[cookie-lore-keeper]

I know it's already shown that Pure Vanilla Cookie has romantic feelings torwards White Lily Cookie, but seeing him actually say it out loud makes me so happy

[moonsnqil]

andrew who buys neil hair products because if left to his own devices he'd just towel dry his hair and leave it frizzy every day

[gummi-ships]

Kingdom Hearts Union χ - Dwarf Woodlands

[serieoo]

Let's Build a Kingdom!

Cookie Run Kingdom has me Cooked so expect me to draw a few more cookies in the future

[utilitycaster]

I know I once said that Lace Harding's Veilguard arc did everything that Ashton's arc attempted to do but a million times better but I need to stress that was before I did the option where she chooses compassion over anger and actively shares the pain of the titans with other dwarves while simultaneously agreeing with them it is vital to explore this history while embracing the people they are now, and then this information also gets used to sway the fragment of one of the people responsible for the destruction of the titans into helping her team. so if you play it right, it is actually a billion times better.

[teunip]

Alex & Tin-Can plotting to blow up a car or two ⚡⚡

[jomtones-bussy]

People on tiktok infantilizing curly from mouthwashing and saying that him becoming crippled was his punishment. Killing u. With my teeth.

[arolesbianism]

May I offer some Siffrins on this fine day

[sleepyorchidmonster]

Soo, remember in Glorious Masquerade, when Malleus came up with the story that the cause of the Crimson Lotus was unknown, and Rollo was actually trying to save everyone alongside the NRC students?

What if that's another bit of foreshadowing for the end of Book 7?

Briar Valley is in a really precarious position now, still recovering from the Silver Owls, with the Senate mostly taking over while Maleficia grieves, so Malleus overblotting is just another blow to the fae, even if students like Leona, Kalim, Vil and Idia manage to advocate on his behalf.

So why not spin the tale of how there was an unnamed threat on the island that was so Dire (pun intended for Crowley) and all-encompassing that Malleus had to go all out?

To avoid collateral damage and prevent the issue from reaching the rest of the globe, he had no choice but to use his UM to cover the whole island, keeping everyone safe in a peaceful slumber while the threat was dealt with. Luckily, STYX coordinated efforts with the rest of Briar Valley and they managed to subdue the threat both inside and outside the barrier, and everyone is safe now!

That way, the world can see Malleus not as an uncontrollable monster, but as a fierce protector who might go a bit overboard, but means well (also he's a dragon and his remaining family was on the island, so his protectiveness is understandable). Therefore, it's best to befriend the fae and Briar Valley than make enemies out of them!

The only problem is the rest of the student body and staff that saw the overblot at Lillia's farewell party, but I'm pretty sure STYX's Lethe program is back on to deal with the mobs, while the rest of the cast can be sworn to secrecy in exchange for having Malleus owe them a favour (they can use Azul's UM for the NDA).

As for the problem, NRC has been dealing with overblots at least once a month, not to mention the STYX invasion, and the Phantom Dwarves back in the mines, and how Book 7 might introduce the true mastermind and that's what we have to deal with in Book 8... They just have to pick ONE of the options above.

As a sidenote, having Sunset Savanna become Briar Valley's fiercest allies because Leona told his brother that Malleus is his friend would be so funny. Falena sees his depressed brother going to the trouble of making a whole Power Point presentation to convince the council on the benefits of allying to Briar Valley, all to save a school friend, and just decides that Malleus Draconia will have his unending support. Kifaji too.

(Leona has been ignored and belittled so many times that he prepared for the worst and made a whole slide presentation in hopes of defending his point well enough. Shoud've just led with "Malleus Draconia is a friend of mine who just went through a very traumatic experience and I want to help him" Kifaji and Falena would accept in a heartbeat).

BONUS:

Leona: *Practicing his Power Point presentation at 2AM*

Cheka: Unca, what are you doing in the middle of the night?

Leona: I'm just practicing, no one (my dormmates aside) ever likes my ideas and I have to make sure this works...

Cheka: Why?

Leona: Well you see... [starts explaining the inportance of supporting Briar Valley at theur moment of need and the benefits an alliance may bring to the table] ... also the Lizard would love if-

Cheka: Why do you keep calling Malleus Draconia "Lizard"? Is he your friend? Do you want to help him?

Leona, sighing: Yeah kiddo, he is my friend. He's been going though some tough times, almost lost his father and brother, and as much as we butt heads, well, no one deserves that...

Cheka: So why don't you just say that he's your friend and you wanna help him instead of talking about those "tweatwies"?

Leona: First of all, it's "treaties", and second, well, Briar Valley is in trouble, and helping them might get us in trouble too. Also I'm just the accursed second prince, people never listen to me, I need to back up my proposal with facts.

*random noise that sounds like a mix between a growl and a sob (Falena and Kifaji are eavesdropping lol)*

Leona: What's that?!

Cheka, panicking: Probably the wind....

*THE NEXT DAY*

Leona, finishing the presentation: And that's my proposal, any questions?

Random councilman: Well I-

Kijaji, smiling menacingly: I think it's a splendid idea, Leona. Briar Valley has been a longtime friend of ours, so it's only right that we help them in their time of need.

Falena, also smiling menacingly: Agreed! I'm so proud of you, my brother!

Leona: Wait, seriously!?

Falena's wife, smiling and sharpening a knife while subtly observing the other councilmen, marking targets: Of course, Leona! You have a sharp mind and this is a good plan. Briar Valley will have Sunset Savanna's full support for the coming criais, isn't that right, councillors?

Other councillors: Yes Ma'am!! Don't kill us pls

[arodykeism]

time to make your choice only you can be the one

[assmaster-8000]

𝑪𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒐 ✧

✧ Regret

✧ Rememberance

✧ Reunion

✧

All men are equal in death. To Clotho, such is their reigning tenet.

And to Clotho, a man like them sheds no tear for the departed. A necromancer need not fear death, for it is a cycle devouring upon itself, and they are the ringmaster of this primal instinct. As in— need, should, must. One must not fear, one must not ache or pine or rage. A snake is still a snake. Death is still a wild animal. Show your soft palm within the ribcage of your fist, and it will not yield to you. Clotho, for all their cool expertise, knows this through trial and error.

All men are equal in death. So this mantra becomes their epitaph for every sentiment buried under the grave of their tongue.

It's a corpse beneath the floorboards; this memory. The tremble in their fingers - the shortness of breath. Their prized coherence pooling out their ears like brains on a sidewalk. Black is all they've known the world to be, but this time it is blue. Saliva spilling past the shore of her lips. Piercing red lightning streaking through the sky of her eyes. She does not respond when they shake her. By God— what have you done?

All men are equal. Their mother was no man, no monster. Mother, simple and sweet, was cruel enough to damn her. As they were.

Their tears come soft on the linen of her robes. She is softer still. The used crowd of spellbooks and artifacts and alchemical instruments behind them laugh hollow at the display. Wire is taut, so is cloth. Neither will hold them now, after destroying the muscle that stretched to cradle their wretched self. So they bind her in her day shroud. And they bury her in the belly of the primordial Mother.

On her grave, they plant a singular Asphodel. Their one specimen.

And when they shakily kneel back to look down at the mount of soil, for a moment - just a moment, their nails slip back beneath the dirt. Back to where home was.

A moment was all it took. Soon as it comes, they rip it out her shabby resting grounds and lay it on their crown. That brain-shaped gilded mausoleum of theirs. So it has remained all this while - so has she, with that memory just as equal as a dead man.

But you know they never stay where they're supposed to for long.

In the land of the dead, asphodels are for the gray in between. They are the sustenance of the dead. They are my regrets, following you to the grave. O, Mother. You raised a walking corpse. As long as I hold you in my heart, the grave goes where I go; and dead men tell no tales, so... I love you. Isn't that the worst thing you've ever heard?

[heybiji]

ialso love playign superhero ttrpgs can i ask what the Masks ttrpg is? i love finding neww hero themed ttrpgs ^-^ yay!

Ohhh!! Hey! i love getting to talk ttrpg stuff thanks for the question!

MASKS: A New Generation is a superhero ttrpg about teenagers all trying to figure out who they are in a world filled with people constantly telling them who they are and how the world works. It's less about the powers and the fights and more about the emotional journey of the PCs with mechanics that support that. It's a really narratively driven game!

tldr: try it out! it's fun! it's simple! and it's low-prep (apparently, just not for me, but i'm always just gonna do Too Much). you want a system with mechanics that revolve around telling a story? around your character's emotions and how they view themselves? this is the one for you! it's great and i've really been enjoying it!!

First of all, it's a fail-forward system, so the way your character levels (advanced) is by missing rolls. I like this a lot.

There are ten core playbooks that are essentially the classes you can choose from. They each come with their own powers, some intentionally more impressive than others, but it's not about the powers; it's about the core conflict that comes with each of the archetypes. Here are a few playbook examples:

The Delinquent: You've got these cool powers. But everyone keeps telling you how to use 'em. You know what they need? Someone to give them trouble, to make sure they don't always get their way. And hey! You're the perfect her to do it.

The Legacy: You're the latest in a storied heroic lineage, a family that shares a name and a cause. Now, everybody is watching and waiting to see if you've got what it takes to uphold that tradition. No Pressure, right?

The Nova: You're a font of power. Channel it, and you can remake the world into exactly what you want. Unleash it, and you can do miracles. It's wonderful... and terrifying. Lose control for even a second, and other people get hurt.

Your stats are your Labels. They're how you see yourself, and how others see you. The Labels are DANGER, FREAK, SAVIOR, SUPERIOR, and MUNDANE. Different stats help with different Moves/rolls, so for example a high DANGER stat helps you Directly Engage a Threat, while a low MUNDANE stat makes it harder for you to Comfort or Support Someone. Your Labels are constantly being shifted around throughout the game as your character's self-image changes (and that self-image changes a lot, basically the NPCs are just label shifting machines).

The mechanics are fun! Instead of traditional damage, the PCs have Conditions that they take on, and what conditions a character has affects their rolls. The Conditions are Afraid, Angry, Guilty, Hopeless, and Insecure. So if you're Angry you take -2 on your roll to do the move Comfort or Support Someone, if you're Afraid, it's -2 on Directly Engage a Threat, etc. There are multiple ways to clear your conditions but the most straightforward way is to take a particular action, so if you're Angry you have to hurt someone or break something important, and if you're Afraid you have to run from something difficult. These actions lead to some awesome and surprising story beats!

There's some other stuff as well, but that's the gist!

Coming from DND, it took me some time to adjust to something so wildly different in terms of the system, but I've been enjoying it! I haven't gotten to play it as a PC, but running it has been an interesting challenge. I think it's a pretty simple system to work with, and I at least hear it's low-prep (again not for me tho lol). It's mechanically looser than the only other ttrpg I've played (dnd) and requires a lot more decision making from the whole table, so I think in a way it asks more of its players in that way. And the GM role is constantly on in a specific way, because it's up to the GM to listen and call out when a Move is being triggered and a roll should be made based on what the characters are doing in any particular scene.

anyway I can always have more to say but MASKS has been fun. I recommend giving it a shot! And then you should tell me what you thought about it!!