#developer tab in Excel

[winterdaphne2]

Favorite Johnlock Fics (BBC Sherlock)

I went on a bit of a fic-reading spree this spring, and this list of favorites is the result! There are many other fics that I’ve enjoyed reading, but these are the ones that I’ve really loved for one reason or another.

I’ve tagged the authors whose tumblrs I could find. If that’s you, thank you so much for sharing your writing with us. If your work is on here, you wrote something that I really treasure.

1. A River Without Banks, by Chryse. E, 203,286 words. Starts right after Season 3. A mix of Sherlock’s perspective, John’s perspective, and the perspectives of other characters. Sherlock-focused for the first half.

Author’s summary: “‘You love this, being Sherlock Holmes.’ He had once. When had it all gone so wrong?”

This is my absolute favorite. The author’s characterization of Sherlock is amazingly accurate, and Sherlock’s character development over the course of the story is breathtakingly executed and moving. The plot is fantastic and takes you on a page-turning emotional roller coaster, especially for about the first half of the story. I was also continually impressed by how many details from the show and references to earlier parts of the fic the author was able to weave in throughout while still keeping the story creative and original. Most importantly, though, I love this fic for the message that it sends about Sherlock and John’s love, which is a far more positive message than the one that the actual show settled upon in the end. I’m grateful that we have this version of their love story, and, personally, I like to pretend that this was Season 4 and how the show ended.

2. Another Country, by Chryse. E, 67,414 words. Starts right after the end of TAB. Sherlock’s perspective.

Sherlock spends one month and three days under house arrest in 221B, trying to get clean from the drugs, track down the new Moriarty, and figure out what the hell is going on between him and John.

Another fantastic work by Chryse. This author really gets Sherlock’s character, and once again the characterization of Sherlock is spot-on and convincing. There are a few other elements that also make this a compelling story, including smart use of minor characters, a solid central mystery, and a complicated relationship between Sherlock and John that includes a pretty convincing post-Season-3 version of John. Excellent.

3. walk through ghosts, by @augustbird. M, 6,125 words. Written between Seasons 2 and 3. Sherlock’s perspective.

Author’s summary: “The thing is: Sherlock thought that the two of them would have forever to figure it out.”

This is the saddest fic I have ever read, and so beautifully written. The author captures Season 2 Sherlock’s character perfectly; the fact that this story feels so real is what makes it devastating. The day after I read this, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and walked around with my heart physically aching in my chest.

4. Nature and Nurture, by @earlgreytea68. M, 203,273 words. Set sometime after Season 2. Alternates between John’s and Sherlock’s perspectives, but mostly told from John’s.

The British government clones Sherlock. He and John decide to raise the baby.

A true fandom classic. The premise sounds super cracky, but somehow it really works. This fic is surprisingly serious at times, but overall it is the cutest and funniest thing I have ever read in my life. Basically 200,000+ words of Sherlock and John being adorable gay fathers together and working through some feelings, with line-by-line some of the most hilarious dialogue ever. The five accompanying ficlets that the author wrote as short follow-ups are also worth checking out; my favorites were School (T, 4,753 words) and The Radovljica Apicultural Museum (T, 4,540 words).

5. To a Friend Who Sent Me Roses, by @algyswinburne. E, 16,147 words. Set sometime after Season 4 (but ignores TFP, as we all should lol). Sherlock’s perspective.

Author’s summary: “Five times Sherlock is mistaken for John’s partner and Rosie’s father, and one time it isn’t a mistake.”

This fic is sad, sweet, and hot by turns. Absolutely lovely to read in so many ways, and with so many great details and lines. I think this story offers convincing portrayals of what Sherlock’s and John’s characters might be like after it all and how they might finally get together. This and A River Without Banks are my favorite alternate endings to the show. Beautiful!

6. for all that bitter delights will sour, by @darcylindbergh. E, 9,585 words. Set sometime after Season 3. Sherlock’s perspective.

John initiates a sexually and emotionally abusive relationship with Sherlock.

The second saddest fic I have read. I would never want what happens in this fic to happen to Sherlock and John, so I don’t exactly recommend it as a Johnlock fic. But as a short story, this is a gem, full of absolutely gorgeous and incredibly moving writing. It depicts difficult themes very deftly, in lines and paragraphs that I had to stop to read over and over. I appreciate this as an emotionally powerful and thought-provoking piece of writing inspired by Sherlock, so for that reason I think it deserves to be on this list.

7. The Ground Beneath Your Feet, by Chryse. E, 68,803 words. Set after Season 3, but as if the last two minutes of HLV never happened. “The plane went on to Eastern Europe, and this is what came after.” John’s perspective.

This fic is pretty dark; the author describes it as “a PTSD story in which John was wholly devoted to Sherlock.” I don’t love it quite as much as the other two fics by Chryse that I’ve listed here, but that’s mostly because those two are just so amazing! I still really enjoyed this one. It was wonderful to see a kind and caring version of John emerge out of Season 3, and the story had several memorable moments, including one particularly nail-biting scene. I also really liked seeing John and Mycroft become friends as they bonded over their shared concern for Sherlock.

8. The Adventures of a Single Girl in London (Plus a Consulting Detective), by @earlgreytea68. M, 32,913 words. Set soon after Season 3. Alternates between different characters’ perspectives.

Bored with life at her new cottage in Sussex, Janine returns to London and moves in with Sherlock at 221B. Hilarity, heartbreak, and eventual Johnlock ensue.

This is a Season 3 fix-it fic that features an absolutely lovely friendship between Sherlock and Janine and the best version of Janine that I’ve come across in a fic. Sherlock is vulnerable and sweet, John is an absolute idiot, Janine is perfect, and the last two chapters just make me scream. Great stuff.

And that’s it for now! If you know of any other fics that I might like based on the above, I’d be happy to hear about them, so drop me a line!

Happy reading 😊

[xiaq]

Favorite fantasy series: The Folk of the Air. I do NOT understand the hate this series gets on booktok/IG. The world-building is immaculate, the politics are juicy, the writing is engaging, and the romance is a slow burn that’s secondary to the plot and character development. I will read anything that Holly Black writes.

Favorite sci/fi series: The Murderbot Diaries. These are quick, quippy, and satisfying reads. I would die for Murderbot.

Favorite romance series: Not sure if they count as a series since they’re all standalones in the same universe, but Ali Hazelwood’s books ft. Women in STEM having unrealistic romances gets an A+ from me. If you need easy beach reads with happy endings, go for one of these (Also, the first book started as Star Wars fic; neat!).

Favorite graphic novel series: I’ve been following the Heartstopper webcomic for years, but I finally purchased/ re-read the print books this year. If you want sweet, nostalgic writing with diverse queer representation and whimsical art, Heartstopper is for you. If you want a historical/educational story, I highly recommend the Marchseries, which is an autobiographical view of the civil rights movement by John Lewis. 

Favorite historical romance: I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but I put off reading A Lady for a Duke despite rave reviews because I simply did not vibe with the cover. This was a terrible choice. I read this book in one euphoric sitting and then re-read it two additional times this year. The banter! The pining! The drama! 

Favorite fantasy: A Taste of Gold and Iron and its follow-up short novella Tadek and the Princess. These books may have changed my brain chemistry. I loved this world and its characters and the novella made me cry like a baby.

Favorite science fiction: The Martian. I’d read this before but I re-read it on a work trip and fell in love all over again. Such an excellent science-y sci/fi book that nonetheless feels very approachable and fun.

Favorite non-fiction: They Were Her Property is the driest book I read this year but the content was fascinating (and horrifying). If you want to interrogate your perception of white women’s role in slavery (and, to a lesser degree, the role of Christianity therin) — take your time, and be ready to adjust your worldview—especially if you think Gone with the Wind was an accurate portrayal of the south. How to Survive a Plague, on the other hand, is less dry—you can tell a journalist wrote it—but it’s very detailed. It’s rare that I don’t finish a book in one or two sittings, but this took me over a month. If you’ve ever wondered about the social history of the AIDS epidemic and how a diagnosis went from a quick death sentence to an easily manageable condition (and how hard grassroots movements had to work to get some fucking help to make that happen), this is for you.

Favorite comic: Infidel. Damn. The art. The narrative. So short but so impactful. This is horror, so be mindful.

Favorite graphic novel: This is a tossup between If You’ll Have Me, a sugary-sweet sapphic romance, and The Prince and the Dressmaker which is an equally adorable story about expressing ones true self regardless of social expectations.

Favorite WTF: Butcher and Blackbird and Bride. I’m still not sure how I feel about B&B but it was certainly an interesting way to spend two hours. Bride is on the list purely because reading the word “knot” on a print page instead of an AO3 tab felt illegal.

Favorite feel-good/comedy: Monstrous Regiment. I’ve read this book so many times and, after the election, I read it again. I doubt any other book will surpass what has become an emotional support story for me.

Favorite YA: Cemetery Boys (Magic! Mystery! Queerness!) She Drives me Crazy(Athletics! Misunderstandings! Enemies to lovers! Queerness!), and A Little Bit Country (Country music! Thinly veiled Dolly Parton references! Queerness!) (Hm. Seems to be a theme here).

Favorite Sports Romance: Icebreaker (the Graziadei one, not the Hannah Grace one). You know how a lot of hockey books (my own included) can be light on the actual hockey? Not the case with Icebreaker. The character development was lovely, but the hockey was divine. Graziadei clearly knows and loves the sport.

Favorite historical fiction: What the Wind Knows (Mystery! Time Traveling! Love! Ireland!) and Kindred (Mystery! Time Traveling! Love! The Antebellum South!).

Favorite Space Odyssey: Gideon + Nona the Ninth. I had to make a special category because neither sci/fi nor fantasy feels appropriate for this yet incomplete series which is as rollicking good fun as it is completely confounding. I still have no idea what’s happening but I can’t wait to read the next one.

Favorite pleasant surprise: A Court of Mist and Fury. I waited so long to read the ACOTAR series because I got such conflicting reports from folks. I took the advice of a reader I trust and powered through the first book. ACOMAF was worth the contextualizing journey. I loved it. I’m still working through the rest of the series but this book was an unexpected joy.

Least favorite book: Lol, no. We don’t play that game here.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Tips: Studying at Home

Adjust your learning

The first thing to acknowledge is that an online education demands a different style of learning as opposed to the traditional classroom environment.

You should be aware that you will need to adjust your learning style to ensure you get the most out of any online learning experience by doing things such as:

Fully commit yourself to join in with digital discussions so you are still actively learning and developing key skills such as debating and listening.

Be prepared to try new tech - with new online learning platforms and video calling functions, prepare to become adaptable and open to trying new technologies.

Collaborate with others - whether that’s over instant messenger outside of class/tutoring time, or with online discussions - get involved and you’ll make the most out of your learning experience.

Be self-disciplined - You will need to ensure that you’re ahead with the class work, pre-reading course materials where you can and ensuring excellent time management to prevent missing classes. All of this will help you to get the most out of your online learning.

Clear Distractions

When setting up your home study and/or work space, make sure there is nothing in the background that may distract you or your classmates/co-workers.

That includes putting your phone in a separate room or turning it off completely to avoid taking your attention during your online learning. 

It’s important to note that you may also need to move your work space throughout the day - perhaps you may need to move as sunlight comes through your window to avoid screen glare.

So have a think about this before you are forced to move and re-position halfway through a learning session.

Use headphones and a microphone (where possible)

If you have them, make sure you use headphones and a microphone so you can clearly hear your tutor/classmates, as well as deliver clean and clear audio for easy flow of communication.

Even if you don’t have access to this, most laptops do have a reasonably high-spec audio and microphone set already built into them, however having a specific kit will always elevate your sound and audio quality.

Make sure your camera is stable

Again, to help avoid distractions during your online learning, make sure your laptop or webcam is sturdy and pointing ahead to avoid any strange angles. 

Also, don’t sit too close to your camera either as the audio could muffle if you are sitting close to the microphone on your device. 

Prevent interruptions

We’ve all seen that BBC News video interview - and we know you certainly don’t want to have the same happen to you. 

To avoid this, make sure anyone you live with is aware that you will be doing some online learning from home and to ask them to leave you alone to concentrate.

If you can, close a door and stick a sign on the outside of it, making it clear that you cannot be disturbed.

Pre-prepare resources

If you have work that you want to share with your tutor or other students during a video lesson, make sure you have them ready and waiting on your desktop with clear file names, and are ideally already open and waiting before you start.

This will avoid time-wasting if you need to hunt around your downloads folder and browser tabs. 

Strong Wi-Fi connection

Before joining an online session, make sure your Wi-Fi session is working and up to scratch.

The website; Speed Test will help you to see what sort of internet speeds you’re currently getting, and whether they will be strong enough to support video calls.

There are a few obvious steps too to try and consider to improve your Wi-Fi strength, such as putting your internet box up high on a sideboard, making sure nothing is covering it, and setting up your work space close to where the box is. 

If you do have a poor Wi-Fi connection, you may struggle to host a video call, so it’s worth considering if there’s any other locations you could use for your learning session - perhaps a friend or relative’s home?

Pre-read material

If possible, review any resources and material that you’ll be studying before your online learning session.

This will give you the chance to prepare for any discussions, have questions ready to ask about subject matter that you haven’t quite fully understood, as well as help the new knowledge to be absorbed ever so slightly easier. 

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References

[the-real-sneezus]

Crane with influences of the CIA mind experiments of the 1970s. Crane who started drug-based work either with the government or inspired by it, and developed fear toxin out of frustration with the rudimentary methods the CIA employed. (Too much effort to coax a victim patient into paranoid psychosis from a mere tab of LSD)

Fear does work as an excellent motivator, but too much and the subject simply crumbles. Fear, or rather terror, is not an ideal motivator for a task which requires higher thinking.

Much to think about. Research to be done.

[astraystayyh]

Hey, sorry for the anonymous message, but I would like you to please reconsider using SKZ tags to spread the Palestin fundraiser. I know you mentioned you're trying to reach as many people as posible and it's a noble goal, however I warn against doing so in this way because many people, including myself, go on tumblr and look under fanfic or K-Pop tags to find a form of escapism from the real world and placing a reminder about one of the worst things going on the world right now is incredibly unpleasant and quite jarring. I already aviod the "For You" tab due to some K-Pop fanfic accounts I follow posting about it, but when I'm looking at tags specifically, I'd like to not have the same problem.

Again, I'd like to reiterate that I admire your desire to spread the fundraiser. I just want to ask you to consider going about it in a cautious way. I'd like to clarify this in no way is an attack against you or your goal, I know anonymous messages can be a little threatening sounding and I really don't want you to take this as a slight. You're an excellent writer, and you've written several fics I've quite enjoyed, I'd just prefer you didn't go about spreading the fundraiser in this way.

hello, im wondering how else would i spread the fundraiser to stays if i did not use the tags that stays specifically view?

tumblr operates with tags and that’s why I’m using them to get a wider reach within stayblr, because this is a stayblr fundraiser. it isn’t a tumblr wide fundraiser, it is organized, shared and raised by stays, that again, i was able to reach through tags.

i understand the sentiment, but i’m not sharing news about the genocide, i’m not sharing ground developments, i’m not sharing statistics or graphic images. i’m not even using the tags to share palestinian gofundme’s. i’ve only used the tags to 1) share info about the fundraiser. 2) gauge whether it had reached as many stays as possible, or not.

again, this fundraiser did not come out of the blue. i started it a month ago when skz was heavily associated with two zionists that worked on their latest single, and at a time when zionists proliferated within our fandom and felt very comfortable sharing their hateful ideology. zionism has already infiltrated kpop and we can’t turn a blind eye to it, but that’s another discussion

again, i’m not placing a « reminder » in the tags, i’m sharing updates about an important initiative that many stays are partaking in, and have helped spread by rebloging as well. i want to reiterate that this is a fundraiser BY STAYS and the only way to reach them in this platform is through tags.

so, i say this as respectfully as possible too, if you can’t just scroll past two of my posts, please block me. because i won’t stop using the tags for this specific fundraiser. in less than a day, we’ve already gotten 5 new supporters when we’ve been stuck at the same number of supporters for two weeks now. and that is precisely the goal yesterday’s post.

thank you.

[imma-lil-teapot]

Heyyy! Hopping into your inbox to continue Hakuoki talk, so we stop spamming poor Rui's unrelated post 😂 (though @ruiniel, if you haven't checked out Hakuoki yet... 1800s Japan, samurai, vampires + demons... just saying...)

The series used to be super popular even outside of Japan but it's died down significantly in the last ten years or so, even with the rerelease/retelling :(

Yes! There are so many different iterations of the game lmao. My favorite is the PS3 release (Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi), which is all of the original game content plus a significant amount of extra scenes in both the general route and for each LI route. I thought the narrative flow and character development was excellent in this and it included lots of slice-of-life moments, plus I'm super nostalgic about it, so I'm very attached XD It's like my "canon" Hakuoki game. I did enjoy the new characters and content that Hakuoki Shinkai brought, though!

(Oof I feel that, both the price and the computer troubles... my own computer is starting to refuse to open anything beyond 6-7 browser tabs and I live in fear every day. I hope you are able to play the games for yourself one day!!!)

HEYYY~ 👋😀 Thanks so much for continuing!!! (Omgosh yes, sorry about that @ruiniel hon! 😅 But yasss! Definitely one to add to the watchlist! Wink wink nudge nudge😁)

AGSDGASDJLKJ It was actually popular at one stage??!! 😮 Granted I did find it somehow, so... 😅 And the number of games and Anime speaks for itself... 😶 Ahh, it sucks to have it practically left abandoned by most of the fanbase, or just unknown in general. 😭

Oooh, now that does sound like an epic one!!! 🤩🤩 Anything with added scenes, more character development and those slice-of-life moments that can only enhance the experience gimme gimme *grabby hands*!! Oh yes, I do recall seeing screenshots once of Chizuru with some other characters I don't recognize but also appeared to be optional routes... *checks* Yeah! That's definitely the one! Must do so'more digging, am crazy curious about those characters now, hehe! Thank you for that, btw! Have been wondering about them for a while!

On a somewhat related note, are you perhaps familiar with the mobile otome game, Love and Deepspace, by any chance?? Yet again, something out of my own reach... but the gameplay is Something Else and was just imagining a Hakuoki game with that level of interaction and immersion!!

(Omgosh nuuuuu, that's awful!! 😭 The fear! The fear is real!! Sheesh, and here I still get snarky when mine struggles to open anything over 20! Really hope it holds out for you, dealing with computer issues is the Worst!! Thank youuu! *Fingers crossed*)

[violetsarepurple-fuckyou]

Tag Game: People I'd like to Know Better

Thank you for tagging me @rapha-reads! I'm flattered! Hope your day is going well!

Last song: The Horse and The Infant, Epic the Musical (because I am a) obsessed with musical and b) was reading @nellie-elizabeth's excellent analysis of it and needed to compare with my ears and screech)

Last book: I tend to read multiple books at the same time so I'll give ya a handful lol! Beowulf: A New Translation, by Maria Dahvana Headley (very interesting, uses extremely modern language to tap into the energy of "bar story" that is under explored in a lot of Beowulf translations to my knowledge. I finished it last night), The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (first time reading, but obviously I know how it ends. I'm doing so ok right now.), Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (finished last week, I wrote an essay on Miyazaki for my film class last semester and wanted to check out the source material after years of watching the movie. It was very charming fun! And also I was listening to it in audiobook form, which meant that I got to listen to the welsh accent, which please me greatly.) and Ancient Greek Civilization by Jeremy McInerney (not sure if this counts as a book because it is in fact just a professor lecture via the Great Courses, but it is an audiobook on Libby so I am counting it lol).

Last TV show: Cunk on Earth last night with my family, Dimension 20 (Time Quangle) today while taking a lunch break, and last tv show BINGED would be The Magicians last week.

Sweet/savory/spicy: Sweet all the way!!! Every time!

Relationship status: Single, open to casual smooching of my friends and/or a ten year slow burn but low-key possibly aro-ace spec and not too worried about it atm

Last thing I googled: I'm not 100% sure because I have about 30 windows and 5 million tabs open right now and have been bopping between them all day screwing up my history thoroughly, but I think either petteia (search term something like "ancient greek equivalent for chess") or like... my school website.

Looking forward to: The Magicians Fanworks Extravaganza Welcome Home Week 1! I've been trying to get some writing done today and yesterday for it :D Also walking in the woods tomorrow, fingers crossed it isn't too snowy for that.

Current obsession: The Magicians, Epic the Musical/The Iliad and Odyssey, Dimension 20, and a dnd character I made that I got way too obsessed with and now cannot bear to risk the character development of through collaborative improv. I must write a book about her now, such is life.

No pressure tagging if anyone else would like to do this :) @eliotqueliot @nellie-elizabeth @portraitofemmy @ameliajessica @spiders-hth-is-an-outlier @hmgfanfic @bellamyblakru @unlifeira

[miriani-lavellan]

Final Thoughts

Well, I beat the game. Some thoughts:

The Very Good

Combat (for mages, haven't played the rest) was a massive improvement over DA:I. It got a little repetitive after I learn the button combos, but this was solved by respeccing and doing something different. Fights felt pretty satisfying, and I didn't feel like I was getting interrupted during side quests/exploration as much as DA:I. And FINALLY, finally, I had to think a little tactically again. Not as much as in Origins, but definitely more than DA:I. It turned out not being able to take control of my companions directly didn't matter as much - you do command and direct them when you tab.

It looks fkn great. And I mean, amazing. The marketing really didn't do it justice - it made it seem super stylised for some reason. It's honestly just like a massively upgraded DA:I - they clearly saw they were doing it right that game and chose to develop it further. Everywhere we went, I felt like I was properly in Thedas again, and I super super wanted to dive into the screen and have a little ocean swim at some points.

Sidequests were all excellent. No more wasting time with busy work, every side quest felt like it was worth the effort, either for a little satisfying side content, or puzzle solving. And they matter more in the outcome of the area, too.

Your decisions have outcomes later in the game, and the game makes it explicitly clear this is happening because you did this. As someone with limited time on their hands, I didn't want to save scum or end up irritated because I didn't realise I was making a key decision.

I thought the companions were an amazing bunch, and I enjoyed getting to know all of them. The quests did an amazing job of making me feel like I was a leader trying to get to know the people they were trusting with so many lives - I felt like I was putting effort into my relationships and being rewarded for it.

The ending quests were fantastic. I bawled my eyes out at The Reveals.

The CULTURAL differences!! We are NOT in the south any longer, and also decades have passed since the attitudes and actions of some key characters in the series. I love that Rook's outlook on spirits, mages, and other things seems to be different from our past heroes. I love that things are different here. The vice grip of the Andrastian chantry is not present here, and that was a culture shock for me. We've been hearing this whole time from characters with different 'unusual' outlooks on life, usually because they came from the places we visit in this game. Now we really get to see it.

The sorta 'key' NPCs, Isabela, Teia & Viago, Antoine & Evka, the Viper and Tarquin, Irilen and Strife were all amazing.

The Good

The music was lovely. I missed Trevor Morris - I feel like he captured Thedas best, and there were no moments where the soundtrack hit me like In Hushed Whispers and Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts - but the music was definitely great.

We got a LOT of closure on big, big questions. I'm sure the lore people will point out some inconsistencies or whatever, but for me it answered and satisfied all of my questions in a big big way. Felt pretty good to have guessed correctly on some things too!

I love that you got some input in the Inquisitor's actions, instead of it being determined by only your 'past choices' selection. In the light of what were uncovering, that was extremely appreciated. I'm still not sure I made the right decision, but what happened and what can happen definitely felt like proper closure on the Solavellan era that tied me up SO bad for a while.

The romances (and I've seen them all, if only played Lucanis) were fulfilling, although I agree with some comments they might have been paced better. Lucanis' lock-in scene was particularly confusing - how it goes down makes perfect sense for the character don't get me wrong, but some follow up would have been nice.

I love the companion relationships that blossom when you have your romance locked in. There was a little set-up that made me jealous between Neve and Lucanis early on though. :)

What I Sorta Wished were Different

The pacing of the whole story felt quite... idk. It seemed all piled towards the end, in a way. The main quests definitely didn't seem to tell a continuous thread like the DA:I quests did - there was a kind of theming and stuff with those that DA:V doesn't seem to have. That being said, there was nothing about the main story I didn't enjoy as such.

I wished we could hear a little more about our decisions from past games. Even a few codices would have been nice.

The Well of Sorrows should have mattered.

It would have been nice to get more variation in armour. There were lots in DAI that seemed to fit my character thematically, I didn't really find any for Rook I really loved. I thought some of the companion armours were a little gaudy looking too.

[ijustkindalikebooks]

Anyone else a Yoongi bias? August has been a long month for the Suga biases in my life, but life indeed does goes on, and the reading is an excellent distraction from the media frenzy about falling off a scooter (cos you know there aren't more important things to discuss right now smh).

I had a goal this year to read 365 books and I suspect I will complete it around the beginning of October going by current reading speeds, of course this depends on some people's view of what reading is, but this month I read novels, novellas, manga and poetry that accumulate to over 30 books and I will be sharing those I loved the most over the last thirty days or so.

The Bloodaxe Book Of Contemporary Poets edited by Jeni Couzyn - A collection of eleven poet, this book covers a good range and though I think it lacks diversity (I mean no Jackie Kay? No Claudia Rankine?) I think this is mainly due to when it's published than anything else. A fantastic array of styles and poetry, I really appreciated reading this while working on the counter in the shop I volunteer in and definitely a collection I need to back and tab as I loved so many entries in this book.

Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato - As this series nears its end (and I feel like it's in the right space to do so at this point) it has really got to a point in the plot that keeps you reading it, I won't deny that. Though I feel the story sometimes well, dawdles I do appreciate the real moments of emotion that appear in this series and the development of Shiemi's story arc within this series. There are things that I find frustrating, but volumes 27/28 were in particular, very very good.

Bloom Into You by Nio Nakatani - I really appreciate the representation in this book from Maki as an aro/ace person as an ace person and of course LGBT stories that do not end in someone dying, that's always great - keep that happening. I do feel there are elements of what the hellery in this book, and I would check on triggers for this as in reflection there seems to be some issues around consent but as the series goes on I feel alot of this is unpacked in the story and makes for a wonderful ending.

The Girl From The Other Side Vol. 6 by Nagabe - I am not going to talk much again about this as we're now at the mid point of the series and if you've not read it then it will be spoilers for you, but this series tells a story I can never ever predict where it's going ever and an art style that is reminiscent of Grimm's Fairy Tales in the best way possible - it's a dark fairy tale told at it's very finest and if you enjoy manga I do highly recommend picking this one up, I trust Seven Seas so much with the series it picks up and decides to share.

Finger Bone by Hiroki Takahashi - A novella about Japanese soldiers fighting in Papa New Guinea, Finger Bone isn't a book you love, it's a book that lays around in your brain and makes you think about it for days. The story of a Japanese soldier relaying the experience of a warzone that for them is sinking into despair, hunger and misery, the ending of this book left me feeling so many things. Named after the bone that doctors remove when a soldier passes away, this was 97 pages of a creeping sense of dread that reminded me of 'All Quiet On The Western Front'.

What have you been reading this month? Do you have any recommendations for me? I always love to hear feedback from you!

Thanks again for reading,

Vee xo.

[pearlharborshipresort]

"I like it... excellent job Iowa..." Amélie mumbled to herself as she looked through the drone imagery of the resort.

Recent... developments in Amélie's beliefs, and sexual education, had led her to request a radical overhaul of the resort.

Gone were any physically demanding activities, and in were sedentary spots to relax, to vacate, to drown out the noise: libraries, movie theaters, spas, saunas, and of course, within each was a stand to purchase food, which could be put on one's tab of course, with food, artificially modified to be more fattening than usual food.

For the sexually deviant, orgy rooms, love hotels, nude saunas and spas, pleasure clinics.

Alcohol and cannabis was brought in by the ton, entire cargo planes stocked with the goods were brought over.

At the same time, employing several French Shipgirls at exorbitant prices, sidewalks were flattened to allow the use of luxurious taxis, all automated and electric, between each and every spot of interest in the resort, allowing guests to waste as little calories as possible.

Amélie grinned looking at her computer... if Nozomi was interested in granting freedom to the many Shipgirls that would be scrapped, with the aim of fattening them up being secondary, then Amélie was interested in fattening them up first and foremost, and there was no shame or doubt about that.

The resort is currently open only to Shipgirls, and otherwise require vetting by Iowa or Amélie to be allowed in, but one thing was certain... not a one person could walk in skinny as a guest, and leave without several dozen pounds gained.

Amélie restructured the message, detailing the plan to fatten girls up in her resort, and pushed it through the relevant channels to be advertised to all who is interested... it was no secret, because there was an abundance of girls who'd jump at the opportunity.

[softhuntersseo]

Basic Steps to Build Your Shopify Website — Softhunters

Shopify makes it effortless to set up an e-commerce website. Even a novice user can accomplish it in parts. Shopify is because of its friendly design coupled with powerful features; Shopify is one of the most widely used e-commerce platforms by both small and large businesses. Some of the services they offer include customizable online store templates and effective payment gateways. Shopify website design company can create a strong online presence if they sell tangible products, services, or even digital items.

Read More :- https://softhunters.in/basic-steps-to-build-your-shopify-website/

The Shopify store is simple to use, allowing you to run your business without requiring extensive technical knowledge. This blog post will enumerate the fundamentals of creating a Shopify website.

Creating a Shopify Account

The first step in growing your Shopify store is to create an account. To try this, visit Shopify.com and click on the “Start free trial” button in the top right corner. Then, offer your e-mail address, password, and store name.

The store name will initially function as your number one domain. After developing your account, Shopify will ask you some questions about your business. Fill these out and click on “Enter my store” to proceed. This initial setup system is designed to be short and clean, allowing you to begin building your savings properly away.

Establishing Your Shopify Store

Once you have got your account installation, it is time to configure your keep settings. Access the menu on the left aspect of your Shopify dashboard, which incorporates hyperlinks to all of your save gear and features. Use the settings button at the left to set your keep name, time quarter, forex, and other number one settings.

This step is essential as it inspires the way your shop operates and how clients will perceive it. Make certain all information is correct to ensure easy operations and compliance with local regulations.

Selecting A Theme

Your themes control the presence and design of your site. To select a theme, go to the “online store” in the sales channel in the left sidebar, and then select the theme “Theme.” Some free themes are available for your use in Shopify, and you can also visit the theme stores for the paid ones.

Choose a theme that fits your brand and niche. Check reviews to determine if they can serve your goals and be supported by any additional features you want to integrate in the future. The subject should appeal to the eyes and provide an excellent user experience to maintain customers.

Including Products and Services

Now that your store displays as you want it to, it has time to populate it with your products. Return to the Shopify Admin Dashboard. On the Left Menu, click “Product.” To upload a product, click “Add the Product”. You can include the title, description, price, images, and additional details per product.

Ensure to categorize your products using collections or categories for easy visibility. This is essential as it will directly impact your sales and customer satisfaction.

Be sure to detail product descriptions and use high-quality images so buyers can make quality purchasing decisions.

Personalize Your Theme

Once you have chosen a theme, you may use it to represent your brand in a more customized manner. To try this, click on the “Online Store” tab, after which, at the theme you have selected, hover over it and click “Customize.” From the left-hand equipment inside the editor, you can regulate hues, fonts, and layouts. You also can add or delete sections.

Customization is crucial to making your save stand out and mirror your emblem identification. Ensure that your design stays consistent on all pages so that you can give it an expert touch.

Pages Setup and Content Preparation

You can create additional pages for your website, furthermore, your products. The same applies to the ‘Contact’ and ‘FAQ’ pages — a setup guide and live builder are available. For sharing more details regarding your brand or products, blogs can assist you in promoting the business and help in audience engagement. Also, every content must be created in a manner that makes the customer confident and loyal towards the brand.

Instructions for Setting Up Payment Options

If you want to sell, you need to select a payment option first. Under Settings or Setup Guide, scroll to Payment. Log into your cash account and choose Shopify payment or any other provider if you wish to use PayPal.This is essential to ensure the payment setup works properly and securely. It also determines whether you can process transactions and get paid directly.

Sourcing Suppliers and Additional Funding

Reexamine yourself. What is the profile of the partner you want to work with? In what manner do you intend to work with them? When looking to outsource, do not run away from your network. Existing contacts are the best place to start with a Shopify web development Agency. Easy deals and fewer problems are sometimes discovered just one step away.

Additionally, analyze what you can do within a certain budget. Let’s take a more realistic view to ensure you can achieve practical things and trace the path to interesting opportunities within a budget.

Additional Suggestions for Achieving Success

The following tips can aid in improving your Shopify store.

Establish A Brand Style Guide

Create a general style guide rule document comprising typography, color scheme, and logo style for your brand before commencing the designing of your website. This will help in maintaining said standards throughout your site and marketing resources.

Think About Store Layout

Always keep in mind customer trust, aesthetics, and mobile devices when it comes to modern e-commerce design principles. Launch with a minimum viable product (MVP) and refine through the feedback of your customers.

Make Use of Shopify Apps

There is a suite of apps available within Shopify that can assist in improving features within your store. Consider apps that can enhance customer satisfaction, bot automation, and revenue generation.

Blogging on The Shopify platform

Shopify enables users to store blog posts so that pre-approved content can be designed and managed within the store. This could generate traffic and keep customers engaged.

Conclusion

The process of building a Shopify store is a straightforward one and can be achieved in various stages. With these tips and regular improvements in your store, you can make a successful online presence and build your business accordingly.

Always pay attention to the identity of your brand and the experience of customers for long-term success. The best web development company is always present to provide you with all the support for your Shopify website.

[interroblog]

(a colored sketch of four characters. from left to right there’s Gene who has dyed green hair and an orange jacket, Casper who has long flowing hair and pale skin, Saint who wears round sunglasses and a simple T shirt, and Tab who has curly orange hair and snakebite piercings.)

(tumblr compressed the hell out of this, click for higher quality)

It’s far past time to introduce the main characters for the moon book (intro) so I can finally talk about them! I’ll be sharing plenty more about them as I develop the story now, but here’s some basics for now.

Saint 🌙 19, he/him, 4w5, ENFP, the protagonist!

Saint has a rich creativity and passion for storytelling. He loves to play piano and sing, the latter of which he’s supernaturally good at. He’s not very talkative and doesn’t share his stories often, but whenever he does there’s a gravity to his voice that pulls listeners in.

Saint’s best and only friends are Tab and Gene, but sometimes he feels like they’re just humoring him. He feels like an outsider around anyone except himself.

Because of a medical condition, Saint has periods where his senses are dulled to the point where he can’t perceive the outside world. So he turns inward. That’s what caused him to have such a weak sense of belonging, as well as surround himself with stories.

Tab 🪐 19, they/them, 3w2, ESTJ 🏳️‍⚧️

Tab loves academia and used to excel in every class- until their senior year. They’ve got a great memory and will happily learn and repeat back information all day, but the second the advanced classes they took got into more abstract ideas, they started failing. They can be inflexible, stubborn, and a bit blunt, but damn if they don’t get things done.

Now they’re retaking their senior year, which has ruined their hopes of getting into a good college. That was, until they met Casper who got them into the supernatural and ghosthunting… if they can find concrete proof of the things that exist beyond earth, they’d be able to get into whatever college they want.

Tab has a lot of friends that come and go, but the closest to their heart are Saint and Gene. They also have a rotating cast of passions, but their most consistent are history and guitar- which they learned to spend more time with their friends by starting a band.

Gene 💫 17, he/him, 9w8, INFP 🏳️‍⚧️

For most of his life, Gene has neatly fit into the persona of a quiet nerdy academic that the world projected onto him. But as he’s growing up, he’s starting to realize it doesn’t fit as well anymore. He’s an idealist with strong values, and a deep optimism + compassion. He’s young, he’s still growing into himself! He wants to change the world!

Now he’s just been accepted into a fancy college that’s sure to lead to a promising tech career. The only problem is, it’s across the country and he’s starting to feel a growing unease about leaving his friends behind to sit behind a desk taking orders from a boss for the rest of his life.

Gene adores his brother, Saint, and he’s been friends with Tab since they were kids. He plays the drums in their band and follows Tab around on all their adventures.

Casper ⚡️ 22, he/her, 7w6, ???? 🏳️‍⚧️

Casper is a high energy person who loves to experience new things, meet new people, do everything she can regardless of how good of an idea it may be. He’s always doing something with his hands; that means fiddling around with technology and more recently, crocheting.

After getting to a bad accident, Casper’s soul left her body. But before her body died, it replaced that soul with a rogue bit of cosmic dust that was similar enough to work as a replacement. He’s doing his best to recover as fast as possible so he can go back to his normal life, but it’s becoming harder and harder to pretend that’s an option. Casper isn’t able to do many of the things she used to, she doesn’t even feel like the same person anymore…

Meanwhile, the person that became her new soul isn’t pleased about this situation, either. Being stuck in a body is horribly limiting, their similar feelings of frustration bleed together and make the separation of the two even harder to maintain. But that’ll all be fine if they just ignore it :’)

Powehi 🌟???, it, 7w6

Powehi is an alien, the intangible manifested consciousness of humanity’s collective voice. It dives from body to body, seeing the world through earthling eyes until it stayed too long in Casper’s dying body and was trapped. It thinks very highly of itself and the things it can do, so to be condensed down to such a limiting form is… difficult. It’s mostly been sulking and ignoring everything.

Saint is its favorite earthling, so it blessed him with a piece of its power and visits him in his dreams. It hasn’t been able to do that recently, and even though Saint doesn’t realize Powehi is more than a figment of his imagination, he cares for it and is starting to get worried.

Powehi never had a name before meeting Saint, it’s usually just called the Voice.

[shieldfoss]

Keyboard shortcuts

The keyboard shortcuts in actual use are clearly historically contingent and path dependent - there are no standards, which means there are no ways to avoid conflict - even if you want to!

That is - unless you know every shortcut for the operating system you are compiling for and the operating system doesn't add more shortcuts and no third party programs are installed that were unaware of your presence.

EDIT:

Post got Long, it's under a readmore now so it won't clutter your dash

But please do read it if you have software opinions.

---

Hardware thinks (shortcut) means A

Operating system thinks (shortcut) means B

Background service thinks (shortcut) means C

Browser thinks (shortcut) means D

Open browser tab thinks (shortcut) means E

---

Hot garbage!

In the interest of avoiding conflicting commands it would be great if people could agree on some standards.

I feel like, with [super] and [ctrl] and [alt] and [shift] and [Esc] and [space] and [Fn] - it ought to be possible to do some deconflicting here!

Since the operating system is in control of the keyboard, it can impose those standards unilaterally - it would be chaos during the transition but the future would be much better.

Except no! Inherently impossible!

Because the user will - once again - install third party software and even if we get excellent deconfliction between layers, if you install two different background services that both did their due diligence and ensured that the operating system didn't use ctrl+shift+q+w+g - it is functionally impossible for them to know about each other

Still, I want to sketch something.

NB: I've never used a Mac, maybe Steve Apple solved all of this decades ago for his platform, it seems like the kind of thing he would do. I'm gonna write like he didn't though.

The domain

I'm seeing two ways users interact with software - background/foreground - and two types of software they're interacting with - hosts and clients.

The terms are necessarily underspecified but think along the lines of

Background/Foreground

Is this shortcut supposed to consistently do the same thing every time I use it (for the OS or some background service) or might it do different things depending on which app I currently have focused?

This is muddled by the fact that the background modes have active modes e.g. if you have Nvidia Shadowplay running in the background, listening for input that tells it to turn on or off, you probably also have an Nvidia Shadowplay app that you can actively focus on.

In that case, the software is simply counted twice - it has a persistent background component and a separate component that might or might not be focused.

Host/Client

The difference between Host and Client is essentially whether the developer is responsible for intermediating with third party software. This is obviously recursive[1], I am going to pretend it isn't though.

Hardware

To the extent that your hardware sends messages to your operating system, those can be ignored for the purpose of this diagram. To the extent that your operating system sends messages to your hardware, the hardware can be treated like a persistent background service.

Scenario

You are writing code in an IDE.

Four pieces of software have five different uses for the key "e"

Your OS wants E to mean "Open default Email client."

Your Emoji Picker background service wants E to open the "Pick Emoji" dialog.

Your IDE is currently in focus and wants E to open the Project Explorer pane.

Your IDE has a plugin that format your current tab according to your Editorconfig file.

And finally: You just plain need the letter "e" in your source code.

Today: Any fucking thing might happen depending on how those different apps and plugins have their hotkeys set up.

But let us consider:

[super]+[e] opens the email client.

[super]+[shift]+[e] opens the emoji picker

[ctrl]+[e] opens the Project Explorer pane

[ctrl]+[shift]+[e] formats according the editorconfig

[e] inserts the letter "e" into the source code.

Enforcement between OS, Third party service and active client.

How do you prevent the emoji picker from squatting on [ctrl]+[shift]+[e] and fucking it all up? Especially if it is written by a third party who didn't get the memo?

Easy.

If you press [ctrl]+[shift]+[e] the emoji plugin never sees it. When the emoji picker event loop asks for new events, those WM_KEYDOWN events aren't on the list.

"How?"

From the perspective of the OS, there are three groups of software that may need to know about key events

First party background software (The OS and OS services)

Third party background software (like the Emoji picker)

Active focused client software (First or third party)

When you input a key sequence:

The OS reads through the keys:

If [super] is present, check for [shift]

If [shift] is present in the key sequence, the key events go into the Third Party pool. On receiving them, the Emoji Picker opens the Emoji dialog.

Else only [super] is present in the key sequence: The key events go into the OS private pool, where they are made available only to first party background services. The "default email" hook fires.

Else [super] is not present in the sequence: The key events go into the "focused client" pool, which is made available only to the single, currently active, focused client. They are read by the IDE.

Enforcement within active client

Write it correctly lmao

But it is just recursively the same problem! Please do the same thing!

When the IDE reads the key events out of the OS, it checks for the presence of [ctrl]

If [ctrl] is present, check for [shift].

If [shift] is present in the sequence, the key events go into the plugin pool. Upon receiving them, the formatter activates

Else only [ctrl] is present. The key event goes into the IDE's private pool. The IDE opens the Project Explorer pane.

Else [ctrl] is not present in this key sequence. The key events go into the active editor tab which inserts a single 'e' in the current file.

---

Expanding the shortcut configuration space

"What about [alt]?" Is that button just irrelevant? [Esc]? [Fn]?

Nah, nah. You can do a bunch with all of them. They're fundamentally the same as the shift key here. Maybe the OS reserves for itself the space of all shortcuts like [super]+[letter/number] and [super]+[alt]+[letter/number], and every other shortcut that starts with [super] is available for third party background services. Maybe clients that support plugins (browsers that support sending key events into websites) reserve [ctrl] only and everything else is fair game. However it shakes out.

Really, this is too strict, too. The purpose of the exercise is not to hobble third party background services or third party plugins, it is more to reserve a space to ensure various things don't conflict. Insofar as it can be done without leading to conflicts, you can be much more lax than this.

The two issues that brought this on are both VSCode related, because VSCode has two shortcuts.

Well, it has a lot of shortcuts. But it has two specific shortcuts that I want to talk about: [ctrl]+[b] and [ctrl]+[shift]+[e].

In the Linux keymap (VSCode has three separate keymaps for windows/linux/mac) [ctrl]+[b] opens the side pane, and [ctrl]+[shift]+[e] opens the project explorer window.

Except not for me they don't.

I am writing this text in markdown, and I have a markdown plugin installed. Somewhat reasonably, the markdown plugin feels [ctrl]+[b] should bold the selected text (that is, insert ** on both sides of the text.) And VSCode gives priority to the plugin - when my active editing pane is on a markdown document, I cannot open/close the side pane.

And the fucking IBUS emoji picker is squatting on [ctrl]+[shift]+[e]. Across the whole OS! "Yeah no matter what you're doing, you're probably gonna need emoji so we're taking first claim on incredibly ergonomic real estate for an incredibly niche use case" who the fuck accepted that pull request into my distro?

And, like, is Microsoft going to change the default key bindings for VSCode on Linux because of that insane decision? No of course not.

Are they going to change their idiocy - just to stop inconveniencing Microsoft users? Yeah that is not how I am modeling the situation unfolding I must admit.

That sucks! Shit sucks! And the only good solution is for the OS to say "We are laying absolute claim to (this namespace) for OS and background services and we are giving third parties absolute claim to (that namespace).

Which they're not gonna do but I can waste a day writing about the perfect world I want to live in.

---

[1] "My Mac hosts a VM running Linux hosting a VM running Windows running an open Browser with a tab with an open webapp with a user plugin."

[esreal]

plots please!

ALRIGHT SO!

i. (UN)WILLING TRAVEL PARTNERS / Targon is by no means an easy summit to climb. though he can say confidently that he's one of the most determined to do so, what's to say he doesn't need a little help? An excellent partner is one that doesn't talk too much ( that's ezreal's job ) & can hold their own. unwittingly, perhaps ezreal's spoken too much about his plans to find a certain solari locket, & aphelios may find the opportunity to act upon his rage towards the solari in minor ways. who said it couldn't be mutually beneficial? who could say it didn't start with an accidental assassination attempt?

i'm developing this one so much because it does sort of correlate on the two of them together. both aph & alune . . . would he be comfortable taking the noctum essence around him? it's supposedly going to be a long journey, dependent on how far from the summit they meet. would alune speak to aph about ezreal? what would she think of him. ( i think she'd find him to be nice and charming :) ) what would happen if ezreal parsed out the aspect of aphelios being from the lunari sect? how would their very different travel schedules ( quite literally day & night ) impact their dynamic?

i'm literally abouta go switch tabs and write a starter for this right fuckin now .

ii. what the fuck was that one hospital john green book called... / okay. bare with me. bear with me. this might be a stretch but your modern au where aphelios deals with a greater chronic illness... doctor's appointments... part of me just imagines a connection between him, on a day where alune is asleep / at an exam & is in the clinic alone. ezreal's like, bungled up some nasty thing on an expedition, broke an arm or something, haha gauntlet arm is a cast. ( probably went exploring in some abandoned turnpike and gave himself mold or asbestos poisoning ) . both of them are filled with enough weird, anxious energy of not wanting to be there that they just kinda... Talk? and by that, Ezreal talks. he Does Not Shut up. Maybe it helps, maybe it doesnt.

iii. fuck it PUT ALUNE ON THE PHONE / Give me some good HEARTSTEEL time with Alune. Tell me something like ernest was originally alune's dog. tell me that Alune was one of the people who scouted Ezreal in his flop era, after his 15 minutes of fame waned, and asked him to join HEARTSTEEL because his vocals were exactly what the band needed. after aphelios, who came next? who did she recruit? etc. etc. this is the one (1) AU with the most tangible alune can be.... it's alune time.

[archoneddzs15]

Sega Master System - Double Dragon

Title: Double Dragon / ダブルドラ��ン

Developer/Publisher: Sega / Arc System Works

Release date: 1 October 1988

Catalogue No.: G-1369

Genre: Beat-em-up

FM Sound: Yes

Double Dragon has held a place in gamers' hearts as the game where beating the hell out of some thug on some city street was worth spending money on. Spawning several sequels, home system games, cartoons, comic books, and even a doomed movie, Double Dragon is the stuff dreams are made of! Pitting you in a role as either Hammer or Spike, later to be known as Billy and Jimmy Lee, you take to the streets in an attempt to find the kidnapped Marion. As the game progresses in its side-scrolling fashion, you'll punch, kick, hold, and chuck people with enough action to make you think you're in a martial arts flick!

Double Dragon features some of the best beat-down action of any side-scrolling platformer in its time. Putting you in the role of Hammer or Spike, you take to the streets and beat up the numerous thugs that come after you with vicious punches and kicks as well as throws and the infamous knee bash to the head throw! Through several different stages, you'll hone your skills against a computer opponent that becomes increasingly stronger and meaner as the game goes on.

With that being said, you'll find challenges waiting at every corner, and different enemies that force you to learn different tactics. A game of this type really doesn't have much to offer but a one time through the outside of its addictive qualities. In later stages, you'll more than likely be overrun as the enemies get larger and come in a higher number. The two-player option is a great addition to the game, but you’ll find that the one thing missing from this version is the team-up maneuver in which a friend holds an enemy, and you start beating them down.

While the control on the Master System is not quite perfect, it is pretty damned close. You have a punch and kick button that allows you to grab onto your enemy and beat them down, however, you can no longer hold them for your partner if you have a friend playing with you. You can latch onto an enemy, knee them, punch them, and then chuck them over your shoulder. In certain areas, you can pick up weapons and use them against the onslaught of opponents with the punch button. All it takes is practice, and you'll beat them down with the best of them!

For a game of this age, it has all the trimmings, from the run-down slums to the character designs and fighting attacks! With heavy hits, you'll see blood fly just slightly, and even though the speed isn't the fastest in video game history, it gives a certain amount of impact watching the punches land with slow, plodding accuracy! Character colors reflect the player number, blue for player one, red for player two, and it's a hell of a sight to watch you or your friend hold an enemy while the other punches the hell out of them! However, you’ll still see the limitations that the game has to offer with some of the variations in the enemies and it is apparent in this old version of Double Dragon that the emphasis is more on the action and not the overall presentation.

The music is rather quiet throughout the game and only changes depending on what stage you're on. It's pulse pounding and keeps up with the flow of the game, but really is too quiet to keep tabs on! The sound effects range from grunts and groans to the sickening thump and thud of your fists smashing against some schmuck's face and busting out their teeth! The Master System does an excellent job keeping with the original theme of the game, and it gets even better if you own a Japanese console or your original console has been modded with the FM Sound module, so those who are fans of the original arcade game will find this to be a well-done port over.

[skyboxeye]

Capturing the ambience of Halo 2 (2004)

This still-hyped shooter was released on Xbox, Windows Vista, and on various modern platforms via the Master Chief Collection.

Extracting sound assets

Reclaimer is compatible with Halo 2 Xbox (H2X) maps. It's the successor to Adjutant, which could open H2 maps but not extract sounds.

To enable sound extraction and conversion you'll need to provide an ffmpeg "plugin" to the program. From Reclaimer main menu, click View -> Plugins directory. Inside there, create a folder called ffmpeg and drop an ffmpeg.exe inside. Edit your settings.json file accordingly:

"Reclaimer.Plugins.SoundExtractorPlugin": { "FFmpegPath": ".\Plugins\ffmpeg\ffmpeg.exe", "OutputExtension": "wav", "OutputNameFormat": "{0}[{1}]", "LogFFmpegOutput": true },

However, be aware that newer versions of Reclaimer incorrectly convert ADPCMs - listen to the static in zanzibar_distant_battle outputted by Reclaimer 2.0.1509, for example. For this reason I suggest only performing extraction:

"Reclaimer.Plugins.SoundExtractorPlugin": { "OutputExtension": "", },

We can then convert Xbox ADPCMs using an accurate tool such as vgmstream, or others [1] [2].

Alternatively, Refinery can extract and convert HV2 sounds to PCM. See appendices below for setup instructions.

Identifying sounds

If Reclaimer doesn't serve your needs, Assembly is an excellent tool for exploring the tags comprising map files. It can also decompress maps if necessary.

You can also use Guerilla, included in the official Halo 2 Editing Kit (H2EK) that shipped with H2V (with its own community improvements) and The Master Chief Collection (MCC), to inspect tags.

Capturing footage

Option A: Project Cartographer

This ambitious mod builds atop H2V. See appendices below for setup instructions. While Cartographer adds some interesting console commands (press F10 to activate), they are mostly focused on multiplayer functionality and won't help us.

There are a handful of graphics improvements offered via Cartographer's Video Settings menu. HUD Settings allows you to hide the in-game UI and viewmodel.

You can open these at any time using the Home key. Choices are written to an INI file at AppData\Local\Microsoft\Halo 2.

Another way to hide HUD/weapon is the Blind skull. We can use Cartographer to toggle it, or pick it up in-game on Outskirts. This modifier will persist across missions, but reset once you exit the game.

Option B: Halo 2 Mod Tools

These coincide with the MCC release of H2. By using the included "Tag Test" build, we can execute H2's developer console* in-game. To load into a map, use the menu or run map_name, e.g.

map_name scenarios\multi\ascension\ascension

From there, we can move the camera around by running debug_camera_save followed by debug_camera_load.

If you see a black screen, try running fade_in 0 0 0 0. show_hud 0 removes the HUD. This build shows various map integrity errors by default; you can hide those with error_geometry_hide_all.

*Press ~ to activate. Use tab to auto-complete commands

Appendix 1: Setting up Project Cartographer

Make sure H2V has the latest patches applied. The easiest way to do this is simply launching the game, and signing into Games for Windows.

Now, download the latest Cartographer installer. You may need to fix the install by applying files manually. Once Cartographer is in a launchable state, visit the in-game updater to get the latest changes.

Appendix 2: Extracting assets with Refinery

First, install Python 3.8 from the official site, i.e. not from the Microsoft Store. After installation, update pip:

"C:\Program Files\Python38\python.exe" -m pip install --upgrade pip

Get the Mozz Editing Kit (MEK) repo rather than cloning Refinery directly. Also, do not clone MEK; the MEK installer (MEK_Installer.pyw) expects you to run the latest build from its master archives instead.

I recommend a portable install. After this, you should be able to run Refinery.py.

If this is all too complicated, try getting Refinery via Mozz Editing Kit Essentials instead.

Appendix 3: Extracting Halo 2 Vista tags

We use H2PC_TagExtraction for this. Set the required Paths, load a map, queue up the map's snd tags, and click Extract.