#target clone script

[david-talks-sw]

"The idea of it..."

This is obviously a reference to the ol' argument:

"The Jedi weren't bad but the Jedi Order as an institution needed to go."

So as a quick reminder I thought I'd point out:

1) George Lucas describes the Jedi's eradication as a sad thing, not something sad-but-necessary:

"[The] Jedi getting killed through the Order 66 of the clones is just done as one of those kind of inevitable pay offs in terms of getting rid of everybody, the Emperor is getting rid of all his enemies, but there’s a certain inevitability of it all and a sadness to it.  - Revenge of the Sith, Director’s Commentary, 2005

2) Out of 770 George Lucas quotes, I've never seen him refer to the Jedi Order as "an institution" once.

He does refer to the Republic itself as an institution.

"[In The Phantom Menace one of the many storylines is] the story of a young queen who's faced with the total annihilation of a people, and how she can get a sluggish political institution to pay attention to what's going on." - Premiere, 1999

He might be referring to the Senate instead of the Republic as a whole, but the point stands: he's not talking about the Jedi.

Which tracks with what Lucas defined as Dooku's reason for leaving the Order: his disenchantment with the Republic/Senate, not the Jedi themselves.

But let's go slightly further:

The Jedi Temple was designed as a place of worship that would contrast with the corporate coldness of the Senate.

Also, the Jedi were originally designed as a more organized police force. As the script evolved, they were turned into peacekeepers, diplomats.

Mace's room was redesigned so as to not convey that the Jedi were mired in bureaucracy and protocol.

And when describing the political situation of the Prequels, Lucas doesn't blame the Jedi, but rather the corporations and Senate:

"But as often happens when wealth and power grow beyond all reasonable proportion, an evil fueled by greed arose. The massive organs of commerce mushroomed in power, the Senate became corrupt, and an ambitious named Palpatine was voted Supreme Chancellor." - Shatterpoint, Prologue, 2004

Wow, it's looking like not only is the "Jedi Order as an institution needed to go" narrative not a thing per Lucas, but

3) Lucas went out of his way to make it clear that the Jedi aren't the issue, here, the Republic/Senate is.

So how did we get this narrative?

Well, it comes from a generation of fans and Star Wars creators who were not the target audience.

You know the type. It's the kind who, when asked if they like the Prequel Trilogy, will respond that they liked...

... but not the execution.

AKA they disliked the Prequels, but then EU books and The Clone Wars came out and provided them with enough material to form a headcanon justifying why they didn't like the Jedi, despite wanting to: it's because the Jedi are meant to be disliked! Totally!

The Jedi failed as an institution is an idea that comes from authors who wanted to engage with the material (it IS Star Wars, after all) but not the narrative that George Lucas had crafted, whose work then influenced older fans who preferred the author's retconned version of the story to the original one.

The rest is history.

As Prequels producer Rick McCallum put it:

"The myth begins on paper. During preproduction, filming, and postproduction, the myth becomes visible through the work of hundreds of dedicated people. Following the film's release, the myth becomes public and the public makes it its own." - Rick McCallum, Mythmaking: Behind the Scenes of Attack of the Clones, 2002

[riverianepondsims]

The Sims 4 to The Sims 3 | target retail collection

Hey all, happy holidays ☃️! Here's a new conversion set from simkoos to introduce your Sims to shopping where you go for one thing, but spend §200 somehow...

Important info and download 💾 under the cut:

I have so many WIPs and so many already converted sets I haven't posted but this one has been on my to-do list for a while! Target is a trendy, quiet, and very red department store chain here in the US, and now in SimNation too. So, here's what is included in this set: Target Checkout Counter - Deco, has lots of slots (works great w/ATS3's counter base for registers). Original mesh by Severinka. Target Shopping Cart - Deco, has lots of slots. Original mesh by Severinka. Has been decimated somewhat to reduce polycount. Target Self Checkout Machine - 3 versions Mesh by ScodeeYodee - I decimated this mesh significantly (by 50% for HLOD, 70% for MLOD). It's still a little high poly, as the original was over 16k. I also edited the texures a bit (smoothed out). Version 1 - Deco only, has lots of slots. Version 2 - Savvy Seller Register (TS3 Store), retains deco slots. Version 3 - Savvier Seller Register (Ani's mod), retains deco slots. Retail Display Table - 3 versions (all have a lot of slots) Version 1 - Deco only Version 2 - Savvy Seller Pedestal (TS3 Store) Version 3 - Savvier Seller Shelf (Ani's Mod) Retail 1x1 Shelf - 3 versions (all have slots) Version 1 - Deco only Version 2 - Savvy Seller Pedestal (TS3 Store) Version 3 - Savvier Seller Shelf (Ani's Mod)

Retail 2x1 Shelf - 3 versions (all have slots) Version 1 - Deco only Version 2 - Savvy Seller Pedestal (TS3 Store) Version 3 - Savvier Seller Shelf (Ani's Mod) Target Unfolded Shopping Bag - 2 versions Version 1 - Deco only, mesh by ATS4 Version 2 - Acts as WA storage chest, requires WA EP Target Folded Shopping Bag - Deco, mesh by ATS4 Target Small Sale Signs - Wall Deco Target Large Sale Signs - Wall Deco Target Wall Ads - Wall Deco Simple Modern Tumbler - Deco H2.0 Quencher Tumbler - Deco Simlish Target Store Sign - Wall Deco Target Logo Sign - Wall Deco Target Outdoor Sculpture - Deco Target Outdoor Bollards - Deco EfficientJet Mop - Wall Deco Bonus Item: Gift Card Display - 2 versions This item is by TheGoldSim! Version 1 - Deco only Version 2 - Works as a Greeting Card Display (PhoebeJay's mod) Collection File - This goes in your Collections > User folder, is simply a folder that has all of the items together in-game for ease of access. The versions of items that require either WA, the Savvy Seller TS3 Store Set, Ani's Savvier Seller Mod, or PhoebeJay's mod will not work without having those items/packs downloaded and installed separately - I just added the script to them so they will function as such if you already have them! If you don't have them, they will function just like the deco versions. Additionally, some of the shelves may or may not require the Generations EP as they were cloned from the GEN shelves. Ani's Savvier Seller Mod: https://www.nraas.net/community/The-Savvier-Seller PhoebeJay's Greeting Card Mod: https://modthesims.info/d/664311/send-greeting-cards.html

🔍 Search: You can search for riverianepondsims, simkoos, target, retail, or 2023 to locate the items conveniently using a catalog search mod. Credits for this set again (thank you!): Simkoos Severinka ScodeeYodee GoldSim ATS4 (Sandy) Ani PhoebeJaySims Special shoutout goes to @tangledhelix, who is building an awesome Target lot! I can't wait to see the finished version :)

- You can find all of my previous uploads conveniently by clicking “Navigation” on my blog and going to “Downloads” or visiting riverianepondsims downloads

My downloads will always be free, but if you would like to say thank you: Ko-fi ☕ 💾 Download: SFS - Individual items | SFS - Archive file

🛍️💳🛒

[simbouquet]

TS3: Nicer Vendors + Ask Animation Edits

This mod requires Lazy Duchess' Mono Patcher Library to work properly!

This is a combo of two quick and dirty mods I made to solve some animation-related annoyances I had for a while. It contains a fix for vendors playing negative animations when Sims purchase from a register and adjusts the Ask animations to make these interactions quicker. 💬

Nicer Vendors

Ever since I started playing TS3, I was confused by the animations used for the Buy Items interaction on registers; it uses the same animations as the "Neutral" outcome of the Ask interactions, where the Sims have vaguely negative reactions to the interaction being performed.

This part of the mod contains a script that simply points these interactions to the "Friendly" state, which contains the more positive animations between the two Sims.

It should work on all registers across all EPs, including objects like the Seasons concessions stand, as well as certain Sims such as the special merchant from World Adventures and the tattoo artist from Ambitions. Let me know if I've missed something!

Ask Animation Edits

This is a jazz script replacement for the Ask animations. It adds more variety to the animations used both for the initiating Sim and the target Sim in the Friendly and Neutral states, so the positive and negative reactions are a little different every time.

The extra animations are generally shorter than the vanilla ones, so Sims actually spend less time performing these socials, which is always a good thing in my book because asking another person what they do for work shouldn’t take as long as it does in this game.

You may still see the vanilla animations happening from time to time, although they will be less likely.

Compatibility

The newest version of this mod is compatible with NRaas Consigner.

Ask Anim Edits will conflict with any other mod that replaces the social_askfor jazz script in JazzData.

Download: SFS / MTS / Patreon

21/11/2024: Nicer Vendors now requires Lazy Duchess's Mono Patcher Library. Added compatibility with NRaas Consigner.

07/02/2024: Sims now play the correct animations when running Buy Items directly from the Sim rather than from the register. - Adjusted animations for WA special merchant and AMB tattoo artist.

18/06/2023: Fixed interaction names not displaying properly.

15/06/2023: Initial release.

Credits & Thanks

Battery’s Script Mod Template Creator: Getting started with scripting quickly.

nraas: I used their Tunings code in my own script, which helped me inject the tuning of one interaction into another.

dnSpy: Peeking into the game’s files.

Visual Studio 2022: Writing the script.

Mono Patcher Library: Replacing game methods without having to clone interactions.

s3pe: Exporting/Importing resources, creating the package file.

Adobe Photoshop: Creating the preview image.

Thanks to @thesweetsimmer111 for helping me work out some issues with the jazz script!

Thanks to gamefreak130 for helping me replace some of the interactions!

Thanks to the lovely community at TS3 Creators Cave!

A Sim walked up to a concessions stand and he said to the man running the stand...!

[nobodysdaydreams]

Okay. So I just watched severance 2x6 the other night (no spoilers please) but I’m just gonna say this now: I don’t know what Burt and Fields are hiding, or if they are good guys, bad guys, or something in the middle, but Irving kept his cool wayyyy more than I would in that situation.

First of all: the whole backstory about the pastor saying they should work for Lumon was sketchy. I get that it was just supposed to be a funny short snippet, but I’m sorry, their pastor said: “oh, you made a bunch of very bad mistakes? Well, then forget the whole Jesus and repentance thing we’ve been talking about. Obviously the only way to heaven is to create a clone for yourself, lol. I know last week we said AI was a disgrace to human dignity, but severance? That’s a-okay, go for it man!” Either “Pastor Gale” is a Lumon plant OR Burt and Fields made him up. At first, I was like “oh, he’s probably a Lumon plant” but THEN they pulled the whole “you know, pastor Gale says it’s okay for innies to have love so it’s hypothetically fine if you see my husband” and “didn’t Lumon only start 12 years ago, not 20? Haha yes, silly us we misspoke” thing, and I started thinking. How did Burt know where to find Irving in the first place? Irving knew where Burt lived, but as far as I know unless I missed something that doesn’t work the other way around. Not to mention that someone was searching Irving’s house right when he was invited over (coincidence?) AND the fact that Irving and Burt’s convo parallels Helena and Mark’s in that episode. Is this the Outtie trying to help their Innie and bring Lumon down + the outtie that’s a company man/woman and knows more than the other’s know symbolism?

And then I started thinking more about what Burt and Fields were saying. We don’t know much about Outtie Irving other than he’s older and lives alone with his dog. But: Regardless of his religious or moral background, if Irving, like Burt in his story, has mistakes he’s running from, the whole “Lumon gives a version of you a chance to be better” script could be a targeted attempt to seduce him back to being open to Lumon’s influence.

I hope it isn’t. I hope Burt and Fields and everyone are good guys. I hope that the “mistakes” part of their stories is now, when they are working for Lumon, or before, when they did work for Lumon, and they’re either making better choices now, or will go on to make better choices. unfortunately for them, that particular dinner made them look ridiculously suspicious, and I don’t think I could have kept my cool. I’d just be sitting there like:

“Ah, I see. So your Christian pastor told you that you were 100% going to hell and the only way out was via severance, not Jesus or love or being better or self improvement? And now you’re hammering in that “Severance is the only way to make a good version of yourself if you’ve made that many mistakes” mantra pretty hard and looking at me as if you might know something… Oh, and you’re also totally okay with me having a relationship with your husband provided it’s because my innie wants love? And… now you’re letting it slip that you’ve worked for Lumon wayyy before anyone else. Okay. You know what, this has been a lovely time, but my house is 100% being searched right now, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to attempt to flee the country. Enjoy the wine.”

But Outtie Irving? He sat through the dinner, he didn’t rush out early or draw any suspicion even though I know he’s a smart guy and had to have been freaking out internally. 10/10 spy work right there.

[frostycatblr-fandom-files]

NFITH Chapter 1 - New Territory [Commander Fox x Fem!Reader]

Warnings and Information: New to Coruscant and adjusting horribly to your new job as a senator’s aide, you often find yourself lost on the best of days, and the target of her wrath on the worst of them. You could almost swear she’s setting you up to fail as your job standards become more and more impossible. Fortunately for you, you have someone in high places looking out for you before long.  Second Person POV, undescribed Fem!Reader, save for *very occasional* mentions of makeup. Establishing chapter where Reader moves to Coruscant for intentionally vague reasons. Reader does not meet Fox in this chapter. Reader has a very helpful neighbor. This series contains depictions of anxiety and panic attacks. Star Wars and real-world swearing. Narrative and stylistic use of italics. 

Word count: 2,748

New Territory

Moving to the centermost jewel of the Core Worlds for a career change was an impulsive decision spurred on by the start of the Clone Wars some time ago. Feelings of great uncertainty for your future in this developing chapter of your life became a dragging, tugging weight you could no longer ignore. What once provided anchorage to keep you stable and sure threatened to drown you in the ever-shifting tide if you did not rid yourself of these hindrances. 

Something new was waiting for you on Coruscant, the city that never sleeps. You just wouldn’t be sure until you got there.

Loved ones had rallied around you when you made preparations for the plunge, showing you support and lending a helping hand in packing most of your life away in tidy little boxes and crates. It proved easy with their help. You truly couldn’t have done it without them. Choosing cherished items to leave behind was no walk in the park, but it was easier than what would come next. 

The fretful farewells and yawning maw of a whole new galactic timezone between you and your loved ones were bitter pills to swallow. The first coils of dread pooled in your stomach upon the drop out of hyperspace, slowly gnawing away all the while as you met up with the moving company in the early afternoon.

Getting the keycards and address to your new Coruscanti apartment marked the start of an aching loneliness. 

There was no one to stand behind you in silent support when the new neighbors came sniffing around at the sight of the moving company, leaving you to greet them on your own. None of the bittersweet laughter that lovingly tucked your holoalbums in boxes accompanied you when it came time to unpack them. No one would help you decide where you should put your travel-wilted houseplants when you introduced a little greenery, something to fill up the empty space. 

(The corner would have to do for now.)

Dinner was eaten alone. 

Too travel-tired, and the whole of your body aching at the thought of a few minutes more on your feet after a busy afternoon of scattered unpacking, you purchased something from one of the many street vendors just outside the complex. 

The signage was not in Galactic Basic, but thankfully, the Dug vendor knew enough to provide “something filling” when you asked. Anything would do so long as it took the claws of the gripping hunger and filed them down. Credits changed hands for a carton of breaded nuna nuggets in a vegetable and grain blend, which was taken back upstairs and enjoyed quietly in the solitude of your kitchen for a moment, just savoring the flavor of your first meal on a new planet. 

To disrupt the unfamiliar room tone, you eventually tune in to a radio drama for the first in a long time. Something to fill up your apartment with a little more sound until you’re ready to unpack a final box or two for the night, then head to bed. The script’s corny and amateurish quality has you reconsider that idea pretty quickly. 

The longer you listen, the more it sounds like an office drama, complete with catty watercooler talk and power tripping micromanagers. 

Pass.

You turn it off and put the rest of your meal in the conservator for tomorrow.

You make just enough progress on a pair of boxes before you’re content both with the day’s progress and the prospect of finally getting some shut-eye. 

Leaving the process of wrestling your mattress in place when you’re running on fumes likely wasn’t the best idea, but it should serve its purpose for draining the remainder of whatever energy reserves you have. Once settled in the bed frame, extracting your bed linens and dressing things up is all that’s left before your nightly routine, and finally, sleep. Fixing the mattress cover and fitted sheet in place takes the most time, the rest proves a breeze. 

The new sleeping space is capped off with final addition of the comforter. A loved one packed your sleep set in the same box as the bed linens, meaning you don’t have to sleep in the day’s now-dirty clothes, or dig through any more boxes. 

It smells like home. 

And it’s the first time you sit here—truly sit here—in the newness and the unfamiliar of what you’ve gotten yourself into… and struggle not to cry. You deny the brine-water in your eyes its purpose, wiping and washing everything down the sink drain instead. The cold creepings of loneliness and regret are placated with self-soothing nonsense. 

You’re just tired. There was a lot of information to process today. Everyone feels completely overwhelmed their first day on Coruscant. 

It could easily be the first of many days… 

Finally reclining in bed, you find it hard to sleep now that there’s nothing else to occupy your mind with, taking notice how full of sound this foreign environment is. Understanding this planet is one massive, incomprehensible city, it’s easy to see why rather than the occasional, irregular sound, the noise pollution will be constant, coming from countless sources.  

The hummed harmonies of neon signs glowing in the smog. A million skylanes warbling and purring with speeder cabs in every color of the light spectrum. The steady, endless drum of foot traffic on a million and one walkways. The voices of trillions of galactic lifeforms living above and below the surface; all parading around on the planet that never sleeps. 

Sleep eludes you all night, or proves restless when you wink out of consciousness, however temporarily.

Your neighbor from down the hall is not surprised to see you propped up in the doorframe, folding over in exhaustion when you answer the door just before mid-morning. You force drooping eyelids back in place, praying this is a quick matter as you greet the elderly woman perched on your welcome mat next to a large bag. 

You were in the process of sniffing out which of the many boxes filled with kitchenware contained your caf machine so you could brew yourself a cup of much-needed energy when there was a knock at your door. 

“Can I help you…?”

She was Tholothian, judging by the scaled skullcap and tendrils that bobbled over her shoulders from the force of the gentle, bubbly laugh she breaks into in her amusement. 

“Oh no, dear; I’m here to help you. May I come in?” 

Her smile is warm, and kind; emphasized and complemented by both smile and age lines. You’re pretty sure you saw her the other day when the movers brought in the first of the boxes, but you can’t remember a name.

Figuring there’s no harm, you invite her inside, at which point she collects the sizable bag at her feet and finds a way to gracefully squeeze it past you without so much as a bumped elbow. “Do you… need any help with that?” The offer to help is made only after the moment has passed, brain sluggish and more than a little forgetful of your manners. 

Fortunately, she’s forgiving of the situation before her. “I’m plenty strong in my old age, don’t you worry! Got up nice and early this morning to get some things that’ll help you settle in. Groceries, too.” 

No longer quite sleepy, you now stand there, stunned. “You- you brought me groceries?”

With a smile, she hoists the bag a little higher than before. “I sure did. Where would you like me to put everything, dear?”

“T-the counters in the kitchen’s fine…” you stammer. 

Your neighbor brings the grocery-laden bag into the apartment’s small kitchen, and lines everything up on the countertop as you instructed. Blue milk, a loaf of polystarch, eggs, caf creamer, and generic breakfast mixes are among the lot. 

“Here you are! A few essentials to get you started.” Previously crammed in one singular bag, there are now fifty or so items to be put away. (That’s a few?)

You would be speechless if it wasn’t the polite thing to thank her. 

“I, uh… h-holy shit, thank you.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” she replies cheerily. “Mrs. Helios is always here for her neighbors. I’m just a knock away down the hall in ol’ 4546Besh if you ever need me.”

Mrs. Helios. Tholothian. 4546Besh. 

You could remember that. (Probably.) You properly introduce yourself while the two of you begin putting away the perishables first, the conservator and cupboards looking a little less barren than before. (And she thinks you have a lovely name; says it suits you.) Keeping up the momentum, the boxes of kitchenware previously poked through for the caf-maker are tackled next, at Mrs. Helios’ offering.

“You look like you could use a hand.” she says with a knowing smile. 

“I would certainly appreciate it…” you say, not for the first time. 

Steady progress is made over the next half hour or so until the beverage machine has been located, at which point you dig only long enough to find the caf powder and a suitable mug before the Tholothian encourages you to have a rest. Mrs. Helios takes the opportunity to present you with a few more things out of her bag while you wait on your cup to brew. 

The first is a sound device, the price sticker subjected to some rather thorough redacting of monetary value. The packaging is pretty nondescript, save for a few lofty promises—over 150+ new and improved audio files!—but the machine itself has a rather nice, sleek design when you extract it from the box. Coincidentally, it happens to be in a softer shade of one of your favorite colors. 

“It may help mask some of the... less pleasant ambience you’ll find here.” 

Her reasoning sagely segues into the next item, handwritten advice on how to deal with the high amount of crime and the pickpockets that plague the planet. The stack of hair-thin acrylic sheets must be half an inch tall, and again, handwritten. Each letter is crisp, with a print-like quality to it. It must’ve taken her several hours to write this much, and so tidily.

You’re kind of at a loss for words. You’re wondering if you’ve made a terrible mistake uprooting your comfortable life to live here.

“Just how bad is the crime?”

“It’s not so bad here on the upper levels, dear. Biggest concern would be pickpockets, day to day. But the sub-levels; now those areas you’d really need to take care of yourself.” Mrs. Helios understands that's not much comfort, so the subject is changed for now while you fetch the finished cup of caf. (You set another to percolate for good measure; you’ll likely take it for yourself if Mrs. Helios declines.) “Speaking of upper levels… I also wrote down a few of the good shops not too far from here that you may find helpful as you're settling in. Nice variety, and all that.” 

You take the first of the pages and study its directions, telling you how many turns to take, nearby signage, types of shops you should be seeing along the way. She’s thought of everything. Mrs. Helios has made a point to include the name and species of the shop-owners, and the languages they speak as well.

Nursing your caf, you select a passage at random. 

Hasher (Dug) speaks Basic, but be sure to greet him in Huttese first. The word ‘Hello’ is ‘Achuta’. 

“You must be pretty familiar with these shop owners.” 

“I’ve been doing business with them for years,” Mrs. Helios confirms, head bobbing. 

Though the two of you had proper introductions little more than an hour ago (if the chronometer is to be believed), the elderly Tholothian has given you the impression she’ll answer any question with honesty. She’s given no reason for you to suspect otherwise so far, anyway. 

“Are they… friendly?”

Mrs. Helios has given you an ace up your sleeve, and she knows it. “They should be! If they aren’t, telling ‘em Mrs. Helios sent you their way ought to remind them of their manners. I won’t tolerate them being unkind to my neighbors just because I’ve known them for years.” Reaching across the small table, she takes your hand and gives your forearm a gentle but reassuring pat. “You’ll find your footing here in no time, dearie. Don’t you worry.” Her smile lines deepen, and her tone is full of confidence. 

“I hope so…” you reply, sleepy in your optimism.

Not much later, the caf-pot indicates the second cup you’ve set to brew has finished, strengthening the robust aroma wafting through your tiny apartment kitchen. Getting up, you collect the mug full of bitter brew and offer it up to your new neighbor, asking if she’d like some sugar or cream to sweeten it. You should have thought to do the same with your own, but you’d been so desperate for a stimulant after a near-sleepless night that you only waited long enough for it to cool to a more comfortable temperature, at which point it was drunk straight. 

“Oh, that’s a very kind offer, but I’m afraid caf and I don’t agree with one another. I suspect I’m mildly allergic to caffeine; always seem to break out in hives after a cup. You go ahead and have it for me, dear.” Mrs. Helios encourages you. She promises there’s no sense worrying about the possibility of a contact allergy, either. More than one broken cup of caf has been cleaned by her thin fingers throughout her lifetime without ill effect. 

That brings up many questions, she’s all too sure, but you’ll have to find your answers another time. 

“Judging from the amount of boxes, you’re planning to be here for a while. There will be plenty of time to get to know one another better.”

“I came to Coruscant for a career change.” you confess, stirring in a few spoonfuls of sugar into the second cup of caf. “So I hope that’s true.” 

The Tholothian’s expression quickly becomes one of mild interest. “Is that so? And do you have a career lined up for you already?” Interest morphs into gentle disapproval and concern when you tell her there’s no new job lined up yet. “Oh good galaxies, child. That won’t do at all… Coruscant can be such an expensive place to live. Well. In that case, I ought to give you some directions to the nearby career centers before long. You deserve a little time to settle in, first.”

First groceries, then a noise machine and a sizable stack of hand-written advice. Now Mrs. Helios is offering to help you find resources to pick up a new career. You must have accrued and cashed in some seriously good karma or something to have such a helpful neighbor just down the hall. It almost feels too good to be true. You know your family would be as relieved as you are grateful to have met someone so generous and helpful so shortly after moving to Coruscant. 

“Stars, I… I don’t know how to possibly thank you enough, Mrs. Helios...” 

Your neighbor smiles, humored, as she begins gathering her things. She’s taken enough of your time for the day; ought to be on her way and let you get back to setting your apartment in order at your leisure. Boxes that have piled up in the joint search of the caf-maker are kicked aside, helping her get to the door unencumbered. 

“Settle in first. Then you can fuss about thanking me,” the Tholothian tells you with a matronly smile and a deciding nod. “But there’s no pressure. This is new territory for you, dear. Your story is just getting started.”

That’s certainly one way to look at it. “Yeah… I guess you’re right.” you agree softly, returning her pleasant smile. Her words are simple, but so very comforting. You linger at the door, waiting until Mrs. Helios makes it down to 4546Besh before slipping back inside your own apartment with a departing wave. 

She’s absolutely right. 

The day is still young, and with the caf in your system, you should be able to make decent work on emptying these moving boxes if you work in waves. Your first night was rough, but it’s behind you now. Given an incredible leg up by your generous neighbor, tonight should be better. 

And tomorrow, you’ll start properly exploring the planet at the heart of the Galactic Republic.

Starting out this series on the small-side for chapters; be warned that future chapters will (likely) be on the longer end going forward!

2/24/2025 UPDATE: This series will no longer be continued as a reader-insert. It will instead be re-worked and written as a OFC fic going forward. I apologize for the disappointment!

Fic taglist: @dukeoftheblackstar @dystopicjumpsuit @msmeredithrose @lonely-day3636 @returnofthepineapple

[FFF Masterlist] [Taglist] [New OFC NFITH Masterlist] [Requests: OPEN]

[canyousonicme]

Doctor Who: Big Finish, Alex Kingston Team for New River Song Stories

Alex Kingston will return as River Song for a new round of Big Finish's Doctor Who audio dramas set AFTER "Silence in the Library."

Now that Steven Moffat is back writing for Doctor Who, fans are speculating about whether River Song will be back. Alex Kingston certainly hasn't made it a secret that she would love to play the character again. But River Song never really went away. She's been headlining a River Song series in audio dramas from Big Finish for years since she had her final story on Doctor Who. Now she will star in The Death and Life of River Song, a brand-new series of full-cast audio dramas coming soon from Big Finish Productions. It's like a whole new season of River Song adventures – and the latest.

In case you didn't know, River Song is an archaeologist from the 52nd century, born and raised to be an assassin, destined to marry her intended target, and to have many of her own adventures too – Professor River Song's very messy timeline began (or maybe ended) when she first appeared in the 2008 Doctor Who TV episode Silence in the Library. Since then, Kingston has reprised the role in her own series of Doctor Who audio spinoffs, including The Diary of River Song, which ran from 2015 to 2023. Now, in August 2024, she will return in a brand-new series, The Death and Life of River Song.

The first box set in the series, Last Words, is written by Robert Valentine. It begins with River, after settling down to an afterlife in the Library's computer core, finding herself waking up in Earth's future, her consciousness having been temporarily transferred to a new body.

Alex Kingston said that River's stories at Big Finish have moved beyond her death in Doctor Who: "We have gone post-Library! We've done another episode in the past where I was within the database, which I loved, and I thought that's the only way you could go forward with River, given her situation. So, I was actually really surprised when this box set came my way and that we are now so far advanced in the history of Earth that she is able to be brought out as data and put into a cloned body. So very, very clever!"

Producer David Richardson added: "When every single day during the recording, your leading actress says "This script is brilliant," you know you're onto a good thing. Even better, at the end of the last day, Alex popped the script in her bag and announced that she loved Last Words so much she was taking it home to keep and treasure."

The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words is now available for pre-order exclusively here, either as a collector's edition four-CD box set for £29.99 or as a digital download for £22.99 per volume. Big Finish listeners can also pre-order a bundle with Last Words as well as Volumes 2 and 3 of The Death and Life of River Song, which are both due for release in 2025, for just £80 (collector's edition CDs + downloads) or £66 (downloads only). [X]

[selfixsworld]

I´m bored...

so i´ll give some ideas for quirks for BNHA DRs or OC:

Script Template: @/mx.levias on TikTok — linktree (NOT MY SCRIPT)

ETHEREAL ESSENCE:

Powers MASTERLIST - Faeries's Common Powers

Quirk Inspired By: Faeries (Celtic Folklore - Slavic Folklore - Germanic Folklore - French Folklore)

¦ ⌈Quirk Type⌉ ⩵ Transformation - Emitter

APPLICATIONS (ETHEREAL FAERIES):

Twilight Mimicry: Possess the supernatural body that is natural for a being of light and darkness.

Ethereal Mimicry/Aether Physiology: Gain the form of a powerful ethereal being.

Energy Perception: Possess the power to see all the energy that surround you.

Extrasensory Perception: Posses senses that surpass those of normal people.

Immortality: Go without the need for food, water, and air while becoming immune to things such as disease.

Omni-Shifting: Wield limitless shapeshifting abilities.

Possession: Enter a targets body to control them for any purpose

Quintessence Force: Generate a limitless amount of energy for almost any kind of use.

Supernatural Condition: Possess the superior physical/mental attributes of a super being.

Twilight Manipulation: As ethereal beings that exist outside those of light and dark, wielders can control the ethereal energy that exists between both forces.

Ethereal Manipulation: Have Master-level control over the "Universal Element/Energy".

​Aether Manipulation: Have Master-level control over the "Celestial Element".

​ Aether Magic: Use magic that allows them to utilize Aether, the celestial element, either magically manipulating it or using it to cast spells.

​ Aether Power Link: Have the power to make their Aether connect to their powers and use it to control them.

​ Conjuration: Create/Summon anything the wielder desires.

​ Mana/Life-Force Manipulation: Control the mystic force found in every form of life and creation.

Dimensional Manipulation: Control dimensional energy for many uses.

Energy Matter Manipulation: Possess a transcendent level of control over a supernatural substance that works as both energy and matter.

Space-Time Manipulation: Command the energies of time and space.

Resurrection: Wielder can resurrect any desired target.

Subjective Reality: Control the border that exists between fantasy and reality.

Special Moves:

🌌 Aetherial Ascension 🌌 - The user envelops themselves in pure aether, gaining enhanced strength, speed, and durability for a limited time. Their body glows with celestial energy, intimidating foes and inspiring allies.

🌠 Twilight Convergence 🌠 - The user manipulates the balance of light and dark energy, creating a powerful energy beam that can obliterate enemies or heal allies, depending on their intent.

✨ Phantom Mirage ✨ - Summon multiple illusory clones to confuse and mislead enemies. The illusions can briefly interact with the environment, making them seem real.

🌒 Dream Snare 🌒 - Send enemies into a deep, enchanted slumber, trapping them in a vivid, controlled dreamscape that distracts or frightens them.

🔮 Aetherial Guard 🔮 - Manifest a shield of ethereal energy that absorbs incoming damage and converts it into energy for counterattacks.

🌟 Fate’s Tapestry 🌟 - The user weaves a spell that allows them to manipulate probability slightly, turning the tide of battle in their favor.

💫 Cosmic Bloom 💫 - Channel celestial energy into the ground, causing luminous flowers to sprout. These flowers release a soothing mist that heals allies or a toxic mist to weaken enemies.

🌟 Reality Shatter 🌟 - Momentarily break the boundary between fantasy and reality, creating surreal, chaotic effects such as reversed gravity, distorted sound, or temporary hallucinations.

Backlashes:

Aether Burn: Prolonged use of ethereal energy causes severe exhaustion and intense physical pain as if the user’s body is burning.

Twilight Fracture: Mismanaging light and dark energy balance can lead to unintended explosions or backlashes that harm the user and their allies.

Ethereal Overload: Using too many high-energy abilities in quick succession causes the user to lose control, potentially unleashing uncontrollable energy surges.

Dream Tethering: Using dream-based abilities risks the user being pulled into the dreamscape, leaving their body vulnerable.

Celestial Anchor: The user’s ethereal body becomes unstable if they remain in their enhanced form for too long, potentially turning them immaterial and unable to interact with the physical world.

[expectiations]

River Song returns from the dead

Alex Kingston stars in The Death and Life of River Song, a brand-new series of full-cast audio dramas, coming soon from Big Finish Productions. 

An archaeologist from the 52nd century, born and raised to be an assassin, destined to marry her intended target, and to have many of her own adventures too – Professor River Song’s very messy timeline began (or maybe ended) when she first appeared in the 2008 Doctor Who TV episode Silence in the Library. 

Since then, Alex Kingston has reprised the role of River numerous times for Big Finish Productions, including in her own series, The Diary of River Song, which ran from 2015 to 2023. And, starting in August 2024, she will carry on the role in a brand-new series, The Death and Life of River Song. 

The first box set in the series, Last Words, is written by Robert Valentine. It begins with River, after settling down to an afterlife in the Library’s computer core, finding herself waking up in Earth’s future, her consciousness having been temporarily transferred to a new body. 

Alex Kingston said: “We have gone post-Library! We’ve done another episode in the past where I was within the database, which I loved, and I thought that’s the only way you could go forward with River, given her situation. So, I was actually really surprised when this box set came my way, and that we are now so far advanced in the history of Earth that she is able to be brought out as data and put into a cloned body. So very, very clever!” 

Producer David Richardson added: “When every single day during the recording, your leading actress says “This script is brilliant”, you know you’re onto a good thing. Even better, at the end of the last day, Alex popped the script in her bag and announced that she loved Last Words so much she was taking it home to keep and treasure.” 

The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words is now available for pre-order exclusively here, either as a collector’s edition four-CD box set, for £29.99, or as a digital download, for £22.99 per volume.   

Big Finish listeners can also pre-order a bundle with Last Words as well as Volumes 2 and 3 of The Death and Life of River Song, which are both due for release in 2025, for just £80 (collector’s edition CDs + downloads) or £66 (downloads only). 

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release. 

Please note that Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.

[phantom-of-the-501st]

Thoughts on TBB 3x5: The Return

General Summary: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT

*stares at sheer number of bullet points in phone from this episode*

I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY THIS WEEK!!! PROPER ANALYSES MAY BE BACK!!!!!! (if I have time because I have so much to do D:)

ECHO'S IN THE THUMBNAIL!!! *cue biggest freakout I've had this season*

I genuinely let myself believe that we weren't going to see Echo this episode because I was so desperate not to get my hopes up. I though they were going to try and sort out some stuff between Cross and the other Batchers before bringing Echo into the fold but he's back!!!

The lighting is so pretty 😍

THEY TOOK CROSSHAIR TO PABU

HE'S TARGET TRAINING WITH AZI I'M GONNA CRY

The shaky hands are making me so upset 😭

But I'm glad that they're exploring something like this. It isn't just a case of Crosshair losing his spot in the Empire, it's about him being faced with something that affects his ability to be a sniper in all situations. His purpose was not the Empire, it was being a soldier, and that's what he's afraid of losing.

"IT'S ECHO!" Absolute mood and the only appropriate reaction to Echo being in an ep

THE HUUUUUGGG 😭❤️

Okay this may already be one of my new favourite eps

*replays hug 5 times before continuing with the episode*

"No hug for me?" "Depends on how good your intel is." Echo is defo still a little wary but the fact that the sass and sarcasm is strong between them is giving me life

There's been a lot of discussion about the parallels between what Echo went through and what Crosshair went though and I think that this is a perfect demonstration of the dynamic that stems from that. Echo knows what it's like to have your mind taken and to be used as a weapon against your brothers. He knows what it's like to not instantly be trusted. And because of that he has a leniency with Crosshair that the other Batcher don't. He isn't completely trusting but he's more willing to give Crosshair some grace because he understands better than the others.

"Especially without Tech" I'M RUNNING ON BARELY ANY SLEEP AND HALF A CUP OF COFFEE YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME

"I'm older than you are, little brother." The script for this episode is the greatest thing ever and I genuinely can't tell you how much the sass is giving me life rn 😆

Less than 10 minutes in and this episode is already killing me

WE'RE BACK AT THE OUTPOST 😭😭😭

CROSS IN THE ARMOUR AGAIN AAAAAAAHHHHH

Echo being the mediator in the group feels so appropriate

I adore how much focus Echo is getting this ep. They didn't bring him back and give him nothing, he's absolutely serving this episode and I am obsessed! 🤩

I'm in love with the fact that the Batch now just have a family pet

"I guess it served it's purpose." "Huh, sounds familiar." Initially this feels like a jab towards Cross but I don't think it is. That statement applies to all of the clones: they served their purpose and then they got ditched. It may have taken longer for Crosshair to accept the fact that the Empire didn't like him, but it is a statement that applies to every clone post Order 66. I think that that is what Echo is getting at: not a direct jab at Cross, but a general statement about something that Crosshair has finally come to terms with

MAYDAY'S HELMET KILL ME NOW AAAAAAHHHH

Mayday meant a lot to Cross and I think it feels particularly poignant now. He's back with his squad, but they don't all trust him. Crosshair could probably do with someone like Mayday right now, someone who trusts him enough that Crosshair doesn't feel as alone as he does.

Omega trusts him, and Wrecker is kind of there (as is Echo), but Cross still doesn't feel like he's home. He's missing one of the few friends he had.

Also, this is just evidence that Crosshair isn't the cold. heartless bastard that loads of people wanted to label him as 😌

Crosshair moving the helmets is such a simple thing, but it's so meaningful. The helmets were discarded and left in a heap, which represents the exact attitude the Empire had towards the clones. Picking them up and laying them out gives them a small amount of dignity.

It reminds me of the burial of the clones that died in the crash at the end of the clone wars. They may be in a remote location where they won't be visited, but they haven't just been left in a wreck, discarded. They were given at least an ounce of respect by their brothers and that is what Crosshair is giving to the clones at the outpost

Slight interval as I realise just how much I wrote down about this episode and just how much I have left to write 😵‍💫

Sensors down? That doesn't seem like that's going to go well

THE TOOTHPICK IS BACK!!! ❤️

"So yes, I did betray them, after they betrayed me."

This is all what it boils down to: they both feel betrayed. The thing is, both Hunter and Cross' feelings are valid, but they need to talk through why they made the decisions they did so that the other person understands. It's complicated because there isn't a good or bad side right now, they just won't listen to each other, nor will they talk things through because they don't trust the other person enough to be honest about their decisions.

"She went through what she did because you failed" OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH

I'm not angry at Cross. Don't get me wrong, it's brutal and harsh and a dick move but Crosshair is getting defensive because Hunter is being confrontational. They're both messing up here. I can guarantee that this is going to cause discourse among the Hunter stand who are going to get pissed at Cross, but you have to understand that his actions make sense. They're not good (in the same way that Hunter really needs to ease up) but it's behaviour that makes complete sense.

We know that Crosshair's way of defending himself is to be an arsehole. He puts up walls and he lashes out. And Hunter rn is mostly stewing in his own self-loathing (which is why Crosshair struck a nerve).

Hunter is likely taking his self-hatred out on Cross and trying to shift the blame so that he can tell himself that it isn't his fault. The problem is, it's making Cross defensive, so Crosshair is pushing the blame back and sticking Hunter where it hurts. They're both stuck in a toxic cycle.

Oh dear (I literally wrote down nothing else here. This was just my reaction to the giant worm)

Echo is so on it in this episode and I love it! ❤️

Oh shit bye Hunter

This season looks so pretty and the animation is gorgeous ✨

The worm reminds me of that thing from HTTYD2 👇

GROUP HUG

"And I don't even see any blood this time. That's progress" ECHO I FUCKING LOVE YOU OMG 😭

On a side note, we talked about how Echo's humour and sass kind of deteriorated after Skako Minor but it's coming back in full swing! It shows how comfortable he's become and is evidence that he's healing 🥲🫶

Echo talking to Omega actually has me crying. He's so fucking supportive!!! 😭

"There might just be hope for us yet" followed by a shot of the ice vulture flying towards the light. It's a good way of showing Cross' journey away from the darkness of the Empire and back towards a place of healing.

Okay so this episode just means like... everything to me. The humour was on point, the emotions were on point. We got some good content from every member of the Batch. ECHO CAME BACK!

I'm just so obsessed with this episode omg

AND BINGO UPDATE!

[corellianhounds]

Criticism of Ahsoka Tano’s Character and Role in Season 2 of The Mandalorian with Suggested Changes

Word Count: 2.8k

—

I’m largely indifferent to and more critical of Ahsoka Tano’s live action appearances in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett than favorable. The short reason for why is that my introduction to her was the second season of Mando with “The Jedi” episode, and your audience only cares about Gandalf the White if they already know Gandalf the Grey.

The longer reason is that I don’t think she’s utilized well for Mando’s story. When I saw her for the first time I only knew through cultural osmosis that she was in TCW and was Anakin’s padawan. That’s it. I don’t know anything about her character and that episode doesn’t give me much to go on. I haven’t seen The Clone Wars or Rebels cartoons and I think it’s unrealistic to automatically expect your audience to know who this person is when this show was introduced as a standalone story with brand new characters, simply set in the world of Star Wars. There’s no indication that I should have seen two unrelated cartoon shows before going into The Mandalorian, so if you’re going to have this pre-established character from another medium, she should be written as if you’re introducing her for the first time. Don’t rely on what part of your audience knows about her, introduce her to this story as a new character because she’s entirely new to your main character (who in this show is also the audience’s proxy for new information). You shouldn’t be relying on our hypothetical prior knowledge for us to trust her or know where she’s coming from regarding the Jedi as a whole.

If your intention as the show runner is for your target audience to be people who have consumed select pieces/all of Star Wars media in the past forty years so you don’t have to do a lot of (or better) exposition, you have to be okay with automatically limiting your audience and likely having casual viewers (of which Mando had many) drop off when you start writing in characters without having more thorough storytelling establishing their place in this show. From a casual viewer’s standpoint, her character isn’t all that interesting, forthcoming, or fleshed out in “The Jedi,” at least not enough for me to care about the fact she’s apparently the main character of that episode since the central conflict/physical plot doesn’t affect or pertain to Mando’s overarching plot or character development, and the Thrawn name drop meant nothing to the audience regarding Mando’s story that far and— in the rest of two seasons of his own show and his participation in TBoBF— has yielded nothing as a result.

What the episode did was introduce Ahsoka so she could get her own show and it largely wasted Mando’s episode and his involvement with Ahsoka for that entire season. We’re not given any indication that the information he gets could only come from her and not another Force user, and at that point the show would have been better served with an original character not constrained by or beholden to an established (apparently canon?) history or the episode’s focus on her.

Bo-Katan comes back at the end of Season 2 and is involved with the overarching plot. Cobb Vanth was apparently from the comics but I didn’t need to have read them for his character to make sense in the Krayt dragon episode because they DID lay out his character well enough I didn’t need prior context. Objectively, “The Jedi” episode is poorly written as an episodic installment of The Mandalorian, the script and characters on their own aren’t all that compelling, the music is what really indicates I’m supposed to care about Ahsoka/her decisions, and if you look at it from the POV of knowing Mando’s story with no knowledge of Ahsoka, she’s kind of wishy-washy and vague in her response to testing/training the kid and her explanation as to WHY she has reservations. I don’t find her character admirable when she refuses to go through with their deal in the end, especially since it’s apparent she had bigger priorities from the beginning.

I know her being clear about her priorities would negate Mando’s purpose in staying there and the episode would follow him off to wherever he went next, but keeping Mando there for her for the whole episode only for her to go back on their deal makes her seem deceitful and not much different than Bo-Katan, who also used him for her own gain and changed the terms of their deal partway through the job once Mando was already working for her. The only difference is in their deliveries and personalities. The showrunners relied too heavily on the audience not wanting Mando to separate from Grogu to be what kept us from protesting about/criticizing Ahsoka’s decision; audience emotions are irrelevant to what will make a stronger story that will have more impact in the end. We don’t have to like every character who’s introduced, and our opinions about them can change over time as the story progresses and we see them develop.

If you don’t want me to think negatively of Ahsoka but you’re dead set on these circumstances being what keeps these two characters together for the length of the episode, she can’t have her mission take priority in the end. It’s that plain and simple. If she was never going to train the kid, she needed to be upfront about it AND you need to explain to Mando— somebody who has zero clue about the Jedi code or Force powers or the caution against attachment and it’s reason for existing in the first place— why the kid seeing him as his father is relevant to Jedi training at all. You can’t just say “You're like a father to him. I cannot train him,” you have to explain to Mando what being a Jedi™ means.

The Jedi were peacekeepers specifically trained to uphold and defend what was best for the greater good and to serve as protectors of other people, meaning the choice to train the child as a Jedi would mean Grogu dedicating his life to this schooling, and that people with strong emotional personal attachments tend to have a harder time separating themselves from their loved ones and tend to prioritize those loved ones over everybody else, meaning they’re less likely to be good at doing what the Jedi specifically were called to do. That doesn’t mean the kid or anybody with similar tendencies is ‘bad,’ it means they shouldn’t dedicate their life to being a Jedi™. There’s more than one way to learn how to use the Force.

Does that ruin the chance of Mando staying there on Corvus because he would logically move on, meaning we as the audience wouldn’t see Ahsoka’s Cool Samurai Episode™? Yeah, but those are the circumstances Favreau and Filoni came up with, so either you change the story or change Ahsoka’s character or change Mando’s role in the Calodan conflict. Kill your darlings and write a better story. It’s not the Ahsoka show, it’s Mando’s.

However, the episode isn’t unfixable.

One of my biggest complaints with Season 2 is that it failed to establish/drive Mando’s character with the inner motivation of why he’s bringing the kid to a Jedi in the first place: yes, the Armorer tasked him with returning the child to the Jedi so that the boy had the chance of being raised by people like him who may already know him and would understand how to raise him to control the powers he has, but that’s the external reason. The whole premise of the show is predicated on the child being in danger and Mando wanting him to be safe. The Armorer says in the finale for Season 1 that the boy is too small and young to be trained as a Mandalorian, but given the fact he’s capable of powers that allow him to do these incredible things, there’s a possibility he can be trained to defend himself in other ways. The point of giving the child to a Jedi is that he’s given the cultural upbringing closest to what he would know as his own (an ideal the Armorer, Mando, and Mandalorian culture as a whole would understand the importance and value of), and most importantly, he can learn to protect himself.

“The Heiress” should have established that as Mando’s internal motivation, and “The Jedi” should have been where the character voiced it because by this point in the season he should be at his most desperate. He’s finally found a Jedi and she’s reluctant to take him. Ahsoka’s his last lead. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there is only one way for Din and Grogu’s story to end, and it’s with one of them dying before the other. The child does not age the same way humans do. He needs to be trained to use his powers so that he can defend himself when he’s alone. His proximity to Din makes him a target by association because Din simply being a Mandalorian invites conflict. Even when the Empire isn’t after the kid, the child is constantly in danger. Even if Din lives to a remarkably old age, the boy may still be a child by his species’ reckoning. Who’s going to take care of him once Mando is gone? What happens if they’re separated now and the child is in danger?

That’s a very real and compelling motivation for Din to want to give the child away for the child’s own good, permanently if he has to. If giving the boy to a stranger means he will be safe and taught how to keep himself safe, that’s the sacrifice Din is willing to make, especially since that’s mirrored in his experience and upbringing with the Mandalorians. That’s the kind of sacrifice any good parent with empirical evidence backing up their reasoning would understand, and Din has seen that evidence in spades.

We should see Din being scared for the child. That worry fuels his mission and it should stoke his anger and frustration when that mission continues to be foiled by dead ends (Cobb Vanth not being a true Mandalorian, therefore having no contact or information to give him), side journeys that cost him time, resources, safety, and possessions (the Frog Lady’s contact for information contingent on traveling sublight, which garners them the attention of the law), and personal conflicts and compromises (Bo-Katan’s heist, deception, and their culture clash). “The Siege” re-establishes that the child is still in the greatest possible danger he could be as a target of the Empire, and Mando is following his last flimsy lead to a Jedi who may or may not exist or even be on the planet he’s been sent to, considering the person who gave him that intel deceived him once already before giving it to him.

Mando should have been desperate for Ahsoka’s help. If she refuses to train the kid, he (as far as he’s aware) has no other options. If Ahsoka were honest about having larger priorities to attend to (ones Din wouldn’t object to if she explained she was fighting the resurgent Empire too), she could have told him about Tython at the beginning and the two would have parted ways without wasting Mando’s (and the audience’s) time on the Calodan storyline.

Mando wasn’t given enough time or personal connection to the people under the magistrate’s despotic rule for his bleeding heart and sense of honor to compel him to stay, and Ahsoka was honestly capable enough I don’t think she needed Mando’s help. She was planning to storm the castle herself anyway. Mando could have gotten the spear another way if that was to be his incentive for taking down Elsbeth.

In order to fix “The Jedi” and still have Ahsoka as the main secondary character and still have her be an honorable person by the end, a few things need to happen:

If Ahsoka was going to be a genuine option to take the kid under her wing, she should have been sent there by somebody else to depose the magistrate and gain the information about Thrawn that she would then relay back to her partner or employer, or she should had a personal vendetta against the magistrate (devoid of any connection to Thrawn) and genuinely needed help getting close enough to take her out.

Mando needs to be given more story and connection to the given circumstances of Calodan, forming connections with and gathering exposition from the people in town

Ahsoka and Mando’s discussion where she’s already reluctant to take the child as a student for personal reasons needed a better explanation based on how she saw her own master fall because of his flaws (just enough to flesh her out and give exposition to Mando/the audience who have no idea who she is), and Din’s own reasoning and desperation need to reach a boiling point where he reveals why he’s so insistent on the child needing a teacher (so the child can be taught to protect himself). This discussion needs to establish tension and stakes that make the emotional conflict (having Ahsoka take the kid and Mando’s mission being complete) dependent on the outcome of the physical conflict (the liberation of Calodan, Ahsoka resolving whichever conflict she has with Elsbeth)

That revelation allows Ahsoka to say she’ll consider taking the child as a pupil, but that it can’t be done until her mission is completed

The two of them have contact with other characters introduced from Mando’s more fleshed out connections and the story in town, grounding Mando’s involvement in this physical conflict

And most importantly, something Mando does in the ending fight/s inadvertently affords one of the citizens the chance to kill Elsbeth themselves before Ahsoka can get the information she wants. This reinforces Mando’s character as somebody who puts power into the hands of the people most affected by the conflict they’ve asked him to help with, and it inadvertently thwarts Ahsoka’s objective in obtaining information, forcing her to forgo the kid’s apprenticeship and forcing Mando to continue ahead, trying to find the information elsewhere. This outcome, based on consequences driven by character decisions, is much more compelling and satisfying and more naturally prevents the main character from achieving his main objective, forcing him in the story to continue forward.

This doesn’t mean the two of them have to be enemies. Conflict from outside factors prevents Ahsoka from being the child’s teacher and gives a logical segue for Ahsoka to give Mando the next best thing since she can no longer help (information about Tython and the chance of finding another Jedi or Force user). It provides a more natural exit for Ahsoka to either stay or go in the larger story of Mando and the kid, and her character doesn’t end up being wishy-washy or deceitful at all. Things just didn’t work out for the three of them, and it’s time for them to part ways.

If anything, doing that episode right could have meant it became a two-parter in order to really get into some of the nitty gritty of each of those characters and more worldbuilding and hey! Now die-hard Ahsoka fans get two episodes with her, and Mando’s character is given meaningful involvement in town and we can flesh out the storyline with Elsbeth a little more, raise the stakes and really give it some tension and make it more unique.

(This episode could have also had the optional bit of exposition of the two of them coming to the realization that the child doesn’t necessarily need to be a Jedi, that was just the information Din was operating under because that was what was available to him, and what Din really means when he says he needs to find a Jedi is that he wants the child to be protected by people who understand him and can teach him the kind of effective self defense he’d be capable of. Ahsoka or whoever you have filling her role (or even somebody in the town) can tell Mando that being a Jedi is not the only way to master use of the Force, that there are other avenues that would achieve Din’s inner objective, which in turn foreshadow and/or parallel Din dealing with challenges to his faith and the other ways he sees people being Mandalorians.)

(Him deviating from the exact wording of the mission the Armorer gave him is a non-issue. She gave him an objective with the broadest and biggest target she herself likely had knowledge of and she wouldn’t have cared if the kid ended up being given to a non-Jedi provided they were still a Force-user and they were who Din decided was best suited to fill that role. She trusts his judgment. This show had the opportunity to branch out into what else the world of Star Wars has to offer and diversify the setting so that we could have either gotten away from the Jedi or kept from rehashing things the audience is already aware of concerning them.)

[horriblengrossstories]

What if derek saw mutt once looking at her body in mirror looking all sad, would he try to cheer her up or make her feel worse about her body

“You think I picked you for looks? No, cherry. You were just the last sad puppy at the pound.”

Remember everyone with Derek: the more he mocks something, the more he likes it.

“Aww, what’s this? Feeling a little chunky today, cherry?”

“Oh, don’t cry. Save that for when you’re actually ugly.”

You know those guys who will negg you to wear you down?, yhea, that’s pure Derek. It’s not casual teasing. It’s targeted erosion. A strategy. He doesn’t want you to feel good.

So when Derek mocks Mutt’s body, it’s not because he truly wants her to change.

He can make her feel like garbage, then cup her face and call her his favorite thing in the world. That inconsistency is what keeps her hooked, keeps her reaching for his approval like air.

Let’s be real: Derek is surrounded by perfect plastic people in his world, flawless bodies, fake smiles, money-washed clones who all know the script. He’s over it. He hates it. He doesn’t respect them.

What does he gravitate to?The opposite.

People with real flaws. Real feelings. Real reactions. People who don’t play the game because they don’t even belong to it.

So yeah the more he mocks you, the more he likes you ,unfortunately.

-Birdie 🐦

[roksiksimps]

How to get an Abdirak of your own!

Here are some mods you need if you want Abdirak (or any other NPC really) to travel with your party!

Abdirak as an NPC companion

Recruit any NPC is the first mod you need. For those who are new to modding, here's how you can install it. First you need the software that this mod requires to work:

Get the Norbytes script extender. Unzip the archive, put the extender's 'DWrite.dll' file into your '[Steam folder]\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin' folder.

Get the BG3 Mod Manager. Unzip it, launch it, go to the Preferences and link your game's exutable and folder in its settings.

Download the mod itself, unzip, drag the 'RemoveMultiplayerCharacter.pak' file into you Mod Manager's 'active mods' leftside field, then press 'save'.

It gives you this wonderful ability:

Get to the goblin camp, target Abdirak with it, and he will become your companion!

He still can be interacted with as well, so if you wanted to take some screenshots in a more scenic environment, now you can. (The penance itself is bugged though. I was able to reenact it once near the bloodstained chapel's wall, but it's not guaranteed. More testing needed. Do it before you aggro the whole goblin camp, as per usual, cause he will try to leave the camp (and the game) after if you're anywhere close to the goblin camp.)

The only problem with this method is that he's still an NPC, he can't be leveled up (and he doesn't have much in terms of abilities), and the gear doesn't show up, so if you want to take him through the rest of the game, he won't fare well.

So if you want to have a functional cleric with you, you will want:

Abdirak as Tav

First, you need a second Tav. Getting a second player through multiplayer is an option, but the Recruit any NPC mod we already installed gives you a second ability:

Target Abdirak, and you'll be taken to the character creation screen to create a second Tav for you to control. There, you can select the 'Clone' option when you choose the race. It'll give you an Abdirak that CAN be leveled up and has the selected class's abilities, but his visuals still can't be changed.

If you want an Abdirak who can wear gear that will show up on him, we need more mods (also, you don't have to target Abdirak when you create a second Tav. Target anyone, so you can have Abdirak from the very start of the game). @sweetmage has already made Abdirak as the main Tav, but he lacked the body scars. Let me rectify that!

The Customizer's Compendium modwill give you Abdirak's face (drag the 'Customizer.pak' file into the Mod Manager; you also need the ImprovedUI mod for it to show up properly, place it under the Customizer mod in the list) , facial scars included. The hair is already in the game, the colors need to be eyeballed. Here's a closeup of the NPC. In my estimation, he's got Cool Tone 5 for his skin, Solid White for his eyes, and Grey 1 for hair, but YMMV.

The body scars are a different matter. If you're playing as a human/elf/drow/half-elf male Tav, there's currently no way to give Abdirak his scars without also giving them to your Tav. If you don't mind, or play a different race, or if you're playing a female Tav, you will need:

Unique Tav (as well as Trip's old shaderpack for the mod to work, drag it into the Mod Manager). It's a bit more tricky to set it up.

- Find in the mod's 'Files' section, download and install with Mod Manager the 'Unique Tav PAK'.

- Download 'Unique Tav Data', unzip, and manually put the 'Generated' folder inside of your '[Baldur's Gate 3 steam folder]\Data' folder.

- THEN download the 'Unique Tav Body Variants'.

- Find the 3 filed inside of the 'body_variants\NORMIES\male_hairy_lovitar_actually_hairless' folder you just downloaded.

- Copy these files to your '[Baldur's Gate 3 steam folder]\Generated\Public\Shared\Assets\unique_tav\BODY\NORMIES\MALE' folder, replace the files that are already there.

Ta-da! Your Abdirak (and human/elf male Tavs) will have the body scars!

Not on their legs though. If you want that, you will have to edit the texture files yourself.

You can download a tutorial on how to do that over at Many scars for unique Tav. You will need Photoshop (and knowing how to use it), a Photoshop plugin to open dds files, and a bit of creativity (or, you know, you can just take the scars from this mod and replace Abdirak's leg segment).

Edit UNIQUE_M_NKD_BODY_A_NM to add texture.

Edit UNIQUE_M_NKD_BODY_A_HMVY to add color. I'm still working on the latter, but I can upload my files sometimes later when I have it, if anyone's interested.

If you want his outfit, you need the Basket full of equipment mod (install with Mod Manager, read the mod's rescription to learn how to gain access to the basket), the clothes are in the 'exotic gear' bag. If you want that outfit as camp clothes, you also need to install the Basket Equipment to Camp Clothing mod.

That should cover it. Let me know if you have any questions, I'll try to help!

[pers-books]

River Song returns from the dead 

Alex Kingston stars in The Death and Life of River Song, a brand-new series of full-cast audio dramas, coming soon from Big Finish Productions. 

An archaeologist from the 52nd century, born and raised to be an assassin, destined to marry her intended target, and to have many of her own adventures too – Professor River Song’s very messy timeline began (or maybe ended) when she first appeared in the 2008 Doctor Who TV episode Silence in the Library. 

Since then, Alex Kingston has reprised the role of River numerous times for Big Finish Productions, including in her own series, The Diary of River Song, which ran from 2015 to 2023. And, starting in August 2024, she will carry on the role in a brand-new series, The Death and Life of River Song. 

The first box set in the series, Last Words, is written by Robert Valentine. It begins with River, after settling down to an afterlife in the Library’s computer core, finding herself waking up in Earth’s future, her consciousness having been temporarily transferred to a new body. 

Alex Kingston said: “We have gone post-Library! We’ve done another episode in the past where I was within the database, which I loved, and I thought that’s the only way you could go forward with River, given her situation. So, I was actually really surprised when this box set came my way, and that we are now so far advanced in the history of Earth that she is able to be brought out as data and put into a cloned body. So very, very clever!” 

Producer David Richardson added: “When every single day during the recording, your leading actress says “This script is brilliant”, you know you’re onto a good thing. Even better, at the end of the last day, Alex popped the script in her bag and announced that she loved Last Words so much she was taking it home to keep and treasure.” 

The Death and Life of River Song: Last Words is now available for pre-order exclusively here, either as a collector’s edition four-CD box set, for £29.99, or as a digital download, for £22.99 per volume.   

Big Finish listeners can also pre-order a bundle with Last Words as well as Volumes 2 and 3 of The Death and Life of River Song, which are both due for release in 2025, for just £80 (collector’s edition CDs + downloads) or £66 (downloads only). 

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release. 

Please note that Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.

-- Huzzah! River Song is coming back!!!

[dappfortglobal3]

Launch Your Own Crypto Platform with Notcoin Clone Script | Fast & Secure Solution

To launch your own cryptocurrency platform using a Notcoin clone script, you can follow a structured approach that leverages existing clone scripts tailored for various cryptocurrency exchanges.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to proceed:

Understanding Clone Scripts

A clone script is a pre-built software solution that replicates the functionalities of established cryptocurrency exchanges. These scripts can be customized to suit your specific business needs and allow for rapid deployment, saving both time and resources.

Types of Clone Scripts

Centralized Exchange Scripts: These replicate platforms like Binance or Coinbase, offering features such as order books and user management.

Decentralized Exchange Scripts: These are designed for platforms like Uniswap or PancakeSwap, enabling peer-to-peer trading without a central authority.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Exchange Scripts: These allow users to trade directly with each other, similar to LocalBitcoins or Paxful.

Steps to Launch Your Crypto Platform

Step 1: Define Your Business Strategy

Market Research: Identify your target audience and analyze competitors.

Unique Value Proposition: Determine what sets your platform apart from others.

Step 2: Choose the Right Clone Script

Evaluate Options: Research various clone scripts available in the market, such as those for Binance, Coinbase, or P2P exchanges. Customization: Ensure the script is customizable to meet your specific requirements, including branding and features.

Step 3: Development and Deployment

Technical Setup: Collaborate with developers to set up the necessary infrastructure, including blockchain integration and wallet services.

Security Features: Implement robust security measures, such as two-factor authentication and encryption, to protect user data and transactions.

Step 4: Compliance and Regulations

KYC/AML Integration: Ensure your platform complies with local regulations by integrating Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols.

Step 5: Testing and Launch

Quality Assurance: Conduct thorough testing to identify and fix any bugs or vulnerabilities.

Launch: Once testing is complete, launch your platform and start marketing it to attract users.

Advantages of Using a Notcoin Clone Script

Cost-Effective: Using a pre-built script is generally more affordable than developing a platform from scratch.

Faster Time to Market: Notcoin Clone scripts are ready to deploy, significantly reducing development time.

Customization Options: Most scripts allow for extensive customization, enabling you to tailor the platform to your needs.

Conclusion

Launching your own cryptocurrency platform with a Notcoin clone script is a viable option that can lead to a successful venture in the growing crypto market. By following the outlined steps and leveraging the advantages of Notcoin clone scripts, you can create a robust and secure trading platform that meets user demands and regulatory requirements.

For further assistance, consider reaching out to specialized development companies that offer Notcoin clone script and can guide you through the setup process

[plurancetechnologies]

Build a Seamless Crypto Exchange Experience with Binance Clone Software

Binance Clone Script

The Binance clone script is a fully functional, ready-to-use solution designed for launching a seamless cryptocurrency exchange. It features a microservice architecture and offers advanced functionalities to enhance user experience. With Plurance’s secure and innovative Binance Clone Software, users can trade bitcoins, altcoins, and tokens quickly and safely from anywhere in the world.

This clone script includes essential features such as liquidity APIs, dynamic crypto pairing, a comprehensive order book, various trading options, and automated KYC and AML verifications, along with a core wallet. By utilizing our ready-to-deploy Binance trading clone, business owners can effectively operate a cryptocurrency exchange platform similar to Binance.

Features of Binance Clone Script

Security Features

AML and KYC Verification: Ensures compliance with anti-money laundering and know-your-customer regulations.

Two-Factor Authentication: Provides an additional security measure during user logins.

CSRF Protection: Shields the platform from cross-site request forgery threats.

DDoS Mitigation: Safeguards the system against distributed denial-of-service attacks.

Cloudflare Integration: Enhances security and performance through advanced web protection.

Time-Locked Transactions: Safeguards transactions by setting time limits before processing.

Cold Wallet Storage: Keeps the majority of funds offline for added security.

Multi-Signature Wallets: Mandates multiple confirmations for transactions, boosting security.

Notifications via Email and SMS: Keeps users informed of account activities and updates.

Login Protection: Monitors login attempts to detect suspicious activity.

Biometric Security: Utilizes fingerprint or facial recognition for secure access.

Data Protection Compliance: Adheres to relevant data privacy regulations.

Admin Features of Binance Clone Script

User Account Management: Access detailed user account information.

Token and Cryptocurrency Management: Add and manage various tokens and cryptocurrencies.

Admin Dashboard: A comprehensive interface for managing platform operations.

Trading Fee Setup: Define and adjust trading fees for transactions.

Payment Gateway Integration: Manage payment processing options effectively.

AML and KYC Oversight: Monitor compliance processes for user verification.

User Features of Binance Clone Script

Cryptocurrency Deposits: Facilitate easy deposit of various cryptocurrencies.

Instant Buy/Sell Options: Allow users to trade cryptocurrencies seamlessly.

Promotional Opportunities: Users can take advantage of promotional features to maximize profits.

Transaction History: Access a complete record of past transactions.

Cryptocurrency Wallet Access: Enable users to manage their digital wallets.

Order Tracking: Keep track of buy and sell orders for better trading insights.

Binance Clone Development Process

The following way outline how our blockchain experts develop a largely effective cryptocurrency exchange platform inspired by Binance.

Demand Analysis

We begin by assessing and gathering your business conditions, similar as the type of trades you want to grease, your target followership, geographical focus, and whether the exchange is intended for short-term or long-term operation.

Strategic Planning

After collecting your specifications, our platoon formulates a detailed plan to effectively bring your ideas to life. This strategy aims to deliver stylish results acclimatized to your business requirements.

Design and Development

Our inventors excel in UI/ UX design, creating visually appealing interfaces. They draft a unique trading platform by exercising the rearmost technologies and tools.

Specialized perpetration

Once the design is complete, we concentrate on specialized aspects, integrating essential features similar to portmanteau connectors, escrow services, payment options, and robust security measures to enhance platform functionality.

Quality Assurance Testing

After development, we conduct thorough testing to ensure the exchange platform operates easily. This includes security assessments, portmanteau and API evaluations, performance testing, and vindicating the effectiveness of trading machines.

Deployment and Support

Following successful testing, we do with the deployment of your exchange platform. We also gather stoner feedback to make advancements and introduce new features, ensuring the platform remains robust and over-to-date.

Revenue Streams of a Binance Clone Script

Launching a cryptocurrency exchange using a robust Binance clone can create multiple avenues for generating revenue.

Trading Fees

The operator of the Binance clone platform has the discretion to set a nominal fee on each trade executed.

Withdrawal Charges

If users wish to withdraw their cryptocurrencies, a fee may be applied when they request to transfer funds out of the Binance clone platform.

Margin Trading Fees

With the inclusion of margin trading functionalities, fees can be applied whenever users execute margin transactions on the platform.

Listing Fees

The platform owner can impose a listing fee for users who want to feature their cryptocurrencies or tokens on the exchange.

Referral Program

Our Binance clone script includes a referral program that allows users to earn commissions by inviting friends to register on the trading platform.

API Access Fees

Developers can integrate their trading bots or other applications by paying for access to the platform’s API.

Staking and Lending Fees

The administrator has the ability to charge fees for services that enable users to stake or lend their cryptocurrencies to earn interest.

Launchpad Fees

The Binance clone software offers a token launchpad feature, allowing the admin to charge for listing and launching new tokens.

Advertising Revenue

Similar to Binance, the trading platform can also generate income by displaying advertisements to its users.

Your Path to Building a Crypto Exchange Like Binance

Take the next step toward launching your own crypto exchange similar to Binance by collaborating with our experts to establish a robust business ecosystem in the cryptocurrency realm.

Token Creation

Utilizing innovative fundraising methods, you can issue tokens on the Binance blockchain, enhancing revenue generation and providing essential support for your business.

Staking Opportunities

Enable users to generate passive income by staking their digital assets within a liquidity pool, facilitated by advanced staking protocols in the cryptocurrency environment.

Decentralized Swapping

Implement a DeFi protocol that allows for the seamless exchange of tokenized assets without relying on a central authority, creating a dedicated platform for efficient trading.

Lending and Borrowing Solutions

Our lending protocol enables users to deposit funds and earn annual returns, while also offering loans for crypto trading or business ventures.

NFT Minting

Surpass traditional cryptocurrency investments by minting a diverse range of NFTs, representing unique digital assets such as sports memorabilia and real estate, thereby tapping into new market values.

Why Should You Go With Plurance's Ready-made Binance Clone Script?

As a leading cryptocurrency exchange development company, Plurance provides an extensive suite of software solutions tailored for cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance scripts, to accommodate all major platforms in the market. We have successfully assisted numerous businesses and entrepreneurs in launching profitable user-to-admin cryptocurrency exchanges that rival Binance.

Our team consists of skilled front-end and back-end developers, quality analysts, Android developers, and project engineers, all focused on bringing your vision to life. The ready-made Binance Clone Script is meticulously designed, developed, tested, and ready for immediate deployment.

Our committed support team is here to help with any questions you may have about the Binance clone software. Utilizing Binance enables you to maintain a level of customization while accelerating development. As the cryptocurrency sector continues to evolve, the success of your Binance Clone Script development will hinge on its ability to meet customer expectations and maintain a competitive edge.

[420mastr69stackr]

THE END WAS NOT WRITTEN BADLY / AND TORD IS NOT A CLONE!

Okay, well, The End was written slightly poorly, and Tord is a clone theory is mainly just a headcanon to make up for said bad writing that would affect the plot too much so it had to be a theory.

I'm sure this has been said time and time again, but I just really like eddsworld and wanted to rant on Tord eddsworld. While watching Tomee Bear's video on this (which since I agree with most of him on this topic, this'll just be me talking a little more about what I find important) I realised if this is still even a little discussion, I disagree with most on it.

THE END IS NOT WRITTEN BADLY

As Edd Gould wasn't around to write the script himself, yeah, it's going to be different. I find the pacing a little weird, and especially its pace in the Legacy era as a whole off, but from a poorly planned crowdfunded whim, I don't know what else to expect from the team. As for the actual characterisation and dialogue,

In WTFuture, Tom remarks saying "Did anyone realise this is the most we've ever spoken", WAYYY past Tords resignation and the characters leave from the show. The show was very much Edd's World. Edd talked way more than the others, and with shorter episodes, there wasn't much spoken line to base a whole character off of anyways. Most of the characterisation came from the visual actions of the characters at that point in time. Tord didn't speak often. I would say at that point he definitely was a well-rounded character (eddsworld standards) but he was lacking in lines. From his screentime though, there are some very defining traits we know of.

He's smart More so a captain obvious, but whatever. In Zanta Claws, I always think of how he was the first to come to his own conclusion on what Zanta was doing. In Zombeh Nation, he's the first one to ask if they have any escape plans (very no nonsense about it too), and in general is one of the first to take action in the show. Much like a guide NPC, Tord directs the crew and in general gets things started. Though I do think he is used as a narrative item sometimes, or Edd just couldn't write, which is also plausible

Will settle for things of his own benefit This isn't TOO consistent, and ties in with the other traits, but given the events of The End, I figured I would add it. In Moving Targets, he had somehow acquired a jetpack and used it to get somewhere????? quicker than the other boys. I don't think the fact it would burn all their parachutes was in mind when he used it, but he didn't seem too concerned about them until they could've launched him back into the air later. In that one zombie animation you can find in eddsworld archives, Edd tells Tord to run on without him when they're both in mortal danger, and he does exactly that. As for the Necronomicon in Zombeh Attack 2, I am very torn on whether or not this even fits here. Matt and Tord didn't seem to like each other much at all? Nonetheless, both Edd and Tord seem fine running Tom and Matt over so Tord can get his Necronomicon. Also in the 2007 Halloween special Tord literally locks Matt out of the room he was in to hide from the killer. Now maybe he could've been saving him because we do know he was pretty pissed the room had no escape exit, but as far as I know atm, it was just a gag, he gives NO shit about Matts wellbeing, but in the end, idk much about it anyways!

Trigger-happy Very obvious, he likes guns, he likes violence, yada yada. He's the first to blow shit up and the first to fight, usually. He just has guns on him and is very happy when fighting, and was happy most scenes in Moving Targets, when no one else was. Also is annoying and teasing, mean generally, but not all the time, and not to an overdone extent.

Quiet So, Tord is generally quiet. I know I said the amount of lines all characters got in general was low, and so Tord was bound to not speak much, but all his lines are generally pretty...lacklustre. He has not much of anything to say, which I would imagine is an attribution to bad writing. I'm sure this would change with time, like Matt's standing as a character and his amount of lines, but Tord only speaks a few more than Matt did, and Matt had more telling lines than Tord did. Such as, in Hello Hellhole, Matt had significantly less lines than Tord did, mainly due to Tord being the plot firecracker, but Matt's lines being more humorous than any of Tord's lines. In Ruined, how Matt has humorous lines and a very silly personality, yet also adding on to his fairly disinterested traits, and Tord just...hates a happy song, is mistreated by his friends, and doesn't add on much throughout. Maybe I'm biased, but as much as I like Tord, he is very sparse. Matt made up for his sparseness by being comical. Not that Tord is unfunny though, just quiet, and a victim of being shorthanded by the script. (Sorry for the long Matt parallel, I just found them very similar)

So Tord's main character traits were that he was trigger-happy, a little selfish, a quiet character, and he was very smart compared to the other boys. While The End has more flowing dialogue, and less focus on the boys interacting with Tord and more on getting to the fight at the end, they did an OK job at portraying these traits in The End. I first think its important to note that, while Tom and Tord always had the teasing relationship, those weren't as often as I see the community made it out to be some years ago, and even sometimes now. I might honestly be blind or too forgetful but I can't think of a handful of times Tord or Tom were mean to each other in specific. Just more often to be pinpointed, I guess. Tom is the bigger evil in the instances I can remember they annoyed each other. So, for The End, Tord using Tom's reactiveness to kick him out (smart!) was all story motivated. Nonetheless, he is still quite violent in this approach, so trigger-happy is covered. Also the fight. Also the motivation behind the fight. In order to build a whole base in your bedroom (On the side might I add which is pretty crazy to never notice) and a massive giant robot plus some other useless violent shit and gather some enemies in the base you helped blow up in Moving Targets, you just need to be fucking smart. No surprise. Being smart has always been a very noticeable part of his character, as silly as he may also be. Selfish was showcased a LOT here, obviously. He intentionally stirs up drama in the house, kicks Tom out for selfish reasons, and then tries to kill Tom, blows up their house, shows no remorse because he doesn't need friends, and in general, tries becoming a dictator, which is pretty damn selfish. Also no surprises. For quiet, I will touch up more on this in the clone section, as I will admit is not very relevant here. Tord has many lines, not really personality building as I would say that's all in-between the lines and in his actions, and the quietness as a personality trait is only seen in the classic era, and is easily explained away. I only added it here FOR the clone part.

They hit all the bars, and unless you just didn't like the writing of Legacy in general, you can't really say they wrote Tord badly, unless you have your own version of him you are superimposing on canon. For as short-lived a character as Tord was (I know) they hit major points that you can actually pinpoint to classic Tord. So, Tord ISN'T written horribly, but he's different and so I'm still torn I thi

TORD IS NOT A CLONE

The main, probably only, real reason people think Tord is a clone is because of bad writing. I covered that already. But still, yes, Tord is undeniably different. But with the proper timeline, things fall into place.

Moving Targets happens, where we see the blond guy, and Paul. Patrick who comes in later is dressed in the same attire as the enemy base, and therefore Red Army. Immediately after, 25ft Under the Seat comes out and Tord immediately leaves, when we use The End's flashback Tord says he is going to "make it in the big city".

Eddsworld does not just happen in the episodes obviously, so we can assume there is a stretch of time between those two episodes. What happened between them is not important, unless the Tord teaser this year is actually covering that, which could change this timeline. We just know that behind or between those two plot points was the building of the secret base, and after those plot points was the growth of the Red Army. If not, then he would've just destroyed the world before 25ft, and he in fact did not.

With the talking thing.. yeah. He speaks more. This is a huge reason why he seems different. You make a quiet character speak his mind more often and then he seems like a new man. Tord is written with much deeper character and story intent than any of the silly episodic classic episodes we had gotten before. Zombeh Attack is as well, and guess who has deeper story intent than usual as well!

THIS is why he is so "new". He is evil now, and has an obvious intent to show his evilness. He's just a fleshier character, as 2d as the flesh may be. He's always been a malevolent character, much like a 'loveable bastard' type troupe. 2005 Christmas special, he takes over like half of Norway and did not plan to stop. Scrapped idea, he comes back as a supervillain in super average or whatever the series is called. I'm pretty sure he's the only eddsworld character with a mentioned political stance, as jokey as may be. He is the perfect base for a character who could just be a quirky, violent weird dude, or an evil man. To ignore this canon is to ignore massive parts of Tord, and would go against the story in The End. Tord has some sort of character growth on that hill, so it isn't thrown off that Tord was the one who betrayed his own friends. It was definitely meant to be Tord, and it has always been shown that he has that capacity.

tldr tord eddsworld is an absolute piece of shit bitch who did definitely do whatver he did in the end