#reskin and optimizing

[jaedoesart]

somehow this line got even funnier with the music and voice blips added in asdfghjk

[infinitystation]

sorry about that i just didnt think there would be much balatro posting tbh so i never checked the tag kjhfkg

[remxedmoon]

“the cautious ewe. the chime of its bell begets its strike.”

hooved

🛎️ power - 3 health - 3 blood

bell ringer - this card’s power increases the closer it is to the combat bell. power also increases for each chime on the field.

bellist - when a card bearing this sigil is played, a chime is created on each empty adjacent space. chimes have 0 power and 1 health.

hidden trait - insulating coat

this card cannot be transformed into a frozen creature. frozen creatures have 0 power, 5 health, and the frozen away sigil.

mirewebelle… she’s one of my favorites out of all the cards i’ve made. anyways!! writeup time!!

ding ding! yeah this entire card is themed around that one interaction on the first floor where mira talks about the bells on her brooch. she might be trapped in a card but i can’t take away her funny noises

the bell ringer + bellist interaction is so cool but it’s so hard to achieve ingame. with optimal placement, mira can do 5 damage on turn 1. hence why she’s a 3 blood! she hits harder than a grizzly. those funny noises are dangerous

i know female sheep don’t usually have horns but like. shsshhsshhhhh. she looks cooler with the horns. she’s like. one of those breeds where both males and females have horns. it’s fine.

i wanted to make the eyes in her alt art look like the change symbol!! because it’s fun!! every alt card has something special!

unlike sif, mira isn’t a talking card! none of the party is actually. as always siffrin suffers alone broken heart emoji.

also! that card trait huh. what the hell is a frozen creature? it’s. a reskin of the frozen opposum. i’ve got a king boss fight in the works and one of the mechanics of it is that he’ll target spaces and turn the cards within them into frozen cards. the frozen away sigil makes the card release a creature upon being killed. in this case, it’d probably return the card to the state it was in prior to getting frozen. and it’s called insulating coat because sheep teehee.

her patch’s sigil is armored/nano armor! which prevents the card from taking damage the first time it gets hit. since transferred sigils also affect the chimes, her chimes can tank an extra hit in battle! looking back though, i think leader would’ve synergized with her kit a bit better. since she can’t get an attack buff at campfire events (without glitches, at least), she’s basically capped at 5 power without that sigil. oh well! armored still works.

speaking of that patch. FUCK that patch. i had to cut out a jpeg of that thing by hand for every card because oops! i couldn’t find a png of it! only one of the card generators lets you add patches and it’s the less game-accurate one. so i had to manually cut it out for each card that had a tribe. which is most of them. hhhh at least i don’t have to deal with it anymore. it sucked.

and i think that’s all my notes on this card! here is a mirewe. observe her

[copperbadge]

A horror trope that I very much enjoy is the "haunted book" -- a book that affects the reader in some way, like the Necronomicon driving people mad, or Dr. Mabuse's book that hypnotizes its reader into doing his bidding. It recently had a nice moment in the Magnus Archives, with the Leitner subplot, and there's even a hint of it in Frankenstein, when Victor reads the work of a scientist that his professors dismiss as nonsense and becomes obsessively deranged studying the subject matter.

So it's not that I think it's time for a revival and lord knows the word "reboot" has begun to stink of soulless profit (I think we're one, maybe two flops from a reboot of the MCU). I'm not the most current on horror media in any case so maybe it's been done, but if not I do think we oughta start considering the idea of a haunted phone app.

Apps are already designed for this, anyway. In our current era, a lot of retail "apps" are just reskinned browsers that load an optimized version of the company's website, and the goal of most apps and websites is to keep you in the app/website. (Which is why the google mail and tumblr apps both have internal web browsers.) A lot of phone games are designed to keep you in the game and continually redirect you towards microtransactions, and even apps that aren't games often gamify use; "gamification" has come to be a polite euphemism for "creating addictive circumstances".

Alongside this, a lot of recent cults and cultlike organizations have determined that straight religion is not the best way in anymore, and are coming in sidelong through MLMs (Nexium), wellness and dietary orthodoxies (Bikram Yoga, a number of insta/tiktok orthorexia gurus), or political movements (Qanon). So you get a cult, set up like a business, with an app you use for your business -- or even a cult with a "wellness" app that monitors your sleep, eating, location (wait, that's just FitBit) -- and slowly it gamifies you right into attempting to raise a Great Old One using the power of your downstream or a nice big helping of olive oil coffee.

Although I hate those thinkpieces/art pieces that are all about "you're so busy on your phone you can't appreciate the world around you, remember when we read real paper books" so I would require that the protagonist defeat the evil also using a phone app, or at the very least blind the evil using the flashlight function. Locking the book away in a library app and then putting the phone on airplane mode is a nice resolution, followed perhaps by it lighting up even though it's offline with a message "someone is attempting to locate this phone" as the post-credits stinger for the sequel.

This thought brought to you by Duolingo, which recently fed me, in succession, the task of translating from Italian the phrases

Who do you see in the mirror?

We open the curtains and see the light.

The pillows and blankets are red.

[pixeldesiregames]

Wonderland Just Got Wild: My Sexy Little Obsession with Alice's Dream Merge Games

🐰 Down the Rabbit Hole (and I’m Not Coming Back)

So picture this: I’m lying on my silk bedspread, hair in curls, nails freshly done, and I think—“Let’s play something cute tonight.” I download Alice’s Dream Merge Games, expecting fluffy visuals and some light gameplay. But babe… I did not expect to fall face-first into a gorgeously twisted rabbit hole of puzzle games that’s somehow both dreamy and dangerously addictive.

This game had me giggling, sighing, and whispering “just one more merge” well past 3 AM. And if you know me, you know I don’t sacrifice beauty sleep for just anything. So let’s talk about why this one’s worth every minute.

🎮 Merge, Baby, Merge

The heart of Alice’s Dream is all about merging—think matching three or more of the same item to evolve it into something better. You start small with things like mushrooms and pebbles, and suddenly you’re unlocking enchanted roses, tea tables, and magical castles. It’s a satisfying loop, and oh honey, that little sparkle when a triple-match happens? Instant dopamine.

What really elevates it is how well it balances progression. A lot of merge-style puzzle games either make it too easy or ridiculously grindy. Alice’s Dream plays it just right. You get that sweet satisfaction of unlocking something new without feeling like you’re begging the game for energy. The pacing is smooth, smart, and totally seductive.

🏰 Wonderland With a Glow-Up

Let’s talk looks, because Alice’s Dream Merge Games isn’t just cute—it’s drop-dead gorgeous. The art style is whimsical and magical, full of dreamy colors and soft fantasy vibes, but there’s also a little edge to it. Alice isn’t some helpless waif—she’s a bold, curious heroine navigating a world full of mystery, magic, and mischief.

The environments shift from grassy meadows to misty forests and luxurious dream gardens. Every area you unlock feels like a new photoshoot location, and believe me, I wanted to dress for every biome. The aesthetics scream fantasy couture, and if this game ever releases merch, I’ll be the first in line wearing platform boots and cat-eye liner.

🧠 Strategy Under the Surface

Now don’t let the pretty visuals fool you. This isn’t just a “tap-and-pretty” type of puzzle game. There’s real strategy hiding beneath the sparkles. Managing space on your board, choosing which items to merge or save, unlocking resources, and optimizing upgrades—it’s a chess match in heels. And I love that.

There are moments where the board fills up, and I’m like, “Okay girl, breathe.” Then suddenly I see the combo. I make the move. Everything clears in one radiant merge explosion. I smile. The game winks. It’s intimate.

🌟 Quests, Events, and That Rush of Progress

I’m also a sucker for events. Alice’s Dream Merge Games throws seasonal quests, time-limited dungeons, and unique merge challenges at you like confetti at a comeback stage. And these aren’t lazy reskins—they’re beautifully designed, with themed objects, mini-stories, and exclusive rewards that keep things spicy.

You’ll also meet dreamy characters—helpers, fantasy creatures, and some lowkey flirty NPCs who drop lore and goodies. Every new character feels like a reward, and every questline just pulls you deeper into the dream.

🧁 Free-to-Play That’s Actually Playable

Now let’s get real. Monetization? Surprisingly chill. I haven’t spent a single won and I’m thriving. Sure, there are ads and optional purchases, but they don’t choke the flow. You get energy, coins, and rewards at a steady pace, and if you’re a little strategic (and maybe a bit patient), you can make big progress without going full sugar mama.

Still… those cosmetic bundles? Tempting. I’m not saying I almost bought the enchanted tea set skin just because it matched my real-life aesthetic—but I’m also not denying it.

💋 Final Thoughts

Alice’s Dream Merge Games is that rare mix of visual charm, satisfying gameplay, and actual depth that makes you lose track of time in the best way. It’s flirty. It’s fun. And it’s packed with the kind of magic that gets under your skin and stays there.

If you’re into puzzle games with a fantasy twist, dreamy progression, and just enough sass to keep things interesting, this game is for you. And if you’re the type to color-coordinate your merge items? Welcome to the club, babe.

Now excuse me while I go unlock my next tea party shrine and flirt with a talking bunny.

— Minji 💄🎮

[9ecommerce]

Mobile Optimization Tips for Your BigCommerce Store

In this innovative tech-first world, mobile devices can no longer be secondary touchpoints-they have unfortunately become the primary avenue for a user to interact with an eCommerce store. For BigCommerce shops today, this has meant mobile optimization is no longer optional; it lies at the very heart of any successful online retail business. Projection shows that with mobile commerce climbing up rapidly to become the largest source of eCommerce revenues, your BigCommerce store optimized for smartphone and tablet would cause a marked difference in the final sales, user experience, and search engine rankings. 

Here are mobile optimization methods to keep BigCommerce storefronts ahead of the pack, whether just launching or refining an existing site. If working with a BigCommerce development company or intending to Hire BigCommerce Developers, be sure these are some of the strategies considered in your mobile approach.

Prioritize Responsive Design

A responsive website design ensures that your BigCommerce store adjusts automatically to any screen size, providing users with a seamless browsing experience. Mobile users expect the same level of fluidity or ease of navigation they experience on desktops. Hence, a bigcommerce development agency can be of assistance in implementing responsive layouts using mobile-first frameworks and good practices.

Responsive design is not just about usability. It also enhances being picked up by Google on its mobile-first indexing and is good for your SEO. Whether you are into bigcommerce website development or are just reskinning a site, make sure your pages load well on every device.

Simplification of Navigation for Mobile Users

On smaller-screen devices, complex navigations tend to annoy users and increase bounce rates. Simple mobile menus worked by means of common hamburger icons or collapsible navigation to quickly allow users to find what they are looking for. This streamlined experience ranks as a top priority among professional bigcommerce website designers and bigcommerce web design services.

Keep things like category filters and product search functionalities within one or two clicks worth of reach, and reduce the required number of clicks to quickly accomplish tasks. Allow users to see the checkout page with low friction.

Optimize Mobile Page Load Speed

Speed remains a prime factor when optimizing for mobile. Users tend to abandon the site after three secs.; Google states over 50% go that way. Image optimization, lazy loading, and cutting down third-party scripts go a long way into decreasing load times.

Enlist a bigcommerce development company to enable caching, compressing code, and using a content delivery network (CDN). The discharge of these optimizations will alleviate the burden from the server and enhance the shopping experience for customers in your store.

Use Mobile-Friendly Fonts and Buttons

Minuscule fonts and tightly packed buttons act to frustrate mobile users. To allow them effortless interaction with your content, use fonts that are readable and scale well across devices. Similarly, call-to-action buttons such as "Add to Cart" or "Buy Now" must be big enough for an easy tap of the thumb.

An expert bigcommerce store design services team will help adjust touch targets to meet accessibility standards. When users easily engage with your site, conversion becomes more probable.

Implement Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

Not necessarily beneficial for every BigCommerce store, though AMP can render pages extremely fast on mobile devices. AMP takes away all the unnecessary code, sending thereby a very basic representation of your page to the mobile device.

If speed and visibility constitute your primary concern in the mobile space, do discuss this with your bigcommerce development agency about whether AMP would be suitable for your product catalog or content-laden pages. The AMP factor would become a plus in both search ranking and engagement. 

Checkout Optimization Focused on Mobile

Cart abandonment rates are typically higher on mobile devices. Reducing any kind of friction in the checkout process means a higher rate of conversions. Let customers proceed as guests, keep it short with the checkout steps, and, to the extent possible, auto-fill those fields.

Introduce mobile-friendly payment options such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and digital wallets right into the fold. Expert BigCommerce development services can tweak the checkout flow to follow mobile behavior trends.

Making Images Mobile-Responsive

While images look beyond stunning on desktops, they may never render well on a cellular device. Use scalable vector images wherever possible, depending on the work; compress any large product images to allow for quick loading.

Bigcommerce website development should allow zooming on product pictures without compromising speed. Mobile shoppers rely on visuals for decision-making; thus, keep the quality and performance of your imagery intact.

Test Regularly Across Devices

Optimization is never a one-time task. It demands maintenance by regular testing on several devices and screen sizes to find issues and the insight on them. Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test or BrowserStack to get BigCommerce store performance checked on real devices.

BigCommerce web designers with a mobile-first perspective include such testing in their routine maintenance and quality assurance chores. Do not merely guess that your store is mobile-ready; check it!

Utilize Mobile Pop-Ups Wisely

Pop-ups might be your best way to collect emails or offer discounts. But keep in mind: They must be mobile-friendly. Google penalizes intrusive interstitials that randomly pop-up, blocking most of the main content. So, consider using slide-in pop-ups, exit-intent pop-ups, or bottom banner pop-ups instead of full-screen takeovers.

Since your Bigcommerce development company is in charge, insist that they ensure your pop-ups follow Google's mobile guidelines and aren't insulting to the user.

Enable Mobile-Specific Features

Mobile chat support, product carousel, sticky header, surrounding voice-search compatibility-all go smooth with the shopping experience and significantly help. Consider buying mobile-optimized plugins and extensions for BigCommerce.

Custom features can be developed by Bigcommerce web design services aligning with your goals for the store and your audience's preferences.

Optimize for Local Mobile Searches

More mobile shoppers search for products "near me" or within a particular location. Thus, local SEO optimization of your BigCommerce store is crucial to capture searches driven by intent.

Include your store in Google Business Profile, use location-based keywords, and consult with a bigcommerce development company to improve the store's visibility in local mobile searches.

Work With Mobile-Optimization Experts

Though these tips do provide a solid groundwork, the best results come with the advice of the pros. A bigcommerce development company can evaluate how well your store performs on mobiles today and give you custom solutions that are in line with the changes in the trends of mobiles.

When you are going to hire BigCommerce Developers, make sure they have ample experience in mobile performance, responsive design, and UX optimization. Their advice will transform your store into a mobile high-converting sales channel.

Conclusion

These days, mobile optimization stands far from a mere advantage; in fact, it should be regarded as a prerequisite for any BigCommerce store that wishes to survive in a competitive market. At this point, everything matters-from responsive design and fast load times to personal checkout journey and local SEO.

By implementing all the prior strategies and continuing to collaborate with the right BigCommerce development services provider, your store will have a seamless Mobile experience that will certainly please users and drive conversions.

Beginning from scratch or trying to enhance the current mobile strategy, selecting the right bigcommerce development company or bigcommerce development agency will at all times be essential. Hire BigCommerce Developers who are familiar with the mobile commerce landscape and proficient in designing experiences that convert on every screen.

If you are ready to turn your mobile presence around, you should consult the experts in bigcommerce website development and bigcommerce store design services. A mobile-optimized BigCommerce store is not only good for business but necessary to keep it growing in this day and age.

[infinityxcycle]

🔥 🔥 for each of you! (x)

Send me a “ 🔥 “ for an unpopular opinion.

Slowly looks at the chaos I committed last night. Slowly looks back at the camera.

Favorite to least favorite shows? Okay, let's do it.

The favorite for me, personally, is SatAM. They had a good thing going that felt like it was likely the start of Archie before it went to shit (IMO). I loved the new characters and Rabbot was great. However, I know most people wished it kept going. I am GLAD it died when it did. If it kept going trying to base it off the comics, I think it would've been by FAR the worst series to exist ever for Sonic.

Next is Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Keep in mind this is a kid's show and 100% intended for children at the time of creation. They introduced concepts in a way that was fun and interesting. My only real complaint is never getting Scratch and Grounder anywhere else after, but I get it. Made a square and round robot instead of these COOL ASS birb and rover bots. It's okay, I'm not mad, just disappointed.

Underground is mid. Again, a series made for children so never expected much out of it. Some of the songs were absolute BANGERs, I don't think anyone can deny that in the long run. But the characters themselves were so goddamn annoying that it was hard to keep up with, even when I was younger. Music powers are great, the royalty thing wasn't. Could've done a chosen three plot and it would've had the same effect.

X. I have multiple reasons why I don't like X. I couldn't watch through the final arc because it felt so out of place. I hated it, the only good thing out of that was Cosmo. I feel MID about Chris. He was definitely neglected and treated poorly the entire time until Sonic and Co. came around, but I don't think he was the most fitting person for them to have been staying with. It made Sonic and them think that was everyday life in that world, being rich and able to do whatever they wanted. I agree with the idea that wheelchair girl would've been optimal, while Chris got his own little arc in the show at some point trying to take them away because it's someone to spend time with. Overall Meh. Would watch it again cause shows of that era are my jam.

Boom is... Funny sometimes at least? SOMETIMES. I feel like Sticks could've been cool in a more game setting, but the show, already annoying as it is, really didn't help her much. I hate when shows one trait characters, and that was what they did. Much ew, no thanks.

And then Prime. Nothing more than a reskin cash grab. Swear a Sega rep saw the FnaF reskin figures and thought of the idea. Some of the world concepts are cool, but the main premise of it is so badly done that I don't think even bleaching my eyes would save me. Also feels like a way to try and encourage Sonadow, which cool to those that like it, but I am there for NOT that. The rest of both me and Raven's rant, once again, is here about why Prime sucks.

So, where as Kiwi has watched all of these to some degree, I've only seen a handful of episodes from the Sonic TV shows myself. But I will still do my best to be fully honest about my opinions on them from favorite to least favorite.

I would like to say that my personal favorite would lean towards SatAM, I unfortunately cannot as I have not seen any of it. Conceptually, I do like it though. It's basically the beginnings of Archie, and I've read a little bit of the Archie comics. However, even I can admit that Archie really went down the shitter after a certain point, thanks to a certain person out there.

Moving on to the shows I have watched, my next favorite is actually Sonic X. Most of this is admittedly outright because of the child nostalgia that I have with the series. I remember stayin' up late to watch it deep in the night. I will say that I do strongly dislike Chris, though. The voice acting for him with 4Kids was absolute shit, even for the bullshit that is 4Kids. I also hate that they screwed over one of the best VAs we ever had for Sonic, simply because they didn't wanna give Ryan Drummond the chance to have the role since he wasn't already living in New York, and Sega didn't back him up on that.

Underground. It had a killer opening song, and the music was pretty good overall. However, I just can't really stand all the campy attitude of the show to be perfectly honest. Plus the royalty thing just didn't click with me either. Though I will say that I enjoyed the musical powers for what they were, generally speakin'.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. A lot of the same issues that I had with Underground, to be perfectly honest. Though it doesn't help that I didn't really get to watch it until I was in my adulthood, so the whole children's lessons thing just kinda. . . Dragged it for me. Had I been able to watch it as a kid, then I probably would've liked it a fair bit more, but alas such is life.

Boom. It was okay, it was funny with some of the adult jokes or dumbass moments that happened from time to time. But it felt like it was just a rip on the TV shows that Cartoon Network was doing at the time. Where it was all about being goofy and stupid for the sake of 'comedy', and then started having a low-key serious plot going in the background. Except, it never started having the serious plot form. It was all bullshit the whole time, even when they introduced Shadow into the picture. It's also the reason we had some of the worst story writing for Sonic games from Colors all the way up to Forces, thanks to a pair of particular writers.

Prime. Honestly, I'm just gonna leave it at what Kiwi had mentioned about it, plus our previous rant. Because I could really go on forever about what it did right and wrong, but I have better things to spend my time on than humoring that Netflix/Sega experimental child.

[intensenationstudio]

🚀✨ New Unity Asset Release: kk – Complete Project! 🎉🎮

I’m super excited to announce the release of kk, a complete game project ready to deploy for mobile! 📱 Whether you want to create your own endless 🌟 or level-based 🏆 game, kk has got you covered!

🎮 Key Features:

🌀 Endless Mode & Levels Mode: Switch between the two and enjoy endless entertainment!

⚙️ Built-in Levels Generator: Create hundreds or even thousands of levels with just a few clicks.

🎞️ Smooth Animations: Powered by tweening for ultra-smooth gameplay.

🚀 Optimized Performance: Object pooling ensures everything runs buttery smooth.

🎨 Fully Customizable: Reskin the game, change colors, add levels, or tweak sounds to match your style!

🔒 Ultimate Save and Load Support: Keep your saved data safe with a single setup.

📖 Beginner-Friendly Documentation: Get started in no time with easy-to-follow guides and well-written code.

📲 Download the demo now and see it in action on your phone! Try out both Endless and Levels Mode and experience the fun yourself!

All you need to do is change the package name, and you're ready to launch your own game! 🚀💥 Check it out: https://assetstore.intensenation.com/p/kk

[letssofia3006]

Op I know the stories are not quite the same but, when you mention Zod exiling Kal-el, it reminded me of the beginning of the lion king. So, we have an exiled boy arriving to an entirely new and more "relaxed” environment, where social rules aren't as defined or strict.

A place where the boy´s previous role as an heir for an important social position is gone, forced to adapt into world where funny enough, both simba and kal-el are biologily builded to be the next apex depredator, while their home town is endangered by a soon to be dark haired tyrant. 

I might be looking way too much into things but damn! 

There are so many possibilities to mix the most iconic story beats of the lion king with the dc universe.

1.- “Long live the king” fratricide moment, starring Zod as Scar and Jor.el as Mufasa. Perhaps Jor-el's scientific advancements boosted him to be head of the state in response to the growing concerns of krypton´s limited resources. Leaving behind any of Zod's expansion proposals in favor to optimize krypton´s resources management. Further their relationship apart into near antagonist levels and ultimately, driving Zod to overthrow Jor-el by killing him. 

2.- "Hakuna matata arc but with an added bromance and weird choices of food” no further explanation needed. Ma and pa Kent are just the hetero version of Timon and Pumba, showing perfectly delicious earth dishes normal to humans, but utterly disgusting at first sight to kryptonians. (tho once kal give them a chance, there is no way in hell he will ever live without apple pie)

Bonus: I´m not aware if kryptonians ate meat, but just imagine the irony of Barry inviting Kal a couple of burritos and he just ... .starts uncharacteristically crying, just like when a 5 year old kid learns that nuggets are made of dead chicken. 

3.- Kara paralleling Nala but in an obligatory fraternal relationship with Clark. Incest isn´t allow in this blog. Maybe she joined Zod's planetary conquest not by choice, but for an obligatory military service. And then escaped to the furthest habitable planet with the intention of momentarily escaping war, recollecting allies and finding his little cousin.

4.- “simba, remember who you are” but with a projection of jor-el giving the epic speech ever. 

Ultimately, while I had stretched this premise longer than I expected,  I understand that a recolor/ reskin/ carbon copy of another story is plain boring. 

Plus I really, really, really love your concepts of Clark being the definitive autistic boy who constantly causes my poor little wet cat, no affection needed, bruce eternal gay panics lmaooooo

Ok but Krypton!lives au but clark isn't some jerk alien prince, he is a brat no doubt but he's also just so oblivious to everything. Have some of my headcanons for this:

•I imagine it starting with kal el dropping down on Kansas farm [grown up and shit] being found by the Kents as they patch him up and take him down on the guest room, he wakes up freaks out a bit speaking in kryptonian and just floating around the house being overly careful of everything, ma and pa kent are confused and so is Kal, he tries to communicate with them and they finally find a common ground and after a month clark finally learns the human language.

•zod has managed to exile kal from his home planet, suffice to say kal el is currently heartbroken and looking for help

•Kal just saw some random pair of glasses and thought they were so cool so now he just wears them whenever he's in casual clothes but is in no way trying to hide his identity, people are just that dumb.

•Does not get social cues at all and will unwillingly say the wrong thing at the wrong time, he's just a happy little guy who wants to explore this strange planet and then go home

•he particularly likes rock music despite his personality, he finds hardcore metal music soothing

•he once tried to eat Batman's ears, in his defence they looked edible to him,

•Diana loves to fill in kal with false information about the human race, kal is not stupid enough to belive them but follows them anyways just because he thinks it would be funny

•Bruce has a very subtle crush on him and kal notices this immediately, he's confused as to why Bruce pretends to hate him

•The whole league [escpically bruce] is overprotective of him, lex Luthor doesn't stand a fucking chance

•Kal el has no filter and will call you out with a bright innocent smile and float away moving on with his day

•Kal lives in the watchtower only visiting earth for league business, he rarely works alone

•he floats near the Zeta tubes almost everyday hoping to see bruce and when he's not there he's disappointed

• he refuses to walk, he thinks he's done enough walking for a life time and bruce has to tug on kal's cape to make sure he isn't floating above his seat

•he is way more capable of communicating his emotions in kryptonian then in English, he will switch to kryptonian when he's ranting or angry

•Diana and Barry are the ones who suggest he make a civilian identity, and thus is born reporter clark kent.

•He still visits the Kents here and then bringing them souvenirs from space

•Does not understand when someone is flirting with him but will bring bruce random animals he finds in the wild as gifts because "I heard from Jason you like adopting tiny lonely beings"

•he's still pretty good at hiding his identity somehow and at this point as learned all social cues and slang thanks to lois

•yet he still decides to fuck with the league, he gives batman forehead kisses, he once called green lantern a thot ["does that not mean thoughtful?"] And will very knowingly insult anyone who even looks at his loved ones the wrong way

•while bruce is more open of his protectiveness [and possessiveness] of clark, Clark himself is more subtle and quiet about it, but not forgetting he's still technically a spoiled prince of Krypton cannot share. He snatches bruce and gets pouty whenever bruce is talking or flirting with anybody else

•it takes them five years to get together but it finally happenes and they start dating

•the kryptonians finally find clark and force him to go with them but clark now refuses even if his exile is over.

•unfortunately he really can't leave his planet behind and has to leave [he and bruce have a long sad conversation and clark breaks down]

•A month later bruce is handling another team meeting when Clark finally comes back

•he offically leaves Krypton to his older cousin Kara and moves in with bruce

•his favourite movies are the James bond movies

•The batfam all adore him

•Basically I want a Au of sweet innocent clark that's oblivious to innuendos and shit while bruce suffers in silence and the evolves into clark being a little shit who pretends he doesn't know what he's doing when pulls bruce close and whispers in his ear about smth knowing damm well he's doing things to Bruce.

Also-

Diana: Batman if your done fighting with your boyfriend, we need to leave

Batman: wha- kal is NOT my boyfriend!

Kal: (has only be in earth for a year) I'm not?

Batman: I-

Kal: Am I not your friend?

Batman: no kal I never said-

Kal: am I not a boy?

*jla snickering in the back*

[youridentixwebblog]

After reskin or optimizing your website can give a new appearance to your new website compared with the old one.

[asimovsideburns]

the saddest thing about fantasy high sophomore year is that gorgug multiclassing into artificer doesn’t grant firearms proficiency. I just think he deserves a gun. Gorgun rights.

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

I'm going to try very hard not to be a dick about this part but yall.

Yall.

This is the WEAKEST policy platform I've seen in decades. I've gone over the first dozen pages or so and am still counting the actual named policies on one hand. I've definitely covered more than 5 policy regions by now and would have expected at LEAST one named policy per legislative juridiction, but instead they're trying to drown the lack of policies in low-context numbers presented like conclusive data results and explicit language positioning the party oppositionally to Trump.

They literally haven't even managed to update the language enough to fully clarify and correct the initial draft's references to President Biden being the DNC candidate rather than Vice President Harris and simply removed his name or replaced it with "Biden-Harris Administration".

Tbc, this is in comparison to the first draft published, meaning those who didn't read the first draft likely would be less concerned by the choices, but anyone who read BOTH is able to clearly see how poorly the DNC is pivoting despite how quickly DNC party affiliates are rapidly falling in line behind Harris. If they are unable to adjust the platform in a way that allows for a uniquely Harris Presidency, rather than reskinning what they planned to offer us under Biden, I have VERY little optimism that their policy work has been responsive to the criticism they have been receiving since the start of 2024.

The DNC finally voted on their party platform and have released the document [see below] and it's 85pages of policy content lmao so I guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend. Fuckinnnnn 85 policy analysis posts and a summative platform reflection.

Between this and my mom being in town, I might buy myself a case of energy drinks and an extra pack of delta spiked lemonades because lord knows Imma be on my last raw nerve

[angelsndragons]

so episode 31, really the last three or four episodes, honestly, crystalized a lot of what i have been working on behind the scenes when it comes to the hells so let’s talk. warning: as always, this a long post.

because the thing is, the thing is, bells’ hells have been a control party almost from the word go. control parties, for those who don’t know, build themselves to go around obstacles and find new, different win conditions for encounters. control parties have a million different ways to handle these objectives. they can avoid combat altogether via stealth, charisma checks, or other pointed party actions. they can, as the crownkeepers did with the crocodile, find a creative way to neutralize an encounter. this doesn’t just apply to combat, by the by. social encounters provide ample opportunity for a control party to flex their muscles and steer their targets towards the party’s objectives. the haunting of the moon tower is a perfect example. they tend to be more creative and aware of their environments and the people within them than their glass cannon and cockroach counterparts. they have to be. you can’t redefine victory conditions without that awareness or creativity. control parties are just willing to try new things in ways that other parties can’t (glass cannons tend to be built for just damage) or won’t (cockroaches prefer optimizing the action economy).

the hells are several different control modes smushed together into some semblance of a balanced party that can switch on a dime and adapt. they can playfully booby-trap their way through a museum job then roast their opponents alive before flipping back to friendly assistance once the threat has been neutralized and they’ve won. the hells are much more interested in gathering and using information than their c1 or c2 counterparts; they’re also much better at extracting it. whether it’s fearne and orym scouting out enemy bases or numbers, fcg and imogen running roughshod over other people’s minds to find it or being irresistible enough that information is just handed to them, or chet, laudna, and ashton scaring the information out of opponents, all of them have some way of pulling information together (using it is still a skill the group is working on but they’re getting better). in combat, laudna and imogen easily cycle between environmental control/support (think imogen’s hunger of hadar reskin and laudna’s form of dread) and big damage numbers, chet literally has two modes he can fight in, while ashton and orym have a number of ways to control enemy movement and attacks.

and the thing about last episode and this most recent string is how the cast has built characterization into and from the mechanics and abilities. the hells are a control party, and they all have control issues. every last one of them.

ashton - traumatic brain injury that left them their unreliable at best memory, sometimes unable to rein in their impulses, and a rage they’ve only recently learned to channel and use, a man who wants very clearly defined roles and relationships (and oh boy it says something that ashton is the one who best knows their limitations and has gotten used to living with this lack of control).

chetney - werewolf who has lost control of the beast once that we know of. has issues with authority and people having control over his creations and livelihood.

fcg - has been denied autonomy and personhood for much of their existence, can snap to murderbot mode when sufficiently stressed with no memory of what occurred.

fearne - oh fearne, she has issues with cages and how things need to be free but also how she collects the things and people she cares about (she’d never keep them but at the same time...). after all, if she collects them, well, she can’t be left again, right.

imogen - has to maintain a stubborn, rigid control over her feelings, thoughts, and powers at all times or else something could explode. literally, in some cases. or worse, she’ll be subjected to every passing, awful thought of every person around her and who wants that, really?

laudna - a potential puppet on delilah briarwood’s strings. her control issues stem from her (pretty justified given her life) fear that everyone will leave her, that she’s not worthy enough for people to remain by her side. if she just controls herself and finds the one thing that others want, they’ll stay, they have to, right?

orym - like imogen, orym’s holding himself together by the skin of his teeth sometimes. he’s trying to control situations and fights around him so that this time, maybe, hopefully, his loved ones won’t be hurt, never mind if he gets hurt in the process.

part of what fascinates me so in the last several episodes is how out of control the hells have felt and the catalysts for that. yu, who manipulates and worms their way around obstacles and uses others and changes the win conditions and gets what they want in the end, a dark mirror of the hells’ own tactics turned on them. ira, who has controlled and manipulated and wiped out any good intention fearne’s parents had, right down to smearing away their memories and emotions. delilah, who gaslights, manipulates, and abuses, whom they cannot escape without leaving one of their own to her “tender” care. fcg, who weaponized what little actual vulnerability this party has been able to let itself feel.

so strap yourselves in, folks, we’re in for a long haul here.

[the-goose-caboose]

Ok so slime rancher 2 is everything I hoped it’d be and more

(An early assessment by somebody who put upwards of 300 hours into the first game)

I tried to go in skeptical since i didn’t want for it to feel like a reskin of the first game but it delivered big time.

1. Graphics are beautiful even on lower settings

2. Early game is made more interesting, you start with slime science and running boots

3. Progression feels less grindy and more involved. Not only is slime science already unlocked but it’s how you upgrade your vac-pac and all other features like the jetpack. But the gathering of materials isn’t just putting a machine down and waiting, now you go and gather materials yourself!

4. Tar are a lot more common; I find myself running into tar way more often I did in 1 and in early game it becomes even more intense given that it takes more effort to get the water pack.

5. A lot of minor optimizations and adjustments that make the gameplay less frustrating. For me the first thing I noticed is that chickens reproduce quite a bit faster than in the previous installment.

6. The map feels fun to traverse and very interconnected. I constantly find myself discovering new shortcuts and secret areas, without having to look anything up.

The only issues i have with it are some minor bugs which only make sense given it’s early access status (and for those who have been burned before do not worry, the game will be completed as monomi park did with the first game) and these bugs very minimally have impacted gameplay.

And so, so much more. If you had looked at slime rancher 1 and weren’t entirely sold I definitely recommend giving 2 a try. It’s smoother, easier to explore and learn. And an experience I definitely see myself putting many hours into in the future.

And for my fellow fans of the first game it is definitely a worthwhile purchase

[thewertsearch]

John would be a high-CHA Rogue who looks exactly like one of his movie stars - probably Nick Cage or Matthew McConaughey. I’m guessing that he’d take Arcane Trickster for pranking purposes, but he’d flavor his invisible Mage Hand as a ‘ghostly’ power, so he can also roleplay as a Ghostbuster. He’d play far from optimally, just going with his gut most of the time, but he seems to have an incredible talent for saying the right one-liners to get the party out of sticky situations. 

Rose would be a Wizard, obviously. Her spell list would be messy and experimental, and she’d heavily abuse spells like Legend Lore and Contact Other Plane to mine the DM for information. In combat, she’d start with the big guns, and if Disintegrate doesn’t drop her target, she’d advise the party to disengage and regroup. Probably the only party member who’s playing to ‘win’, whatever that really means in D&D. I could see her as a Tiefling or Aasimar - someone with friends in high (or low) places. 

Dave would build a College of Satire Bard who raps all his spells. I could see him joining the game to make a joke character, and then getting really into it after realizing that he can express more emotion through the mask of his character than he can as himself. Couple weeks into the campaign, he sends the DM his own notes for the College of Irony, a subclass which becomes stronger the less your character cares about the party’s current objective.

(Jade helped him balance it.)

Jade would agonize for days about which of D&D’s many, many anthropomorphic animal races she wants to play as - maybe a Leonin reskinned as a canine, or something. She would not be a Druid, because her species already has the furry angle covered, and Wild Shapes aren’t anthropomorphic anyway. No, Jade would probably be an Artificer, who kits the party out in the campaign's equivalent of alchemy gear.