#it's been a while! in terms of both me updating and geno being in the maze.

[goldfades]

★ AND YOU SAY I ABANDONED THE SHIP / BUT I WAS GOING DOWN WITH IT / MY WHITE KNUCKLE DYING GRIP / SO HOW MUCH SAD DID YOU THINK I HAD, DID YOU THINK I HAD IN ME? / HOW MUCH TRAGEDY? / JUST HOW LOW DID YOU THINK I'D GO? ─── PB⁵ (part 1/2)

❪ requested -> paige and ex gf!reader that plays on iowa where theres a lot of tension on the court bc they ended on rough terms but u can see that they still care abt each other yet have to prioritize the game // hii could u write for paige x ex gf iowa!reader where they play against each other in the final four and everyone can tell theres sm tension on the court between them bc they ended on rough terms ? they still care abt each other a lot but r forced to put those feelings aside for the sake of the game (but they def had a talk afterwards) - u can make it so that iowa still won or uconn won i think either one would be interesting ! tysm ❫ part two!!!!!!!!!!

─ warnings | ANGSTTTTT!!!!!! mentions of transfers, fighting, paige being a BITCHHHH LIKE so mean (but its for the plot trust), banter at the end, mention of cc and kate martin, jealous!paige

─ ev's notes | tried a new format for the third little part thingy idk if yall like it but lmk (like the iowa game part)

⇨ missing out on updates? check out my wcbb masterlist!

JUNE 2022

Y/N L/N ANNOUNCES ENTERS THE TRANSFER PORTAL AFTER ALLEGED DISAGREEMENT OVER PLAYING TIME. In a surprising turn of events, UConn defensive star Y/N L/N has announced her decision to enter the transfer portal.

Despite the official narrative focusing on playing time, insiders report that L/N's decision is rooted in a desire to find a new environment where she can heal and focus on her game without the added stress of her recent breakup with Paige Bueckers, another star player for the Huskies. The emotional toll of the split has reportedly affected her performance and well-being, prompting her to make a fresh start at another school.

UConn’s coaching staff and teammates have expressed their support for L/N, acknowledging the challenges she has faced. "Y/N is an incredible athlete and person," said Coach Geno Auriemma. "We respect her decision and wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors."

As L/N navigates this difficult period, she remains committed to her basketball career and is looking forward to finding a new team where she can continue to shine both on and off the court. While the specifics of her next move remained uncertain for a short time, it has now been confirmed that she will be transferring to Iowa.

Fans and fellow players have taken to social media to show their support for L/N, emphasizing the importance of mental health and personal well-being in the demanding world of collegiate sports. Iowa's coaching staff has expressed their excitement about welcoming L/N to the team. "We are thrilled to have Y/N join us," said Coach Lisa Bluder. "She brings exceptional talent and experience to our program, and we are committed to supporting her both on and off the court."

As Y/N L/N begins her new journey with the Iowa Hawkeyes, there is no doubt that she will continue to be a formidable presence in collegiate basketball. Her resilience and determination promise to make her time at Iowa just as remarkable as her tenure at UConn.

──

"So you're really doing it?" Paige's expression was unimpressed, bordering disgusted as she pushed herself between you and the door.

You sniffled, glaring at the blonde. "Get out of my way, Paige."

She crossed her arms, standing firm. "So that's it? You're just going to run away? Because of us?"

"It's not about that," you snapped, the weight of your duffel bag making your shoulder ache. "It's about me needing to be okay. And I can't do that here."

Paige's eyes softened for a moment, but she didn't budge. "Y/N, we're a team. You can't just leave us like this. Leave me like this."

You shook your head, frustration boiling over. "This isn't about the team. This is about us, Paige. I can't be around you every day, pretending like everything's fine when it's not. I'm not okay with being on the same team as you, do you get that, Paige?"

Paige's expression flickered with a mix of anger and something else — maybe hurt. "You think Iowa is going to magically fix everything? Running away doesn't solve anything, I promise you that."

You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. "This isn't running away. This is me choosing to put myself first for once. I have to do this."

"What happened to loyalty? As soon as things get hard, you're running away! How does that make sense?" Paige let out a bitter laugh as you bit your lip, trying your best not to blow up. "God, what is wrong with you?"

You couldn't hold it in anymore. "You shouldn't be talking about loyalty, Paige! You left me, remember? We've been through-"

"Don't you dare say it, Y/N." Paige's voice was sharp, but you pressed on, the dam of emotions breaking.

"We've been through so much together, and you just threw it all away! You can't expect me to stay here and pretend like everything's fine when it's not."

Paige's eyes blazed with anger. "Oh, don't turn this around on me! You think you're the only one who got hurt? You think it was easy for me to make that decision? You're such a selfish-"

"Selfish?" you interrupted, your voice rising, ringing throughout the locker room. "I'm selfish for wanting to protect my mental health? I'm selfish for needing to get away from the constant reminder of what we had and lost?"

"You're selfish for abandoning the team! For abandoning me!" Paige shouted, her voice cracking. "Do you have any idea what it's going to be like without you here?"

"You don't get to play the victim," you shot back, tears streaming down your face as you sniffled. "You're the one who ended things. You don't get to decide how I cope with that."

Paige took a step closer, her face contorted with rage. "Fine, go to Iowa. Run away like a little pussy. But don't you dare come back and expect everything to be okay. Don't you dare think you can just waltz back into our lives when it suits you."

"That's not what I'm doing," you retorted, your voice shaking as you averted your gaze. "I need this, Paige. I need to get away from you."

"Then go!" she yelled, her voice echoing in the empty locker room. "But don't expect me to forgive you for this. For leaving when things got tough. For being a pussy."

"Oh, really?" You laughed, anger filling your body. "Fuck you. I thought we could be mature, but apparently we can't."

Paige's eyes flashed with fury. "Mature? You're the one who's bailing when things get hard! That's not mature, that's cowardly."

You clenched your fists, trying to keep your composure. "You think this is easy for me? You think I want to leave? I'm doing this because I have to, not because I want to. I'm trying to survive, Paige!"

"Survive?" she scoffed, stepping closer. "What about me? What about the team? We need you, and you're just walking away."

"I'm not your crutch," you shot back. "You have no right to make me feel guilty for taking care of myself. This isn't just about you, Paige. This is about my sanity, my well-being."

Paige's face twisted with a mix of anger and hurt. "Fine, go ahead and leave. But don't expect me to be here waiting for you when you decide to come back."

"I don't expect anything from you anymore," you replied coldly. "I'm done expecting anything from you."

Paige's expression darkened further, and she took another step closer, her voice lowering to a venomous whisper. "You know what? Maybe it's good you're leaving. No one needs your drama and bullshit. You're not as important as you think you are."

The words stung, cutting deeper than you expected. But Paige wasn't finished. "And let's be real, Y/N, Iowa's not going to "fix" you. You're still going to be the same fucked-up person, running from your problems. Maybe if you weren't so broken, none of this would have happened."

You felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room. Her words were like a knife twisting in your gut. You blinked back tears, feeling your heart shatter into even smaller pieces. "You... you have no idea what I've been through," you whispered, your voice barely audible. "To get here, to prove myself to everyone."

"Clearly, I don't," Paige shot back, her voice full of disdain. "Because if I did, maybe I would've seen what a complete waste of time it was to care about you."

The finality of her words was like a slap in the face. You stood there, stunned, feeling the weight of her anger and your own heartbreak. Without another word, you turned and walked out of the locker room, each step feeling heavier than the last.

As you stepped outside, the cool evening air did little to soothe the burning pain in your chest. Iowa was waiting, but now it felt more like an escape from a nightmare than a fresh start. You knew you could never go back, not after what had been said. The bridge between you and Paige was not just burned — it was incinerated.

Driving away, tears blurred your vision. The future was uncertain, and the path ahead seemed daunting. But one thing was clear: you were done with Paige, done with the hold she had over you. It was time to find a place where you could heal, far away from the person who had just torn your heart apart.

──

NOVEMBER 2022

"Welcome, everyone, to what promises to be an exciting game tonight!" The commentator's voice boomed through the arena. "We have Iowa facing off against Ohio State, and all eyes are on Y/N L/N, the transfer from UConn. Let's see how she gels with her new teammates, especially standout stars Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin."

"Y/N L/N, the former UConn star who made headlines with her controversial transfer, had seamlessly integrated herself into the Iowa lineup. Her defensive prowess, combined with her sharp shooting skills, had brought a new dimension to the team's gameplay."

"And there she is, folks! Y/N L/N, number 89, making her presence felt on both ends of the court. She's been a force to be reckoned with tonight, shutting down opponents left and right while sinking those crucial shots when her team needs them most."

From the moment the game tipped off, Y/N was in her element. She moved with a grace and confidence that captivated the audience, her presence on the court undeniable. Within minutes, it was clear that she had found her rhythm with her new team.

"Clark passes the ball to L/N... she fakes, drives to the basket... and what a beautiful layup! L/N puts Iowa on the board first with an impressive move."

The crowd erupted in cheers, and Y/N's teammates swarmed her, sharing her excitement. Clark gave her an encouraging pat on the back as she jogged back on defense.

"That's the kind of play Iowa fans were hoping to see from L/N," the commentator continued. "She brings a fresh energy and versatility to this team."

As the game progressed, Y/N's synergy with her teammates became even more apparent. She seamlessly integrated into the flow of Iowa’s offense, making smart passes and setting effective screens.

"Clark with the ball now, looking for an opening... she finds L/N at the top of the key. L/N drives, kicks it out to Martin on the wing... and it's a three! Kate Martin nails the shot, and L/N gets the assist."

Kate Martin and Caitlin Clark were all smiles, high-fiving Y/N as they took a moment to savor the play. The three of them were quickly becoming a formidable trio on the court, their chemistry undeniable.

"Y/N L/N is not just playing well—she's thriving," the commentator observed. "Her ability to read the game and make those around her better is exactly what Iowa needed."

In the second half, Y/N continued to shine, her defensive efforts just as impressive as her offensive contributions. She hustled for rebounds, dove for loose balls, and her tenacity was infectious.

"Ohio State struggling to get past L/N's defense... and she steals it! L/N on the fast break now... passes to Clark, who finishes with a perfect layup! What a dynamic duo!"

As the final buzzer sounded, Iowa secured a decisive victory. The scoreboard read 82-67, and Y/N's performance was a significant part of that success.

"And that's the game! Iowa takes the win, and what a debut for Y/N L/N. She finishes with 12 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. An all-around stellar performance."

"And there you have it, folks! A stunning performance from the Iowa Hawkeyes, led by the dynamic trio of L/N, Martin, and Clark. With players like these, the sky's the limit for this team, and the rest of the league better watch out!"

As Y/N waved to the cheering crowd, she couldn't help but smile. This was the fresh start she needed, and it was only the beginning.

──

"Great game tonight, ladies!" The reporter started, a broad smile on her face. "Y/N, this was your debut with Iowa, and you were nothing short of fantastic out there. How does it feel to be part of this team?"

You smiled, your eyes twinkling with a mix of relief and joy. "It feels incredible. The support from the coaching staff, my teammates, and the fans has been amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better start here at Iowa."

Caitlin, sitting to your right, nodded enthusiastically. "Y/N has been a fantastic addition. Her energy and skills have really brought a new dynamic to our team."

Kate Martin chimed in, a playful grin on her face. "Yeah, she fits right in. It's like she's been here all along, like seriously."

The reporter continued, "Y/N, you and Caitlin seemed to have an almost telepathic connection on the court tonight. Can you tell us a bit about how you've built such strong chemistry so quickly?"

You glanced at Caitlin, who gave you an encouraging nod. "Honestly, it's been pretty natural. Cait is such a smart player, and she makes it easy to connect and play off each other. We've been putting in a lot of extra time together, and it's really paying off."

Caitlin added, "Y/N is a hard worker, and her basketball IQ is off the charts. We clicked from day one, and it's only getting better."

Kate, not wanting to be left out, jumped in with a laugh. "Don't forget about me! The three of us have really gelled as a unit. We push each other to be better every day."

You put your arm around the blonde, earning a laugh from her. "Don't worry, Katie we wouldn't leave you out."

The reporter smiled, clearly enjoying the dynamic. "It's great to see such strong teamwork and friendship! What's next for this Iowa team? How are you planning to build on tonight's performance?"

You looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "We're just going to keep working hard, stay focused, and take it one game at a time. Tonight was a great win, but we know there's a lot of work ahead of us."

Caitlin nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. We have high expectations for ourselves, and we know we can achieve great things if we stick together and keep pushing."

Kate leaned in, her expression serious but with a hint of a smile. "We're aiming high. We want to make a deep run this season, and with Y/N on board, we feel like we can compete with anyone."

The interview wrapped up, and as the cameras turned off, the three players shared a group hug, your bond clear for everyone to see.

As they headed back to the locker room, Caitlin threw an arm around your shoulders. "You did great tonight. Welcome to the team, officially."

Kate added, "Yeah, we're glad to have you, Y/N. And this is just the beginning, trust."

──

"The fuck," Paige grumbled as she watched the post-game interview on TV, bitterness clear on her face. Nika and Aubrey exchanged amused glances as they watched Paige, who's eyes were glued on the screens.

Despite the fallout with Paige, you were still close with the rest of the team. You wouldn't let Paige get in between you and your old team, no matter the circumstances.

Paige's gaze finally averted from the screen, looking at the girls. "Does this shit not bother you guys like, not even a little bit?"

"Nah, P." Nika responded as she sighed, leaning back on the couch. "We're proud of her."

Aubrey continued, her tone gentle but firm. "I mean, you guys dated and shit. There's bound to be some bitter feelings, y'know."

Paige scoffed, crossing her arms tightly. "Yeah, well, it still sucks seeing her over there, acting like everything's fine."

Nika gave Paige a sympathetic look. "I get it, Paige. It's hard seeing someone you care about move on, especially after everything you two went through. But she's doing what's best for her. You have to respect that."

Aubrey nodded in agreement. "And honestly, she's killing it over there. Seeing her happy and thriving makes us happy, too. It's not about choosing sides—it's about supporting our friend."

"Did you hear her?" Their words went in one ear and out the other, her gaze turning back to the TV. "Oh Katie! We'd never leave you out. Like shut up," she mocked as Aubrey let out a laugh.

It was obvious she was jealous, it was a rare sight for the usually, confident blonde. Nika and Aubrey exchanged another glance, this time with knowing smiles. They could see right through Paige's facade.

"Wow, Paige, are you actually jealous?" Aubrey teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Never thought I'd see the day."

Paige rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. "I'm not jealous," she protested, though her tone lacked conviction. "I just don't like seeing her act all buddy-buddy with them."

"Sure," Nika said, leaning back and stretching. "It's just because she's happy and thriving without you, right?"

Paige shot her a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "Shut up, Nika."

Aubrey laughed again, patting Paige on the shoulder. "It's okay to admit you miss her, Paige. We all miss her. But she's doing what she needs to do, and we have to respect that."

"I do respect that." Paige interjected, her voice defensive. The three of them quieted down, continuing watching the TV. "I guess she has a thing for blondes," she mumbled under her breathe.

"Come on, Paige!" Nika groaned as Aubrey began to laugh uncontrollably. "Stop encouraging her, Aubrey."

Paige rolled her eyes, a faint smirk playing on her lips despite herself. "What? It's true. First me, now Kate. Seems like she has a type. Blonde, 6ft and hoopers, I mean..."

Aubrey wiped away a tear from laughing so hard. "Oh my god, Paige. You're insane."

Nika shook her head, trying to suppress her own laughter. "First, you are not 6ft. And maybe it's time to focus on your game and let Y/N do her thing. You can't keep dwelling on this."

"Yes, I am! With shoes, I am." Paige sighed, the humor fading from her expression. "And I know. It's just hard, you know? Seeing her so happy without me. Without us."

Aubrey softened, leaning in to give Paige a reassuring pat on the back. "You'll get there. It just takes time. And who knows, maybe this will be a good thing for both of you in the long run."

Paige nodded, her eyes drifting back to the screen where Y/N was still beaming in the post-game interview. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

Nika stood up, stretching her arms above her head. "Alright, enough of this. Let's hit the gym. We have a season to focus on, and we need you at your best, Paige."

Paige took a deep breath, standing up as well. "You're right. Let's go."

Aubrey joined them, a supportive smile on her face. "That's the spirit. And remember, we're here for you, no matter what."

↳ make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated !

↳ thank you for reading all the way through, as always ♡

[askgeno]

so how many secrets are actually in the forest maze

GENO: you’ll never know! (I forget how many there are myself...)

[terminaxshowtime]

Friday Night Funkin': Indie Cross- Info for Upcoming Updates + Speculations

So, this is a compilation of Upcoming Information and some speculations that I have. Some of these I know off the top of my head, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but most of this info was grabbed from the Wiki and the interview Brightfyre (new director) did.

Brightfyre and DAGames are the director and co-director, respectively, so most info will come from them.

Most of this is regarding the weeks and bonus songs. Please note that information for unused/cut content and animations are not in here. This page will be updated as we get new info.

Post under the cut, because it's a long one.

Confirmed Info

So, if you've been keeping up, you probably know that the next upcoming update will feature the series Hollow Knight- particularly, the character Hornet. Personally, I haven't seen Hollow Knight (although I will eventually) so I can't say much, but you can read about them here.

There are also songs for Baldi, the Binding of Isaac and Celeste (against Baldi, Isaac and Madeline respectively) found in the files of the Streamer build. Brightfyre has stated that they would be full weeks, and would just have them as bonus songs, similarly to what we have with characters like The Devil or Sammy.

The main weeks aren't complete, though, as Brightfyre stated for each update they aim to have one week, and a bunch of bonus songs.

Speaking of bonus songs, on the wiki page for Indie Cross it's been confirmed that King Dice will be one of the next bonus opponents!

Also, Cuphead and the Ink Demon are getting new and improved vocals! Chromatics aren't released yet, but they've been featured in the Mike Geno song "Crossed Out."

Confirmed Lore

So, as Moro was taken off the Indie Cross team, and most of the lore was his personal headcanons, they're basically rewriting the background story for Indie Cross.

What we do know, however, is that the weird figure seen in the intro cutscene is Nightmare Girlfriend, confirmed by Brightfyre, but there's not much to say as to why in the current story.

And while it's not really lore, and more of a backstory for the creation of Indie Cross itself, the whole mod is inspired by Brothers in Arms by DAGames.

Personal Speculations

Okay, everyone leave now, it's time for me to just make my own stupid personal inputs as to what I think is gonna happen.

As everyone knows, Shovel Knight and FNAF are both seen in the intro cutscene, and it seems as if they might be getting their own weeks, too? So there's a high chance of at least them being a bonus song, at most being their own week.

I think that games such as DDLC are absolutely NOT going to be in Indie Cross, likely because it already has its own major mod- Doki Doki Takeover- and it wouldn't fit the overall feeling that Indie Cross has.

I feel like it's possible for every current week to get a new bonus song in the next update- there's just so many options.

I personally believe that with every week, there will be a Nightmare song for that character. I doubt this will happen with bonus characters such as the Untitled Goose Game goose, because that is way too much power for anyone to deal with.

I think in terms of bonus songs, my best candidate for other Cuphead opponents would be Mrs. Chalice. We fought Cuphead, so why not her? Mugman couldn't find her in Knockout, according to what some dialogue I remember hearing said, so maybe not?

I would love for there to be a song with Chef Saltbaker, but since the DLC came out only a couple weeks ago it's probably not happening for another couple of updates.

For Undertale, I'm not entirely certain? Mettaton was GOING to have a Bonus song, but that was scrapped, yet there's still a chance he'll have a different song. It makes the most sense, too, considering in canon he would definitely challenge you to a rap battle.

The chance of Chara is low, but never zero. They've been done in FNF mods a lot, and according to the wiki they are barely visible over the locked symbol of the Bonus Week. There could be a Chara VS BF song that takes place during Burning in Hell, maybe.

And Deltarune also has a chance, but considering it's a different game they might not do a Deltarune bonus song. We already have a Deltarune mod in the form of Seek's Cool Deltarune Mod, though, so maybe not.

Finally, for BATIM, I'd say that Susie Campbell / "Alice Angel" is a pretty obvious choice. Most of the characters can't speak or communicate anymore, some of the ones which DO don't have a canon design and they wouldn't want to start a fandom argument or discourse, meaning that the only candidates left are essentially Allison, Tom, and Susie.

I doubt the first two would sing against us, and also, Susie is literally a voice actor/singer. There is no way that Boyfriend wouldn't challenge her to a rap battle.

So, for now, that's everything I have to say. Go ahead and correct me and/or tell me what your theories are for Indie Cross, because I love this mod too much to shut up about it.

UPDATE

Well, while Moro isn't working on any official Indie Cross content, if you skip past the first three (which are, of course, amazing and I can't WAIT for them, this looks so cool!) and look to the fourth one...

Well, this character looks familiar.

So, yes, it looks like Shovel Knight is confirmed to be getting at least an appearance, at most his own week! I can't quite make out what the text at the top says, it's very difficult to make out especially in the Indie Cross Nightmare font, so maybe I'll try to figure it out another day.

[gofancyninjaworld]

OPM in 2019, part 2

Yup, this was all too long, so I now have to attend to the manga.  This year, Murata kept his promise from 2018 to deliver regular chapters.  Even the passing of his father only made him take a few weeks off.   

By the numbers.  This year, Murata delivered 24 updates consisting of 624 pages.  It may not be the banner year of 2017 2018, but it still averages out at more than 50 pages a month.  He also drew 113 pages for volume releases in extra chapters, volume-only content and chapter redraws.  We thank you for your hard work, Mr. Murata!  

As to the words and pictures, much more below the cut!

beautiful and poignant -- probably the best cover this year. 

Be warned: this contains major plot spoilers

Broad Strokes

Last year focussed on the Hero Association response to the Monster Association, gathering up heroes, sorting out battle plans and sending them into the field. In the course of the war effort, the characters whom we’ve been following most consistently all got parked in one place or another.  We turned decisively away from Saitama, Genos, Garou, Fubuki, Bang, and King to focus on what the other heroes were doing, getting to know many more of them.   

This year, we’ve seen the first triumphant contact the heroes made gradually be eroded away as the monsters launch their counter-attack and one by one the parked characters have been brought back into the story to varying effect.  

2020 is promising to be the showdown year that will give us the final denouement, but I can’t promise that.  What I can promise is a closer look at the major themes of 2019.

Orochi

From half-assed plot to bad-ass plan

The first big thing is just how important Monster King Orochi has been to the story. More specifically, it's crazy how vital a linchpin he has been to Psykos’s humanity extermination plan.  The webcomic that doesn’t have Orochi makes her plan a sick joke. Like, seriously, how was Psykos planning to take over the world? In the webcomic, if things had gone to plan and she'd gotten rid of the heroes sent to the Monster Association, what then?  Not enough monsters to kill billions of people and no way to get the monsters that she does have there.  Monsters are also terribly uncooperative and undisciplined. The long-term cooperation to kill billions of people just isn’t going to happen -- without the clear, limited goal that killing Class S heroes was, they’ll just split up.  Society wasn't about to fall into a weeping puddle: we’ve seen both in the manga and the webcomic that there are loads of strong people, and that people are resilient and adaptable. It's like, that was a total idiot plot from the outset.  It’d end in failure as society adapted faster than the bickering monsters (those that didn’t leave) appreciated. 

yeah, you and what army?

On the other hand, Monster King Orochi makes Pyskos's dream a credible reality.  First, thanks to him, she got the cooperation of monsters like Elder Centipede, who was particularly important in the lead up to the Monster Association’s declaration of war.  It dug enough tunnels that monsters could appear simultaneously in multiple cities throughout the world.  Second, thanks to Orochi, she got millions of monster cells which meant that huge chunks of the population could be simultaneously monsterised in multiple locations, each able to help kill off the rest of humanity.  Their dry run two days previous to the current manga events confirmed that humanity simply couldn't cope with monsters showing up in so many places at once and yes, now they had a shot.  They could kill off the powerful organised heroes and then quickly make civilised life impossible before any credible fight back could be organised. 

This plan works.

when you realise that it’d only take a couple of hours to replenish the Monster Association’s forces

If that's all Orochi could do, it'd be plenty.  It made a bad, half-assed idiot plot into a real threat. But that's not all.  He's a crazy powerful monster, one Psykos was counting on to deal the death blow to the most powerful heroes, especially Tatsumaki.

Unfortunately for Psykos,  Saitama seems to have given Orochi a bad case of the deads.  And Amai Mask seems to have destroyed her precious store of monster cells.   Unless she have a back up depot of monster cells, her humanity extermination plan has hit a real snag. Many fans do hold out hope that Orochi isn't dead-dead and may Awaken to be real trouble.  But we'll see.

Acceptance

Speaking of Saitama and Orochi, something very important happened to Saitama’s character development that simply hasn’t happened yet in the webcomic.  Saitama accepted that yes, he’s just the strongest being alive.

We’ve seen Saitama struggle with not finding a worthy challenge.  He has bargained with it, dreaming of being weak enough to find the Subterraneans a threat.  He has been angry about it, shouting his outrage when Vaccineman died after one hit.  He has been depressed about it; we saw his whole collapse in the wake of the Superfight which led him to opening up to King.  And now, when he heard Orochi trying to introduce himself, he realised that this was just another useless blowhard like the jerk who’d kicked him to the moon and cut it short.  ‘What makes you so special?’ ‘Come at me then, but I’m expecting nothing.’

all according to expectation

It’s so rare to see Saitama show any character development, so this moment, small as it is, is really a profound step forward for the character.  We will see what happens as a result in chapters to come. 

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity

Good luck that is.  And that’s been shining on Psykos despite the setback of losing Orochi.  All the work we’ve seen her put in since chapter 57, observing heroes, sending out monsters to attack them and then seeing how they respond, has finally paid off.  

Between chapters 94 and 112, the manga really showed us precisely why the Class S heroes were so respected as the ultimate answer to the worst of the worst monsters. 

And now, by carefully siccing the right super-powerful monster on hero, Psykos has achieved what looked impossible: defeat Class S heroes en masse.

and bad luck is what happens when lack of preparation meets a challenge

It’s perfect, save monsters have a long-documented love of savouring their prey and aren’t killing the heroes as fast as they should.  Silly things: they leave the window open to rescue.

Machinations

A cyborg makes wild accusations...

Holy moly, has any hero’s stock risen and sunk as fast as Drive Knight’s has? In the space of a month, two updates, this enigmatic hero went from the new darling of the fandom to at best, a very self-interested ‘hero’ and at worst, the very traitor Metal Knight warned Child Emperor about.

We’ve known nothing about Drive Knight, what he did and just why he had a top ten ranking.  Well, we got a great masterclass in why when with a fantastic combination of power and guile, he defeated the cadre Nyan, making him the first hero other than Saitama to do so.  In fact Drive Knight is so polished in both the type of technology he has and the fluency with which he wields it that he makes Genos look like a glorified garage project. Oh wait... that’s accurate, isn’t it?

looking like Boros’s long-lost cousin, Drive Knight’s gold splendour

It’s what Drive Knight did next that set audiences against him. First, we learned that he watched the support heroes get cut down while he formulated the perfect plan. Okay, maybe he’s just a cold operator.   Second, the terrifying efficiency with which he pumped Sekingar for information on the vulnerability of the Hero Association, then failed to protect him when G-5 showed up to stop Sekingar from reporting back to the Hero Association.  Third, while we’ve known that Drive Knight is no fan of Metal Knight, accusing the latter of deliberately supplying the Monster Association is another story.  It has left us wondering whether Drive Knight is simply paranoid -- or is looking to deflect suspicion from himself.  What is not in question is that there really is a visitor from The Organisation harvesting the very data Drive Knight is worried about for the very purposes he outlines.  

Drive Knight did not look best pleased when Genos intervened in affairs and destroyed G-5, but handed over (or cut his losses?) peaceably enough.  For some reason, Drive Knight still seems to think that Genos is on his side, still going ‘we’ and making a distinction between them and the rest of humanity when explaining his desire to leave with Nyan. Why?

We have no idea when Drive Knight will reappear or quite what side he’s on, but one thing is for sure: he’s a powerful mover in this world and is bound to pose some dread challenge when he does. 

...but a greedy old man looks set to pay dearly

Top shadenfreude for me: if G5 didn't successfully remotely transmit everything it'd learned about the Metal Knight back, then Bofoi will be in the painful position of having to acknowledge that Genos got his wrinkly little nuts out of the fire. Yup, that guy Bofoi refused to help and left to die the first time he met.  That guy he started a whispering campaign against at the Hero Association.  That one. 

By the time Sekingar gets back and gives his story, Dr Bofoi will have most of the story. Once Child Emperor reports in,  Bofoi will have put all the bits together.  He’ll understand that he dodged a very large bullet as The Organisation had successfully hacked into his robot. And he was lucky their emissary didn't live to report its findings.   

How did Bofoi get in this shitty position?  By getting greedy.  He was so desperate to get a sample of Elder Centipede’s armour that he had his robot cling on and get carried into the Monster Association base.  And then let it sit and listen in. He didn’t budget on Orochi being able to disable the robot before he could trigger its self-destruct sequence. 

unfortunately for Bofoi, the Monster Association isn’t quite as selfish as he is and had no problem letting The Organisation harvest what it could of the machine they couldn’t themselves use.

It’s super unlikely that the Hero Association will take Drive Knight’s words uncritically, but they’re not stupid people -- they’ll understand that a major security breach has occurred. Suffer a little, Dr. Bofoi.

Old Players, New Roles

This year we have had no new characters introduced.  But we have had cause to re-evaluate several that we thought we knew. 

Sekingar was totally the breakout star here, surprising himself probably more than anyone else in finding that he truly did have what it took to be a hero.  I won’t go into it, full breakdown here.   What I will say is that unlike someone like Suiryu, who is just an ordinary person, Sekingar is very highly  placed within the Hero Association and looks set to be promoted further.  What he has to say and enact about the way heroes operate WILL have a disproportionate effect on the Hero Association, its future and maybe humanity’s safety. 

heroism is what you find when there are no good options but you do the right thing anyway

Genos continued to develop this year.  Last fight, he’d been devastated at not having been able to save any heroes.  This time out, saving people and showing a real resolve to take the fight to the monsters is front and centre of his actions, finally ending the hostage rescue part of the Hero Association plans.

it’s one thing to see a hero standing on top of a dead monster, but seeing this tiny guy on an armoured carrier and knowing that he could kill everybody in the convoy effortlessly did more to sell the insanity of Class S to me than many monster fights could. No wonder ordinary men call them monsters.

Two big changes from the webcomic to the manga have been first, splitting Genos off from the rest so he has to act out of his own heart rather than being carried along/supported by others. And second, giving him information about the monsters so he can descend to Hell with open eyes.  If any webcomic readers thought that Genos was being impulsive and naive when he took on the cadres rather than brave, the manga decisively lays that to rest.  This boy is truly courageous. 

Finally, the hero most known for scheming to lord it over others (in order to feel better about herself), Fubuki, closed out the year by showing an amazing side to her. 

She’s long hated dealing with strong monsters and Overgrown Pochi is her worst nightmare -- a true terror of a monster. She feels it all: inadequate, scared, frustrated, vulnerable.  Accepts that she’s almost certainly going to die.  And then uses her delusion of leading Bang and Bomb as a source of strength to bolster their bodies and protect them from harm for long enough for them to counter attack.

The bloodshot eye, the veins standing proud out of the sheer effort wrung out of her, the blood running down her face as she faces the monster.  No fucks given about decorum or looks: she’s going down swinging.  Bravo! 

Oh yeah, and Garou woke up.  He seems a bit mad. 

the second-best cover of 2019

[silverdragon-imagines-blog]

A Glitched Death - Chapter 5 - The Save Screen

Read it on AO3

Warning(s): Flashbacks

Other news first: I said I was planning on updating this twice a month next year, but that doesn't look like it'll happen. Once a month updates will resume. Otherwise, next year, I'm going to (try to) do monthly live streams on Picarto. It'll either be for Glitched Death or my other fandom: Linked Universe. Or video games, we'll see. I hope you're all enjoying this story as much as I am, we haven't even gotten to the next big plot point yet, and all of your comments and kudos really make me glad I'm sticking with it ^U^ Thank you.

Reaper would never admit to how tired his new job was making him. Not to his brother and especially not to Geno. Though he must be losing his acting ability since Geno immediately called him out on his bullshit the second he stepped foot in the Save Screen.

“You really need to take better care of yourself,” Geno huffed, dragging Reaper by the hand towards the couch that had been gifted to him. Reaper chuckled at how forceful his friend was, trying to make him rest by pulling him over the armrest so he landed face-first onto the plush fabric.

“I know, I know,” Reaper spoke through the puffy beige fabric of the couch, “just had a lot of work to do recently, barely any time to sleep.”

“Honestly, since when does work keep you from slacking off to come and see me? That’s so unlike you Reaps.”

Reaper could hear the almost pout in his voice, and he chuckled a bit until he felt his smile start to become sad. ‘So similar to each other...’

“Since when do you want me to slack off? Thought you kept telling me to get off of my lazy butt last time I was here,” Reaper chuckled, lifting his head onto his hands so he could watch as Geno sputtered and flushed at his words.

“Y-you’re twisting my words against me!” he finally screamed, flinging one of the ugly brown throw pillows at Reaper’s face. “You were sitting on me when I fell asleep on this stupid couch and you wouldn’t move you utter ass!”

“Whatever you say, Geno~” Reaper sang out his name, making said skeleton huff again in annoyance and turn away from him.

"Remind me again why I decided to befriend you."

“Oh let me count the ways~” Reaper sang again, and the other practically fell over trying to smother Reaper with the pillow.

Reaper laughed, the sound muffled from the force behind the smothering, and when the pressure was finally let up, Reaper could see how a smile worked its way onto the other's face despite fighting to hold a pout. Geno wasn't going to give him the satisfaction, and he knows that he was going to be ignored until Geno decided he was done being annoyed at him. Laughter tapering off into a sigh, Reaper flipped over onto his back to stare up into the “sky” of the Save Screen, and let his mind wander. Though his thoughts would always turn to Geno, his Geno that is, and not the copy he was currently being ignored by.

He knows it's not healthy to linger on the should haves and that he really did need to move on from his little Geno, and yet he couldn’t help but think that the other was still out there somewhere, waiting for him. But he had looked everywhere, hadn’t he? No one from that original timeline remembered anything that happened. It always hurt to know that he could have looked harder, should have looked much more and for far longer than he had. At the very least, he should’ve made an effort to spend time with him before. . . He should’ve been there, he should’ve --

“Reaps? You’re getting that look on your face again.” the fake Geno said.

“Hm? Oh, it’s nothing. Just a little tired,” Reaper lied, rubbing at his face where he knew cyan tears were gathering in the corners of his eyes. “What were you saying?”

Geno didn’t say anything for a while, just watching as Reaper rubbed at his sockets, concern growing evident on his face.

“. . . I’m worried about you Reaper. Ever since we’ve met, you’ve gotten… sadder the longer you’ve been around me. I-is it something I've done?”

Reaper froze. He never thought that he’d been so obvious with his feelings, trying to keep them hidden so that he could try again with this Geno. He swore he had managed to keep it all contained so well, for so long, but what good that was doing him now. Why is it now of all times that he’s breaking down? He was so good at pretending, faking being happy spending time with someone who looked so similar to his lost love until he was sure that it was starting to become actual happiness if not contentment. Why now of all times was he about to lose it?

“Are you ever tell me the truth and say what’s wrong?” Geno spoke again, this time leaning over Reaper’s face so they made eye-contact.

Reaper just stared straight ahead, not wanting to ruin the one good thing he had going for him, no matter how much it kills him inside. Then Geno tried to touch him, to cup his hand on the side of Reaper’s face, and the action had Reaper shortcutting off the couch, walking away from Geno before he lost what little control over himself he had left.

“Reaper? Reaps, wait!” Geno yelled, his slippered feet getting closer to where Reaper stood, motionless, “W-we don’t have to talk, j-just stay here okay? C-C’mon Reaps, you only got here a few minutes ago.”

Reaper made no move that he heard any of what Geno said, simply staring at him as Geno reached for his hand, holding it in a way that made his soul clench painfully at the care in the familiar motions.

“I-I care about you, Reaps.”

And Reaper shattered.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ ”Haha, oh Geno, you’re so cute,” Reaper laughed, wheezing slightly and clutching at his side where his ribs were broken.

“I’m trying to be serious you utter ass!” Geno shrieked, letting go of the other’s hand to throw the bandages he had been holding at his injured boyfriend.

“I can’t believe you. You show up here, almost fainting on top of me from magic loss and pain, only to laugh like a fucking child when I try to help bandage you up! Is this how you react to Respite when he says he cares about you?!” Geno’s voice got higher pitched as he yelled at Reaper, who only giggled at how annoyed his boyfriend was getting.

“Oh, c’mon now Geno. I’m not that bad, right?” Reaper teased, reaching for the bandages that landed next to him, placing his injured hand back on Geno’s lap, “Besides, Gen, you love me anyway, don’t you?”

“I do and I hate it,” Geno sighed, fondly smiling.

They fell to silence for a while. Reaper stealing glances at the other, while he worked on stopping the wounds from bleeding out any more. It was comfortable, and Reaper felt content, thinking about how lucky he was that he had someone like Geno. Then he got an idea.

“I’ll tell you what, Gen, once I’m all bandaged up, how about I grab Res and we can all watch a movie later. I’ll grab a bunch and you chose which ones we watch. Sound like fun?”

Geno seemed to think for a moment before he spoke again, completely deadpan.

“I dunno Reaps, I might try to get your brother to agree that you’re horrible to the both of us and make him disown you.”

Reaper squawked in mock offense, hand on his chest and mouth agape as Geno’s expression cracked into a smirk, barely holding in laughter.

“I can’t believe this, first my beloved boyfriend and now my brother? Who would do such a thing?” Reaper attempted to fall back on the couch they were on, only for Geno to pull on his arm. Hard.

“Ow, fuck, Geno! That hurt!”

“S-sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean to do that!” Geno scrambled to help Reaper get comfortable again, then gently lifted his boyfriend’s arm to see what the damage was. “Nothing got worse, thankfully, but it is technically your own damn fault you drama king.”

“I prefer the term drama Lord, thank you very much.” Reaper snarked, a shit-eating grin on his face while Geno rolled his eye.

“Yes yes, your majesty,” he sighed, smiling as he lifted Reaper’s hand and kissed the back of it, “You're lucky I love you.”

Reaper smiled back.

“And I wouldn’t trade my luck for anything in the entire Multiverse, because I love you too.”~

[midnightrose1520]

Mafia Afterdeath: Chapter 16; A Musicians Secret Revealed

( hey guys it's time! That right it's time for s new chapter of this action,swearing, romance comedy bloody action to continue!!!!i usually update on weekends but today I make an exception! I felt bad for not updating during my summer vacation a lot with the story since I was working. As well as the internet being garbage too. So definitely gonna try to update much as possible! Though I'll stick with weekends usually!! Anyways let's get rolling!) ---------------------------------------- Geno came into quite a surprise. He was expecting things. For example someone trying to hurt or rape Reaper or even maybe he got stuck on something. He was prepared with all things to go in with ease and coolness. Though how far he was thrown off by this that he couldn't handle what he seeing. His entire manly hood could not handle the gorgeous angel before him as sitting there gawking like a nard with a deep red blush. He gulps a little looking at the doll in front of him. "R-Reaper???", he says bewildered. Reaper embarrassed trying to cover himself shaking. Tears in his eyes, "P-please don't l-look at me I'm a f-f-freak !", he says as he starts to cry. What laid before Geno and the state Reaper somehow turned into a gorgeous sexy woman. With lovely curves and slightly thick with fine sized huge breast and a very nice big plump butt. (XD listen I'm not good at describing in sexual terms really without sounding dumb. There only so many words I have in my vocabulary! U chose to read my terrible writing u lovelies!!!) "woah woah easy doll face! Don't cry your gorgeous eyes out. Your no freak nor am I thinking that!", he says trying to comfort Reaper. Indeed, Geno admits to himself, it's a little strange seeing this as he ponders how on god's earth he become a women? He swore Reaper was male. Then again he not exactly normal either himself (hint hint for later on ;3). "Y-you don't think I'm a freak like this?...", Reaper says sniffing. Geno nods keep his eyes to focus on Reaper eyes. As he can't help but stare at Reaper breasts. "Of course I don't doll. Though how did this happen doll face?", he says looking up and down at Reaper still avoiding to stare at his breasts. "It happens once in a great while....I thought I had it under control but lately I been turning into this very l-lewd form", he says obviously uncomfortable on how his female state looks. "Well um le- woah!!!", he trips over on the edge of the carpet his face landing right in Reaper breast. Reaper squeaks falling over to the ground. "Oh gosh! Geno are you ok!?", he says worriedly. Though dear God above was Geno on cloud nine. He simply in heaven. Geno nose starts to bleed blushing like a mad man as every nerve in his body restricting him from just out right groping the wrack on Reaper's chest. Geno jumps back blushing remembering his face was in Reaper's chest, "Oh s-shit sorry d-doll! I-I didn't m-mean to l-land on your c-cheat...w-with m-my face", he says while still making flustered rapid apologies. Reaper never seen Geno worked up like this. Not even when Geno rescued him from that awful man from rapping him was he worked up like this. So why was this so different? What was making Geno so worked up? These were the thoughts that kept crossing Reaper's mind. Though at the same time feeling warmth inside his chest seeing Geno very hard trying to apologize for something that wasn't his fault. The only other person in this world who didn't give him a perv look or disgust on his face seeing him like this. Maybe no wonder why he in love with this upbeat charismatic mafia boss."wait what!?", Reaper says thinking that to himself. He shakes off these thoughts for now.Reaper smiles though and giggles a little,hugging Geno. His breast press on Geno chest making Geno fluster more. "It's ok Geno. It wasn't your fault silly", he says giggling. Geno can't help but smile at this angle hugging him as he himself hugs back. "Thanks doll", he says kissing his nose. Reaper blushes very hard at the gesture shyly covering his face. "Now how long does this last?", he says to Reaper. Reaper shrugs, "It varies a lot but usually a cold shower is what usually does the trick. I'll explain later...about this", he says softly gesturing at this body of his. Geno nods, "I'll let you do that then. I'll wait outside the door for yea", he says with the blush on his face still. Reaper nods and goes into the bathroom. Geno outside the room waiting for him thinks that maybe Reaper isn't as different from himself. For he sees that both him and Reaper both hold there own secrets. Though one thing for sure. This is going to be an interesting lunch. (Boom chapter done!!!!!! Geno belongs to @loverofpiggies Reaper belongs to @renrink Sci belongs to @loverofpiggies Demon belongs to respective owners The underfell and underswap bros belong to respectful owners This story belongs to me and the characters are in this story Hope u enjoy! Peace!!)

[williamsjoan]

PAX Unplugged 2018 — Our Four Favorite Tabletop Games from the Show

The first thing you’ll notice when walking into PAX Unplugged, the tabletop gaming convention from Penny Arcade, is that the whole thing is quite literally unplugged. Ditching the ubiquitous, towering high-definition screens of Comic-Con, E3, and other traditional PAX conventions, PAX Unplugged is much kinder on the senses with its sole focus on tabletop gaming.

PAX Unplugged 2018 ended almost a month ago, and yet, I can’t stop thinking about the tabletop games I had the opportunity to play while there. In a busy holiday season littered with familial obligations and beefy single-player video game releases, PAX Unplugged reminded me of the camaraderie and fellowship that accompanies tabletop gaming. Sometimes, it’s nice to cut the cord and pull up a chair around the table, and PAX Unplugged promises just that.

Without any further ado, here are some of the games I played at PAX Unplugged that have stuck with me in one way or another.

Godsforge

Godsforge is an upcoming game from Brendan Stern where players take on the role of magical blacksmiths that are able to conjure creatures and spells. Effortlessly blending high-fantasy lore with Yahtzee-inspired dice mechanics, Godsforge hits a magnificent stride between luck and skill oriented gameplay styles.

The core gameplay loop of Godsforge is pretty simple—players simultaneously roll four dice, trying to roll the dice values present on the card they wish to activate. If they’re not happy with the results of their roll, they may reroll any number of dice two times or spend veilstones (Godsforge’s in-game currency) to augment the values of their dice. The creatures and spells activated with these rolls offer a large array of outcomes from providing health, giving players a shield, attacking the player to the left, or granting players a temporary or permanent effect. The only way to win Godsforge is to be the last man standing, or if every player dies, end up with the least negative health points.

One of the coolest things about Godsforge is the way that it unravels at the end of each match; once one player is eliminated, surviving players take a hearty seven damage each round until the game is over. This mechanic ensures that games won’t drag out, and more importantly, that your fellow players won’t have to wait too long to get back in on the action. Considering that all of the actions in the game take place simultaneously, every facet of Godsforge seeks to keep all players at the table engaged at all times.

Godsforge is expected to come out in the second quarter of 2019.

Star Realms: Frontiers

I have to be honest—I didn’t think I could play a deck-building game in 2018 that would make me desperate to jump back into the genre. Burnout from (fantastic) games like The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring Deckbuilding Game and Tyrants of the Underdark made me prioritize more board-oriented wares in my search for my next tabletop purchase. That’s why I was so surprised when I fell in love with Star Realms Frontiers, a space-themed deck-building game that does everything right.

It’s important to note that Star Realms: Frontiers didn’t introduce me to any new deck-build mechanics or features: in no way did the game change what I thought about the deck-building genre or change my outlook on it. However, that being said, Star Realms: Frontiers feels like the perfect amalgamation of the genre—it understands what works, what doesn’t work, and trims the excess fat off what makes similar titles feel sluggish and unbalanced. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise; after all, Star Realms Frontiers is a soft-reboot and a rebalancing of 2014’s Star Realms. Labeled as a standalone expansion, Frontiers rebalances the original Star Realms’ formula and provides an incredibly streamlined, ultimately rewarding deck-building experience.

Star Realms: Frontiers’ play begins like every other deck-building game; players are given starting cards that either contain currency (called Trade) or deal damage (called Combat) to other players. Using this starting currency, players buy additional cards (made up of ships and bases) from the game’s in-game market that are then placed into their discard piles and shuffled into their deck when necessary.

Like a lot of deck-building games, Star Realms Frontiers contains a ton of in-game synergy; however, in Star Realms: Frontiers this synergy is color-coded. Red Faction cards will buff other red Faction cards, while blue Faction cards generally help other blue Faction cards. While this may seem overly simple, you still have to balance card acquisition with having enough Trade, as well as watching out for opponents stocking up on the same Factions.

One of my favorite aspects of Frontiers is its bases. Unlike ships, which upon being used are discarded, bases stay in front of players until they’re destroyed. Some of these bases contain gray shields, shields that protect the base from a certain threshold of damage: other bases contain black shields, shields that prevent any player from attacking the base’s owner until the base is destroyed. In addition to providing lasting gameplay effects, these bases become invaluable in the late stages of Star Realms: Frontiers. Seeing as the game’s objective is to be the last one standing, these bases become critical for avoiding opponents’ attacks.

Star Realms: Frontiers (like the original Star Realms) was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and raised over $1.1 million last year. The game contains a treasure trove of add-ons and expansions and shows no signs of stopping. You can buy Star Realms: Frontiers for $19 on Amazon.

…and then we died

I have to get something off my chest—I’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons. Yes, I understand that D&D is a tabletop rite of passage, and yes, I understand that I have no excuse at this point. However, it never felt like there was a right time for me to get into the game. Throughout my teenage years, it seemed like I would never be able to wrangle up enough folks to start a proper D&D campaign. Similarly, in adulthood, it seems almost laughable to think I can regularly get the same group of people together week-after-week.

As a result of my life-long aversion to D&D, I’ve never really played a tabletop role-playing game. This was a secret I shamefully carried around with me until I reached killjoys’ booth at PAX Unplugged and played the wonderful …and then we died.

…and then we died isn’t exactly a role-playing game; it’s more of a storytelling game that allows you to roleplay. Additionally, it’s the only game on this list (and the only game I played at PAX) where there’s no winner or loser. Designed to be played when “there are some bottles on the table,” (according to the killjoy representative), ATWD tasks players with recounting the story of how they died.

ATWD’s gameplay is extremely simple; players draw cards that have letter fragments on them and, at the end of their turn, add a card to the existing pile on the table to create a new word. The next person to improvise the story must incorporate that word in some way. For example, when a fellow player created the word “Sin” and chose me to continue the story, I threw a wrench in our story and stated that somebody at the table was lying, and thus, sinning against God. Once every card has been played, the last player must wrap the story up and conclude the game by saying the phrase “and then we died.”

Keyforge

I’ve played Keyforge four times now and I’m not sure if I love it or hate it. That being said, Keyforge served as the silent center of PAX Unplugged 2018. Final Flight Games, Keyforge’s publisher, operated a demonstration area for the game that was consistently packed to the brim during the show. In fact, the owner of Top Deck Games, a New Jersey game shop, told me that he sold nearly 1,600 Keyforge decks over the duration of PAX Unplugged this year.

So what exactly is Keyforge? Created by Magic the Gathering designer Richard Garfield, Keyforge is a “unique deck game.” If you’ve never heard this term before don’t worry: Keyforge claims that it’s the world’s first “unique deck game.” Incorporating aspects of trading card games and living card games, Keyforge is essentially a procedurally-generated card game, with each deck in the world containing a different combination of cards.

Buying a Keyforge deck is essentially like buying a loot box. While this may seem unpalatable for some, it’s certainly enticing to those (like me!) that don’t wish to spend a small fortune on Magic cards. Additionally, the joy of parsing through a new deck and figuring out its mechanics is unbeatable. While I’m not sure if Keyforge will have the stopping power of Garfield’s other projects (especially Magic the Gathering), it’s certainly a novel concept.

Stray Observations from PAX Unplugged 2018:

-It’s kind of refreshing to not pay extremely ridiculous prices for food at a convention. After being rinsed by New York Comic-Con during the most frugal days of my youth, it’s definitely refreshing to buy a Diet Coke and a pretzel in Philadelphia for less than $10.

-The verdict is in: Pat’s rules and Geno’s drools. While I enjoyed both of the cheesesteaks, Pat’s felt a million times greasier and that’s how a cheesesteak should feel. I will not be reading any comments.

-The city planners that worked on Philadelphia deserve a raise. The bus station, the convention center, and my hotel all happened to be on the same block. Getting to PAX Unplugged was one of the easiest, hassle-free traveling experiences (for a convention) of my life.

-Nintendo Switch travel update: I played exactly one run of Enter the Gungeon before falling asleep on the bus.

The post PAX Unplugged 2018 — Our Four Favorite Tabletop Games from the Show by Travis Verbil appeared first on DualShockers.

PAX Unplugged 2018 — Our Four Favorite Tabletop Games from the Show published first on https://timloewe.tumblr.com/

[flauntpage]

Flying With the Wings: A Chat with Philadelphia Wings players Kiel Matisz and Matt Rambo

The Wings are back and better than ever. With a new look and updated branding, the NLL expansion team has begun to establish an identity off the field, but I’ve been wondering what the on-field product will look like. Last weekend, I spoke with NLL champion Kiel Matisz and rookie La Salle College High School grad Matt Rambo.

Kiel Matisz

I asked Matisz what it’s like to be traded from a championship team to one looking to build an identity and establish themselves in the league. We also talked about Matisz’ interest in history and food.

Russ: You just came off the pinnacle of any player’s career, winning the NLL championship in a 66 point season. When you come to a new team, is there any kind of a culture shock? What does it feel like coming from a championship club to someone who’s trying to reestablish an identity in Philadelphia?

Kiel Matisz: I’m super excited about the opportunity. Obviously, when you’ve spent your whole professional lacrosse career with one organization, you don’t really know anything different. To leave Georgia, the friendships I that I’ve built for the last six years, was tough. That’s the reality of it. The Swarm organization is a fantastic organization for the time I was there. I’m super excited personally to be coming to this organization, the City of Brotherly Love is fantastic. Bringing Jordan Hall, my old teammate to my new team is fantastic. I know a lot of the guys; lacrosse is a small community. I think we’re gonna build a  good team, a great culture. It’s exciting getting to establish that. All your ground rules, all your guidelines, how you want to play, your identity. I’m excited to get that going. I’m kind of in the middle of my career. It’s good to get a fresh start.

More after the jump:

Russ: Is there anything from off the field that you might miss about Georgia? Something cultural that you might seek out in Philadelphia?

Matisz: Atlanta is a really big city, kind of a cultural hub, but for me honestly I’m more excited to learn more about the history of the city of Philadelphia. We were here a month ago right after we got drafted. I’m not necessarily a history buff, but as we toured the city, people were throwing out tidbits about the history this city has. I kept saying, “I wanna learn more! I wanna learn more!” I haven’t moved down here yet, but I’m definitely excited to experience and immerse myself and my family into this culture. Our Wings’ organization has been fantastic, getting my family involved. I just had a newborn son, first son, he’s four months old now. It’s a family-first organization, so I’m happy to immerse myself into Philadelphia.

Russ: Let’s get one of the stereotypical questions out of the way. Have you been touring the cheesesteak joints in the area?

Matisz: Yep.

Russ: Give me some honest feedback. Don’t feel like you have to pick one over the other or go with something obscure.

Matisz: What are the two touristy ones? Geno’s and Pat’s?

Russ: Geno’s is the one that has the neon lights. Pat’s is the low-key one across the way.

Matisz: More of a traditional vibe… I was a Pat’s guy. When we tried them both, Pat’s kind of mixed everything together. Geno’s was more layered, so I’m a Pat’s guy.

Russ: Are you open to exploring more options as your career continues?

Matisz: Totally. That’s my type of food. I’ll try ’em all.

Russ: What was your cheese preference? Did you go with the whiz, American, Provolone? These are important things. People want to know.

Matisz: I went with the whiz. That’s the authentic style, right? I was surprised though. I kept calling it a bun, right? You guys call it a roll. I was getting chirps left, right, and center about the fact I kept calling it a bun. I didn’t know that people judged their cheesesteaks on the fact that it’s about the bun… the roll. It’s a cheesesteak. You should be judging on the cheese and the steak, but… I’m a Pat’s guy.

Russ: Since you just won a championship, you’re trying to establish a new culture, you’re certainly going to be leaned on as a leader here. As you try to build the identity collectively as a team, if you had to give me one thing that Philadelphia Wings fans can look forward to in terms of playing style on the field, is there anything that stands out to you that people can expect on day one when this team takes the field?

Matisz: I think the best and simplest M.O. is to have as a team is to work hard, play hard. When you do those things to establish work ethic and push through. Everyone loves the pride in the city of Philadelphia, the blue collar mentality. I grew up in a blue collar mentality. As a first generation lacrosse player, I had to work hard myself to get to where I am today. I think a lot of guys are in the same boat in this group. We’re gonna be a hard working team. We’re not going to take any shifts off. Hopefully we’re gonna be a physical team and we’re gonna have that in-your-face attitude and hopefully the fans get behind that, support that, and rally around that.

Matt Rambo

I asked Rambo about making the transition from a national championship University of Maryland team to his hometown club. We also discussed whether or not personal accolades mean anything to him as he enters his rookie season.

Russ: As you make the jump from reaching the pinnacle in college of winning a national championship to your hometown team, First of all what does it feel like to be playing for a team that at one point did exist, went away for awhile, now has reemerged, what does that feel like?

Matt Rambo: It’s a dream come true, playing in your home city. I wouldn’t wanna play anywhere else. It’s going to be so much fun this year with the atmosphere the Wings have. I used to go to the games when I was little, I have pictures of myself with Wings gear on. Now, they’re back and season tickets are selling like crazy. Everyone seems so excited for it. Our fans are excited. I’m grateful to be playing in Philly.

Russ: As you continue to make this transition, is there anything you’ve learned so far in terms of getting set up for what NLL competition is going to look like?

Rambo: Yeah, I’ve been talking to a lot of guys about playing. I’ve played box (indoor lacrosse) a bit before. I’m a big guy, I’m physical. All the physicality I can. I’m just gonna learn from these older guys and follow in their footsteps and give it my all.

Russ: Looking ahead to the season, is there anything you think is going to be challenging as a professional? Travel? Do you like to travel? Do you like to fly? Are you more of a bus guy?

Rambo: I fly a lot. I travel a lot with the outdoor game, I do camps and clinics. I travel all over the country every other weekend. I love the travel and seeing new cities. The best thing is all of these guys I’m going to be friends with, the team camaraderie is what I look for. A lot of people don’t get that after college. I’m lucky enough to play at the next level. Being able to have that team camaraderie and make more friends and have friends for life.

Russ: Let’s get the stereotypical one out of the way. You’re a local guy, so I expect a really good answer on this one. Best cheesesteak place? I hate asking the question, but people want to know.

Rambo: That’s easy, man. I think Steve’s Prince of Steaks is the best.

Russ: What makes Steve’s the best?

Rambo: I like Steve’s because they have the long meat. They don’t chop it up. I love that. The bread’s great, obviously you have to have good bread to make a good cheesesteak. I do whiz, I do American, but at Steve’s they have the melted American, which is like a whiz, but it’s American so you can just pour it on. I love theirs and I think it’s the best, that or Dalessandro’s. Steve’s is my #1.

Russ: Expectations for this season for yourself and your team?

Rambo: I think our team will do well. Obviously we’re hanging out now, it’s all about team chemistry and team bonding. You can’t have a great team without getting along, so I think so far everyone’s been getting along super. I’m not going to say we’re going to win or we’re going to lose, I don’t really know what’s going to happen. We’re just starting training camp, but I know for me I’m going to give it my all. All these guys are gonna bust their ass 24/7, so that’s all you can ask for someone.

Russ: Do you worry about any of the personal accolades or do we just go with the standard corporate answer of, “It’s all about the team?” Does any of that kind of stuff mean anything to you as a player in your first professional season?

Rambo: No, I think it’d be cool to win something or it’d be cool if I got a rookie accomplishment, but you don’t really make individual accomplishments without having your teammates back you up. When I was at Maryland, I won my accomplishments, but I wasn’t able to do that without my teammates being so good. I was just in the right spots. If everything falls in the right spots, hopefully I can win some personal ones, but it’s all about the team first. Personal things don’t really mean anything in the long run. It’s all about whether or not you win  a ring.

Russ: You talked about how the team had gone away for a while and you attended games as a kid. What’s the one thing you want to express to fans who might be new to the sport in the time that the Wings have been gone that you think they’re going to be able to look forward to when they fill the arena?

Rambo: Back in the day, the Wings games were electric. They were so much fun. It’s a family thing and it’s affordable. If you don’t know the game, you should come out to the game and watch. I guarantee you’ll love it. It’s like a mixture of hockey, basketball, and a bunch of sports. It’s fast-paced, lots of goal-scoring. You can’t really not have fun there, so if you wanna have a good time and have fun cheering on another Philly team – because we have the best fans in the world – come out and support!

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