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guerilla935 · 4 years

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Modern Role Playing Games For People That Want To Get Into RPG‘s

You may have heard of a little game that’s come out recently called Final Fantasy VII Remake. There has been a lot of talk about this game having inspired a lot of people to play a game that they skipped back in the day or inspired them to pick up another RPG because they were so engaged in it. Final Fantasy VII Remake isn’t going to make it into this article because I haven’t had a chance to play it yet. But if you’ve always been curious about the RPG genre or maybe you have just finished Final Fantasy VII Remake and are hungry for more, I have a pretty good selection of RPG’s that could offer you the chance to get into a genre of games that maybe you hadn’t considered before. The games on the list are primarily “modern” and what I mean by that is the games will not be SNES era games but rather games that are probably more accessible and easier on the eyes. The games are (as always) limited to what I have had the chance to play. And the games that have been selected were chosen based on the following criteria: low complexity of combat, world building, leveling curve (lack of grinding), and visual appeal. Some of you may want to dive straight into the deep end and download some anime RPG on Steam or find a copy of Chrono Trigger or some certain PS1/NES era RPG and if you can do that then you are an absolute trooper but this post will focus on newer titles rather than the classics. Also if you want me to spotlight a game that you want to recommend put it in the notes because I love getting suggested games! And if you have any questions my messages are always open and I have all the free time to answer them. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way here are games that I recommend as good starting places if you want to get into RPG’s.

Kingdom Hearts

(PS2/PS3/PS4/XBOne)

Kingdom Hearts is a cross over series that blended the worlds of Final Fantasy with Disney. What makes this game attractive to new players is the Disney half and what hooks them in is the Final Fantasy half. The game is easy to pick up and keeps you consistently engaged in enough story and new locations to keep you wanting more after the credits role. The combat is easy, only requiring a few buttons and allows the player to advance effortlessly without having to worry about their gear or level. The platforming sections help form a cohesive world that is small enough to allow its player to mentally map the whole game easily. The game still tosses around complex themes and sullen moments so it is still very viable to play for adults even though it may take you a good while to start seeing the fruits of that. This is an easy pickup for anyone that is thinking that just maybe they want to try a role playing game that tells a large story in a manageable amount of time that doesn’t require a huge amount of your brain power to get through.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

(PC/PS4/PS3/XB360/XBOne/Switch/PSVR)

Skyrim is an open ended role playing game where you create a character and exist in a fantasy world full of dragons and wizards. It’s exactly what most people associate with when they think about fantasy and most of the time it is where people go when they want that sort of experience. If you are trying to play an RPG that tells bite sized stories but includes enough world building to have you reading Skyrim history books until 4 in the morning then perhaps Skyrim is a good game to try. The controls are similar to any other first person game so if you are not familiar with that then there is a learning curve attached to it, other than that there is a wide range of difficulties that allow just about anyone to be able to play through the game. The snowy vistas make this game a beautiful option and the way that the scope of the world reaches miles in front of you gives a really liberating sense of freedom. Skyrim has the potential to become a hardcore obsession but also allows a lighter and more casual experience for people who just want to see main stories.

Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

(PS4/PC)

Ni No Kuni II is a fun game that applies big ideas into digestible pieces. The combat is very simple to learn and fun to exploit. The game adds a strategy mode where you command troops that isn’t awesome but also introduces a town building mechanic that is easy to understand and gives you a visual sense of progression. The story is awesome and keeps the world of Ni No Kuni grounded into its fantastical fantasy setting that borrows a lot from everyday life. The game borrows from the art of Studio Ghibli and is heavily inspired by movies like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. If any of that sounds like it is interesting to you then this is easily a fun opportunity to bring a unique RPG into your gaming library.

Pokemon Sword and Shield

(Switch)

I’m willing to admit two things. The first being that I truly believe that Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum were the best Pokemon games and that normally I would recommend that someone just play that game instead. However, the second is that Pokemon Sword and Shield are the definitive versions of Pokemon that rid the game of the dated mechanics of previous titles. Pokemon is the monster taming game, the game is a celebration of being able to constantly change who you are playing as and it feels endlessly personal. Pokemon is a great intro to turn based combat that does a great job teaching things like elemental weaknesses and speed stats. This is definitely the easiest, most customizable, and cute, way to enter the RPG genre.

Persona 5 Royal

(PS4)

Persona 5 Royal is the definitive version of Persona 5 which is the latest installment in the Shin Megami Tensei spinoff series called Persona. The game is about balancing daily high school life with traveling into another dimension to fight shadows. The game has a lot of things in it, a day to day manager, a dating sim, turn based RPG, fishing, darts, batting cage, etc. Persona 5 also drips with style, from the amazing art to the fantastic soundtrack. The combat takes some learning but if you set the difficulty all the way down it becomes an accessible experience at no cost to the gripping story. You are guaranteed to fall in love with this game if you end up playing it and it’s bound to create an obsession that has you playing Persona 4 as well as Persona 3. This is an intimidating game to start but with the difficulty set low you really can’t mess up the other portions of the game so there is always a good way to make sure you can experience one of the best games on the PS4.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age

(Switch/PS4/3DS/PC)

Dragon Quest XI is the funniest game on this list. The writing also ironically follows plot lines from other media like Marvel Cinematic Universe or Dragon Ball. You’ll also notice that the game looks a lot like Dragon Ball so if you ever wanted a Dragon Ball fantasy RPG then you might be in luck. The story is driven home by its amazing cast and continues to supply the player with things to do way after the credits have rolled. The turn based combat is very traditional so maybe try this game if you don’t mind learning an older style of game play presented in a fun and easy to understand setting. Dragon Quest XI is guaranteed to hook you in with its likeable characters and grand story telling, if you are at all attracted by the promises of dumb humor, excellent writing, and incomparable character development you should plan on purchasing this game.

Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn

(PS4/PC)

An MMO is an RPG too. And as I’m writing this the current best place to live a virtual life is in Final Fantasy XIV. As someone who has tried almost every free to play MMO on the market I can say with absolute certainty that you get what you pay for and the subscription to FFXIV is worth every cent if you want to get into an MMO. The game is large and intimidating and complex, however, the game is also home to one of the friendliest communities I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with and they make the game as special as it is. This is why people that don’t even like video games are drawn to FFXIV because it is an amazing social experience that also happens to be an amazing MMO experience. The story is the best in terms of MMO story lines and the combat is vast boasting 18 completely unique combat classes. I can’t recommend this game enough and if you have ever considered an MMO then I can guarantee you that this is the one that you want to be playing.

Fantasy Life

(3DS)

Fantasy Life is a game about grinding professions. It looks like Animal Crossing and kind of plays like Animal Crossing would if you could also slay beasts and smith armor in that game. If you are familiar with Life Sim games then this is just the fantasy RPG version of that. The game gives you a job and makes it insanely fun to do that job with fun mini games and a rewarding economy system. This is the “relaxing” game on the list so if you like games like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon and you may want to try more combat heavy games then this is a great Segway into that genre of game.

Diablo III

(PC/Mac/PS3/PS4/XB360/XBOne/Switch)

Diablo III is probably the most famous ARPG which just means that you are looking down from an isometric point of view and are typically facing hordes of monsters to achieve hordes of loot. I would say that Path of Exile might be catching up fast to Diablo but if you want to ease into an ARPG then Diablo III is much more forgiving. The game is instantly rewarding and gives you a lot of customization with your skills and appearance. This game tells an epic story but has too much game in between story beats to make it worth playing for. Although I would recommend this game to a new player that only wants to play an RPG for its gear management and game play versatility without having to sit through endless cut scenes.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

(Switch)

In Fire Emblem: Three Houses you play as the combat teacher of one of three groups of kids. You decide what they learn and how well they get at it. The game is a strategy RPG so you are using your brain a bit more to assess situations than the other games on this list. However, Fire Emblem streamlines the system into something easy to understand that is accessible to most new players. While I don’t recommend this game to every new RPG player I’d say that if you really want a game that makes you think rather than hit buttons randomly than you might enjoy the deeper engagement that this game offers. Note that the Fire Emblem series is known for using a very evil emotional weapon called “party member perma-death” which you can absolutely turn off if you would like a less stressful experience. Or live for the thrill, I won’t tell you what to do.

Final Fantasy XV

(PS4/XBOne/PC)

Final Fantasy XV isn’t a normal Final Fantasy game. It is a road trip that you can’t truly appreciate unless you get distracted. Over the years RPG’s have been known for putting a large amount of side activities in their games, Final Fantasy XV takes its story and encases it in casual game play that involves long drive and lots of fishing and camping. This game is not for everyone but its more casual approach will appeal to a newer audience than a hardened veteran of the Final Fantasy series. People looking for their first RPG won’t be totally swayed by the story here but they will have seen that the journey can be fun if you let it.

So You Wanna Start An RPG

Take it from someone who has played the opening hours of a lot of games and then quit that sometimes you just can’t get yourself to like a game. You owe it to yourself to find in entertainment something that you like. I consider myself more of a casual RPG player, I’ve never beaten any of the classics and I can hardly finish a lot of the RPG’s that I own now. But I think that fickleness makes me a good source to recommend a good RPG for people that may not have the patience to play through a Final Fantasy IV or a Golden Sun. Also remember not to rule out experiences just because people say that they are “bad” because opinions are subjective to you personally. RPG’s have the power to tell moving and important stories, and as a player of them I hope I’ve given anyone reading this some incentive to experience a larger than life story.

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patricksilverrose · 4 years

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Current Music Obsessions: March 2020

March was a wild month and April is looking like it's gonna be another wild one. I did have a few jams though, including a good bit of Eurovision songs that were supposed to happen this year. So let's start out by checking out the honorable mentions.

Lingua Ignota - Butcher of the World Elderwind - In the Morning In Tormentata Quiete - R136a1 Mesarthim - ..... Macbeth - Dead and Gone Znich & Rutvica - Ой над ракою Sermon - The Drift Astrid in Avantgarden - Sing to Me Emerald Mind - We are One Gjon's Tears - Repondez-moi (ESC: Switzerland) Go_A - Solovey (ESC: Ukraine) Elhaida Dani - I'm Alive Alicja - Empires (ESC: Poland) Ulrikke - Attention (ESC: Norway)

Purple Nail - Lust and Desire Eyes of Eden - Man in the Flame Divitius - Memento Mori Hellena - Love is Dead Martyrium - Curse of Salvation (live) Ignea - Disenchantment The Hardkiss - Косатка Kaliopi - Crno I Belo (live at ESC 2012) The Roop - On Fire (ESC: Lithuania) Hurricane - Hasta La Vista (ESC: Serbia) Septicflesh - Faceless Queen Little Big - Uno (ESC: Russia) Tornike Kipiani - Take Me as I am (ESC: Georgia) Darkwell - Fate Prisoner Apocalyptica - Live or Die feat. Joakim Broden (Sabaton) Darkwell - Moloch Issues - Hero Fallcie - Parasites Emphasis - Hate is All You Left for Me Natalia Gordienko - Prison (ESC: Moldova)

Now for my main obsessions.

Johari - Jewel

These guys make such gorgeous music. I love ambient/atmospheric djent bands like these guys. The music is so pleasant and great to vibe to. This is my new favorite from them. The singer's voice is absolutely beautiful and the melodies are lovely. If you enjoy Tesseract, highly recommend these guys.

Samanta Tina - Still Breathing (ESC: Latvia)

This was the first of 2020's Eurovision entries that I heard and holy tits is it epic. Homegirl is a powerhouse. I really hope that Latvia will keep her for next year even if they decide to change songs, because she finally made it and I know how devastated she'd be if she lost the chance to represent them. Anyways, go check out this power house of a girl power track.

Spiritbox - Blessed Be

Stunning. Absolutely stunning. I know they've released some soft songs in the past, but I don't think they've done anything like this type of soft. The upbeat chorus, the pleasant pre-chorus, the insane breakdown; I love it all. I'm so looking forward to the full length album that'll be coming later this year.

Efendi - Cleopatra (ESC: Azerbaijan)

This song caught me so far off guard in so many ways that it's mind boggling. Showing love for the lgbt community in the first verse, female empowerment throughout, that exaggerated pronunciation of Cleopatra in the chorus, those deep vocals before the chorus, that rave-esque exit. We always stan a bombastic masterpiece.

Athena Manoukian - Chains on You (ESC: Armenia)

I never thought I'd hear a track like this in Eurovision. This is such a bomb trap-hop/r&b track and I live for it. Such a bomb track with such a bomb video (the lighting is everything). I really hope they keep this song, because I know that performance will be so dope.

Carach Angren - Monster

This is the first single off their upcoming album and it's exactly what I love from these guys: spooky storytelling wrapped up in a symphonic black metal package. I love how the verses are mainly just spoken with very little happening with the instrumentals. It just helps to further push and create this dark atmosphere that I just love from these guys.

Wilderun - The Tyranny of Imagination

Spotify recommended these guys to me, so I decided to check out this track from them and I'm blown away. This is some really cool proggy goodness. I'm definitely gonna check out more from them. The production is solid and the singer's cleans are so lovely. It's both really intense, but kinda dreamy and a bit psychedelic at the same time. It's a really interesting song.

Arilena Ara - Shaj (live)/Fall from the Sky (ESC: Albania)

Again Albania is my favorite this year and I'm hoping that they keep it for next year. I have both the performance from the selection process when it was originally Shaj included here because that's how I fell in love with it. It's such a dramatic power ballad and I absolutely love it. Then they revamped it and changed it to Fall from the Sky and also turned it into an Enlish song instead of being in Albanian. I was a bit scared at first, but it's just as good as how it was as Shaj. It's almost like they're two completely different songs and they're both absolutely wonderful.

And that's it for March. Hope you all enjoy these tunes as much as I did.

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eddycurrents · 5 years

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For the week of 14 October 2019

Quick Bits:

Absolute Carnage #4 is pretty damn big as we head towards the conclusion. Donny Cates, Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, Jay Leisten, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles set up near insurmountable odds for Eddie and Spider-Man to face, as Carnage inches closer to victory. It’s very daunting, especially as we potentially see hope fade as other dominoes fall into place. Though a shock revelation might lead to something good for the conclusion. The tension mounting and the continued blend of the rest of the tie-ins to the main story are very entertaining.

| Published by Marvel

Absolute Carnage: Avengers #1 gives us a lead-in to how the previously symbiote-afflicted heroes got to Venom in Absolute Carnage #3 in addition to a bit about beacons in New York and San Francisco calling all symbiotes to feed something. It’s more elaboration on some details between panels for the event, but it’s rather entertaining and covers an element that was otherwise glossed over in the main series. Great art from Alberto Alburquerque, Guiu Vilanova, and Rachelle Rosenberg.

| Published by Marvel

Aquaman #53 reveals more about Thomas Mauer and his history in the founding of Amnesty, complete with some really weird powers regarding manifesting beasties. Then, a reunion of Arthur and Mera is basically aborted as Black Manta attack. Kelly Sue DeConnick, Robson Rocha, Eduardo Pansica, Daniel Henriques, Julio Ferreira, Sunny Gho, and Clayton Cowles continue to deliver one of the best stories from DC.

| Published by DC Comics

Archie #708 sees everything start to come together as all of the disparate story threads begin to converge somehow with Fox Forest. Nick Spencer, Mariko Tamaki, Sandy Jarrell, Matt Herms, and Jack Morelli really build tension here, with a rather spooky feel for what’s going on.

| Published by Archie Comics

Batman #81 continues this next stage of Batman’s assault on the “City of Bane” as all of his “kids” work together to try to take down his father and he attempts to bring the fight to Bane himself. Tom King guides us through a narration essentially putting together some of the missing pieces in Gotham Girl’s story and further protections that he left in the city after Batman’s “breaking”.

| Published by DC Comics

Bettie Page Unbound #5 serves as a coda to the first arc, from David Avallone, Moy R, Ellie Wright, Sheelagh D, and Taylor Esposito. It gives a bit of perspective on Bettie’s trip through alternate realities, while dealing a bit more with the spies who’ve been chasing her.

| Published by Dynamite

The Black Ghost #2 is firing on all cylinders. The story that Alex Segura, Monica Gallagher, George Kambadais, Ellie Wright, and Taylor Esposito are telling here is incredibly compelling, going deep into Lara’s downward spiral following the death of the Black Ghost and all of the mounting problems in her life. There’s a very interesting theme of the intersection of solving a mystery and obsession, complete with the black hole of alcoholism, that just grabs you.

| Published by New Wave Comics

Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda #2 concludes this opening arc from Jim Zub, Lan Medina, Craig Yeung, Marcio Menyz, and Joe Sabino. We get an interesting mix of Okoye and Janet facing their greatest fears, while elaborating further on the current state of the Sentry. I like this quick, two-part introductory arc structure, further giving this title the feel of a specialized group for certain threats.

| Published by Marvel

Captain Marvel #11 concludes the “Falling Star” arc, revealing more fallout from the first arc and the sheer damage that it’s done to Ripley after she fell into the Nuclear Man’s reality. Kelly Thompson, Carmen Carnero, Tamra Bonvillain, and Clayton Cowles develop a rather demented look on “heroism” here that is quite disturbing.

| Published by Marvel

Chastity #2 unveils more of the human trafficking operation that Chastity has found herself in. It’s not very pretty, but there are some nice funny moments to break up the dark subject matter. Leah Williams, David Maine, Bryan Valenza, and Carlos M. Mangual are telling an interesting story here.

| Published by Dynamite

Contagion #3 continues to escalate the terror of the fungus plaguing New York, and now possibly beyond. There are appearances here of some very interesting near forgotten characters that are nice to see. Great art from Mack Chater, Stephen Segovia, Veronica Gandini, and Andrew Crossley.

| Published by Marvel

Cult Classic: Creature Feature #1 is an interesting start to this second series. You don’t need to have read Return to Whisper before this, but I still highly recommend that series. Here Eliot Rahal, John Bivens, Jerrie, Monahan, and Taylor Esposito kick off a rather hectic beginning with alien creatures. The art from Bivens, Jerrie, and Monahan is wonderful.

| Published by Vault

Dark Red #7 continues to develop the current state of the vampires after taking out the Nazis who were trying to take over, while Chip works to get the little were back to her werepeople. Definitely an interesting society that Tim Seeley, Corin Howell, Mark Englert, and Carlos M. Mangual are creating here.

| Published by AfterShock

Excellence #6 concludes the first arc in rather spectacular fashion. Brandon Thomas, Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez, and Deron Bennett have been doing some excellent character and world-building in this story and it really pays off here as we get a confrontation between Spencer and his dad, followed by one hell of a revelation that practically changes everything. Great stuff here.

| Published by Image / Skybound

Gideon Falls #17 begins “The Pentoculus” as things start to coalesce again into a sort of “normalcy” in both of our “main” Gideon Falls realities, even as something horrible takes hold of Sheriff Miller’s father. Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, Dave Stewart, and Steve Wands establish even more horror here and the feeling that something more is very, very wrong.

| Published by Image

Guardians of the Galaxy #10 catches up with the new baby Magus as we find out that the new incarnation might be as dangerous and deadly as the earlier ones. Also, what Donny Cates is doing with Rocket just cuts to the core.

| Published by Marvel

Hit Girl: Season 2 #9 is the first part of “India” from Peter Milligan, Alison Sampson, Tríona Farrell, and Clem Robins. It sends Mindy off to the street of Mumbai where she’s trying to deal with a bizarre child trafficking/labour ring, and finding out that her actions may have caused more complications than good. There’s a very different feel to this new arc so far.

| Published by Image

Inferior 5 #2 sure is...something. I’m still not entirely sure of the experiments or the characters or the setting, but Jeff Lemire, Keith Giffen, Michelle Delecki, Hi-Fi, and Rob Leigh are doing something that might be interesting here when we see a broader picture. It’s very “huh?” issue to issue so far. The back-up featuring Peacemaker, though, continues to be very compelling. Especially as it reveals that he may well be completely insane.

| Published by DC Comics

The Island of Doctor Moreau #2 concludes this adaptation of the HG Wells story from Ted Adams, Gabriel Rodríguez, Nelson Dániel, and Robbie Robbins. Other than a few minor changes, it’s fairly faithful to the original. The story here is mostly told in double page spreads from Rodríguez and Dániel and they’re absolutely beautiful.

| Published by IDW

Justice League #34 reminds us that revenge isn’t necessarily the correct path to take all the time, or possibly any time, as the endgame plays out across the different timelines and the combined forces gather for one final push against Perpetua. Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Bruno Redondo, Howard Porter, Hi-Fi, and Tom Napolitano lay out a wonderful tale of the final battle and a stupid, selfish act that has possibly doomed everything.

| Published by DC Comics

Killer Groove #5 concludes what has been an excellent crime tale from Ollie Masters, Eoin Marron, Jordie Bellaire, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. There’s an incredible nihilism here that feeds into a very fitting end.

| Published by AfterShock

KI-6: Killers #4 gains a bit of a title change with the “KI-6″ bit in this penultimate issue of the series. Not really sure why, but it doesn’t ultimately make a difference for the story being told by B. Clay Moore, Fernando Dagnino, José Villarrubia, and Jeff Powell. We get a nice bit of the Jonin’s history before the two rival groups of former Ninjas show up.

| Published by Valiant

The Marked #1 begins a new series from the Sonata team of David Hine, Brian Haberlin, Geirrod Van Dyke, and Francis Takenaga. It blends magic and tattoos as we learn of the history of a group of magicians who have defended the world from evil through the eyes of their newest recruit Saskia. Beautiful art as usual from the Haberlin/Van Dyke team.

| Published by Image / Shadowline

The Mask: I Pledge Allegiance to the Mask #1 is kind of a strange return for the property, in a story from Christopher Cantwell, Patric Reynolds, Lee Loughridge, and Nate Piekos. It’s dark and deranged, which fits very well overall. While it does follow on from the previous stories, all that you really need to know to enjoy this story itself is revealed here. The political element adds an even greater feeling of being put off-balance.

| Published by Dark Horse

Midnight Vista #2 very nicely develops what Oliver remembers of his abduction and the fallout that has been happening in the ensuing years since he’s been missing. Eliot Rahal, Clara Meath, Mark Englert, and Taylor Esposito are doing some interesting things here, especially as other forces are trying to guide Oliver’s story.

| Published by AfterShock

Psi-Lords #5 elaborates a bit further on the societal structure of the Gyre and the various gangs on it, while we see one of the Starwatchers try to turn Steve. It’s interesting as we get a little bit that gives us more of an insight into the ties to the broader Valiant Universe here and some very nice character building. Renato Guedes art remains phenomenal.

| Published by Valiant

Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons - Chapter II: Painscape #2 guides us through some of Rick’s history with D&D, creating some horrible characters that anyone who’s played the game will be familiar with, and an entertaining dungeon crawl. I’m still loving how perfectly Jim Zub, Troy Little, Leonardo Ito, and Crank! are integrating D&D into Rick and Morty.

| Published by Oni Press & IDW

Rumble #17 follows a similar format as last issue’s selection of three stories, only this time there are only two stories, with one split between two different creators. That two-part story is a wonderful crossover between Rumble and Head Lopper, with Andrew MacLean and James Harren handling the line art. It’s pretty great overall, with a natural melding of the two properties, and very nice to see Harren’s return.

| Published by Image

Savage Sword of Conan #10 begins a new arc from Roy Thomas, Alan Davis, Cam Smith, Chris Sotomayor, and Travis Lanham. It’s wonderful to see a new Roy Thomas story and the art from Davis, Smith, and Sotomayor is great. The story itself is interesting, drawing from some traditional Conan elements of a tavern fight and being hired as a bodyguard.

| Published by Marvel

Savage Tales: Red Sonja Halloween Special is essential if you’re reading the ongoing Red Sonja series. It works well on its own as well, but for readers of the series it builds on Sonja’s trip to the tower of sorcerers in her youth and gives some great insight into her past. Wonderful work here overall from Mark Russell, Jacob Edgar, Dearbhla Kelly, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

| Published by Dynamite

Something is Killing the Children #2 is even better than the first issue, fleshing out our monster hunter a bit and causing all sorts of complications for her. There are some great characterizations here, nicely capturing some of the reactions from people experiencing the tragedy of a lost or murdered family member. James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera, Miquel Muerto, and AndWorld Design are doing something great here.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader’s Castle #3 gives us a central story of Ventress hunting a quarry, illustrated by Nick Brokenshire. I’m still very much enjoying how Cavan Scott is using the central tale and its context to elaborate on what he, Francesco Francavilla, and AndWorld Design are doing with the framing story.

| Published IDW

Steeple #2 features all of the charm and humour of Giant Days, but then adds some rather over-the-top supernatural elements that just manages to elevate that charm and humour further. John Allison, Sarah Stern, and Jim Campbell are delivering a rather wholesome look at monster hunting and finding common ground with your local hooligans and Satanists.

| Published by Dark Horse

Strayed #3 advances towards oblivion, as Lou finds the flower-maker and the Premier enacts another piece of his plan for total control. Carlos Giffoni, Juan Doe, and Matt Krotzer continue to tell the heartbreaking tale of this brave little kitty being used and abused by his humans. It’s really sad as to how monstrous humanity is.

| Published by Dark Horse

Superman Smashes the Klan #1 is really damn good. Inspired by the radio serial of the same name, Gene Luen Yang, Gurihiru, and Janice Chiang present a wonderfully nuanced tale of the struggle that a young Chinese family have moving to Metropolis and the overt and casual racism that greets them. The characterizations of the family are impeccable, giving us what feels like very real people, and it makes the story even more heartbreaking when you see what’s happening to them. Especially through the gorgeous art from the Gurihiru pair.

| Published by DC Comics

Tales from the Dark Multiverse - Batman: Knightfall #1 is the first of these one-shots examining some of the most popular events of the DC Universe as they played out in dark reflection. Your enjoyment of this will definitely be predicated on how much you enjoy the grim and gritty Batmen who went wrong during Metal. As a story, though, Scott Snyder, Kyle Higgins, Javier Fernandez, Alex Guimarães, and Clayton Cowles give us an interesting one, with some nice twists, and a suitably bleak Gotham. The art from Fernandez and Guimarães is really good.

| Published by DC Comics

Teen Titans #35 gives us new perspective on the traitor to the team, with Adam Glass, Bernard Chang, Marcelo Maiolo, and Rob Leigh building up sympathy for their decisions, even if they are somewhat demented. It also continues to point that what Damian has been doing is rather villainous. The shades of grey are fairly interesting.

| Published by DC Comics

Trees: Three Fates #2 delves a bit more into the mystery of the dead man and also a great depiction in the past of the romance blossoming between Klara and Sasha. Warren Ellis, Jason Howard, Dee Cunniffe, and Fonografiks are building a very compelling story here, complete with some interesting big ideas to make you wonder about Sasha.

| Published by Image

Vampirella #4 is still rather odd, told in a rather disjointed way that’s pretty much Priest’s style to its natural extreme. Weird stuff with the nuns and all sorts of temptation. The art from Ergün Gündüz remains a huge draw for this story.

| Published by Dynamite

X-Men #1 begins the first wave of the “Dawn of X” titles in this next stage of the brave new world the X-Men have found themselves in, from Jonathan Hickman, Leinil Francis Yu, Garry Alanguilan, Sunny Gho, and Clayton Cowles. It’s much more “normal” compared to the HOXPOX event, operating more standard hero/villain conflict and setting up the continued threat of Orchis, but there are still moments to bask in the new with Magneto and the potentially unsettling as we see Corsair react to all of his family together and the strangeness of Krakoa. This feels like a way to make more traditional X-elements work within this new framework, giving us a great start.

| Published by Marvel

Other Highlights: Absolute Carnage: Scream #3, Absolute Carnage vs. Deadpool #3, Aero #4, Analog #9, Ask for Mercy - Season 2 #3, Captain America #15, Crazy #1, The Crow/Hack/Slash #4, Dead Beats, Death-Defying Devil #3, Firefly #10, History of the Marvel Universe #4, Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - Alliance #2, Lucifer #13, Marvel Action: Black Panther #4, Once & Future #3, The Realm #15, Sparrows Roar, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #4, Titans: Burning Rage #3, Wonder Woman: Come Back to Me #4

Recommended Collections: Bad Luck Chuck - Volume 1, Black Hammer: Streets of Spiral, Calamity Kate - Volume 1, Coda - Volume 3, Critical Role: Vox Machina - Origins - Volume 1, Gideon Falls - Volume 3: Stations of the Cross, Goddess Mode, Gogor, Justice League Dark - Volume 2: Lords of Order, The Life & Death of Toyo Harada, Ms. Marvel - Volume 1, Planet of the Nerds - Volume 1, Robots & Princesses - Volume 1, Runaways - Volume 4: But You Can’t Hide, Spider-Man: City at War, Star Wars: Tie Fighter

d. emerson eddy still thinks that Pumpkin Spice was the most underutilized of the Spice Girls.

#This Week in Comics

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promomagazine · 7 years

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Interview-Ingrid Alice: Fashion photographer creates a wonderland of her own

-Do you agree that you are challenged everyday to create something that has never been created?

Constantly. The sheer number of images that get uploaded to Instagram alone every day (on average 60 million photos per day) creates enormous pressure and an expectation to continuously create images that stand out in a crowd, of well 60 million.

I do however try my very best to entirely focus on what I am doing and what projects we have on at any given time. Ultimately, I believe in monitoring success by happy clients, successful campaigns, and bookings. As amazing it is to get social media recognition - I see this more of a gentle indication that we are on the right path as opposed to a sign of success.

-Can you describe your creative process? What do you look for when creating a shoot and do?

My process begins at 3am in the morning, when the world is quiet, I can think clearly and my creative brain kicks in. I often send messages to my team, by daybreak, we have great excitement over our air waves.

Creative conversations will start flying around 5am.

I look for concept and story line, I am often inspired by poetry, books, music, myths and legends. I look for the “make-believe”, seeing an image in my minds eye, and then creating the visual representatives of that - the story will then transform and develop from there.

I don’t shoot real life, I’m not an enormous fan of real life. Photography is my escape into a world of wonder and magic. A world of enchantment… where stories are always grand.

My Team. The people I work with are creative powerhouses. We are a very small team of focused creatives. Mostly however, I look for like-minded people, creatives who share my design aesthetics. People from my tribe who can take an idea and concept and transform it into something BIG. I never work in large teams.

I look for very strong character driven women for models. Women that are beautiful but fierce. I like strength in my images.

-You have to have a favorite artist in mind that drives your creativity or inspires you, who is it?

Jack Vettriano. His work feeds my soul. I can spend hours searching though his paintings, imagining stories and subtexts in the overall mood of his work. You can feel tension, emotion, love, hate, sadness, seduction, loneliness, youth. I feel like his narratives tell 10 000 stories, each of them different from the viewers perspective and life experiences.

-How would you describe yourself as a person & artist?

A little peculiar perhaps. Upside down in Wonderland comes to mind. As a person, quiet and reserved, a little too serious at times - most times really. I tend to have strong opinions. A dreamer, a boho flower child with a rock n roll soul with a constant urge to travel the word with my camera and a backpack.

As an artist, constantly striving, a fierce workaholic. I do not lead anything that resembles a “normal” life.

-How did you know you wanted to be a photographer?

The short answer is, I didn’t. This creative craft came to me later in my career. I have been a Creative Director for most of my life. A few years ago, I was working on a print publication, where we had to produce a fashion shoot. I took one look at this cool photographer, who spent his days outdoors, creating amazing images, and thought that this looked like a very good way to spend my time.

Initially I was only going to be more of a hobbyist. However through a series of life changing events, my Photography took on a whole energy of its own. In hindsight I feel so strongly that I could never produce the work my team and I create, had I not had those years working as a Creative Director, and the work experiences that I was lucky enough to enjoy over that time. I believe photography came to me at the right point in my career.

I do however feel I am at the beginning of this journey and cannot wait to see how my work changes and expands over the next years.

-Do you have a favorite photographers who inspire you? Why is that?

I am totally and completely obsessed with the work of Sarah Moon and Paolo Roversi. Their use of color and the images they create are hauntingly beautiful and stay with you forever. Tim Burton’s story-telling narrative, simply takes my breath away.

-In the artistic world of photographers, do you see yourself not only trying to achieve your perfect shoot but also being known for your work?

All I honestly want in this life - is to create amazing images, work with talented people, and have happy nice clients who I love. With regards to the world of photographers, it is extraordinary to be recognized for what you do, but again as mentioned before - this is perhaps more of an indication that we are“on the right path”. I do not work for anyone else other than my clients, my team and myself. We focus strictly on what we are doing and creating.

-If you could shoot an editorial anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why is that?

Eze on the French Riviera. The entanglement of the cobbled streets which lead down secret alleyways into hidden squares, with an internal vista of blue ocean skies, makes for a striking backdrop. I can almost imagine walking at night, lantern in hand, down candle lit enchanted pathways, passing Nietzsche, Yeats, Monet, Picasso, Fitzgerald or Hemingway laughing loudly after an evening in one of the small pubs, winding their way merrily down the hill back to their residence. All of whom have spent time in this extraordinary place.

-What was the main reason that you decided to become a photographer?

After working behind a computer for 16 years, getting up at 3 am and watching the sunrise, while balanced on 6ft ladders, seemed like a very good way to spend time. I can honestly say now, that in fact it is the perfect way to spend time. I feel like I have finally found my way in this world, and it was up a ladder!

-Tell me about your latest shoot. What was your vision when you created it?

We have the most amazingly exciting shoots coming up and in production. One of them is a series call Sirens, which is re-imagined Neptune's wooden angels, figureheads in the front of shipwrecked ships, that have come to life and continue to stand guard over their long forgotten vessel.

A project with a mix of digital and 8x10 polaroid. A beauty shoot inspired by the original Grimms fairytales.

-To be a photographer, you had to undergo a lot of struggles. What was the most difficult obstacle for you when putting together a shoot?

The barrier to entry was getting people to work with me and to trust my vision. This was a totally different industry for me, and not one person was even remotely interested in what I had to offer. I was lucky enough to convince one stylist to work with me on a project - only under the proviso that if she hated my work, I would get another photographer to shoot it. Fortunately it went well - and then I simply went out to work with the best people I possible could. Winning them over one by one on each given shoot. In South Africa, this is a very closed industry - competition is unforgiving. You need to be on your A game all the time.

-Does your personal life ever effect how you compose your shoots or do you have a set schedule/ formula that you follow? What is it exactly?

Currently my schedule is a 7 days a week and min 12-16 hour days. There is no milk in the house, and I’m living a little too much off spoonfull's of peanut butter at midnight. I am hoping to try and find more balance this year.

Yoga is helping.

-Who excites you the most (Celebrity) & why?

Audrey Tautou and Kat Von D. Both these women are interesting in a very non traditional sense. The rolls they have chosen to play in life is so undeniably inspiring. I feel they walk the line between strength, femininity, success, humbleness and just downright take no prisoners. It’s wonderful to see women who are unapologetically non-traditional.

-If you had to pass on a suggestion for someone starting out in photography, what would you tell them?

Focus on your own work. Put your nose to the grindstone and work. Work harder, and harder and then work even harder than anyone else. Find your tribe, collaborate with like minded souls. Experiment and most importantly work on client relationships. Relationships are what build careers. Always be nice and support other photographers. There is so much work in this world. There is enough for everyone.

Always, always be kind!

-How is your style of photography different from any other photographers?

My style is ever evolving and changing. I tend to use a lot of color in my photography at the moment. But perhaps that will change with different projects. I do love colour though :)

-What are your world-dominating goal.

To continue to work in Photography, get paid for doing something I love so much, and of course travel the world and live an adventurous life - with nice, amazing clients and a creative team that is insanely cool.

What more could one ask for…. Perhaps to work in NYC or Paris would also be amazing. For a photographer hailing from Africa, working in NYC or Paris is most certainly the definition of world domination. :)

#fashion week #fashion industry #Fashion Editorial #inspiration #interviews #Designer #photographer #photography #promo magazine

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crmmudblood · 7 years

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Collabor88 January! This was a huge! haul, sorry not sorry! It was all themed around working out and getting fit. and I am SO a sweatpants kinda person xD

C88

Website Seraphim Shopping Sim Cam Shopping Sim 1 Cam Shopping Sim 2 C88 Fanpage C88 Plurk

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Stores Featured this Vlog:

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Got something you want me to review? How about a sim you want to show off? Tutorials? Send me a message with requests, or if you’re a store wanting something showcased, send me a message inworld to CassandraMiddles Resident. I normally review monthly events, FLF, Luxebox, and occasionally do full hauls of stores I really love. I also love showing off beautiful sims, and sometimes sing. I also post almost daily on my flickr and tumblr, when not doing vlogs, and would love to see your stuff as well! -CassandraMiddles Resident

Taken at Bella Pace Appearance: Maitreya Lara Mesh Body Ikon Charm Green Eyes Lelutka Head Simone Veechi Obsession Liner glam affair Lelutka Eyelashes Line II 6@ UBER tableau vivant Side Pony and Locks Browns@ C88 Vista Pro Hands v2 beta

Wearing: reign Arianna Sneakers @ C88 erratic Maeve Leggings@ C88 astralia Yoga Arm Phone@ C88 astralia Yoga Earphones@ C88 zaara Geeta Sports Bra Saffron@ C88

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emilyemcnabb · 6 years

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Cori and Daniel’s wedding at The Addison Grove

Bride Cori is a buyer for Neiman Marcus, so it’s no surprise her wedding to Daniel is impeccably styled—not to mention incredibly romantic. The couple worked with Eighteenth Avenue Events to plan the day and enlisted stationer Where’s The Party and florist The Heirloom Table to deck out The Addison Grove in blush and white roses. The floral wrapping the trees flanking the ceremony and the stunning centerpieces brought the bride to tears, but the smile on Daniel’s face as she walked down the isle in her stunning Romona Keveza gown still gives Cori butterflies. Lucky for us, Brittany Jean Photography captured that moment and all the others in the this stunning celebration.

What made the wedding special and unique?

My mom had a big hand in the planning/design from the start and I loved how our visions came together. The floral from Mercedez at the Heirloom Table was beyond my expectations…I still think about the floral wrapped trees at the ceremony, the incredible table arrangements and the carefully placed floral on the cake! It was so refreshing to trust our florist to execute the vision and we knew that her passion would come through in every way. Her taste and talent is insane! All of the small details were magical from the perfect shade of blush ribbon on the fold of the dinner napkins to the beautiful calligraphy that my friend tastefully did on the deckled edge Italian paper place cards to the unique vintage stamps individually placed on each invitation. We hired a month-of planner, Ashley Ramirez from Eighteenth Avenue Events, to help pull it all together in the end. Every little detail was perfect and just how I imagined.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I am a buyer for Neiman Marcus so it was an obvious choice for me to choose my wedding dress in the iconic bridal salon! My mom flew in town and although we didn’t find the dress that weekend, I continued to visit the salon every day to see what was new. Finally I found my dress a few weeks later and I was obsessed! The Romona Keveza dress was the perfect mix of edgy and vintage for me! After a rain soaked week in Austin, I made a last minute change to flat shoes so I wore both the Aquazurra gold bow heels and the jeweled flats from Giuseppe Zanotti.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

One thing that we added was a small bouquet on an empty chair at the ceremony in memory of my dad who passed away 16 years ago. It was a gentle reminder when I looked over that he was watching over me that day. Also, Daniel & I wanted the wedding to feel very romantic and intimate. We accomplished that by keeping the guest list tight & having long farm tables so everyone could get to know each other & feel at home. We meticulously chose vintage stamps one by one to place on the wedding invitations…no 2 invitations were the same.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

There are several standout moments from that special day that will forever be engraved in my mind. The florist truly blew my mind and brought me to tears. People still comment on how exquisite the floral was. It was also so special to see our friends and family come together! This was actually the first time our families had met since we are both originally from different states. It was slightly unconventional for them to meet on this big day but we knew they would get along so incredibly well & it was perfect! And how could I forget the look on his face as I walked down the aisle. Wow – I still get butterflies thinking of his smile as he waited for me. The day goes by so incredibly fast but we are able to relive all of the big moments through the beautiful work of our photographer Brittany. We felt such a connection with her and for someone as shy as myself in pictures, I felt comfortable. We love looking back at our album!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Daniel & I met by swiping right on Bumble in 2015! I knew after our first date that I had met my person. Our relationship took us on tons of adventures in our first year and shortly after our 1 year anniversary Daniel planned the biggest adventure of all. He whisked me away for a surprise birthday getaway to New York City, complete with tickets to a New York Giants football game – I’m a huge fan! As if the game wasn’t enough, he had one more surprise up his sleeve. On the final morning in the city that never sleeps, we made our way to Central Park’s Bow Bridge where he asked me to be his wife. Talk about being swept off of your feet. I was floored, thrilled and excited for a life full of adventures to come!

Photographer: Brittany Jean Photography // Wedding Planner: Eighteenth Avenue Events // Florist: The Heirloom Table // Paper Goods: Where’s The Party // Venue: The Addison Grove // Dress: Romona Keveza, purchased at Neiman Marcus // Signage + Guest Book: Little Carabao Studio // Cake: Baked By Amys // Photo Booth: My Event is the Bomb // Reception DJ: Greenbelt DJ // Ceremony Music: Terra Vista Strings // Hair + Makeup: Lola Beauty // Ribbon: Silk and Willow // Catering: Austin Catering // Late Night Snack: Steel City Pops // Linens: La Tavola // Rentals: 10th Collection // Rentals: Marquee Rentals

The post Cori and Daniel’s wedding at The Addison Grove appeared first on Grey Likes Weddings | Wedding Fashion & Inspiration | Best Wedding Blog.

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mialipsky-blog · 7 years

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A Wedding Filled with Whimsy and a Stunning Butterfly Release

Never have I ever come across a wedding quite as dazzling as this Santa Ynez affair. And it makes complete sense when you hear that the gorgeous Bride is none other than the founder of Flutter Magazine. With the help of an insanely talented group of vendors including design by Joy Proctor, florals by Amy Osaba, beauty by TEAM Hair and Makeup and stunning photographs by Jose Villa, this wedding has whimsy at every turn. And just wait until you see the butterfly release. See the full day right here!

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From the Bride… Tyson and I met thirteen years ago during the Fall of our freshman year at college in Santa Barbara. I’ll never forget… I watched him step out of a friends car, and just like that, I found myself flustered in attempts to introduce myself. Looking back now, it really was love at first sight. I know it sounds silly, but I don’t think it’s something you really realize until much later reflection, recounting every moment that lead you to where you are, that you understand how truly special that first meeting was.

With a custom gown in mind, I went to LA-based designer Jannina Figueroa of Madeleine Fig to help make something ‘bohemian couture’ complete with a wishlist of fun features: high-low structure, pockets (a must!), illusion layers, and lace. Every detail was handcrafted with love by Jannina and her team. For a little ‘something borrowed,’ we took remnant lace from the dress to make heirloom robes for the wedding party.

I wanted a special gift for my sister, my maid of honor. As I have always adored Sofia Kaman’s bespoke stacking rings, I knew my sister would too. I went to Sofia with my grandmother’s wedding band and she helped me repurpose the stones into matching stacks of gold and rose gold ‘sister rings.’ It was a beautiful way to share such a special family heirloom with my sister. Of course I had to get custom monogrammed “Mrs.” Boxes for us, too!

Jenna Rainey of Monvoir created the prettiest watercolor heraldry that we used within the invitation suite and throughout the wedding. I’m pretty obsessed! The invite had custom watercolor illustrations and was blind embossed with floral. Tied up with ribbon and placed in hand-calligraphed vellum envelopes, it made for some pretty heart-fluttering and colorful snail mail.

If there was one thing our guests could not stop talking about, it was the food! Inspired by our engagement in Tuscany, it was important to me and Tyson to create a really lovely dinner party… One filled will innovative delights and overflowing with wine, champagne, and exquisite service. Our friends at The Kitchen For Exploring Foods mesmerised palates with a Mediterranean-influenced meal served à la russe. With fifty guests, surrounded by enchanting florals, candlelight, and a live jazz quartet under the stars, it was a dream come true dinner.

From the event designer, Joy Proctor… Kim entered the ceremony down stone stairs of the Villa and walked down the aisle which was lined in growing poppies and ranunculus.

Placed at every seat was an antique glass box from La Rousse Shop with two live painted lady butterflies. Susan Silverberg calligraphed hang tags that read ‘At first kiss, release and set your heart aflutter.’ Upon pronouncement, it was the perfect heart-fluttering celebration of our love.

The color palette reflected Kim’s style through and through, with warm watermelon, coral, and sunset tones paired against taupes and creams as a nod to their engagement in Tuscany. To evoke the playful yet elegant aesthetic that Kim is so known for, we used a beautiful watercolor crest designed by Monvoir, complete with florals and butterflies throughout the suite.

Making their way to the reception, guests were invited to find their seating assignments in drawers of an antique dresser which had been filled with moss and flowers.

As a nod to their Italian engagement, Kim and Tyson wanted to share an al fresco dining experience with their guests. To create an intimate environment we built a beautiful structure draped in taupe fabric over two rows of dining tables. Florals and greenery grew up the structure organically, while Tuscan style chandeliers hung down the center. Linen chairs and wooden tables added to the Tuscan feel, while artisanal breads, olive oil, fruits and flowers created for a lush, edible tabletop. Menus personalized with each guests names were placed atop ceramic plates handmade in Europe.

A Wedding Filled with Whimsy and a Stunning Butterfly Release published first on their blog to my feed

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amygriffissourkitty · 7 years

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A Wedding Filled with Whimsy and a Stunning Butterfly Release

Share this gorgeous gallery on

From the event designer, Joy Proctor… Kim entered the ceremony down stone stairs of the Villa and walked down the aisle which was lined in growing poppies and ranunculus.

Making their way to the reception, guests were invited to find their seating assignments in drawers of an antique dresser which had been filled with moss and flowers.

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samboine123 · 7 years

Text

A Wedding Filled with Whimsy and a Stunning Butterfly Release

Share this gorgeous gallery on

From the event designer, Joy Proctor… Kim entered the ceremony down stone stairs of the Villa and walked down the aisle which was lined in growing poppies and ranunculus.

Making their way to the reception, guests were invited to find their seating assignments in drawers of an antique dresser which had been filled with moss and flowers.

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philippmichelreichold · 7 years

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On Death and Designation in Neal Asher's Transformation Trilogy

μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος --Iliad

Gordon Dickson's Soldier Ask Not is set in a different sort of milieu than the Polity. In it civilization has splintered along personality types. the three main Splinter cultures consist of the Friendlies, people of faith, the Dorsai , warriors, and the Exotics, philosophers. The viewpoint character, Tam Olyn, a man of Old Earth, is a vengeful manipulator straight out of ancient Greece. Tam asks some Friendly soldiers if they think they will lose the current conflict on which Tam is ostensibly reporting. They respond overwhelmingly in the negative. For them the conflict will end in victory or death, and "what is death?"

One might well ask "what is death?" in the Polity universe, where we have recordings of people's memories and personalities that can be restored in machine or living body form. What then is Penny Royal's crime exactly? Like Tam Olyn, Theovald Spear begins his story obsessed with seeking revenge for needless, unjust deaths during wartime. Like Odysseus, Άνθρωπος πoλυτροπος, both are much traveled on journeys of many turnings. Both, filled with wrath, seek to avenge the wrongly dead. At the end of both their stories/journeys come revelation, the truth, and freedom.

Of those seeking revenge against Penny Royal, Spear is least changed by the experience. Physically, he has gone largely unchanged. The mental and emotional changes are subtle. One change is his obsession with confronting Penny Royal. Another is a feeling that he is "pursuing a set destiny". According to google translate, "Thor vald" means "Thor selected" or "Thor's power", and Thorvald is selected by Penny Royal to represent those slain at Panarchia. Spear has received not only his own memories but the memories of others among Penny Royal's victims. He thus has a unique perspective of events on Panarchia. Like Tam he has the power of objectivity. Thus he has been given the power to forgive or judge/execute Penny Royal. A spear set to be Its chosen instrument.

Two other of Penny Royal's victims were self-selected, Isobel Satomi and Sverl. Satomi, whose name means "beauty" in Japanese, is/was a beautiful woman on the outside and a hideous monster on the inside. Through the miracle (Elizabeth can be translated "My God is abundance") of Penny Royal's nanotech, the ugly shines straight on through. Later, with the monster separated out, what remains is a memstore echo of the person that was. She is left to contemplate her beauty that was lost. One is left to wonder if there would be any value/point/benefit to restoring her further. There may not be much to restore.

“There is nothing left for me,” she replied. “I just want to go away now." Satomi lacks character or depth-- she is unable to look more deeply than her immediate urgings. Like the war machine she was transformed into physically, she locks onto a goal and moves to achieve it, no time to think of consequences. She sees that Mr. Pace has become invincible a la Penny Royal and desires similar invincibility. When Trent Sobel expressed doubt that Mr Pace is happy with his transformation, she could not grasp the possibility that Mr Pace has made a Shaitan's bargain. Once separated from the war machine and preserved in crystal, she cannot let go of her anger at Penny Royal for the transformation he gave her. She desires restoration to her pre Penny Royal state, but not redemption.

His next prador instinct was to find some way to punish them, but then he decided he was better ttan that. Sverl's transformation is in the opposite direction from Satomi's. He goes from being a monster obsessed to ein Mensch. He was was obsessed with hating/killing humans, with his displeasure with the outcome of the war and the king that so ended it, with understanding how/why the war was lost, and finally, he was obsessed with Penny Royal. He is the most transformed and the most beneficially transformed of Penny Royal's revenge seekers. Sverl spent a hundred years studying the human condition and developed a great understanding thereof. He became a very unpradorish Prador- an intellectual. He developed hobbies and worked on science projects in his spare time. He gained not only the understanding of what he sought but a greater understanding of all things. He has left the war in the past and with it any resentment of Riss for infecting him with parasites. He has outgrown hate and the need for vengeance and has replaced it with an intellectual life and a pragmatism that opens new vistas to him. One might hope the Prador king can forgive the inconvenience of his survival and see him as an exemplar for Prador in the future.

And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? --Genesis 4:6

Apart from the Penny Royal experience, Spear and Sverl have common ground. Both are intellectual and gifted with enquiring minds. Both have that rarest of gifts, extreme competence. They contrast with the villains of the piece, Cvorn and Brockle, whose minds are set and whose competence is inadequate..

But, either way, Sverl was dead, and all Cvorn’s plans in ruins. Despite availing himself of some Polity tech, Dragoncorp augs, Cvorn remains very much as he and Sverl were at the end of the war. Despite/because of the steadfastness of his personality and attitudes, he sets about rejuvenating himself physically and sexually. This rejuvenation conflates his arrogance and impairs his judgment, and provides Sfolk with the manner of his undoing.. Unchanged is his hatred for the Polity, the soft humans and the AI's alike. He very much resents losing the war.. He has this in common with Satomi-- a longing for vengeance. More than this, he wants to restart the war. He has no particular dislike for Penny Royal, beyond his hatred of Polity AI's, but Sverl is both an enemy and a means to an end. He will reveal the abomination that is Sverl, thereby inflaming passions throughout the Kingdom and re-igniting the war. Caught up in his feelings/anger/hatred, he never considers the surety of the disastrous outcome another Polity-Prador war would have for the Kingdom.

For blood with blood shall, while I sit as judge, / Be satisfied, and the law discharg’d” The Spanish Tragedy III.vi.35–36. Neither Cvorn nor Brockle is one of Penny Royal's victims. The most important commonality between Penny Royal and Brockle is insanity in the form of homicidal mania. It is a matter of degree. Whereas Penny Royal has a part that is insane, Brockle's insanity is all pervasive. Penny royal subdues and harnesses his insanity. In Brockle insanity gains full rein/reign. He is unstable, and his insanity escalates so that his self justification for his crimes is ever changing and his obsession with Penny Royal ever growing. He began as a sadistic cop who took more pleasure in hurting people than the job required. Not quite breaking the law sufficiently to merit/suffer execution, he is paroled to the prison hulk Tyburn. (Tyburn was a place of execution in Middlesex).

He shares with Penny Royal the abilities to manipulate matter with nanotech-- disassembling/reassembling people and things, and he can separate his parts-- shoaling and adding more sub units as needs arise. As his abilities grow, so grows his need to end Penny Royal and so increases his megalomania. The obsession leads him to not only commit actual crimes punishable by the ending of him but also to see himself as supplanting(?) Penny Royal. He begins by wishing to end an evil threat the Polity AI's are unable to recognize and ends by seeking to destroy Penny Royal and take his place in Layden's Sink. Confusingly, he will either cause a time paradox that would destroy the Polity and the Kingdom but that's O.K. or it is he that enters the sink to begin with, and not Penny Royal, so all the better. (I hate temporal mechanics.)

If you boil the water surrounding a prador, it won’t even realize it is dying. Brockle ate itself for a thousand years.. Both these villains, Cvorn and Brockle, are profoundly arrogant and supremely overconfident. Like Satomi, they are locked-in and incapable of meaningful change/growth.If they would just get on with their lives and let Sverl on the one hand and Penny Royal on the othergo, they could be so much better off. Each is too obsessed to see objectively where their best interests lie. Each comes to a bad end because of it.

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