#also v customizable!

[pinkheywood]

I have no idea how Cyberpunk isn't more popular, you should all play it, ship the exact same ships as me, be my chooms and like, vomit Cyberpunk stuff at each other, idk, I'm not making the rules

[the960writers]

Alternatives to google docs

For various reasons, this is now a hot topic. I'm putting my favorites here, please add more in your reblogs. I'm not pointing to Microsoft Word because I hate it.

Local on your computer:

1.

LibreOffice (https://www.libreoffice.org/), Win, Linux, Mac.

Looks like early 2000 Word, works great, imports and exports all formats. Saves in OpenDocumentFormat. Combine with something like Dropbox for Cloud Backup.

2.

FocusWriter (https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/) Win, Linux.

Super customizable to make it look pretty, all toolbars hide to be as non-distracting as possible. Can make typewriter sounds as you type, and you can set daily wordcount goals. Saves in OpenDocumentFormat. Combine with something like Dropbox for Cloud Backup.

3.

Scrivener (https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview) Win, Mac, iOS

The lovechild of so many writers. Too many things to fiddle with for me, but I'm sure someone else can sing its praises. You can put the database folder into a Dropbox folder for cloud saving (but make sure to always close the program before shutting down).

Web-based:

4.

Reedsy bookeditor (https://reedsy.com/write-a-book) Browser based, works on Firefox on Android. Be aware that they also have a TOS that forbids pornography on publicly shared documents.

My current writing program. Just enough features to be helpful, not so many that I start fiddling. Writing is chapter based, exports to docx, epub, pdf. You can share chapters (for beta reading) with other people registered at Reedsy.

5.

Novelpad (https://novelpad.co/) Browser based.

Looks very promising, there's a youtuber with really informative videos about it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHN8TnwjG1g). I wanted to love it, but the editor didn't work on Firefox on my phone. It might now, but I'm reluctant to switch again.

------

So, this is my list. Please add more suggestions in reblogs.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

sebek va @ anyc panel

These are some fun little tidbits from the ANYC Twisted Wonderland panel featuring Sebek's VA (Haruki Ishiya)! (This isn't everything in the panel, just the parts I personally found interesting.)

Ishiya-san walks onto the stage and blesses us with “HEY HUMANS” (in English) 😭 It was very cute…

He mentions training physically to get into the mindset for voicing Sebek ⚡️

Ishiya-san would like to explore NYC with Ruggie and Lilia! He wants to go shopping with Ruggie and have him negotiate prices for him.

He imagines that Lilia has already been to NYC before (since bat gramps has traveled around a lot)! That means Lilia would be a great tour guide for Ishiya-san, as this is his first time in NYC himself.

Ishiya-san talks about his thoughts on each of the Diasomnia members! He relates to Sebek’s loudness and eagerness.

He describes Silver as both Sebek’s older brother and little brother. Ishiya-san says that it can be difficult to voice Sebek speaking to Silver at times because Sebek has to sound mad but at the same time convey that the two have a good relationship.

Lilia is very wise and cool! Ishiya-san loves how kind and patient he is with Sebek.

And, of course, Malleus is “so cool” (that’s the phrase Sebek’s VA keeps using 🥺)!! Ishiya-san even draws a little Waka-sama in only 30 seconds. Look at how proud he is of himself 💕

Ishiya-san also filled out a Prefect form to share with everyone.

He picked Ignihyde because of how tech-y it is, and how he likes to try what is “new” and modern. Ishiya-san thinks both he and Sebek could benefit from learning new things.

He goes more in depth about some of his responses, such as how he loves how tender hamburgers are. They come with a lot of different sauces in Japan, so it’s a very “customizable” meal.

He thinks a penguin’s waddle is very cute!! That’s why it’s one of his favorite animals. Be prepared for the influx of Sebek with penguins fan art—

If you ever visit Japan, he recommends historical sites and going on food tours!!

Without giving spoilers for book 7, he says that “you will see a new side to Malleus, a new side to Lilia, a new side to Silver and Sebek”. Can confirm—

He got so excited and passionate during recording for book 7 that he got overheated and had to take off his jacket 💦

When asked to comment on book 7, he replies with, “everyone will definitely be emotional from this, your heart will tighten and you will laugh and you will cry”. CAN ALSO CONFIRM—

We got the official English subs for the Diasomnia CM at the very end :v

[creatingblackcharacters]

Hi! I wanted to send my favorite Black character in text-based interactive fiction (like choose-your-own adventure, with customizable MC and romance options), specifically Vicky from @barbwritesstuff 's Blood Moon (which is sooo good and I very much recommend). She is a werewolf in the MC's pack, one of a group of former strays who have been taken into this pack. It's been a little while since I did a playthrough so hopefully this is all accurate lol.

The first thing she does in the story is propose that the group kill a stray before she (the stray) goes moon-mad on their territory; definitely the harshest of the three choices presented so that makes an impression. She is incredibly protective of the pack and especially her younger brother, is worried that she is a "monster" but also willing to be if it will keep him safe (and closer to human), has had to be a "monster", tough but also has the softest romance (imo), tough but so full of love. She has my favorite lines: "The wolf is not a monster. The wolf is a part of you." and "I don't want to be a monster...but sometimes, someone has to be." The way she...doesn't embrace exactly but accepts monstrousness, the way she does it out of love...I just adore her and the way she grapples with her humanity and her wolfishness.

(Gushing about Vicky but I also love her brother, Ed, who is her opposite in a lot of ways and kind of rejects his wolfishness, is outwardly soft and kind; definitely more of a risk-taker, more to fight with his mind than his claws.)

It's text-based, but links to some fan art! (The second one is my blog but it's a comm by @beelzeebub I got for Halloween one year, based on a post by the author about a pack Halloween costume contest :). I mention this because that makes the dinosaur onesie essentially canon lol.)

https://www.tumblr.com/dahliadrawthings/669841179203010560/v-i-c-k-y-lets-start-the-week-with-a-portrait?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/wayhavenots/714992560732602368?source=share

Intriguing! She reminds me of Claudia.

[jasdiary]

Fableheart

Name Meaning :

Fable : A short, fictitious tale conveying a moral.

Heart : The core of oneself.

‧˚₊•┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈•‧₊˚⊹

“ Welcome to Fableheart, my dear! Oh- don’t be shy, step foot in, we don’t bite! “

Nabi Von Waldeck, Current housewarden

‧˚₊•┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈•‧₊˚⊹

-ˏˋ. Introduction ˊˎ-

𓇢𓆸 Fableheart is an RSA dorm twisted from the Ever After High franchise.

𓇢𓆸 Fableheart was founded on the morals of the fairytale-bound heroes.

𓇢𓆸 The current housewarden is Nabi Von Waldeck (Twisted from Apple White) and the current vice-housewarden is Armaros Raven Corvidae (Twisted from Raven Queen ) ( by @rosietrace )

‧˚₊•┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈•‧₊˚⊹

I. Students of FableHeart are encouraged to follow their heart and reach for their goals of their own volition. Be it to follow the footsteps of a higher being or to reject that notion and walk down your own path is entirely up to you. Due to this, there tends to be many conflicts between students but they always come together at the end of the day.

II. As a part of FableHeart, you learn to remember that the end is just the beginning.

III. FableHeart is sometimes regarded as a cursed dorm, many if not all members having some kind of curse or dilemma that could change their life. For better or worse is to be decided.

IV. Students of Fableheart are known for their stubbornness and morality. They all know or are figuring out what they want to do in their future, but one thing for sure is that they’ll do anything to walk down the path they chose.

V. Students in this dorm excel in Ancient Curses and Seminars. It’s nearly impossible to defeat a Fableheart student in a debate or mislead them from a seminar. As for ancient curses…The students of Fableheart know about curses all too well.

‧˚₊•┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈•‧₊˚⊹

-ˏˋ. Dorm Appearance ˊˎ-

⟡ Fableheart’s dorm looks akin to a castle.

⟡ They have grand stairs (that are honestly quite a hassle to go up and down…)

⟡ The dorms stories are being held up by tree roots and vines.

⟡ They’re known for their extravagant structure and secret areas.

⟡ In terms of colors, You can expect to see a lot of purple and red. to separate them, there’s whites and golds along with blacks and silvers.

⟡ All of the students personal rooms are quite large, enough for 2 students to still have a good amount of space.

‧˚₊•┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈•‧₊˚⊹

-ˏˋ. Dorm Uniform Information ˊˎ-

<𝟑 There is no set uniform!! However, there are requirements as to how you customize and design your uniform.

<𝟑 The uniform is required to look regal, As if you’re royalty attending a ball.

<𝟑 You can be as dramatic or as minimal as you want to be with the uniform, depending on the type of person you are. It’s all up to you.

<𝟑 To show that you are indeed a student affiliated with FableHeart, the heart shaped locket given to every student is required to be shown somewhere on yourself. Where you put the locket is up to you.

<𝟑 All in all, just have fun coming up with your very own uniform and looking like the royalty you are~

<𝟑 Fableheart students all have an object or accessory that represents themselves and is used in place of RSA’s magic brooches. They also tie in with their curses.

< Examples >

‧˚₊•┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈•‧₊˚⊹

-ˏˋ. Fableheart Regular Uniform (option if you don’t want to draw RSA’s uniform!) ˊˎ-

✎ᝰ. Very much giving Barbie Princess Charm School!

✎ᝰ. Used in place of RSA’s uniform. ( I find it hard to draw i’m sorry )

✎ᝰ. As shown in the photos, it’s customizable to an extent.

✎ᝰ. ((The skirt can be switched for a longer skirt, pants or even shorts.))

✎ᝰ. The dorm colors are apple red and royal purple.

✎ᝰ. They are also available in red ↓

< IVE ‘Love Dive’ concept outfits >

‧˚₊•┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈•‧₊˚⊹

-ˏˋ. Fableheart Dorm Playlistˊˎ-

‧˚₊•┈┈┈┈୨୧┈┈┈┈•‧₊˚⊹

-ˏˋ. Notes for those who want to make a Fableheart Oc ˊˎ-

𓇢𓆸 As this dorm was revealed to only a few people a while back, some EAH characters have already been claimed; here’s the characters that have been taken! :

Apple White

Raven Queen

Madeleine Hatter

Briar Beauty

Ashlynn Ella

Kitty Cheshire

C.A. Cupid

Darling Charming

Odette Cygnet ( Duchess Swan ) { @/starry-night-rose }

Lizzie Hearts

Renè Scarlett ( Cerise Hood ) { @/terrovaniadorm }

Rosalina Bellevue (Rosabella Beauty ) { @/slumberingrose-fandom }

Castor Del Rosario ( Courtley Jester ) { @/luvneuvillette }

Blondie Lockes

Maristela Undine ( Meeshell Mermaid ) { @/terrovaniadorm }

Lucia Primrose ( Farrah Goodfairy ) { @/sakuramidnight15 }

Ginger Breadhouse

Thornby Bell Faelan ( Faybelle Thorn ) { @/princekoala }

Mira Shards

Gaia Abor ( Cedar Wood ) { @/shinysparklesapphires }

Caoimhe Dulcie ( Ginger Breadhouse ) { @/sakuramidnight15 }

𓇢𓆸 The max amount of ocs per person is 3! This is so other people have chances to join!

𓇢𓆸 Just to reiterate, Each Fableheart member has a curse that impacts them. (Ex. Nabi aging every time they eats an apple and only being freed from the curse by a declaration of true love)

𓇢𓆸 Everything else is basically said in information section/s. If there are any questions or confusion, please don’t be shy to ask!!

What story will be written today?…✎ᝰ.

[obsidiantheghostfaced]

Get 25% off of everything on Redbubble right now! Redbubble is running a huge summer sale on every piece of fabulous merch, products and accessories.

Spreadshirt is also running a sale right now too! Get 15% off nearly everything on Spreadshirt with coupon code: JUNE15US

[the-monkey-ruler]

Club Penguin (2005)

Date: October 24, 2005 Platform: Mac / PC / iPhone / iPad / Android / Browser Developer: RocketSnail Games / Disney Canada Inc. / Disney / Interactive Publisher: Disney Interactive Genre: Action / MMORPG / Platformer Theme: Comedy / Espionage Franchises: Club Penguin / Disney Type: Appropriation

Summary:

Originally launched on October 24, 2005 by Disney Canada (then New Horizon Interactive), Club Penguin was a popular virtual world browser game aimed at kids and teens. The game featured a chat system, customizable penguin characters, virtual pets, several minigames, as well as quests, often connected to the series' standalone entries. The game also featured a premium subscription system, allowing monthly subscribers access to a wider array of clothing items, puffles, and igloo customization options.

In 2013, a mobile app for the game was introduced, beginning with iPad before expanding to iPhone and Android in 2014.

On January 30, 2017, it was announced that services for Club Penguin were to be discontinued in anticipation of Adobe Flash's end of life, as well as to shift players towards Club Penguin Island. Following an in-game party event beginning the day after the announcement, Club Penguin was officially taken offline in March of the same year.

In February 2017, fans of Club Penguin launched Club Penguin Rewritten, an attempted resurrection using files from the original game. The most popular fan-revival of Club Penguin, Rewritten garnered roughly 10 million users, eventually leading the project's team to add new, original content, and in-game advertising. On April 13, 2022, Rewritten was taken offline in response to a copyright infringement claim by Disney.

Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/club-penguin/3030-36105/

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytZI_o8UZyE

[pryings]

TOA Anniversary Munday

thank you neffi for this template!!!

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

Name: ruaidhrí (said pretty much like the english name rory and if you want to spell it that way that's fine too, ik irish names throw people off)

Pronouns: he/him

Birthday (no year): 25th of october!

Where are you from? What is your time zone? i live in colorado and my timezone is MST

How long is your roleplay experience? i don't know exactly how many years since i sometimes have years where h don't rp but i've been rping on and off since i was 11-12.

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? oh gosh, so ff.net used to have (maybe still has, i literally have not been on that site in ages) these like... forums? and i joined one for elder scrolls rp a little after oblivion came out. i was far and away the youngest one there but everyone was so nice in helping me turn my character into a proper oc with like... backstory, a real personality, etc. after that, i spent a lot of time using it to try and grow my creative writing skills.

How were you introduced to TOA? honestly i just stumbled across it randomly! i had just replayed a few fe games and was looking through some tags and thought it might be fun to try fire emblem rp (i'd done some on indie tumblr back in the day, as well as in an mfrp a little bit, but never fire emblem exclusive rp) so i sent arden to check it out and, well, here we still are.

Do you have any pets? simon (mini poodle), john hancock (tabby cat), and tim & geeb (fluffy black cats)

What is your favorite time of year and why? (Season, holiday, general period) early spring! i also like late fall for its temperature, but i dislike snow/sleet/wet socks so spring is preferable because it's not very snowy here!

What is your IRL occupation? blessedly unemployed (health issues have prevented me from working aha)... i used to work IT though!

Some interests and things you like/enjoy? i like birdwatching, reading academic articles about ancient civilizations, and making espresso drinks

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? currently enjoying bg3 + doing a dragon age replay (in preparation for veilguard). outside current, i really like most single-player rpg type games (esp. with customizable character), stealth games (dishonored favorite), and Identity V is the first asymmetrical horror mobile game developed by NetEase for

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: my favorite pokemon ever is alakazam (and its whole line) i've loved alakazam foreverrrrr! favorite type is steel, though! apart from my psychic baby most of my other favs tend to be steel types

Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! oh gosh i'm so bad at fun facts...

- i can put both my feet behind my head but i can't touch my toes - my favorite non-ancient empire to read about is austria-hungary - my cat tim was rescued from Outside

How did you get into Fire Emblem? friend's cool older brother was playing a bunch of the games in a seemingly random order. when i'd hang out at that friend's house sometimes we'd sit and watch. i asked him to lend me some and he did!

What Fire Emblem games have you played? i have now played all of them! (last year when i answered this i hadn't technically played them all, but i'd seen playthroughs and watched let's plays of all of them at the very least)

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: a bad translation of fe4 was first, por is still my favorite—but tbh there's not really one i dislike

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! - KNOLL (promoted to number one he's my special guy) - reyson - canas - ashnard - pandreo

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! QUAN—i have such a distinct memory of seeing him come in but i don't remember my initial thought, only that he would have my heart forever

Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳 vander. duessel. hardin.

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays? - Awakening: first was sumia! i don't have a set nowadays because i've done a different one on each playthrough - Fates: first was xander, would probably still do xander if i were to replay - Three Houses: first was seteth, if i replay i'll go for hanneman - Engage: first was pandreo! next time i plan to do ivy though

Favorite Fire Emblem class? i like shapeshifter classes! beasts, dragons, laguz, etc. i just think they're fun to play with

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? oh gosh, i'd be an infantry axe unit probably. middling starting stats but high growths if you really work at making me good (there would be heated debates over whether the necessary time investment would be worth it)

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? black eagles!

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? axe boon, heavy armor bane, budding talent in faith magic (could be classed into an fe:a style war cleric and it would be my suggested goal)

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? i want to say brodia!

How do you pronounce TOA? 🤔 toh-ah

Current TOA muses: just knoll <3

Past TOA muses? robin, niles, almedha, reyson, hardin, iago, perceval, lachesis (i think that's all?)

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? my first muse was m!robin and thankfully i am spared any temptation on picking him up as he is currently being written.

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? (If you filled this out last year, has this changed in any way?) i'm kind of all over the place, aren't i? i like characters where i can poke at hidden depths but ones who aren't too closely guarded. i like characters who are shy, withdrawn, standoffish, guarded, etc. in some way but who open up when spoken to. i don't think this has changed since last year, i've been writing for a long time and kind of know my comfort zone.

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? boisterous/loud and over the top characters always challenge me, but i've never really managed to make them work, which is a shame because i tend to enjoy lively characters!

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? (If you filled this out last year, has this changed in any way?) -i love writing threads where setting/scenery is a focus, where i get to sort of use the landscape as a bit more than set-dressing - i enjoy throwing my muse at characters who mistrust him for whatever reason, and like to explore the kind of slow, mutual understanding that comes from two people getting to know one another - i really just like putting him in situations in general, forcing him to socialize—he's a very withdrawn character so any excuse to have him meet new people is very enjoyable

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”? nothing specific! i have kind of an arc for him but it's loosely-defined right now

Favorite TOA-related memories? HAPPYLAND WAS SO MUCH FUN. sincerely i loved the interactions he had there <3

Present or past tense? i default to present, but adapt to what my partner prefers on this!

Normal size text, small text, no preference? small text, bolded dialogue. just easier for my eyes to take it in that way.

Got any potential muse delusions to share? 😉 oh gosh. i recently had to go down to just one muse because my health is not so good, but i will admit i already have a few delusions. if i can get myself back to a spot where i feel like i can write a second, someone may return.

[elvenbeard]

Hold on tight to yourself, not just anyone else When you've sailed to the edge, nowhere left to go

I've talked about my experimental light and water shooting in last week's wip wednesday, and I'm here to finally share some fave pics xD I have more, and I might post some on a separate occasion or just use them for OC ask stuff where they fit, we'll see!!

Vince is someone who often asks himself where his place in the universe is, even more so growing up, but the doubts keep creeping in again now and then regardless of how much more confident he is now in his own abilities and goals. I kind of wanted to capture this feeling of being lost, just floating for a while as you try to figure things out here... and play with light and color.

I didn't really take any behind the scenes pics for this (I should really start doing that) but I made some shitty sketches just now with my mouse cause I mentioned I wanted to illustrate how I did this xD Also for my personal reference, cause I wanna do something similar, slightly different for another project in the future!!

Very simply, this was the setup xD I used Denny's pool as location, mainly because it was the first that came to mind, had a decent size, and I wanted to do some stuff there anyway xD I think you could pull this off in any other pool or body of water just as well. Originally I wanted to keep the normal pool background, but then I spawned in a black wall from the photostudio props to block out the sunlight and get a darker backdrop, and I really liked that!!

I had three customizable point lights spawned, a red one below V, a purple and greenish one above him - I don't remember the exact placements, I mainly just wanted a nice color contrast and I like those colors and played around with where I put them!

Something like this!

Now, the ripple effect of the water...... I had V spawned in via AMM, and so Player!V was also still there in the scne, so I just ran around his spawned self a little bit to create the splashes xD And voila!

I always take my pics just in in good old vanilla photomode, and at first I had pathtracing on for it (raytracing is also on). And I did like that as well, but look at these unedited pics:

The reflections look a lot more natural and detailed, but are also waaaayyy less colorful. So if you wanna go for a more realistic approach that might be the better option! Everything else is the same, lights, backdrop, etc.

These are some unedited shots with pathtracing off (raytracing still on):

The lights kind of create this oil-spill like effect on the water and I loooove that so much!! Also, the red light from below was reflected in his eyes in a really cool way somehow (less realistic, but very aesthetic xD)

So yeah! If your graphics card can handle it, mess with all the ray/pathtracing settings a bit for a variety of effects xD

Also, all my pics are usually heavily edited in case you couldn't tell XD I love vanilla photomode for its convenience, but it has its limits when it comes to color adjustments, depth of field, and the like!

Same shot, unedited above, edited below. Played with color balance, saturation, sharpness, and in some of the pics some slight motion blur, too. I also shopped in his top surgery scars cause I didn't get around to trying to make them as a mod yet but it's on my list XD For more of them artsy pics with consistent looking scars!

Thanks for reading this far, I do hope it was interesting and you can take something away from it for your VP XD

[poorvikasmartgadgets]

Vivo V40 Pro: The Ultimate Professional-Grade Smartphone

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The New Vivo V40 Pro smartphone has a professional-grade tool designed for those who demand the best. With its cutting-edge camera system, sleek design, robust performance, and advanced AI features, the V40 Pro is set to redefine the standards of mobile technology. Whether you're capturing stunning photos, enjoying immersive media, or staying connected on the go, the Vivo V40 Pro is the perfect companion for the modern professional.

[kajinovaa]

Hey, can you tell us what drawing tablet you use?👀👀👀 Your art I can say looks delicious, I love how you draw teeth and expressions so vividly 😤😤

tytyyyyy~ ✨️✨️✨️ and of course i can tell you! i'll even tell you what programs i use for an added bonus :> im not at all fancy with mt equipment, i prefer the smaller stuff idk why

TABLETS

XP Pen Deco 02 (primary), $79.99 USD - my main girl in the current scene, and i won't lie about growing fond of it! my fav feature about it is the plentiful of express buttons on it (6) and the dial that allows me to adjust my brush's size on the spot without haven't to tap onto the art program's icons by hand ✨️ plus the pen itself feels like rigid material and shape, #2 pencil typebeat, really good for heavy-handed artists

Huion HS64 (NOT IN USE), $35.99 USD - this one is in the storage due to the fact i accidentally damaged the pen so i need to buy a new one and haven't gotten around that. this is THE tablet i would recommend to beginner artists. wacom is good too, but the cost isn't beginner friendly, plus the stylus sensitivity is just as good, if not better than wacom's. also, wacom drivers can be so fucky at times, and i have yet to encounter something with huion's

PROGRAMS

Paint Tool Sai (primary) - my absolute default in anything i start. simple layout, simple tool setting adjustments, super duper beginner friendly, and it's ultra light on your system's resources. also, the brush engine???? sweet fucking jesus, i have yet to find a lineart brush in Clip Studio Paint that can match the smoothness and clean lines that Sai offers, and i've been running with Clip for like 7 or so years now. i don't know how or why, Sai's line brushes are superior in my opinion

Clip Studio Paint - you've probably already heard of this one. i do use it when i want some texture to my lines, or some shortcut brushes like foliage and clouds. my primary usage nowadays is tone adjustments and effects

HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR PROGRAMS

Paint Tool Sai v.2 - sometimes i feel messing around in it cuz it handles stabilization a little differently, and the program itself is closer to the current programs out on the market, like CSP/PS/etc. it's a great middleman when you wanna transition from Sai v.1 to CSP! plus i've seen that the interface is totally customizable through a mod somewhere

Magma - bro, this... this one might be an underdog and it's why i'm mentioning it in this list. it's COMPLETELY free, browser-based, and i swear to you that if you manage to fuck around with the brush settings enough, they're so damn smooth and nearly behave like CSP's. please give it a look into if you haven't yet and you're looking for a light alternative. also, fair warning, use opera/opera gx as your browser for it. for some reason chrome/firefox give it horrible lag and it won't feel as smooth with your strokes. ALSO A BONUS TO THIS: YOU CAN COLLAB ON THE SAME CANVAS AS YOUR FRIENDS AAAAAAA

hope that helps!!!

[cymlea]

BMW has overhauled its R nineT platform and added an affordable new R 12 cruiser to the range

BMW introduces the upgraded R 12 nineT roadster and the all-new R 12 cruiser, sharing the R 12 platform but drawing inspiration from the larger R 18 relative. Set to hit Australian roads in the first quarter of 2024, the R 12 cruiser comes with a starting price of $20,210 (plus on-road costs), while the R 12 nineT roadster is priced from $23,990 (plus on-road costs).

Both motorcycles are equipped with BMW's renowned 1170cc air/oil-cooled Boxer twin engine, showcasing a fresh frame design and advanced technology. Building on the legacy of the original R nineT released in 2013, the new R 12 platform features a one-piece tubular bridge steel spaceframe with a bolted-on rear frame, reducing weight and enhancing the chassis's simplicity and aesthetics.

Introducing round analogue gauges for speed and RPM (optional tachometer for the R 12 cruiser), the platform also offers a digital TFT display as an ex-works option. Ride modes (Rain, Road, Dynamic for the R12 nineT and Rock and Roll for the R 12), ABS Pro, dynamic traction control, drag torque control, USB-C and 12 V sockets, keyless ignition, and LED lighting are standard features.

The engine boasts a new integrated airbox under the seat, delivering 80kW and 115Nm for the R 12 nineT, and 70kW and 110Nm for the R 12 cruiser. Suspension is managed by upside-down telescopic forks at the front and a Paralever swinging arm with a rear spring strut at the back, with the R 12 nineT's fork being fully adjustable.

The braking system includes radially mounted 4-piston monobloc brake calipers, steel flex brake lines, and floating 310mm discs. Each model offers three paint schemes, along with a variety of optional extras and features, providing riders with a customizable and powerful riding experience.

[expatesque]

Oooo if you’re open to helping us shop please help me find my wedding dress (big ask)? I feel like I’ve tried on every dress in London and am about to give up! I’m not tied to it being white (blue? metallic?) I just want it to feel special enough that I don’t look like my own guest, but not a full meringue moment because there’s only going to be 15 people total. Vibe is casual Saturday afternoon picnic in the park and drinks at our local afterwards, my budget is £2k!

Sorry I should have added that I’m super short so midis tend to fit better, maxi not really my vibe and I’m worried it might feel too formal for the picnic!

Oh my god this is my dream task. First off - congratulations! Sounds like it's going to be a beautiful wedding. Okay so I've got a few thoughts first before we dive in: (1) You can get anything shortened - I'm also relatively short (well, actually I have long torso and short legs, but works out the same) so 90% of my bottoms are tailored. And what better time to invest in some good tailoring than your wedding! Assuming the dress isn't beaded / heavy on appliques, it's usually<£30 to have something shortened, and it's the same price to have something taken up half an inch vs taken up a foot, to make a maxi tea length. So I'm going to recommend a few things that are longer but know that I always mean you should have them shortened if you want. (2) Have you thought about a veil? I just think it's the easiest, most obvious way to say 'Wedding!' but still keep things cool. Personally I love a birdcage moment but I'm also partial to a short veil, particularly if you get something meaningful embroidered on it (this one is fully customizable and I love the look of the phrase running down the side).

Okay now that we've done that, some thoughts: Rixo makes cute, special but low key dresses. For a city wedding feel, I love the shorter ones (60s vibes! This CAPE) but there's loads of cute options (remember, you can have the longer ones taken up!). They're also v affordable which is always nice.

On the less classically bridal end of the spectrum, we have La Double J who go big on color and pattern. Again, I'd consider adding a veil (maybe in a fun color?!) to feel more bridal. I'm not sure your body shape but this top and skirt combo! With a pale blue veil?! Come on. They also do have more classic bridal pieces as well. There's also Zimmerman - flirty and flouncy, their dresses have pure romantic vibes. Something like this could definitely read bridal (+ a birdcage viel and a little shrug maybe?). If you're not put off by black (again, veil and accessories can help) then this is to die for and super re-wearable. Or embrace the chill vibes and go yellow! They have loads of great options.

I'm sure you already know this but just in case: Reformation does bridal. Like their normal dresses, the options skew towards people with model proportions but they've got some gorgeous ones - love this minimal take. I'd also recommend Wolf & Badger again. Do you want to be a hot and cool minimalist? A sea foam mermaid? (I'd personally have the slits closed a bit and the whole thing taken up but that's me). A ball of spring flowers? The Badge has you covered.

And then of course, a net a porter troll. Are you a disco queen? The most elegant woman alive? (Prob not best for the park, but def could work for a pub). A garden fairy? A jumpsuit (!) babe? A queen of less is more? (maybe with tulle gloves!) A column queen? (I'd style with blue shoes that match, I have this pair from Ferragamo that I love).

Again for lots of these I think accessories are key. You add a veil, a glove (consider short too!), a white shoe and all the sudden, bang it's clearly bridal. I hope some of that is helpful, and good luck!

(okay also you did not ask about this but just a thought: you can get really beautiful, affordable, old embroidered white table clothes fairly easily online and at antique shops. How gorgeous would your wedding picnic be on all white 'blankets'? Maybe with something waterproof underneath because, London).

[wauzmons]

Upcoming Stuff

Joints in V 0.3.1

Version 0.3.1 of Elysian Eclipse is almost finished! The final of the 20 new parts is going to be a tail with customizable joints - a long awaited feature! I'm aiming to release the update this Sunday, together with a short video, showcasing the joints.

New Biomes

The previously showcased "Sandy Shallows" biome will be included in the update too. I've also worked on the "Skeleton Plains" biome, at the bottom of aquatic stage, which will be the darkest place in the game. However I'm not comfortable with showing it in its current state, so it will be moved to a later update instead.

Part Upgrades

I had initially planned to add a tree for part upgrades to the editor. However this caused too much clutter.

Instead we will have linear part tiers. These will be presented with a row of buttons in the editor and will be labelled with roman numerals (Tier I, Tier II etc.). When hovering over the buttons, you will see the changes in stats and DNA cost, that come with each tier.

For example a Tier I fin would cost 3 DNA and give you 4 swimming speed, while a Tier II fin would cost 6 DNA and give you 8 swimming speed. All tiers will be available for all parts within a category, so they are all equally good when fully upgraded and you can choose the one, that looks the best on your creature.

For non-stat traits, like the different diets that a mouth gives you, we will probably have a checklist or dropdown instead, but this isn't fully planned out yet. These systems will be implemented once unlocking parts and assigning skills is possible in Cell Stage, which will be the focus of Version 0.3.2.

[boredtechnologist]

"Gradius" was originally titled "Nemesis" in some regions, but it’s best known by its Japanese title. The game introduced players to the starfighter Vic Viper, which became an iconic vessel in the world of SHMUPs. The game’s story is relatively simple, as was typical of the time: players are tasked with piloting the Vic Viper through various stages to defeat the evil Bacterion Empire.

One of the game's most groundbreaking features was its "power-up" system, which allowed players to collect capsules from defeated enemies to enhance their ship's abilities. Instead of automatically granting specific upgrades, players could choose which enhancement to activate from a power-up bar at the bottom of the screen. This system added a strategic layer to the gameplay, allowing players to adapt to different situations by selecting speed boosts, missiles, lasers, shields, and more.

"Gradius" was not the first shoot 'em up, but it significantly shaped the genre's direction. Its side-scrolling format and innovative power-up system set a new standard for SHMUPs. It also introduced the concept of a "Boss Rush" stage, where players had to face a series of powerful bosses, a format that became a staple in many subsequent games.

The game's success led to multiple sequels, spin-offs, and ports to various home consoles, solidifying its place in video game history. Some of the most notable sequels include "Gradius II" (1988), "Gradius III" (1989), and "Gradius V" (2004), each building on the original's foundation while introducing new gameplay mechanics and challenges.

"Gradius" is often cited as a progenitor of the "bullet hell" subgenre, which would become popular in the 1990s. While "Gradius" itself wasn’t a bullet hell game, its focus on precise dodging and memorizing enemy patterns laid the groundwork for more intense and intricate SHMUPs that followed.

The Vic Viper has appeared in numerous other Konami games, making cameo appearances in titles like "Parodius" (a parody SHMUP series), "Zone of the Enders," and even "Castlevania." The influence of "Gradius" extends beyond the SHMUP genre, as its mechanics and design philosophy have inspired developers in various fields.

"Gradius" is more than just a classic SHMUP; it’s a cornerstone of video game history. Its introduction of a customizable power-up system, challenging gameplay, and memorable design elements helped define the genre and inspired countless games that followed. The series remains a beloved part of Konami's legacy and continues to be celebrated by fans of retro gaming and shoot 'em ups alike.

[duckprintspress]

Round Table: What Software Do You Find Helpful for Your Writing Process?

We asked our authors what software helps them write - and got a range of answers! 

Contributors: Adrian Harley, B. T. Fish, D. V. Morse, not-gwaenchanha, theirprofoundbond, Tris Lawrence, unforth

*

Discord 

Tris Lawrence: Lately Discord is becoming critical because that's how I'm making notes for my series bible with a combination of private folders and channels to split out information

(B. T. Fish +1, unforth +1)

Evernote

not-gwaenchanha: I use Evernote for all the ideas, makes them easy to sort. One notebook (or even a notebook stack) per WIP. It lets you interlink notes, use tags to sort stuff. It also has a webclipper browser extension which lets you copy websites or parts of them straight into the notebook which is super helpful for research. Free version can be used on two devices.

Image from the Evernote website...they didn't have anything writing-related, apologies.

Google Suite (G Docs, G Sheets, G Keep)

Hermit: Gdoc for me because my writing tends to happen on my couch/at the coffee shop and thus on my phone a lot (I am totally the person who brings a wireless mechanical keyboard to the coffee shop). I also make use of Google Keep for research notes. And a notebook with some frixion pens.

D. V. Morse: At the moment, I'm tracking things in Google Sheets, which is great (except there's a lot of functionality from Trello that I'm missing).

not-gwaenchanha: I use gDocs to write, mainly because I don't have to worry I'll lose everything if technology decides it hates me, but it also allows me to write from my phone and easily share with my beta. Google keep is where all the "darlings" go when I kill them a.k.a scraps of text that are good but don't fit. It's got a nice integration with google docs, you can send stuff there straight from the doc from the context menu and then move all the scraps into one "scraps" doc 

(unforth +1, theirprofoundbond +1, Adrian Harley +1)

Microsoft Word

Adrian Harley: I have been using the same laptop since 2012, and when the hard drive gave out in 2020, my independent computer repair shop was kind enough to reinstall the 2010 versions of Microsoft Office so I didn't have to pay a subscription for them. It's what I'm used to. The "styles" function lets me find chapters easily, and it's easy for me to leave comments for myself when I see an issue and don't want to resolve it right at that moment. I think the free Microsoft Word, whatever they're calling it, has those basic features too, though I'm not positive.

(unforth +1)

Miro (formerly RealTimeBoard) 

not-gwaenchanha: it’s an endless white board. Great for visual plotting. You can put in sticky notes, tables etc. I also like to upload images to it to make a private moodboard for the story.

Image is from the Miro website.

Notes App (IOS, Android)

Adrian Harley: I prefer to use the Notes app on the go. It's just as easy as Google Drive, it doesn't freak out if I'm not connected to the internet, and I have to copy and paste the text from any portable software to my document record of choice anyway. 

(B. T. Fish +1, unforth +1)

Notion

theirprofoundbond: There is a desktop version and an app, with syncing between both. You can use it for writing but I prefer Google Docs for that. Instead, I've built myself a wiki, basically. My "Writing HQ" contains: current editing projects; word count table to track my daily word counts; gallery of my WIPs, which is pretty and motivating, and each "card" contains metadata and promotional info for each project; calendar for my posting schedule; and a gallery of completed work. Notion is incredibly customizeable with great documentation to help you get your head around all the possibilities. It'd be a great home for a worldbuilding bible, too, I think!

(B. T. Fish +1)

Scrivener

unforth: I use Scrivener for organizing my notes and research, its flashcard system is great for that.

Tris Lawrence: I live and die by a combination of Scrivener and Sprinting. Scrivener was the first piece of software I found that works the way my brain works, from the scrap documents to writing in the margins to index cards, and being able to organize it roughly but have it export pretty when I need it.

D. V. Morse: The main software I use is Scrivener, right up until it's time for critique/beta reading. Then everything goes into GDocs. I've experimented with mind-mapping apps with variable results.

Adrian Harley: Scrivener was incredibly helpful for my novella when I decided to turn it into a novel. It let me keep track of different drafts by chapter, so I could note which versions my writing group had already looked at. It also was easy to add in the "flashback" narrative that I've interspersed throughout the book.

Image from the Scrivener website.

SmartEdit Writer (formerly Atomic Scribbler)

B. T. Fish: It's a free word processor that has all the functions of Scrivener that I need and none of the confusing extras, is default dark mode, tracks my word count by scene and by entire project, and allows me to document and organize my writing projects from one-shots to novel length works. I use Discord for collaboration and have occasionally used Notion to organize writing prompts and story bible information, but most of that I also keep in Smart Edit, so it ends up being a bit redundant.

Image from the SmartEdit Writer website.

Spotify and Pandora:

not-gwaenchanha: because music helps my brain switch into the writing mode

unforth: I definitely use Pandora, music helps a lot

(theirprofoundbond +1)

Sprinto

Tris Lawrence: I cannot survive without a timer somewhere, because that's how I can force myself to focus in 20-30 minute spaces. 

StayFocusd

unforth: it's an extension that shuts off internet access for a specified amount of time, and it helped me not get distracted by All The Social Media. (I don’t use Chrome anymore, but when I did…)

@/porcupine-girl chimed in from the comments to mention that Leechblock is a similar extension for Firefox!

Trello

D. V. Morse: I've always loved Trello for organizing workflow and really need to get on that again. 

Tris Lawrence’s Word Tracking Spreadsheet

Adrian Harley: I have also tried a bunch of different software to track word count, because Number Go Up makes my brain happy. Can I recommend Tris's spreadsheet? That got me through a few months.

Tris Lawrence: I am slightly laughing that I didn't call out my own tracking spreadsheet. Probably because I've been SO focused on notes lately that I haven't gotten new words in uhhhh months. But obviously, yes, when writing I live and die by that as well! I love my charts. I loved the charts on the old NaNo site and wanted them year round. I wanted to be able to set goals and see how I was doing. I wanted to do comparisons. I wanted to see writing across weeks, months, and years, and it helped me learn that zero days and fluctuation were OKAY.

Image from Tris's 2022 spreadsheet blog post

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What is your favorite software to use to help you write? We'd love to hear from you!

Have a question for us? Drop us an ask anytime!

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Note that none of these comments should be interpreted as Duck Prints Press endorsing these products.