#staff bot tutorial

[secretsoftheworkshop]

staff bot voice tutorial

hey guys. have you ever thought, "hey, I want the voices of the staff bots, but how do I get them?"

well, you're in luck, because I found the step by step guide in my pants pocket before doing laundry! crazy how that works. :3

go to this link here and choose your desired program / language -> https://www.cepstral.com/en/personal/download

download the voices "david" and "callie"

I recommend downloading them one at a time as to not bog down your computer. you will have to provide a name and email (maybe? I didn't try without it...oops.), but I skipped the phone number bit and it still let me download, so just mess around with it.

go to your downloads and open the "Cepstral_David_windows_6.2.3.801" program

your screen will show the two screens below. don't worry about your administrator command screen popping up! this program was built in 2013, this is normal :3

click next > agree to user license agreement > click next again

the program will ask which way you want to setup. click typical.

install and finish.

go to your "windows C:" (it may say "[product] C: instead) and go to "program files" (program files x86 works as well!)

scroll down your files until you see "cepstral" and open the "bin" folder

in the "bin" folder, scroll until you see the application "swiftalker" (should be near the bottom)

open the program. you'll have to get rid of all the text everytime you open it, so just do "ctrl+a" to highlight it and then backspace to delete. video tutorial under the cut because tumblr fucking sucks

to save your audio file, do file > export audio file > name your file > save. the file will automatically save as a .wav file; you can use a file converter to convert it into a .mp3!!

I hope this helps! if you have any questions, let me know!!

you can use capcut or any other video editing software to cut out the "please register me" or "this voice is not licensed" bits. if you need a tutorial on that, let me know!

[furiousgoldfish]

I've had to block a lot of bots in the last few days, and I accidentally realized that some of the no-avatar no-post accounts, have some likes, and they might be real people.

I checked all of the other accounts for likes, and only blocked the ones who had absolutely nothing on their account. If you've made a tumblr account for the first time, and didn't change your avatar, didn't reblog or like anything, and you're just here to read things, that is 100% okay, and I would not want to block or report you for that.

However, tumblr has a problem where bot-accounts do a large-scale following, and then proceed to send spam, use the link to your blogs to promote themselves as 'real accounts', do promotions using your blog as link to a real person, and eventually you end up having to block them from messaging and harassing you. It's because of that we HAVE to block and report bots, they'll swarm and harass us otherwise. They're also skewing the numbers and making it impossible to tell how many actual real people are following and interacting with your blog.

So if you're new here, and just want to read, please put some kind of picture as your avatar, or put at least one single post on your blog, just to verify to the rest of us that you're real. I had more than 70 fake accounts follow me in the last few days and I'm mortified to imagine I accidentally blocked and reported an actual person.

[mmmilkweed]

Welcome to the best part of your life,

(oops a reupload)

Hi, How are you? I hope good and if not, I hope it gets better.

I've remade my discord recently, if anyone would like to join. Drastic changes up and about here and I'm sorry it took so long. Who knew trying to find the perfect bots, messing with the roles and remaking channels would take so much time?! Either way, it's finally ready.

Now,

The server is 18+ and requires an ID to be let into the main section. It doesn't need to be an ID persay, but it needs to be government approved document with your date of birth written somewhere. In the verified channel, you can find both written and video tutorials on how to properly apply. And don't worry, we're not asking to see your face, just the information we need to prove your age. I implore you to use the bot - it doesn't scan your id or anything, the contrary, only the staff and I see your document and we manually check each application (To which I must add, please be patient!). If you have any further questions, there is an ever-present mod in the #Verify channel, River, who you should @ (they don't bite!)

[kissygigi]

Erm really short 🤕 — reader referred to as "you"

You’re pretty sure you saw a child roaming around the plex while you were making your way back to Bonnie Bowl in a bit of a sprint, but at the moment you felt like you not getting caught was more important than helping the kid out. You just wished him luck internally — you both were probably in the same boat.

Luckily, the staff bots didn’t pay much mind to you as you rushed to the 'STAFF ONLY' room at the end of the bowling alleys in the corner.

Finding parts in the back rooms of the plex was surprisingly easy. The technicians didn’t seem to know what it meant to pick up after themselves but you were actually thankful for that right now as you returned to your first and hopefully last project: Fixing up Bonnie who you had somehow found in the low levels of the plex which you had 'accidentally' stumbled on.

You were by no means a mechanic, and if there were any mechanics in your family you sure as hell didn’t pick anything up from them. However, by using your phone and the wifi of the plex you managed to search up tutorials that surely wouldn’t bite you back in the ass later.

You tried looking around for any notes left by the technicians as well, but you couldn’t find much unfortunately.

Still, you worked what you had and after some long grueling hours (how was it not 6AM yet??) you managed to at least get Bonnie to communicating condition. It felt like hell had been lifted off your shoulders as his eyes flickered to life and his body twitched.

"What happened?" Were the first words to leave him as he looked at his hands and then around the area. The soft whirring of his system filled the void of silence as you nervously stared at him wordlessly.

Soon enough his vision focused on you and you tensed for a few seconds. "Hi.." you murmured, waving stiffly. Bonnie tried his best to scan you, but he struggled to do so as the ray flickered with instability. "Who.. are you? Why are you here? It’s not safe.."

His tone was nothing but worried. Worried for your safety even though he was the one that looked two seconds from falling apart.

"I’m [Name]…" you trail off, not really putting much effort into your introduction. "Look, I’m just here waiting for 6AM to come and the plex doors open so I can go." A sigh leaves your lips and you hold your elbow with your opposite hand. "What were you doing down there?" You asked the bunny animatronic, tilting your head.

Bonnie tilted his head, the same as you, as best as he could. "Down where?" He asked, and before you knew it he was glitching out again. You panicked as you tried to figure out what was wrong, inspecting all the wiring.

"What’s wrong?! What’s going on?!" You exclaimed, hands practically flailing about. The glitched noises from his voice box were all you got as he began to shut down. You groaned.

This was going to take forever.

[mahouplanetofficial]

Welcome to Mahou Planet! ⭐

Calling all magical heroes of tumblr:

Are you a magical hero, aspiring magical hero, mythical shifter, reality shifter, or just a general subliminal user? Have you had immense trouble trying to find a well-rounded and fun community to indulge in? Are you over the age of 13, and wanting to join a community like this?

Have no fear!

We are Mahou Planet: a server for all 5 forementioned subjects above (mainly magical heroes though!) We are a server ran by the greatest staff in the world for the greatest members in the world!

By joining Mahou Planet, you have access to... ➯ Various server channels and server bots ➯ Challenges and interactive server events ➯ MEMES ➯ Custom member rooms to dump all of your belongings in ➯ A kind, active, and hardworking staff team ➯ A safe space with lots of support ➯ Threads to discuss your concept, games, etc. ➯ Booster perks! ➯ An amazing server owner! ➯ And did I mention.. memes?

What are you waiting for? Join the Mahou Planet family today!

We hope to see you there!

Alongside that, this blog will also feature posts such as: ➯ Mahou Planet server updates, event notices, etc. ➯ Magical hero tutorials, guides, and subliminal recommendations ➯ Spell guides ➯ Reading tutorials ➯ Ask a magical hero (hopefully soon!)

I hope you all are excited for what's to come! See you all soon ⭐

(idols featured in gifs: hyunjin - loossemble, jo yuri - soloist/iz*one)

[waterwindow]

any advice for beginner jumpers? i have no clue where to start. i tried jump academy but it barely explains stuff, its all trial and error

Well there is a course in Jump Academy 2 called basics that has short videos and simple descriptions on the walls beside each of the jumps that explain what to do. I'm not sure if you meant jump academy 2 or the OG jump academy but if the JA2 Basics course is still too complex (which is perfectly understandable). The best thing to do next is to ask for someone to help you. Whether its JA2 Staff or someone you know. And there's also easy jump tutorials on YouTube that can help you get started.

Also Remember to use the Jump Bot. Paying close attention and learning to copy the jump bot is very important. Sometimes i see people struggle and hit the wrong keys and face the wrong direction and I tell them to watch the bot. They watch the bot. And then they change absolutely nothing like they didn't absorb any discrepancies between what they're doing and what the bot is doing xD; Its important to pay attention. I know its a lot of visual information to take in at once but breaking it down into smaller chunks can help. Where is he looking? Where are you looking? What is he pressing? What are you pressing? That sort of thing.

Also a lot of rocket jumping at the beginning will be trial and error, especially if you find tutorials, listening to/reading instructions, interpreting the jumpbot difficult. Patience is key. Don't be too shy to ask for help and remember to stay humble and respectful towards people who stop try to help. I know it can be frustrating and embarrassing at times but if youre persistent you will always make progress ♡

[logo-comics]

Fortune Lover Pirates Meta

Due to certain bots that the staff do nothing about infecting my post with likes in order to try to infect the site further, I decided to delete the original post and make this one as a replacement. I failed to save the question before deleting by mistake, so please accept the meta-styled opening presented below.

Fortune Lover, the most popular game from Ai Fortuna Software, has gained a bit of infamy among new fans as The Pirate Game With No Pirates. Indeed, a common question on the forums and various social media sits is "Why is there so much pirate content for Fortune Lover if its set in a magic school?"

We here at LOGO Media Publication have thus decided to do a little digging on the internet and have come back with all the fun data you need to get a better understanding of why it is that a pirate's life is often seen as Maria's lot!

Tumblr

queenmaryhunt I've finally figured it out! Maria is Martin Campbell's daughter! It all makes sense! Her father disappeared when she was little, so she doesn't know he's technically the Pirate King, let alone any pirate at all! The timeline even matches up! captainnatalia I know you didn't insult the Gentleman Pirate by comparing him to that lowlife that abandoned Maria and her mom because of rumors! Martin Campbell would never be like that! bluejetpack yeah! martin was abandoned and alone until captain natalia took him in! he'd never do that to his own wife and daughter! queenmaryhunt No! Listen! In Martin Campbell: Pirate King's secret ending, he told Captain Natalia's grave that he was going to sail out for the last time so he could pull enough money together to get his unnamed wife and daughter a house in the capital so they wouldn't "be bothered by close-minded villagers anymore.' And what did Maria's voice actor say in her interview when asked about if Maria had any friends in her village? "Maria never really fit in with the villagers after her magic came in at the age of five and the people assumed she was the result of her mother having an affair with a noble. Her dad even disappeared a year later." geomaria-stan1123 That's her opinion, not official lore! The DLC they're going to release is on Golden Sands. In the first game, Old Baron Terni owns that land, and he let the Fortuna Amata make berth there as part of an unofficial agreement. You'll see when the DLC comes out that he's probably going to cameo as part of an old painting or something. Maria being Martin Campbell's daughter is as likely as them adding in a Katarina Route to a DLC!

queenmaryhunt You all owe me an apology! "The Gentleman Pirate disappeared nine years ago, which is why we took up his contract with the new Baron." That's what Marie said! Nine years! Back when Maria would've been 6, you know, when Maria's father suddenly disappeared! marikata9430 I'll take posts that keep getting funnier with each DLC for 500. fortune-lover-heritage-posts Fortune Lover Heritage Post (August 28, 2017).

---

sophiasemeraldprincess So, I'm probably giving myself away as a newbie to the fandom, but what's the deal with the pirates in this fandom? Everywhere I look, there are pirate OCs, Pirate Captain Katarina, Pirate Maria, Maria on a pirate ship... I thought, from all of this, that Fortune Lover had pirates all over the place mc-gentlemanpirate As a lifelong fan of the Ai Fortuna Software Multiverse, I can answer this one, but it's a bit of a long story. See, back at the start, Ai Fortuna was a small company that released their first game, Martin Campbell: Gentleman Pirate. The game was very popular in its time, detailing the adventures of a young beggar child named Martin, who stowed away on a ship to get away from it all, only to be discovered and mentored by Captain Natalia Petra Campbell, sworn enemy of the undead Pirate King Black Boris Edmund Guy, who dies at his hand by the end of the tutorial. From there, it's Martin's revenge quest centered around him figuring out his place in the world of piracy, whether or not he'll be a gentleman of fortune or a cutthroat mercenary. The good end, which is the canon one, has him kill Black Boris and being proclaimed the Pirate King. Since Martin and Maria share initials, as well as having identically fluffy blond hair, a lot of fans gravitated towards the idea that Maria was his daughter with his wife, who were both mentioned in the sequel, Martin Campbell: Pirate King. (Fun fact: When Fortune Lover's first trailer came out in 2014, a lot of people even thought that Maria was Martin in disguise in a midquel game.) Eventually, when the DLC started rolling out, the first was Golden Sands, set in his usual place of berth, the eponymous island, and it was revealed he had only disappeared nine years prior, which was when Maria's father had left. This was all speculation for the longest time, until the databook revealed this was always the lead writer's plan, with the Pirate's Promise DLC having been planned to be the sequel until the studio came in and ordered Mysteries in the Magical Ministry, which did... Alright, but was not as well received as Pirate's Promise, which is currently being made into its own spinoff series. TL;DR - Ai Fortuna Software was originally a pirate game company and Fortune Lover was written by a pirate series writer, so the fans immediately latched onto the pirate game parts because of the fact that it was a loving continuation of a beloved series. marikata9430 Also because Romanceable Pirate Captain Katarina. marisofilove2020 Definitely because Pirate Captain Katarina. marydeservesbetter Lots of people thirsting for Katarina even in an old uniform and bandages and a legitimate development history lesson for the series. Fortune Lover fandom, never change.

Fortune Lover Databook

From Left to Right: Sophia Ascart, Katarina Claes, and Mary Hunt as they appeared in the first poster for Fortune Lover that portrayed the rivals.

Fortune Fact: While Sophia Ascart and Mary Hunt were officially named at the time of the first poster of the rivals being released, they and Katarina Claes, at the time named Tatiana Terni, did not, at the time, have any set personalities, leading to a lot of fans to start to speculate. Many had naturally guessed that Tatiana would be the primary antagonist, and there had actually been some suspicion that Sophia was actually a ghost, and that Mary was secretly in love with Maria and would be a capture target. There was also a lot of speculation that Tatiana would be revealed to be a pirate or at least affiliated with them due to her being a Terni.

Bonus Fortune Fact: Fans of the Martin Campbell series had quickly taken notice of Tatiana's surname, as well as Maria's own, which is believed to be the reason why studio heads told the creator to rename Tatiana, to avoid any further incorrect announcements on fansites that this was a Martin Campbell game.

---

Pictured: Maria Campbell's main character reference for sprites.

Fortune Fact: Maria Campbell's signature attire was the result of a massive server crash at Ai Fortuna Software's main office, which included Keith's original design from when he was Noelia Flores's twin, grey-haired Geordo, and Sophia With Glasses. Initially, Maria's hair had sea shells, in place of flowers, and her dress was originally navy blue, with black boots with brass buckles, and a similarly colored belt and the bow around her neck was originally a black neckerchief, all of which were meant to call to mind Captain Natalia, who wore green and had an unbuttoned greatcoat, but otherwise wore similar attire. This was likely what contributed to the fan believe that she was secretly Martin.

Interviews

Excerpt from an interview with Maria Campbell's voice actress:

Interviewer: So, you said that you once met the English voice actress for Maria at a convention, and that the two of you are friends. Have the two of you ever noticed any similar issues that you have to deal with when playing Maria? Since the DLCs tend to get delayed elsewhere, I presume that she doesn't have to clear her schedule as often as you do for them...

MVA: *chuckles* No, she doesn't have to deal with that, but one thing we both learned is that we're both big fans of the first Martin Campbell game.

Interviewer: Really?

MVA: Yeah, so we both had the same issue, which was that this is an Ai Fortuna game, and the main character's last name is Campbell, so of course we both did the read with Maria using what the Director to this day calls "Martin Voices" whenever I do it.

Interviewer: Martin Voices?

MVA: Martin speaks differently to different people in the game, using Yamanote most of the time because that's what Natalia taught him. When he's really angry, though, he slips into his native Kyushu. In America, he usually uses RP British, but slips into some other British accent that I honestly don't remember the name of at the moment for the life of me. Martin voices are us copying that, even though Maria is supposed to talk more in a Shitamachi dialect in Japanese and a more "standardized" American accent that I also can't recall the entire time.

Interviewer: How did that work out?

MVA: If you go online and look up "Martin's Daughter Scary Flirts" or "British Maria Flirts With Katarina" online, you can see how the fans reacted to the released recordings of either of our slip-ups... I think someone actually animated the English one to include a kiss. But yeah, we both went in under the understanding that her missing dad was actually Martin, and now with all the DLCs out, we know we're right.

---

Excerpt from an Interview with Katarina's Voice Actress:

Interviewer: What are your thoughts on all those pirate DLC sets?

KVA: I love them! Katarina is romanceable in all of them, I get to have her treat people in ways never seen before, and I get to play my favorite type of character: A pirate. She's good at it, too.

Interviewer: Any favorite additions to the cast?

KVA: Pretty much all of them to be honest.

Interviewr: All of them?

KVA: Yep, every foreign exchange student, every citizen, and especially every member of the crew.

Interviewer: If you had to choose, though?'

KVA: That's a tough one. *pauses in thought* I guess Anne takes the lead, with Martin Campbell, Maria's dad, taking a reasonably solid second place for nostalgia’s sake. Anne gives Katarina someone to bounce off when she's not talking to Maria. But yeah. Pirate Katarina remains my favorite setting, so I might be biased...

Memes

[taintedcraft-ltd]

Calling all witches, spiritual beings, wizards, warlocks, and magickal people!

I hereby proclaim Moonbeams & Magick to be officially open, and in their recruitment stage - that means we need YOU!

Over the past few months myself and my dear friend have worked tirelessly to build a fantastical server to cater for all your magickal needs!

We are brand spanking new, and as we fill our shelves with book resources and links of valuable information for you, we invite you to join now and become an early member of this free server.

What you can expect from us and upcoming events:

Top class knowledge from myself and Asteria, while together we have over 30 years experience as witches.

Friendly staff - we’re always around at some point to chat, and regularly get involved with members, DMs are always open. We will be hiring mods too who will undergo a full interview process to make sure they match our vibe and what we stand for.

Extensive resources in the forms of books, videos, links, tutorials, papers and more.

Daily & Weekly events that can help you stay on track with intentions, plan for the next lunar cycle or sabbat, and some things just for fun.

Daily & Weekly Info that you can copy into your grimoire (we have lots of downloadable content that you can print out at home for free) Info will also include daily horoscopes, tarot card readings and planetary guides.

Challenges, a fun way to earn yourself a prize, a title or some bragging rights!

Classes - this will come later as our staff grows and we hire teachers, currently shadow work and Psychism is on the agenda with myself and Asteria teaching, lessons need planning still though, but this will all come in the future!

A supportive community - we want to stay on top of the community and make sure that there’s a space for everyone to have there say. Bullying and hate speech will not be tolerated in anyway. Healthy discussion is encouraged though!

Lives & tutorials - something new for myself and Asteria, but something we can’t wait to start with, plans at the moment include live tarot sessions, live rituals, guided spell classes, and magickal arts & crafts.

World class bots such as Cabot, Nixie, Mimu, Dyno and Discortics.

Events & Calendar Dates - we hope to be planning lots of fun events and activities with everyone, we want the community to really get involved with this, give us your ideas, and let us set them up!

On top of all this, we are a level 3 server and have some amazing magickal emojis!

So What Are You Waiting For?

Click the link…………

…………… Go on …………

Tap it!!

[fnafsbheadcanon]

Headcanon that prior to the STAFF bot program, Vanessa had to work with three other night guards.

1. Horace the Mean One

2. Tommy the Bubbly One

3. Shayla the Goth One

Vanessa and Shayla got along the most. Tommy annoys everyone (poor bby) and Horace is annoyed BY everyone and EVERYTHING. He dislikes the animatronics.

Shayla and Jane definitely do goth makeup tutorial before Shayla quit to join a mini van band.

[saijito]

it's amazing how @staff thought let's get rid of everything that makes tumblr unique platform and make it like every other social media site out there was a good idea. ironic considering staff was mocking the elon musk twt meltdown not long ago but now tumblr is pulling a dumb stunt.

I really hope y'all reconsider forcing algorithms on the sites, and especially collapsing reblog chains. collapsing reblog chains will literally ruins years worth of tumblr heritage/memes/roleplay/info/etc posts on the site. it's how users here communicate. algorithms dont help small people be seen either, and force unwanted content on users feeds too. fix the search and tag functions on here and there would be no need for a algorithm.

Not only that but it's seems like custom themes may eventually be phased out. tumblr is a blogging site, the themes were a great show of that. it'd be unfortunate to have the string of individuality on here be removed to "fit in" with other social media.

On tumblr being confusing. maybe invest in making tutorials for new users? don't remove aspects that are embedded into the culture and functionality of a site for years just to hopefully attract new members. that'd be like discord removing server channels, bots, and roles bc its "confusing" to new ppl. unlike tumblr, discord actually has tutorials for how to use it written by the company.

lastly i hate that tumblr is now practically impossible to view without being logged in or if someone has a custom theme set. it's as frustrating as trying to look at pinterest, or twt without being logged in. maybe more people would want to join or they could get a idea of how tumblr is without needing to signup. i spent a few years just browsing tumblr as a non-user before finally joining in 2013. Also, there's a good portion of people who hate creating accounts without knowing what they're getting into first.

I hope @staff reconsiders these decisions. this will result in the death of the last crumb of the old internet if you go through with it.

Tumblr’s Core Product Strategy

Here at Tumblr, we’ve been working hard on reorganizing how we work in a bid to gain more users. A larger user base means a more sustainable company, and means we get to stick around and do this thing with you all a bit longer. What follows is the strategy we're using to accomplish the goal of user growth. The @labs group has published a bit already, but this is bigger. We’re publishing it publicly for the first time, in an effort to work more transparently with all of you in the Tumblr community. This strategy provides guidance amid limited resources, allowing our teams to focus on specific key areas to ensure Tumblr’s future.

The Diagnosis

In order for Tumblr to grow, we need to fix the core experience that makes Tumblr a useful place for users. The underlying problem is that Tumblr is not easy to use. Historically, we have expected users to curate their feeds and lean into curating their experience. But this expectation introduces friction to the user experience and only serves a small portion of our audience. 

Tumblr’s competitive advantage lies in its unique content and vibrant communities. As the forerunner of internet culture, Tumblr encompasses a wide range of interests, such as entertainment, art, gaming, fandom, fashion, and music. People come to Tumblr to immerse themselves in this culture, making it essential for us to ensure a seamless connection between people and content. 

To guarantee Tumblr’s continued success, we’ve got to prioritize fostering that seamless connection between people and content. This involves attracting and retaining new users and creators, nurturing their growth, and encouraging frequent engagement with the platform.

Our Guiding Principles

To enhance Tumblr’s usability, we must address these core guiding principles.

Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Retain and grow our creator base.

Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Improve the platform’s performance, stability, and quality.

Below is a deep dive into each of these principles.

Principle 1: Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Tumblr has a “top of the funnel” issue in converting non-users into engaged logged-in users. We also have not invested in industry standard SEO practices to ensure a robust top of the funnel. The referral traffic that we do get from external sources is dispersed across different pages with inconsistent user experiences, which results in a missed opportunity to convert these users into regular Tumblr users. For example, users from search engines often land on pages within the blog network and blog view—where there isn’t much of a reason to sign up. 

We need to experiment with logged-out tumblr.com to ensure we are capturing the highest potential conversion rate for visitors into sign-ups and log-ins. We might want to explore showing the potential future user the full breadth of content that Tumblr has to offer on our logged-out pages. We want people to be able to easily understand the potential behind Tumblr without having to navigate multiple tabs and pages to figure it out. Our current logged-out explore page does very little to help users understand “what is Tumblr.” which is a missed opportunity to get people excited about joining the site.

Actions & Next Steps

Improving Tumblr’s search engine optimization (SEO) practices to be in line with industry standards.

Experiment with logged out tumblr.com to achieve the highest conversion rate for sign-ups and log-ins, explore ways for visitors to “get” Tumblr and entice them to sign up.

Principle 2: Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

We need to ensure the highest quality user experience by presenting fresh and relevant content tailored to the user’s diverse interests during each session. If the user has a bad content experience, the fault lies with the product.

The default position should always be that the user does not know how to navigate the application. Additionally, we need to ensure that when people search for content related to their interests, it is easily accessible without any confusing limitations or unexpected roadblocks in their journey.

Being a 15-year-old brand is tough because the brand carries the baggage of a person’s preconceived impressions of Tumblr. On average, a user only sees 25 posts per session, so the first 25 posts have to convey the value of Tumblr: it is a vibrant community with lots of untapped potential. We never want to leave the user believing that Tumblr is a place that is stale and not relevant. 

Actions & Next Steps

Deliver great content each time the app is opened.

Make it easier for users to understand where the vibrant communities on Tumblr are. 

Improve our algorithmic ranking capabilities across all feeds. 

Principle 3: Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Part of Tumblr’s charm lies in its capacity to showcase the evolution of conversations and the clever remarks found within reblog chains and replies. Engaging in these discussions should be enjoyable and effortless.

Unfortunately, the current way that conversations work on Tumblr across replies and reblogs is confusing for new users. The limitations around engaging with individual reblogs, replies only applying to the original post, and the inability to easily follow threaded conversations make it difficult for users to join the conversation.

Actions & Next Steps

Address the confusion within replies and reblogs.

Improve the conversational posting features around replies and reblogs. 

Allow engagements on individual replies and reblogs.

Make it easier for users to follow the various conversation paths within a reblog thread. 

Remove clutter in the conversation by collapsing reblog threads. 

Explore the feasibility of removing duplicate reblogs within a user’s Following feed. 

Principle 4: Retain and grow our creator base.

Creators are essential to the Tumblr community. However, we haven’t always had a consistent and coordinated effort around retaining, nurturing, and growing our creator base.  

Being a new creator on Tumblr can be intimidating, with a high likelihood of leaving or disappointment upon sharing creations without receiving engagement or feedback. We need to ensure that we have the expected creator tools and foster the rewarding feedback loops that keep creators around and enable them to thrive.

The lack of feedback stems from the outdated decision to only show content from followed blogs on the main dashboard feed (“Following”), perpetuating a cycle where popular blogs continue to gain more visibility at the expense of helping new creators. To address this, we need to prioritize supporting and nurturing the growth of new creators on the platform.

It is also imperative that creators, like everyone on Tumblr, feel safe and in control of their experience. Whether it be an ask from the community or engagement on a post, being successful on Tumblr should never feel like a punishing experience.

Actions & Next Steps

Get creators’ new content in front of people who are interested in it. 

Improve the feedback loop for creators, incentivizing them to continue posting.

Build mechanisms to protect creators from being spammed by notifications when they go viral.

Expand ways to co-create content, such as by adding the capability to embed Tumblr links in posts.

Principle 5: Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Push notifications and emails are essential tools to increase user engagement, improve user retention, and facilitate content discovery. Our strategy of reaching out to you, the user, should be well-coordinated across product, commercial, and marketing teams.

Our messaging strategy needs to be personalized and adapt to a user’s shifting interests. Our messages should keep users in the know on the latest activity in their community, as well as keeping Tumblr top of mind as the place to go for witty takes and remixes of the latest shows and real-life events.  

Most importantly, our messages should be thoughtful and should never come across as spammy.  

Actions & Next Steps

Conduct an audit of our messaging strategy.

Address the issue of notifications getting too noisy; throttle, collapse or mute notifications where necessary.  

Identify opportunities for personalization within our email messages. 

Test what the right daily push notification limit is. 

Send emails when a user has push notifications switched off.

Principle 6: Performance, stability and quality.

The stability and performance of our mobile apps have declined. There is a large backlog of production issues, with more bugs created than resolved over the last 300 days. If this continues, roughly one new unresolved production issue will be created every two days. Apps and backend systems that work well and don't crash are the foundation of a great Tumblr experience. Improving performance, stability, and quality will help us achieve sustainable operations for Tumblr.

Improve performance and stability: deliver crash-free, responsive, and fast-loading apps on Android, iOS, and web.

Improve quality: deliver the highest quality Tumblr experience to our users. 

Move faster: provide APIs and services to unblock core product initiatives and launch new features coming out of Labs.

Conclusion

Our mission has always been to empower the world’s creators. We are wholly committed to ensuring Tumblr evolves in a way that supports our current users while improving areas that attract new creators, artists, and users. You deserve a digital home that works for you. You deserve the best tools and features to connect with your communities on a platform that prioritizes the easy discoverability of high-quality content. This is an invigorating time for Tumblr, and we couldn’t be more excited about our current strategy.

[chatbotsinwichita]

SmartBot Strategies: Pioneering Chatbot Solutions in Wichita

Introduction

In the evolving landscape of digital commerce, SmartBot Strategies stands out as the authority on chatbot automation. Founded in 2024, this innovative company aims to transform how businesses in Wichita, Kansas, and beyond interact with their customers. SmartBot Strategies centers its services on "growing smarter"-a principle that emphasizes efficiency, customer engagement, and automated solutions tailored to small businesses. With a mission rooted in making automation both accessible and effective, SmartBot Strategies pioneers smart, AI-driven chatbots that redefine local business operations. As more businesses recognize the need for constant connectivity without the corresponding labor costs, SmartBot Strategies offers a lifeline. From customer service automation to lead generation, their solutions not only optimize interactions but also enhance customer satisfaction. The value proposition? Unmatched expertise tailored to local needs, ensuring that each chatbot solution integrates seamlessly into the fabric of Wichita's business community. The subsequent sections delve deeper into SmartBot Strategies' comprehensive approach, showcasing its ingenuity and the significant impact of its customized services.

Strategic SmartBot Design

Custom Chatbot Creation

SmartBot Strategies differentiates itself through personalized chatbot solutions. Unlike generic models, SmartBot Strategies delves into each client's specific needs, crafting bots that align with individual business goals and cultures. This bespoke approach ensures that chatbots provide not just automation, but a fluid extension of the client's brand identity.

Focused on Lead Generation

Capturing quality leads is critical for business growth. SmartBot Strategies constructs chatbots centered around conversational marketing. These tools engage visitors dynamically, qualify potential customers, and seamlessly route data into CRM systems. Transitioning to our next section, let's explore how these chatbots transform customer engagement.

Enhancing Customer Experience

Customer Service Automation

In the realm of customer support, SmartBot Strategies excels by implementing 24/7 automated assistance. This ensures immediate responses to common inquiries, relieving business staff from repetitive tasks and enhancing customer satisfaction. The integration of AI allows smartbots to escalate issues to humans only when necessary.

Appointment Booking Efficiency

Streamlining appointments is another key service. SmartBot Strategies' appointment booking chatbots integrate with business calendars, facilitating hassle-free scheduling for clients. This improves operational efficiency, leaving business owners more time to focus on core activities. Now, we will examine the crucial role of sales automation.

Maximizing Sales Potential

Sales Automation Tools

SmartBot Strategies empowers businesses to close more deals through sales-oriented chatbots. By addressing customer objections and guiding them toward purchasing decisions, these bots significantly increase conversion rates. Harnessing AI to automate sales follow-ups not only saves time but enhances productivity.

Educational Content Delivery

In addition to sales optimization, SmartBot Strategies excels at deploying educational chatbots. These tools engage customers with tutorials and onboarding information, thus supporting and enlightening clients while streamlining the business workflow. Let's now transition to exploring scalability in our final section.

Supporting Scalable Business Growth

Strategic Consulting

Beyond technology deployment, SmartBot Strategies provides strategic consulting to ensure the successful implementation of their solutions. By aiding busine

[cityonlinementor]

Hop Dog!

Mentor Message 4.17.25

Some hoppin' good PD this month!

NEW:

Zoom Update: URL Change -- zoom.us has changed to zoom.com

Be sure to update any bookmarks or email addresses for zoom. If you have filtering for email spam, those emails need to be updated with the new @zoom.com address.

Reminder: Zoom cloud recordings will be deleted after 1 year. Store recordings offline and/or on another server such as 3CMedia, Canvas Studio, YouTube, etc.

See SDCCD’s DE Toolkit: Canvas Studio Tutorials

*Need to enroll?

2. New Features in Canvas:

You can now find and replace in any Rich Content Editor (RCE) area such as discussions, assignments, pages, etc.

Discussion Summaries can be generated with a Beta Version of AI

3. MFA/Login change for PeopleSoft and Campus Solutions this Fall (targeted for after the drop/add week). Be sure your students know how to use their SDCCD student email. Everyone will need to use those credentials to get into their PeopleSoft/Campus Solutions account using their 365 Office SDCCD email login/password. Make sure your multi-factor authentication (MFA) phone/text/app are set up with a device you can access.

SDCCD Email Information & Tutorials

Faculty/Staff IT Helpdesk

Faculty/Staff Overview of SDCCD Email & FAQ

PD

SDCCD’s first InnovAItion Day. RSVP to full-day or half-day. Lunch will be provided for registered participants.

When: April 18th, 2025 (Friday) Time: 8:30am-5:00pm

Where: SDCCE North City Campus

Register: https://bit.ly/InnovAItion2025

@ONE Courses are still free! (option for units available with Fresno Pacific University): Much less expensive than UCSD or SDSU Extension!

Are you being evaluated in an online course? Not sure what “RSI” is or how it might be used in your courses? See the SDCCD DE Toolkit Module on RSI for more information & examples.

Being evaluated for an online course? Check out the Mesa MOST Course Check-Up Rubric. On the left are the official criteria for class observations; on the right are some examples of how those criteria might be demonstrated in an online environment. Many thanks to the Mesa MOST program for sharing this handy tool!

Tools:

Prevent sorrow -- save all your Canvas Course content in an editable form offline or in a different cloud service. Not sure how? See SDCCD’s DE Toolkit:  Chris Rodger’s Webinar, “The Canvas Safety Net.”

Free workshops: Learn how to use Playposit for embedding formative & summative assessments in your videos. This gives students opportunities to check their understanding in real time. See the Online Learning Pathways (OLP) PD Calendar for other free DE workshops/trainings in our District!

Interesting:

Voice of San Diego:

“How Fraudsters Swindle Community College Financial Aid” (with our own Victor DeVore!) and yes, "fake" is "fake" in many ways... 

“As Bot Students Continue to Flood In, Community Colleges Struggle to Respond”

[ohthehypocrisy]

What if Pokemon Unite was an Anime? Part 5: The Episodes (Finale)

<< Previous

As we discussed in the very first post, the best chance we've got at greenlighting a Pokemon Unite anime is to pitch it as a short, action filled miniseries meant to promote the game and bring in players with too much money in their pockets. That is the ultimate goal of all animation based on profitable IPs, but it'd be nice if the show was fun to watch as well.

The question is, how long should each episode be, and how many episodes should there be in total? To answer that question, we have to look at how much money it costs to fund a normal 30 minute episode from your average anime. According to Google, the average budget of animation, voicework, editing, and materials for production are between $140k to $180k, in US dollars, though the broader spectrum of funding is between $100k to $300k. Since the whole point of a Pokemon Unite anime would be to promote the game and for players to download it and spend money on it, less is more here, which is why a shorter runtime is profitable for us here.

As such, bite-sized episodic releases work favorably for a Pokemon Unite anime. And while I can't comment on whether or not 2D is cheaper than 3D, I think it would look much nicer if it were produced traditionally, especially when the studio is very experienced in making 2D animated shorts.

With all of that out of the way, let's get down to the episode listings. Each episode will be listed in order of episode title, estimated runtime, a short synopsis for the episode, and my own additional comments on the story itself. As a fanfic writer, you'd think this'd be the normal process for developing any story, but I find it much more fun to just go with the flow. It keeps my readers guessing if even I don't know what's gonna happen next, eh heh...

Ahem, onto the episode listing.

-

Welcome to Aeos Island! (3:35) Join Aurma and Pikachu as they touch down on Aeos Island and join the Unite Committee as Unite Trainers and partake in Unite Battles! Could this be the start of Aurma's big breakout? (The first episode shows the trainer's point of view of joining and signing up for Unite Battles on Aeos Island. Aurma, the 'main character' from the previous post is introduced to all the Unite Committee Staff like Professor Phorus and Erbie, as well as the shopkeepers Zirco and Jasper. Aurma is also taught how life on Aeos Island works.) -

Beginner Class 3 (3:24) Before her very first Unite Battle, Aurma must synchronize with her partner Pikachu in a series of test runs. Can she and Pikachu fully trust each other enough to clinch a victory? (Normally in the game, trainers run through bot games after bot games before their first match with real people. I figured we'd cut out the excessive tutorial battles and show how a human and pokemon would synchronize for Unite Battles. It also gives us a chance to show of Aurma's character and motivation, as her backstory unfolds here and shows the audience how she couldn't cut it in the competitive circuit of her home region so she sought a different avenue here. I feel like that's something we could all relate to, good enough at pokemon to beat the main story, not being good enough for VGC or Worlds.) -

Beginner Class 2 (2:12) Aurma's tests continue as she and Pikachu deepen their bond in battle. But there is more to Unite Battles than just combat. Can Aurma and Pikachu score high and pass the test? (A short episode meant to highlight the importance of scoring points in addition to winning fights. Aurma knows what it takes to win, but Pikachu likes to fight and these differing mindsets will cause the two some friction when they have to score a lot of points in order to pass.) -

Beginner Class 1 (2:35) Aurma and Pikachu have overcome every challenge thrown their way, but now they must face their biggest obstacle yet. Can the two overcome the lord of the thunderous skies by themselves? (Another short episode featuring Zapdos as an Objective. We can take the opportunity to add some extra flair to what is essentially an animated boss battle, with Zapdos flying around slinging thunderbolts and little Pikachu running around to avoid them.) -

Great Class 5 (2:44) Having passed her trial battles, Aurma and Pikachu enter their first Unite Battle with other players, but a lack of direction leads them astray. Can Aurma and Pikachu pick up the slack? (If you remember your first Unite Battle, you know that this episode would contain all the casual and feckless horseplay you and your teammates engaged in when playing for the first time. It'll show Aurma struggling to keep her team on point but also to remind the viewers that Unite Battles are supposed to be fun.) -

Great Class 4 (3:10) Pokemon Unite has many items for you to buy to improve your performance in battle. Learn what each one does and if it's right for you and your partner pokemon. (A sort of 'filler episode' where Aurma and Pikachu go shopping for Battle Items and Held Items. The episode will take the opportunity to go over what the items do and how to use them. Also we'll take a quick jab at trainers who mismatch their items with their pokemon, you know, the Choice Specs Greninja players...) -

Great Class 3 (2:40) The first rule of Pokemon Unite is to never give up! Anything can happen up to the last minute of a game! (This episode has Aurma and Pikachu struggle in a losing battle until the last hit of Zapdos is taken from the enemy team. The rest of the episode is a mad dash to score points by the ally team, resulting in victory.) -

Great Class 2 (3:25) Sometimes the best play in a match is one made in service to the team. It's selfless versus selfish in the heart of battle. (Aurma and Pikachu go up against Caurpa and Machamp in this episode where Aurma and Pikachu struggle to make any headway against the enemy team due to Caurpa's overwhelming offensive pressure. Aurma and Pikachu make a ploy to distract the enemy team in order to allow their teammate to score points, securing their victory. This episode teaches the viewers that not all game-winning maneuvers are explosive 5 KO streaks or skillful steal snipes of Objectives. Sometimes, it's about being a team player.) -

Great Class 1 (4:33) An opponent of overwhelming skill is encountered during a Unite Battle! Can Aurma and Pikachu overcome the experience difference? (This episode debuts Lithus, the quiet but ferocious Garchomp trainer. Aurma and Pikachu have to contend with him during a rank promotion battle, but Lithus is far more experienced in Unite Battles than expected, and the match quickly becomes one-sided. Aurma and Pikachu have to unite their teammates against this overpowered opponent in order to have any chance of breaking into Expert rank.) -

I think that'll do it for now. There would be more episodes than this, obviously, but I don't want to lay out the entire series in one post. Since each episode is titled after a Unite rank, you can expect the series to end at 'Masters 1200' or something similar, with a total of 25, maybe 26, episodes.

I also feel like these shorts would best be consumed on a weekly basis, with maybe 2 episodes released once a week, but that'd be ambitious. I mean, the short 8 second animation from Worlds is the most we'll get at the moment, unless Pokemon Unite wants to shell out a bit of extra money for a promotional animated series.

As for me? The best I can do is write a fanfic about it. That's another reason I'm listing only a fraction of the episode synopsis here, I might just go ahead and write it all out myself. Been a while since I've published anything, but if the chapters are gonna be short like the miniseries proposed here, it shouldn't be too much work. A nice, fun little exercise in transcribing my own Pokemon Unite experience for everyone to read, sounds exciting.

But this'll be it for now. Thank you all for reading up to this point. I got something more planned for release next week, so stay tuned.

[triakis-octahedron]

If your blog is entirely blank except for a title and you follow, I will assume you are a bot and block you. I've heard tumblr forces new users to follow blogs before allowing customization now (which is stupid, as blocking blank tumblr blogs for being bots is very common behavior on tumblr and staff knows about it), but the amount of blank bot blogs outnumbers that of genuine new users. I'm not trying to stop you from following this blog because you might need to for the tutorial, idk how it works, but you will be assumed to be a bot and reported for being a bot.

[wherenightmaresroost]

✔ better ways to follow reblog chains ✔ improved search and tag functions ✔ improved performances in general ✔ improved content curation and post blocking ✔ a tutorial for new users / a FAQ page everyone can refer back to ✔ something to help new users fill their dash with things they want to see ✔ a way to prevent authors of viral post from getting spammed by notifs

❌ more algorithms ❌ push notifications ❌ e-mails in lieu of push notifications

⁉ multiple dashboards ⁉ improvement of the followed tags feature ⁉ problem with posts/comments containing links not showing up in the reblogs or searches ⁉ spam bot / porn bot problem ⁉ explicit content from bots/ads showing up everywhere, but having actual user posts flagged for explicit content despite properly community labels / not having any explicit content at all and being unable to contest it

@staff

[chaosmagetwin]

"Upload complete! Welcome to Yrrikston!"

I opened my eyes and flinched at the bright light before grimacing and squinting at it. It wasn't supposed that bright; it was an overcast day actually. It had to be the expanded vision range. Luckily, my eyes adjusted. Someone's hands were on the door of what looked like a train, pulling it open.

"All right recruits, stand up. It's been a long ride from boot. Yeah, alright gnome, get it out..." Someone was already throwing up. A quick look around showed four other people in the train car with me. The first was a elf girl holding a bow. A classic hunter, then. She was probably going for arcane archer. They were meta at the moment. Given her confused expression, she was a new player, still trying to take it in. She was tall, probably over six feet. She looked ungainly on her feet; it was clear she wasn't used to the body yet.

The next was a male human soldier. Their blank expression only meant one thing; a bot. If they were the meta report bot, then they'd disappear in a moment. Everything screamed 'default'.

The third was a gnome of ambiguous gender; clearly a wizard, considering the staff. It was funny how the tutorial section was designed to punish anyone who specialized too much into magic or technology, and immediately hammer home the limits of their build. The poor gnome looked like they were regretting their entire three foot life.

The last was a human girl with a serious expression. Judging from her spell component pouch and shotgun, I knew exactly what build she was going for; she was a technomancer, and her final goal was Ancient Theorist. She had dark skin and red hair.

If she'd simply chosen Ancient as her starting race, she'd be able to start with Ancient Apprentice, and end with Ancient Sage. But that would mean having to deal with two extra limbs and eyes, and an entirely new suite of senses that most people just couldn't handle. It didn't really matter if Sage was meta if no one could handle the race without ruining their ego for download.

I stood up carefully and clutched my own churning stomach before stumbling out and into the light. The technomancer gripped my arm and helped me down, and we both helped the wizard down. The bot was already gone; probably even already deleted.

"Alright, then. Now, I know you've all already gone through basic, but today, we're just gonna have one little last test. I know standards have been slipping, and this was implemented just to make sure you really are ready for combat." The speaker was an NPC, a grizzled looking one legged orc with metal leg, and a soft expression of worry. A quick look around revealed about another 30 people, piling out of the various train cars. I'd almost forgotten that they did this in batches. There were so many hunters it was laughable. Meta chasers never enjoyed their new class.

"Behind me," the instructor continued, "is a shooting range. You'll aim and shoot at the targets to ensure you know how to use your weaponry. Then, you'll move down one of two paths. On your right is the path of technology. You'll get explanations for how things work, what is available to you, and some other insights like repairing them. On your left is the path of magic. Your instructor there will teach you how to feel your mana, how to aim your magic, and create spells from words, types, and shapes. Each path will split again, and lead you to the four types of role you will fill; support, utility, healing, and damage. You may change path at any time, go back, and review as many times as you like. When you graduate, you will be given a book that contains this knowledge that you can review. If you like, you can also skip these tests by simply returning to the train and waiting."

I felt myself smile; the words felt so distantly familiar. Dozens of people were simply getting back into the train, but just as many were moving forward. I glanced at my car compatriots, and smirked as the gnome simply got back into the train car. The hunter and the technomancer were both moving into the tutorial, and I followed; it was nice to get a refresher.

~

"So, er, what's your build anyways? I didn't think anyone really... picked Starved anymore." The hunter was drinking water as we took a break at the technology section. She'd introduced herself as Sally, which I couldn't help but judge a little. Elves should have at least ONE apostrophe in their name. That, and her blonde hair, barbie-doll look, honestly.

I shrugged, nonchalant as I sipped my water for a moment. "I've got a plan in mind, but honestly, I decided not to play to meta this time. I just like their aesthetic. Black eyes, claws, a tail, eventually horns, the subtle body horror... it's just fun!" The technomancer, Amaia, shuddered. "Aww, upset I'm not following meta?"

"Yeah, a little. It's kinda... silly, isn't it? This nation's about to lose. It needs strong characters." I shrugged again. "Well, I guess it's fine. As long as you're not one of those annoying RP-ers or whatever." I couldn't help grimacing with disgust.

"Girl, this is an RP server. Yeah I am." Sally, surprisingly, nodded. "You too?"

"Yeah... my name is because I was raised by humans. I didn't... like the elf separatism thing." I raised my eyebrows in surprise and smiled at her. "What?"

"Oh, nothing, just misjudged you is all. Tutorial's aren't canon enough for me to care, honestly, but once I'm out there, I'll be in character."

"Ugh, y'all're gross. I don't care that it's an RP server, I just wanted to play with my friends and shoot people. It's supposed to be about winning. I could never pick something shitty just to play pretend. RP is just choosing to lose." Amelia gulped the rest of her water.

"Well, hey, go for it, but don't be surprised when people talk to you in character and pretend like they don't know what you're talking about when you say things like 'game' or 'meta'. If they talk to you at all, anyways. Lotsa people are serious about it."

"Whatever, freaks." Amelia left and Sally mumbled something under her breath.

"Right. Well, you want some tips?" I looked at Sally as she leaned against the shaded wall, looking downcast.

"... I guess."

"Remember sunscreen or mud. Clean your boots and use dry socks. Don't ignore pain. Eat regularly."

"err, what?"

I laughed at her confused expression. "Uploading like this, well... it's a full experience. You either keep living here for forever, or you get deleted. You don't get news or new uploads, or anything. This is it. So, take care of yourself. It's a game, but now it's also your life. All the little things matter, because they wanted it to matter. So... don't get trenchfoot. It's a quick way to get deleted."

"I can get sunburnt?!"

"Girl, you can catch every disease in the world here, and a lot that don't exist IRL. There's a reason you had a sign a waiver before you could download the game."

"Oh.... is it worth it?" I shrugged, looking away. "Illeri...?"

"It's worth it for me." I said simply, still looking away. "No one who keeps coming back is normal, Sally. You'll find out if it is worth it in time. Whether you like it or not."

~

"Congratulations for completing the tutorial! Here's your booklet!" I accepted the leather bound journal from the orc instructor, and slipped it into my pocket. "Do you have any questions?" He smiled warmly at me. I felt a flutter in my heart and gave him a weak smile back.

"Yeah. How'd you lose your leg?"

"... stepped on a landmine, out west, near the border at the time. I lived, and dragged myself away. Got found a week later by a recovery team, but by then, well, it was too late to heal me. Cybernetic's doc got me a new one, but, well... anyways, why?" He grimaced and rubbed his leg where it connected to the prosthetic.

"Curious. And, worried, I guess. Do you think we're going to win...?" I took a breath in and let myself fall into character, remembering what I'd written down before this upload. The anxiety. The pain. My kid sibling. My hand clenched on the book in my pocket, and I felt my shoulders go up.

"... I don't know, kid. But, we'll try. You're very brave for going out there." His overlarge hand ruffled my hair, and I suddenly felt very short. I'd chosen a smaller avatar this time, after all. I could feel the burning in my chest as I held back tears. I was going to die out there. A lot. "Hey. Just trust in your squad, and follow orders, and you'll do fine."

I nodded, and quickly wiped my face and cleared my throat. "I'll do fine. I'll be fine." I forced the lump away, and stepped past him, catching up to Sally, who stared at me with shock. "What?"

".... are you some kind of actor or something?"

"Nah, I'm just good at getting in the headspace," I said with a grin. I could taste the salt from my tears as one trickled into my mouth. "Oh, Sally. I'm going to miss you out there. Want to be friends? Keep in contact?"

"Y-yeah, I guess. Jeeze. I... you must be really good at lying." I snorted a laugh. "How do we do the friend thing?"

"Friend Registered; TotesMaGoatsDude" I smiled as the feminine voice whispered in my ear, and text flashed in front of me for just long enough to read it.

"Oh, we already are. Just saying it works. Not like 'will you be my friend?' comes up naturally in conversation. The game tracks it." I grabbed her hand and shook it with some vigor. "Remember. Don't get trenchfoot." She nodded, and we both stepped into the train car.

~

I stared at the mirror, and ran a hand over my thigh and belly, considering for a moment. "Are you certain there is nothing you want to change? This will be your last chance to alter your natural form."

I sighed, frustrated. That was the problem, wasn't it? It was one thing to design a body before upload, another to experience it. Being under five feet tall had been an annoying part of the tutorial, and yet, that final moment with the instructor had reaffirmed what I'd wanted.

There were all sorts of small details that bothered me, for simply not being used to them. The claws had gotten in the way of my gun, and caught on my clothes. The tail had knocked into things, and had even gotten bruised. But there was something else that really bothered me, especially after Sally. "System, do you think I'm over sexualized?"

"53% of all avatars are considered to be over sexualized according to the last poll among players. Shall I rate your avatar?"

"Yeah." I tensed, annoyed with myself. I hated that I couldn't judge this accurately. What would I do if they said yes? Or no? Change everything? Make myself prettier? Uglier? What did I even want?

"Your avatar is being rated. Please hold." There was an uncomfortably long pause. "Your avatar has been rated as not sexual by 63% of reviewers. Top comments; too harsh of features, bony, looks like a boy get more hourglass, needs bigger tits. 37% have rated it as sexual. Top comments: femme let me top you write your number and ask again i'm a les, lovely eyes and nice sharp teeth you look like a great demon, great proportions you look like youre gonna kill someone very sexy, you look like a girl IRL made you very pretty."

I snorted a laugh and shook my head. What a fucked system. It's not like an AI could judged whether I was pretty, or too pretty, or whatever. Still, those ratings made me feel better. 63% thought I was ugly? Practically a win. Even if I was making an avatar for me. Why couldn't I just look at myself normally? I always thought about it too much.

"Would you like to make any changes?" The voice whispered.

"Just... show me with horns? The biggest type, not antlers." Relief filled me. Yes. That looked right. The curling ram horns. "Yeah, no changes."

"Understood. Please remember, you will not grow these horns until your first mutation."

~

Stories from The Waiting Dreams

Not real dreams, just from when I wait to fall asleep, letting my brain ramble to itself, wear itself out.

This was created over the course of months, letting my brain wander, and each night going "where was I last?", often with repeats, or re-examinations of a concept, but otherwise little lingering, revisited only to clarify a point, or add a mechanic.

This one is Never War to Come, which is a fake VRMMO set on a Pangaea continent in a WW1 time period. Trench warfare is the norm for most of the combat, but resurrection magics and healers turn the meat grinder into something even worse. War is fought over territory; edges of a domain protect the core of a nation, where PVE can be waged in ever evolving towns and quests, with outcomes dependent on what choices a player makes, and recurring NPC's that players can build relationships with. Players make up most of the military, with NPC's only stepping in if a player can't, up to and including generals. Player's do not log out - their persona remains, continuing their new lives within the game, and every so often the player simply downloads what has occurred from the outside. It is common for players to look at guides online for builds, and there is a meta that can be observed from within the game by avatars, but is not known directly unless new players directly state it. Most nations have a bot that creates a new character every week explicitly for bringing knowledge of the evolving meta to avatars.

Opening Cinematic

Long ago, people were close to magic - they communed with spirits, used magic like a limb, dreamed themselves new friends. Humanity stood with elves and dwarves and angels and demons and orcs and gnomes and a dozen more, hand in hand. But, one by one, all but the elves lost their connection to magic, for reasons no one knows. Technology rose to fill the gap, and as elves sequestered themselves, dwarves and humans took supreme control of the land. They no longer needed their friends. They no longer needed the gods.

Angels lost their connection to the heavens, and became the Vestigials. Demons mutated, perhaps under their own will, perhaps randomly, perhaps due to some plot, and became the Starved.

Arms and armor evolved alongside their compatriots. Nations rose in the place of kingdoms. The gods voices fell silent, or were ignored. The people ignored their hateful gods, and worked with ancient enemies and found themselves not so different. Enlightenment seemed so close.

And then guns were invented, forever changing the face of the world. Musket lines became trained riflemen. For the first time since the age of magic, flight was achieved. And the world, stratified in nations in carefully maintained alliances, hoping these new weapons would never be used, saw theirs and the gods nightmares come true.

Their intervention came too late; the magic they had hidden from the mortals, trying to prevent this, came spilling back out. Only dwarves remained deaf to the song, although humans struggled to hear it. And elves, at long last, realizing their gambit had failed, returned, thinking these new nations would need them. They didn't know that their magic would be silenced so easily by technology.

For in the Never War To Come, the only thing left to live for was what you had to die for.

Character Creation - Please keep in mind certain classes require tiers of magic or tech. Higher tech tiers mean greater amounts of technology are available, but the higher technology you use, the more your magical allies around you will suffer! Higher magic tiers means more spells, spell types, and spell shapes, but be aware, the higher your tier, the more likely you cannot be around certain technology without making it fail.

Example: A magican elf with tier 4 magic cannot use a radio or semi-automatic weaponry! A wizard elf with tier 5 magic cannot ride in trains for quick redployment, radios within 50 feet of them fail, and bolt action rifles have a higher chance of jamming or having other mishaps.

You have 4 points you may allocate.

Each species has their own stats - keep in mind that these statistics are intended only to help players understand what may be usable. Although gnomes are small, and their starting stats may suggest they'd never be able to pick up a heavy weapon, players may train themselves to be able to handle anything, even some of the heaviest gear, and there are always options to increase ones stats.

Strength is an estimation of how much one can carry. Flexibility is an estimation of ones ability to move and contort, which is best conceptualized as agility or speed. Grit is an estimation of ones ability to ignore pain, which is best conceptualized as health. Stats are ranked between 1 and 10, and are standardized around 15 points total.

>Choose your starting species -

Human (Starting Magic: 0-4, Starting Tech: 0-4)

Strength - 5, Flexibility - 5, Grit - 5

-Special: Versatile - Humans may choose an additional starting class at 30, which will upgrade only once at 60.

Dwarf (Starting Magic: 0-1, Starting Tech 3-4)

Strength - 7, Flexibility - 3, Grit - 5

-Special: Technologist Master - Dwarves may choose a single piece of technology one tier above their technological tier that they can use at levels 20, 40, and 60. If their tier increases, they may make new choices.

Elf (Staring Magic 3-4, Starting Tech 0-1)

Strength - 4, Flexibility - 7, Grit - 4

-Special: Magical Might - Elves may choose a single spell word one tier above their magical tier that they can use at levels 20, 40, and 60. If they learn these spell words through other means, they may choose a new one.

Orc (Starting Magic 1-2, Starting Tech 2-3)

Strength - 7, Flexibility - 2, Grit - 6

-Special: Equip Might - Orcs may use heavier equipment than typical at all levels, including specialized gear. This includes certain vehicle exclusive weapons.

Gnome (Starting Magic 0-5, Staring Tech 0-5

Strength - 2, Flexibility - 8, Grit - 5

-Special: Specialist - Gnomes may allocate one extra point in their understanding of magic or tech at level 1 and 60. They may reallocate this again at levels 20, 40, and 60.

Vestigial (Starting Magic 1-4, Starting Tech 0-3)

Strength - 6, Flexibility - 7, Grit - 2

-Special: Regain Connection - Vestigials may reconnect to the returning gods at level 20, 40, and 60. Warning: this can have physical changes outside player experience, and may cause irreconcilable species dysphoria.

Starved (Starting Magic 2-4, Starting Tech 0-2)

Strength - 5, Flexibility - 6, Grit - 4

-Special: Mutate - Starved must choose a mutation at levels 15, 30, 45, and 60. All mutations have their pros and cons. Warning: This will have physical changes outside player experience, and may cause irreconcilable species dysphoria. Recommended only for returning players.

Show more species? Warning: All further species are outside player experience and is recommended only for returning players, as they are more likely to cause species dysphoria. Consult your physician before choosing. Starting statistics and limits may be outside standard.

Starting Classes - Classes upgrade at level 30 and 60, with 3 choices at both. These upgrades may have requirements, and might lower or raise your tier.

Soldier - Requirements: Technology 1 OR Magic 1

Role - Standardized role, versatile. Increases both magic and technology by 1. Limits do not interfere with one another an additional tier higher.

Gunner - Requirements: Technology 2

Role - DPS focus. Increases both magic and technology by 1.

Medic - Requirements: Technology 3

Role - Support and healing focus. Increases magic and technology by 1.

Engineer - Requirements: Technology 4

Role - Utility and support focus. Increases magic and technology by 1.

Driver - Requirements: Technology 5

Role - Utility and support focus. Increases technology by 2.

Magician - Requirements: Magic 2

Role - DPS Focus. Increases magic and technology by 1.

Druid - Requirements: Magic 3

Role - DPS, healing, and support focus. Increases magic and technology by 1.

Artificer - Requirements: Magic 4

Role - Support and utility focus. Increases magic and technology by 1.

Wizard - Requirements: Magic 5

Role - DPS and Utility focus. Increase magic by 2.

Thief - Requirements: Magic 1, Technology 1

Role - DPS and utility focus. Versatile. Increase technology and magic by 1. Limits do not interfere with one another an additional tier higher.

Hunter - Requirements: Magic 1, Technology 2

Role - DPS and support focus. Increases Technology by 2.

Apothecary - Requirements: Magic 2, Technology 1

Role - DPS and Healing focus. Increases magic by 2.

Technomancer - Requirements: Magic 2, Technology 2

Role - Support and Utility focus. Versatile. Increase technology and magic by 1. Limits do not interfere with one another an additional tier higher.

Witch - Requirements: Magic 3, Technology 1

Role - DPS, Healing, and Support focus. Increase magic by 2.

Theorist - Requirements: Magic 1, Technology 3

Role - Support Focus. Increase technology by 2.

Arcanist - Requirements: Magic 3, Technology 2

Role - DPS and Utility Focus. Increase magic by 2.

Awakened - Requirements: Magic 2, Technology 3

Role - Utility Focus. Increase Technology by 2.

Ancient's Apprentice - Requirements: Magic 3, Technology 3

Role - All roles. Extremely Versatile. Increase technology and magic by 1. Limits do not interfere with one another a two additional tiers higher.

What is your nation of birth?

The following nations have implemented a draft (Recommended for new or returning players to even the playing field.)

Percival's Rest - Nearly Lost City Nation, Seaside Port Town. (Population: Extremely low; Friends 2 (PoshPoshPosh2, ProblemChildxxDxD). Allies: None. Status: PVP Only. Warning: It is expected this nation will soon be removed, due to being conquered. The playing field is extremely unfair. If the nation is conquered, your avatar will be moved to Central as a mercenary)

Mountainhold - City Nation, Mountain Mining Town. (Population: Low; Friends 0. Allies: Ringfort (bordering), Schoshire (Metabordering, Distant). Status: PVE low, PVP High)

Yrirrickston - Declining seaside nation. (Population: Low; Friends 0. Allies: Thapo (Close.) Status: PVE Extremely Low, PVP Extremely High)

Thapo - Declining Portside Nation. (Population: Low; Friends 1 (NameNameHardIsIsHardOMG). Allies: Yrirrickston (Close). Status: PVP Only. Warning: It is expected this nation will soon be removed, due to being conquered. The playing field is unfair. If the nation is conquered, your avatar will be moved to Central as a mercenary.)

The following nations are recruiting

Ringfort: Declining Empire (Population: High; Friends 0. Allies: Mountainhold (bordering), Schoshire (Bordering). Status: PVE High, PVP High)

Schoshire: Burgeoning Seaside Nation (Population: Medium; Friends 0. Allies: Mountainhold (Metabordering), Ringfort (bordering). Status: PVE Medium, PVP Medium)

Decidua: Stagnant Forest and Field Nation (Population: Medium; Friends 3 (ILYHunnyBunny33, JeanEpic709, KataliaOfFerriston). Allies: Aifyo (Close), Letiy'l (Bordering), Skyrl (Metabordering). Status: PVE High, PVP Moderate

Aifyo: Declining Mountain Nation. (Population: Medium; Friends 0. Allies: Decidua (Close), Letiy'l (Moderate), Skyrl (Far). Status: PVE Moderate, PVP High.

Letiy'l: Stagnant River and Marsh Nation. (Population: Medium; Friends 0. Allies: Decidua (Bordering), Aifyo (Moderate), Skyrl (Bordering). Status: PVE High, PVP Low)

Skyrl: Declining Lakeland Nation. (Population: Medium; Friends 1 (TheRiversRiver). Allies: Decidua (Metabordering), Aifyo (Far), Letiy'l (Bordering). Status: PVE High, PVP High)

The following nations are not recruiting (Population full)

Central - The Nation of Neutrality and Mercenaries (Population: Overfull; Friends 305 (HunnyBunny33, AlyssTheVampireSeer123, KidneyTheIf, ... ). Allies: None. Status: PVP Only - borders are set. Warning: Where all conquered nation soldiers go. Holds the only known Ancient Archive.)

Expand this list?

Species: Starved - Magic 2(3), Technology 2(3)

Class: Thief (+1/+1)

Starting Spell Words: Light, Enhance Bullet, Freeze

Starting Spell Shapes: Pierce, Small Projection, Line

Starting Spell Types: Enchantment, Throw, Trap

Starting Gear: Combat Dagger, Gunnhildr Type 202 Bolt Action Rifle, Basic Recruit Uniform, Reclaimed Leather Shoes

Character Name: Illeri Shadesmith

Nationality: Yrrikstoner

Place of birth: Northern Homestead (territory lost)

Recruitment type: Expanded Draft

History: Refugee Homesteader Orphan - Quest: Lost Sibling (A.I. type: Perpetually optimistic downtrodden outcast; relationship type: Affectionate and Reliant; age: 12; )

Age: 18

Pronouns: She / It

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