#code breakdown

[roddity]

breakbee :D

[zqnl]

enjolras shoots him a fond look ONCE and r immediately breaks down, paints a mural on the floor, then breaks down again

also side note look at r's shirt . once again pushing my gang of youths agenda

this has literally been a wip for s o long (by wip i mean i had a rough comp from essentially scrapbooking 2 refs) but finally got around to actually painting over it

[jinikaris]

HYUNJIN | SKZ CODE EP. 66: TRAVEL LOG #4 AUSTRALIA ♡

[lui-the-cute-snek]

Forehead reveal

[zorlok-if]

would love to hear more about your process! i also have insane adhd brain but i Hate coding and im always like how do i unlock the forbidden enjoyable coding experience..

Well then, welcome behind the curtain! (Sorry, it's a fucking mess back here.) Can't promise that this is a magical coding panacea, but it's what helps/works for me. 😊

An Exploration of How Albie Codes:

So, for my particular flavor of ADHD brain, my biggest issue when coding is keeping track of my variables. Gods, I love a variable, but I'll quickly and easily lose track of what I called my variables, where I called them, why I called them, and what I intended to do with them after calling them. My brain also tends to jump between hobbies/special interests/projects. Between that and a busy job, I might leave code unattended for a while. When I come back, I have to make sense of what schemes my brain concocted.

So, to help with these things, I have one spreadsheet per game where I track every variable that I set. That isn't hyperbole. For every single variable I track what I called it, where I set it (especially if it can be in multiple places), every value it can have, and what I intended to do/signify with it. I'll go into detail about this spreadsheet below and share a template version later. First, I'll explain my usage of objects and arrays (because they feature heavily in my spreadsheets).

When I started coding IF, I'd just set a bunch of unique variables. To cut down on variable/system bloat and keep myself more organized, I devised a system reliant upon objects and arrays.

Object variables—if you don't know—are variables that can have numerous properties (so, in effect, it's variable inception). Each main character and section of the story gets its own object variable ($dev, $dog, $har, $pro, $ep1, etc.). The rest of the cast's info is held in one object ($x, which breaks down into properties like $x.elena, $x.jin, $x.sally, etc.). This means that almost all non-object variables are temporary. So, when I'm testing, if I see that a temp variable is active, I know it needs to be unset or that data needs stored in an object. Like, if $brokeArm is true, I'll do $pro.mem.push("brokeArm"), unset $brokeArm. This stores a memory of the fact that Z broke their arm in the prologue-memory object and eliminates that unique variable.

To demonstrate, in Zorlok the MC's data is all stored in the $z object. Tommy's is stored in the $tom object. This is what they look like in the StoryInit passage (notably, with extensive notes in the Tommy one, I leave a lot of notes for myself in my code):

So, when I'm writing about Zorlok, I'll type $z.they and that will print Zorlok's subject pronoun. If I want to know if Tommy believes in God or not, I can say <<if $tom.thinks.includes("realGod")>>God's real, folks.<<else>>God is a lie.<</if>>

This gets into my next main strategy: Arrays. I use arrays to store collections of data instead of having a bunch of unique variables.

The hellhound's unique stats? $dog.tags (values can include: mammal, fly, teeth, bite, scary, cute, fluffy, etc.)

The things that happened in the prologue? $pro.mem (values can include: tomPassive, claraHair, noTea, believedHar, gotSlimed, demonAttack, etc.)

The information that Zorlok has unlocked? $unlock.info (values can include: vesselTerm, noEatSleep, hellBroken, cannotDie, susDemManip, susKilledVessel, etc.)

This is a lot to keep track of, and it would be impossible to keep track of without my spreadsheet (aka, my beloved). Forewarning, these are a real chore to setup if you are trying to create one for a story you're already working on, but they are so helpful! I genuinely don't know what I'd do without it. If you are working on a big Twine game, you don't have to follow my method, but I promise that keeping track of your variables in some way will make your life so much easier when coding.

This is what my spreadsheet looks like:

This is the sheet tracking my StoryInit values. You'll see that I have a column for what the variable is called, what type of variable it is (not really necessary, but I do it anyway), all the values it can have, and the purpose of that variable. For variables with really expansive values, you'll see that I have links to other sheets within this spreadsheet that go into further detail. Now this is the sheet that tracks all of my prologue variables:

Here I track the variable, the type of variable, whether it's permanent of temporary (with temporary ones highlighted in yellow), the values it can have, the meaning, where it first appears, and where it's unset. In this sheet you can also see one of my favorite temp variables, $react, make an appearance. $react is quite simply for temporary reactions. It can hold any number of values but it normally doesn't last or stay the same over multiple passages. This is how I do a lot of flavor text/minor choices (though sometimes the link that will set which reaction the game shows on the next passage will also push a memory into the prologue array, in those cases it's cause not all of the choices have lasting consequences/impressions).

Now, what you may have been waiting for, how do I do character customization? Objects and arrays, you are correct. Let's take a look.

Oh, do my eyes deceive me, $z.hair? Is that an object within an object? Indeed, it is. The chaos grows (as it always must). It isn't really necessary for me to do objects within objects (within objects, in some cases). I could use individual properties like $z.hairStyle instead of $z.hair.style, but having the $z.hair object helps me keep it more organized in my head.

Anyways, you can see just how minutely I have tracked every value, and (in the cases of integers) what the integer values indicate. By doing them as integers, it allows me to do things like <<if $z.height gt 3>>You duck as you enter the room. <</if>> or <<if $z.str gte 1>>The door gives way.<<else>>The door holds fast.<</if>>

By having multiple arrays for things like prosthetics and gender affirming procedures, it allows me to easily check what prosthetics or procedures the vessel has, <<if $z.prost.includes('ra') or $z.prost.includes('la')>>, but then I can print the prosthetic without having to write it out or do extra coding. <<print $z.prosthetic[0]>>.

Now, remember how I mentioned the $dog.tags? Let me show you how I keep track of something like that (this is stored in the Hellhound Information sheet):

So, if I want to know if the Hellhound can fly, I can just go <<if $dog.tags.includes("fly")>>. If I want to know if people are gonna react to it in a significant way, I can go <<if $dog.tags.includes("cute")>>"Aw, $dog.name is adorable! I love <<print $dog.breedName>>s."<<elseif $dog.tags.includes("scary")>>"Shit, seriously?! That's your //pet?// You have a pet //$dog.breedName?"//<<else>>"Oh. Cool."<</if>>

The way I see it, this is the simplest way to do all this stuff. It's just a matter of keeping track of it and keeping my records up to date (which has become habit at this point, I never have Twine up without having my spreadsheet up).

Here are some other notable sheets:

With the $pro.mem values in that third screenshot, this is the main way that I keep track of what happens in the prologue. If I want to know how Tommy reacted to Harlow and entered the summoning scene, I just go <<if $pro.mem.includes("leftSure")>>Tommy believed Harlow and knows that the ritual is going to work.<<elseif $pro.mem.includes("leftUnsure")>>Tommy isn't sure whether this ritual is going to work.<<else>>Tommy and Harlow didn't part on good terms, but he's going to give this nonsensical "ritual" a try.<</if>>

That's all I can think to say right now. I hope all of this makes sense. If you'd like to know more/if I haven't explained something well, let me know. Like I said, I'll share a template version of my variable tracking spreadsheet in a reblog, so look out for that! 😊

[starcurtain]

So with Phaidei being basically married what are your overall thoughts on them?

Give me a little bit; I'M COOKING.

[romidoes]

and, oh, we started

two hearts in one home

it’s hard when we argue

we’re both stubborn, i know

but oh, sweet creature

whenever i go

you bring me home.

[yeetyoteartz]

I need to see bee going thru his Olivia Rodrigo phase after the break up cuz the show did not elaborate enough after that like bee would just be okie dokie after his mans left him

[s1lv3rp4w3dc4t]

shout out object shows with canon queer ships. I'm talking on screen kiss or even just verbal confirmation. all things considered it's a bit strange you don't really see them that much when you think about how gay everyone here is. I love you ii but c2bc did what you didn't and I think that's actually really nice.

[blueskyscribe]

Here is how easy it would have been to fix the "Breakdown rejects Bumblebee's friendship / relationship" episode:

Show Frenzy refusing to follow Soundwave's orders (which would pick up the Season 1 plot thread of Frenzy saying "We don't have to follow him anymore") and running wild. Soundwave is so overworked by Shockwave that he can't do much about it.

Breakdown makes the deal with Bumblebee to sneak out to freedom, but on the way to the meeting point he keeps having to go on sidequests to save Frenzy from herself. Like he sees her about to zoom down a steep slope on a cyber-skateboard and narrowly whisks her out of mid-air before she slams into a solid cliff face. Then he sees her about to dive into a "swimming hole" because she ignored that there's industrial strength acid dripping into it that would dissolve her. And so on.

And by the time he reaches Bumblebee he's like "I have to stay with the Decepticons so this dumb kid doesn't get herself killed." And Bumblebee is upset, but understands.

(I would cut out all the crap about racing with the comic book held hostage, sorry but that was so stupid. Maybe there's a 'race' of sorts to save Frenzy from her latest stunt and Bee helps and outspeeds Breakdown . . . I think the only narrative point of the race was to introduce bots getting super-charged by Chaos Lightning.)

Hell, maybe you could even work in something about Breakdown feeling sad that the Chaos Terrans are dead, like he feels like he could have prevented it if he was more involved with them.

It could end with Breakdown returning to Soundwave and telling him that he can come to Breakdown if he needs to share his workload so that he can keep a better eye on Frenzy, and there could be a line like "After all, we Decepticons have to watch out for each other. 'Cause who else will?"

[strewwwberry]

Random take:

Shen yuans hate for airplane did a full 360 circle back on its self that now he (begrudgingly) loves him

You choose if that's platonic or not (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)

[fatedroses]

Seventy years ago, the Republic of Garlemald saw the rise of a young upstart soldier, a mercenary liaison who became well known for personally leading his chosen company into battle with him at the fore.

The Black Blade's methods were controversial, willingly accepting and utilizing the very magicks his countrymen would sell their souls for or shunned entirely. And where many companies were motivated by the gain or the pay the republic's army could spare, Atticus' tight knit squad stuck by him through thick and thin for the home and sense of belonging he gave, and they offered their power to him in turn.

Even as darkness and the void set their sights on him, even losing everything he loved and knew, he had his company. And for them, he would fight to be the warmth of hope they needed through the eternal winter they all called home.

[faramirsonofgondor]

I think there’s a gay Hollywood ghost that possesses middle aged male actors and makes their characters super mega queer cause the amount of times where an actor is just like “nah I didn’t play him gay.” and then later they’re like “yea I rewatched this and it’s somehow gay, idk what happened guys.” is astronomical??? Like fym you didn’t intend for him to be queer yet you stared longingly into your male costars eyes for an unreasonable amount of time and every time you touched the contact between you lingered unnecessarily??? what do you mean you stared your male costar in the face and flirted, like straight up insinuated you wanted to do the nasty with him (maybe not in so many words, but the insinuation was THERE and CLEAR), without even a hint of a joking tone in your voice????

W H A T ??????

BUT YOU STILL SAY ITS NOT GAY???? BRO IM PRETTY SURE GAY PORN ISN'T EVEN THIS GAY??? YOUR CHARACTERS CONSTANTLY RISK THEIR LIVES FOR EACH OTHER, THEY'RE DEVASTATED BY THE IDEA THAT THE OTHER MIGHT BE DEAD, ALL OF THEIR ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS CRUMBLE TO PIECES BUT THEY ALWAYS STICK WITH EACH OTHER, THEY COPARENT TOGETHER, OTHER CHARACTERS MAKE REMARKS/ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THEM BEING IN LOVE/TOGETHER, THEY WORE MATCHING COSTUMES TOGETHER, THEY'RE GLUED TO THE HIP BUT WHEN THEY ARGUE ITS TO A DEVASTATING DEGREE - LIKE FULL ON NASTY, MAKING THEIR FRIENDS CHOOSE SIDES DIVORCE TYPE SHIT - AND ONE OF THEM HAS FUCKING RELIGIOUS TRAUMA???? LIKE DO NOT PLAY WITH ME SIR THEY ARE GAY FOR EACH OTHER, THEY WERE WRITTEN THAT WAY AND YOU SURE AS HELL PLAYED IT THAT WAY OTHERWISE SOMETHING ELSE DID (THE GAY GHOST).

(Sorry I lost control of this post the queer gods possessed me for a second to express their outrage.)

But yea so a gay ghost might be possessing these guys cause idk why else they wouldn't remember playing their super mega queer character as queer.

[millionsknives]

i spent my tumblr hiatus doing the things that really matter in life (making 35 trigun stampede text post memes) [1/2]

[galactic-rhea]

Did you have any foreknowledge that Anakin would become Darth Vader? I feel like even if you had Revenge of the Sith must have been quite an experience

Lmao I didn't know that until I came across this gif here in tumblr:

'oh damn'

That said, because of that gif, I did know he was going to be one of the most iconic and recognizeable villains of cinema by the time I started to watch the movies. But, my knowledge of what would happen was very, very narrow, I was very in the dark about it lol

Is easier to point out the things that I knew when starting the movies than the ones I didn't:

-He would lose his limbs (I did not know how, I didn't know he literally burned. And I only knew that he loses his limbs because my partner )

-He kills kids (and that I knew just because a meme that my hubby had to explain to me, but I didn't know the circumstances. In fact, what I pictured was much worse LOL)

-He kills(? Padmé (I asked my hubby if he and Padmé divorced, and he just decided to throw that spoiler at me like "no, he kills her accidentally" without further context and I was like...oh woah okay...I...generally don't like villains that kill their wives but i'll still check that out)

-Samuel L. Jackson is in these movies! :D

-HE IS LUKE'S FATHER OMG OMG AND IS TWINS OMG LEIA?? ...Wait don't Leia and Luke kiss- Oh okay

And sufficient to say: ROTS still destroyed me emotionally, what a trip. But I had a blast watching these movies, and it was also a blast watching the Original Trilogy after that! I was so, so stunned about the end of ROTJ, because seriously I always thought Luke kills Vader even when my interest on SW was below zero.

And no, I still don't know how at 24 i managed to know so little about Star Wars SJNKJNSDF

What I thought would happen in these movies was that my guy here was going to be just this cool merciless villain from about the get-go and we would just met him as an adult already. Like, he would be this dark jedi working by himself ruining the order from the inside, going into murders on weekends and blame someone else for fun, the war would be his doing, and being creepy towards everyone included his wife was probably his hobby, idk, you get it, your basic 'cool lonely villain', like maybe a Sauron of sorts.

And then George Lucas tackled me with... this

Hey, I'm not complaining.

My hiperfixation on Anakin and Star Wars helped me a lot with my depression, truth be told!

[darkhoneybrowneyes]

I love love love people who talk during movies/shows!!! Oh, you have a theory about what is going to happen?! You want to do a character breakdown?! Please do!!! I can read subtitles and listen to you ranting at the same time!!! Better yet, let's pause the movie!!! You hate this character, why do you hate them?! You love this character, why do you love them?! Tell me!!! I don't tend to rewatch movies/shows but I will if you want to watch it with me and tell me what you think about it!!! You think this show is boring?! Tell me why?! How would you make it better?! You love this show?! Tell me why!! I want to know!!! (This rant may have been inspired by me reading @respectthepetty part-by-part reaction to LITA's prapaisky. Whoops. 😂)