#the wilderness must be explored max

[glacierclear]

preferences.

[imissylou]

 Sims 4 LOTR Legacy Challenge

Welcome to my Sims 4 LOTR Legacy Challenge!

As a lifelong fan of The Sims, I’ve always enjoyed creating unique and immersive stories for my sims. Meanwhile, my boyfriend is a huge "The Lord of the Rings" enthusiast, with an impressive collection of memorabilia and an encyclopedic knowledge of Middle-earth lore. We often share our passions with each other, and this time, we decided to blend our interests into an epic adventure in The Sims 4!

The result? A Legacy Challenge that combines the enchanting world of Middle-earth with the creativity and fun of The Sims 4. Each generation of my legacy family will be inspired by iconic characters and themes from J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, following their own quests and adventures in the game.

Join me as I guide my sims through the trials and triumphs of this LOTR-themed legacy, from humble Hobbit holes to majestic Elven realms, and everything in between. Let's embark on this journey together and see how the spirit of Middle-earth comes to life in the world of The Sims!

(Made by me)

General Rules

Starting Out:

Create a founder sim inspired by a LOTR character.

Move your founder into an empty lot and build a home with starter funds or start with $0.

No cheats allowed (except for resetting sims if needed).

Aging and Lifespan:

Set the game to Normal lifespan. Short if you want a challenge

All aging must be enabled, including NPC aging.

Heir Rules:

Each generation's heir must be directly related to the founder.

The heir is typically the first-born child but can be chosen based on story elements or player preference.

Mods and Custom Content:

Mods and custom content (CC) are allowed, especially if they enhance the LOTR theme.

Avoid mods that make the challenge significantly easier.

Gameplay Restrictions:

No money cheats or other gameplay shortcuts.

Only sell items created or collected by your sims (e.g., gardening, fishing, painting).

The official tag for this challenge is #LOTRLegacyChallenge

Made by imissylou 

here's the DOC

Read the first gen under the cut!

Generation 1: The Hobbit (Frodo)

Starting Out

Create Your Founder: Create a sim inspired by Frodo Baggins.

Aspiration: Outdoor Enthusiast

Traits: Loves the Outdoors, Cheerful, Good

Move In: Move your founder into an empty lot. Build a small, cozy home reminiscent of a Hobbit hole. Use modest furnishings to reflect the humble lifestyle of Hobbits.

Goals and Objectives

Gardening and Fishing Skills:

Max Out Gardening: Frodo is known for his love of the Shire and its natural beauty. Your sim must max out the Gardening skill.

Max Out Fishing: Spend time fishing in local ponds and rivers to max out the Fishing skill.

Form Close Friendships:

Fellowship of the Ring: Form close friendships with at least four other sims, representing the Fellowship. These can be new characters or other sims in the world.

Consider sims with different traits and backgrounds to mimic the diversity of the Fellowship (e.g., a brave sim, a wise sim, a loyal sim).

Adventure and Exploration:

Travel: Visit different locations to simulate Frodo’s journey across Middle-earth. Spend time in Granite Falls (representing the wilderness) and Selvadorada (for a more exotic adventure).

Collectibles: Gather unique collectibles from these travels. Aim to collect all types of frogs, insects, or crystals.

Maintain a Simple Lifestyle:

Off-the-Grid: Enable the "Off-the-Grid" lot trait for a more authentic Hobbit experience.

Small Home: Keep your home small and cozy. Upgrades are allowed, but the home should always feel modest and welcoming.

Storytelling:

Diary: Keep a diary (in the form of a journal or book) where Frodo writes about his adventures and friendships. This can be done by having your sim write in a journal or create books using the Writing skill.

Photos: Take photos of key moments and places visited. Display these photos in the home to create a visual record of Frodo’s journey.

Additional Challenges

Quest for the One Ring:

Find the One Ring: Choose a specific item in the game to represent the One Ring. This could be a unique collectible or a family heirloom. Once found, it must be kept safe and displayed prominently in the home. An idea could be using the crystal creations stuff pack to make your own ring.

Resist Temptation:

Avoid Wealth: Frodo’s journey is about resisting the lure of power and wealth. Keep household funds modest. Any large windfalls should be donated to charity or used to help friends and neighbors.

Hobbiton Community:

Community Garden: Create a community garden on your lot where friends can come to help tend plants and enjoy the outdoors together.

[roleplayfinder]

🪤 || ello ello!

I’m 18 myself and the age range of partners in looking for is around 18+ no younger than so :) i’m honestly pretty desperate for some age regression (SFW!!) roleplays, found family roleplays, and honestly anything with comfort in them, I have a list of plots! (i pref to be the younger one/child/regressor in these plots! but I’m willing to switch it up or take turns with roles like these for it to be fair!)

what I like and pref in rps!!

— please talk to me ooc, head-canons and just talking in general are a must but not too consuming, I like to befriend my roleplay partners and really get to know them! it helps out with the roleplay!

— since I’m mainly looking for comfort roleplays and platonic rps please no sexual 18+ content, (kissing on the cheek cuddling and all that cute stuff is fine, just nothing sexual nor romantic!)

— I have a pref for irl fcs :)

— even though I’m looking for a hurt comfort/agere/platonic roleplay, i like action, super hero’s, slice of life, adoption plots are nice too!

fandoms!!

— i like original characters it helps us explore! (SPIDERSONA’S MAYHAPZ??)

— Ms.Marvel + The Marvels (I will jump up and down for this one, as I love Kamala khan (biggest kin guys.)

— Frozenn!! (I’m mainly looking for Elsa and Anna cause their relationship warms my heart and I recently got deep into the fandom.)

— Stranger things, I muse max, el, will, Robin, Nancy, and Lucas!!

— Percy Jackson, I muse Percy, Annabeth, and Grover!

— New Amsterdam, I muse Lauren bloom and Elizabeth Wilder :)

— Steven universe, Any!!

If you're interested please interact/like and I'll get back to you!

.

[benwvatt]

scavengers reign

[Image ID: A drawing of a lush, green forest on an alien planet in the TV show Scavengers Reign. On the left is a large, thick, white stone column covered with large, green, round globules of moss. The center contains large, white circular stepping stones on the ground, much larger than any living being in the image. A grey, deer-shaped alien with a slightly lighter grey underbelly and round, grey protrusions coming from its face sits curled up on one of the stones. On another stone, further back, sits a grey robot made up of a three large metal ovals next to each other. It tends to a small lily with four large, white petals growing from the stone.

In the center of the image, two thick, brown columns that could be stone or tree trunks rest behind the alien and the robot. One is diagonal and points to the upper right. The other is nearly upright and is tilted slightly to the left. The right side of the image contains three tall yellow broomstick-shaped stalks of what look like hay, and there are three jellyfish-shaped creatures with very short dark grey legs, small round red eyes, and dark grey bodies. One of the creatures looks sadly at the deer alien and the robot. The other two are walking away, out of the frame. End ID.]

Title: Scavengers Reign (2023-?)

Channel: HBO Max.

Origin: U.S. American.

Genres: 2D animation, science fiction, science fantasy, adventure, and horror.

Runtime: As of March 2024, there is 1 season with 12 episodes. Each episode is ~25 minutes. The show’s executive producers have mapped out future seasons and are excited to do more, but with HBO’s penchant for cancelling animated/sci-fi TV shows and removing them from streaming, I’m not sure if it’ll get renewed for more.

This show feels: Enthralling, wondrous, hypnotic, and horrifying.

Premise: Scavengers Reign is a science fiction show about the marooned survivors of a damaged cargo ship in outer space. They explore their mysterious, lush, and hostile new planet with caution, and, due to the crash, they have been isolated in three groups who must eventually make their way back to each other. Most of the cast are human, but one main character is a robot. The new planet contains fantasy-transformed plants, animals, and aliens. Does danger lurk around the next corner?

Themes explored by the show: Social isolation, mental health crises, survival in the wilderness, the ability to trust, human-alien interactions, grief, death, community, psychological horror/trauma, and the poisonous control that nostalgia holds over humans.

Representation & marginalized voices: Scavengers Reign has several nonwhite main characters, and about the half the cast are female while the other half are male. The nonwhite characters are also voiced by people of color, and there are many female voice actors in the cast. I appreciate that romance isn’t a core part of the show, as the story explores themes like survival and mistrust instead.

Notes:

Scavengers Reign is well-received by the public. It has a 100% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 8.7/10.

Scavengers Reign originally aired as an 8-minute, dialogue-free animated short film in 2016 on the Adult Swim channel. It is available to watch here on Vimeo.

Most U.S. American shows created by major streaming services or TV networks are available to pirate. Sites like FMovies or LookMovies should have it.

[transmutationisms]

re: everything horny nothing beautiful—do you think people are onto something when they say that americans became oddly and intensely puritan after 9/11. never understood that particular argument, nor the bit about americans as uniquely puritan/sexually repressed compared to the rest of the (western) world

ya i can kind of understand people thinking that the wave of post-9/11 nationalism led to like a general sexual conservatism, like it's sort of just an assumption that those things must have automatically gone hand-in-hand, but i don't think actually that america did become significantly more sexually repressed or puritanical in the aughts lol. it's also another one of those cases where many people seem to want to use the idea of puritanism to mean, like, "intensification of reactionary ideas" and i think puritanism is better understood as just one reactionary strain among many. like, all roads do not necessarily lead to rome.

anyway as to the general perception of americans as uniquely sexually repressed and puritanical i think there are a couple things going on. one is a general, max weber-lite tendency to over-interpret the significance of protestantism as a guiding economic force with an accompanying cultural and sexual ethos. so the fact that america has always been plurality protestant gets taken as prima facie evidence of sexual repression, like the way countries like england or germany are also assumed more repressed and buttoned-up than eg france or italy. i've said before that weber arguments are bad (/tagged/weber) and i'll say it again.

there's also, i genuinely think, a continued appeal to the colonialist, climatic-racial argument that hotter environments make people more emotional, impulsive, expressive, and yes sexually uninhibited. again even just within europe you can think here about how northern europeans perceive themselves vs how they talk about spain, italy/the mediterranean, etc. i think the us gets broadly lumped in with england here as a former british colony, and then you can see how internally there's absolutely a distinction between how people talk about the us north vs the south, and how the south is contrasted as wilder and, despite the bible belt, sexually more dangerous/improper; obviously this also relates to internal racist and classist dynamics, including the legacy of slavery and its corresponding discourses of blackness/africanness. there's also an east-to-west distinction internally, which i'd argue shows the continued legacy of settler justifications and ideas of western expansion as both manifest destiny and exploration of a wild and untamed terra nullius. the northeast, which is where the puritan influence was historically strongest, is often positioned in these discourses as the 'true' america in the sense of being the cultural centre or source (on an internal centre-periphery model à la basalla) so the puritan influence gets overstated and puritanical/repressed sexual mores are then seen as linked to economic dominance as well as 'proper' behaviour and culture.

and then finally sometimes people are just like, going into these arguments assuming that religious proscriptions on sex can be taken at face value, which is honestly very funny. like for example you will often hear people assert that the us is specifically more 'prudish' about child sexuality than eg italy or france, and they may point to things like us evangelical 'purity rings' or those ceremonies where like, girls pledge their virginities to their fathers. and it is true these things happen. but people making this type of argument tend to forget that also, child marriage is legal in the us. in general a religious command is an interesting phenomenon for a sociological analysis, but not necessarily one that should be taken as uncomplicatedly true, esp where like sexual taboos are concerned lol. it's true that in general, americans are more concerned to preserve certain kinds of modesty than some europeans (like, public changing rooms or spas are a very different affair in the us than in eg iceland or scandinavia, specifically regarding level of comfort with nudity) but it's not really a very serious argument to assume this correlates to a larger phenomenon of general repression or puritanism.

i mean i understand all national identities are constructed and this is just a piece of how that's done, both by americans and by other countries looking at america. but yeah i would say it's not a very insightful analysis of religion or sexuality lol

[yo-aroleplayfinder]

🪤 || ello ello!

I’m 18 myself and the age range of partners in looking for is around 18+ no younger than so :) i’m honestly pretty desperate for some age regression roleplays, found family roleplays, and honestly anything with comfort in them, I have a list of plots! (i pref to be the younger one/child/regressor in these plots! but I’m willing to switch it up or take turns with roles like these for it to be fair!)

what I like and pref in rps!!

— please talk to me ooc, head-canons and just talking in general are a must but not too consuming, I like to befriend my roleplay partners and really get to know them! it helps out with the roleplay!

— since I’m mainly looking for comfort roleplays and platonic rps please no sexual 18+ content, (kissing on the cheek cuddling and all that cute stuff is fine, just nothing sexual nor romantic!)

— I have a pref for irl fcs :)

— even though I’m looking for a hurt comfort/agere/platonic roleplay, i like action, super hero’s, slice of life, adoption plots are nice too!

fandoms!!

— i like original characters it helps us explore! (SPIDERSONA’S MAYHAPZ??)

— Ms.Marvel + The Marvels (I will jump up and down for this one, as I love Kamala khan (biggest kin guys.)

— Frozenn!! (I’m mainly looking for Elsa and Anna cause their relationship warms my heart and I recently got deep into the fandom.)

— Stranger things, I muse max, el, will, Robin, Nancy, and Lucas!!

— Percy Jackson, I muse Percy, Annabeth, and Grover!

— New Amsterdam, I muse Lauren bloom and Elizabeth Wilder :)

— Steven universe, Any!!

If you're interested please interact/like and I'll get back to you!

YO YO YO LIKE THA POST N ANON WILL REACH OUT!!!!!!!!!

[shamimakter-blog]

Alpicool 35/45/55L Car Refrigerator: The Ultimate Portable Freezer and Fridge for Your Adventures

Alpicool 35/45/55L Car Refrigerator 12/24V Compressor Portable Freezer Fridge 110/220V Separately Frozen Refrigerated Storage

👉👉Buy now: https://youtu.be/Qwqz4OogYLY

🔥🔥 DISCOUNT: 45% 🔥🔥

When it comes to outdoor adventures, long road trips, or camping, having access to fresh and chilled food can make a world of difference. The Alpicool 35/45/55L Car Refrigerator is a game-changer for anyone who needs a reliable portable freezer and fridge. Designed to cater to diverse needs, this high-performance appliance offers functionality, portability, and durability, making it a must-have for travel enthusiasts, truck drivers, and outdoor adventurers.

In this article, we’ll delve into the features, benefits, and use cases of the Alpicool 35/45/55L car refrigerator and explore why it stands out as a premium choice in portable refrigeration.

Overview of the Alpicool 35/45/55L Car Refrigerator The Alpicool car refrigerator comes in three capacity options: 35L, 45L, and 55L. It is equipped with a 12/24V DC compressor that ensures efficient cooling and freezing, whether connected to a vehicle's cigarette lighter socket or a standalone power source. With an AC power input of 110/220V, it seamlessly transitions to home or campsite use, offering unparalleled convenience.

This versatile appliance supports both frozen and refrigerated storage, enabling users to store food, beverages, and even medical supplies at the ideal temperature.

Key Features

Dual Power Compatibility The Alpicool refrigerator supports dual voltage inputs: 12/24V DC for cars, trucks, and RVs and 110/220V AC for home or campsite use. This flexibility eliminates the hassle of switching appliances when moving between locations.

Adjustable Temperature Control The built-in digital thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature with precision. Whether you need to freeze meat or simply keep drinks chilled, the Alpicool refrigerator meets the requirement with a wide temperature range from -20°C to 20°C (-4°F to 68°F).

Separate Frozen and Refrigerated Storage One of the standout features is the option for dual-zone storage, allowing separate compartments for freezing and refrigeration. This feature ensures that items requiring different temperature settings are stored efficiently.

Energy Efficiency Alpicool’s advanced compressor technology is optimized for low power consumption. It also has an ECO mode for energy-saving operation and a MAX mode for rapid cooling. The low power draw ensures your vehicle’s battery remains safe even during extended use.

Durable and Portable Design The rugged build of the refrigerator ensures durability, even in harsh outdoor conditions. Its compact and lightweight design, combined with ergonomic handles, makes it easy to carry and transport.

Intelligent Battery Protection To prevent battery drainage, the Alpicool refrigerator features a three-stage battery protection system. This ensures the unit shuts off before depleting the vehicle’s battery, giving users peace of mind during long trips.

Quiet Operation The refrigerator operates with minimal noise, making it ideal for use in close quarters, such as during overnight stays in RVs or tents.

Advantages of the Alpicool 35/45/55L Refrigerator Portability Meets Convenience The portable design ensures that users can enjoy cold drinks and fresh food regardless of location. Whether you’re camping in the wilderness, traveling in an RV, or driving cross-country in a truck, this refrigerator ensures you don’t compromise on quality.

Versatility in Storage The separate frozen and refrigerated storage compartments make it versatile enough for different scenarios. From storing fresh produce and beverages to freezing meat and ice cream, the Alpicool refrigerator caters to varied needs.

Eco-Friendly and Cost-Effective The energy-efficient design not only reduces electricity bills but also minimizes your environmental footprint. Moreover, the durability of the unit ensures a long-lasting investment.

Easy Maintenance Cleaning and maintaining the Alpicool refrigerator is hassle-free. The interior compartments are designed for easy access, and the unit comes with a user-friendly control panel for quick adjustments.

Safety First With the intelligent battery protection system and durable construction, users can rely on the Alpicool refrigerator even in challenging environments. The robust design resists shocks and vibrations, ensuring smooth operation on bumpy roads.

Who Can Benefit from the Alpicool Refrigerator?

Outdoor Enthusiasts Campers and hikers can use the Alpicool refrigerator to store fresh food, ensuring they enjoy gourmet meals in the wild. The rugged design makes it suitable for outdoor use, and the low power consumption ensures prolonged operation with a portable power source.

Road Trippers Whether you’re on a solo road trip or traveling with family, having a portable refrigerator keeps snacks and drinks fresh and accessible. The dual-zone storage is perfect for storing food for long journeys.

Truck Drivers For truckers who spend days or weeks on the road, the Alpicool refrigerator is a practical solution for storing meals and beverages, eliminating the need to rely on roadside diners.

Medical Use The precise temperature control makes this refrigerator suitable for storing temperature-sensitive medications and vaccines.

Comparison of the 35L, 45L, and 55L Models The Alpicool refrigerator is available in three sizes to cater to various needs:

35L Model: Compact and lightweight, ideal for short trips or solo travelers. 45L Model: A medium-sized option that balances portability and storage capacity. 55L Model: The largest option, perfect for family trips or extended outdoor stays. All models feature the same high-quality build, intelligent cooling system, and energy-efficient operation.

How to Maximize the Alpicool Refrigerator Pre-Cool Before Use: Before loading the refrigerator, pre-cool it to the desired temperature for faster cooling efficiency. Organize Your Storage: Use compartments wisely to separate frozen and refrigerated items. Use ECO Mode: When running on limited power, use the ECO mode to conserve energy. Keep the Lid Closed: Avoid opening the lid frequently to maintain a stable internal temperature. Regular Cleaning: Clean the interior regularly to prevent odors and ensure hygienic storage. Why Choose the Alpicool Refrigerator? The Alpicool 35/45/55L car refrigerator stands out for its combination of performance, durability, and versatility. Whether you're an avid adventurer, a frequent traveler, or someone looking for a reliable portable refrigeration solution, Alpicool offers a product that delivers on every front.

A Trusted Brand Alpicool has earned a reputation for producing high-quality portable refrigeration systems. With innovative features and customer-centric design, the brand ensures its products meet the demands of modern users.

Final Thoughts The Alpicool 35/45/55L Car Refrigerator is more than just a cooling device; it’s a lifestyle upgrade for anyone on the move. Its blend of portability, energy efficiency, and dual power compatibility ensures that you stay refreshed and well-prepared, whether you’re camping in the wilderness, driving across the country, or simply enjoying a weekend getaway.

Invest in the Alpicool refrigerator today and transform your travel experiences. With its exceptional features and reliable performance, it’s a companion you’ll never want to leave behind.

[dadscarathon]

October 2024 Ahhhhgenda

For past Spooptober Scarathons I sort of wing it. I store up memories of movies and shows I want to watch all year, then hunt them up each day as I go. This year, I thought it would be fun to lay them out ahead of me, choosing one each calendar day. If nothing else, it will save me some time pouring through my Shudder queue!

I'll start with one that I hope will be on the list, but may not be. I'm a huge fan of the Terrifier series, and this year we get the third movie in the theaters! There's some chance I won't get to go to the theater, so we'll see, but that's my hope!

Here's the list in no particular order, with a rephrased synopsis and which service/method I intend to use to watch.

Destroy All Neighbors (Shudder) A prog rock oriented horror movie? OK!

Terrifier 3 (Theater) I haven’t read the synopsis, because trying to fathom a plot involving Art the Clown is a bit like pondering the existence of free will.

Mean Spirited (Shudder) An influencer goes on vacation and gets a demon.

YellowBrickRoad (Shudder) A town’s population disappears and “intrepid” (that’s a horror euphemism for “victim”) explorers go to find them. Seems like a horror take on OZ, which I also enjoy.

Let the Wrong One In (Shudder) A little brother turns into a vampire and the protagonist must make a choice.

Late Night with the Devil (Shudder) A rival to Carson ends up unleashing a hell on late night watchers.

The Pale Door (Shudder) Failed train robbers hide out in a ghost town and encounter some witches.

Blood Quantum (Shudder) There’s a zombie apocalypse, but for some reason the Mi'gmaq tribe are immune and must now survive.

Blood Relatives (Shudder) An old Yiddish vampire meets his possible daughter.

Hellbender (Shudder) Izzy was raised in isolation by her Mom, and once free to explore the world finds out something dark about herself.

Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island (Hulu) Didn’t read the synopsis… But I know what Fantasy Island is. And what Blumhouse is ;)

Bad Hair (Hulu) A woman gets a weave and… It attacks?

Down (Hulu) People trapped on an elevator turn out to be terrible.

Wounds (Hulu) A bartender picks up a phone someone left behind.

The Seeding (Hulu) A man lost in the wilderness seeks refuge with a stranger, then finds out she’s not there willingly or alone.

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (Netflix) Some connections never die, apparently.

Eli (Netflix) A young boy undergoes some horrifying medical procedure

Insidious: The Red Door (Netflix) A demon haunts a family. Which, honestly… I guess “Insidious” sort of gave that away, eh?

Out of Darkness (Paramount+) 45,000 years ago some people are stranded on an island.

Jennifer’s Body (Hulu) Jennifer has some less than savory tendencies after an occult run-in. I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen this, but I wanted to watch it just in case, as there’s another movie in the same setting on this list.

Lisa Frankenstein (Amazon Prime Video) Lisa’s boyfriend is dead… But that won’t stop her.

Stopmotion (Amazon Prime Video) A stop motion animator has an experience

Arcadian (Amazon Prime Video) Nic Cage defending his family at the end of the world.

I Saw The TV Glow (MAX) Owen is introduced to scary stuff by his friends, and his reality cracks

In a Violent Nature (Amazon Prime Video) The victim of an ancient crime is resurrected to visit vengeance against trespassing teens.

A Quiet Place: Day One (Paramount+) The world goes quiet… Spooky.

X (Paramount+) Someone tries to make an adult film, and it doesn’t go well

Pearl (Shudder or Netflix) Set in 1918 a lonely farm girl goes to extremes for fame

Oddity (Shudder) A blind psychic’s twin is murdered and now she’s back to make it right…

Divinity (Shudder) Two brothers abduct a mogul and things get weird

Suitable Flesh (Hulu) A psychiatrist becomes a murderer and the story unfolds as to why that has to happen

Know a movie I have to watch that isn't on this list? Let me know in the next two days! Or, hell, any time in the next 31. Anything goes up to the last day, so I'm open to suggestions.

[clericofsune]

Piety Boons for DnD 5e: Sune

Sune is the Faerunian Goddess of love, beauty, and passion. She holds sway over the whims and desires of mortals, driving them to love, crave, and create. Her highest ranking priests and priestesses are known as Heartwarders. The Order of the Red Rose is her faith militant, which safeguard the temples and clergymen devoted to her. Though her primary sphere is love and beauty, she is also the patron of all artists and craftsmen, blessing them with skilled hands and wondrous imagination. In this way, she ensures that life is beautiful in all ways, and she pities any who would deny themselves of their passions out of fear or shame. Her two primary Exarchs are Liira, the goddess of Joy, and Sharess, the goddess of cats.

Her alignment is Chaotic Good. Sune values above all else freedom. Freedom to be, do, explore, and create whatever one pleases, and follow where their heart leads them. Even clerics devoted to the goddess are known to step away from the church to pursue other desires without ever incurring the goddess’ wrath. As the goddess of beauty, Sune abhors all things which mock and tarnish the beauty and pleasure that is a mortal existence. Fiends, undead, and anything rotted, diseased, or mutilated disgusts her. However, her anger can be misguided, such as her displeasure for scars and physical imperfections, which can cause her to come off as superficial and judgmental.

EARNING PIETY

Seek out and enjoy life’s pleasures and revel in your passions

Follow your heart wherever it may guide you

Compose or commission works of art

Impart knowledge of fashion, art, cosmetics, and etiquette to others

Destroy anything which tarnishes the beauty of this world or its people

Destroy armies which threaten the stability of the world

Restore and beautify damaged structures, landscapes, and communities

Bring lovers together, or help lovers overcome social obstacles to love

Build or restore a temple to Sune

LOSING PIETY

Deny yourself your passions out of fear or shame

Practice necromancy and other unholy arts

Tarnish the beauty of the world or the creatures within it

Willfully upset the balance of the world for personal gain

Willfully tarnish your outer appearance, especially through necromancy

Consort with Baalzebul, Ssendam, Evil Gods, other fiends, or undead

Condemn the love, relationships, and passions of others

Tear lovers apart, stand in the way of love, or deride the value of love

Destroy or desecrate a temple to Sune

PIETY REWARDS

3+ = You can cast Charm Person or Color Spray (choose only 1) 10+ = You can cast Hypnotic Pattern. 25+ = Friendly creatures within 30 feet gain +2 to their AC as well as their INT, WIS, and CHA saving throws. This includes you. 50 + = Increase your CHA or WIS by 2 and increase your max for that score by 2

SUGGESTED CLASSES

Artificer

Bard

Cleric

Paladin

Sorcerer

SUGGESTED BACKGROUNDS

Courtier

Entertainer

Far Traveler

Guild Artisan

Noble

SUGGESTED DOMAINS

Life

Light

Peace

Trickery

SUGGESTED SUBCLASSES

College of Creation

College of Eloquence

College of Glamour

College of Valour

Conclave of the Fey Wanderer

Oath of the Ancients

Oath of the Crown

Oath of Devotion

Swashbuckler Rogue

Archfey Patron

Celestial Patron

School of Enchantment

Divine Soul Origin

WORSHIP & FESTIVALS

A ritualistic morning bath in scented water is preferred, though if water or perfumes are scarce, a ritualistic washing of the hands can suffice.

Sunites that wish to commune with their goddess must stand in water and look into a mirror or reflective surface lit by natural light or candle light.

The Feast of Love is held every Tenday. Dine on exquisite delicacies, whether exuberant or humble as time and availability allows. Even just stopping to savor a pastry or a slice of cheese can suffice in the wilderness.

The Grand Revel is hosted once per month from dawn to dusk, with Sunites displaying artwork of great beauty, donning elaborate costume and hairstyle, performing beautiful works of music, dance, or recitation, or engaging in pageantry and showmanship. This event is open to the public.

On Greengrass, the first day of Spring, Sunites take their jubilations outdoors to engage in picnics, romantic strolls, amorous dalliances, playful chases, and public performances to celebrate the rebirth and liveliness of spring.

[jasonschmid19]

Social Media in my life

A world of information, accessible at any time, and in almost any location. Being able to connect with people across town and across the planet in the blink of an eye. Your words, actions, and images racing through space and time and reaching potentially millions of others. This sounds a bit like what science fiction imagined the modern world to be like, and in some ways, it is our very true reality. However, the pitfalls and hurdles are ever-present, and may not even be noticed by many. The talk that Max Stossel gave about the behind-the-scenes intentional manipulation and packaging of humanity as a product could not have been clearer. Max hits on several key points, which are mirrored in a similarly critical documentary on Netflix called “The Social Dilemma”. The documentary, along with Max assert that the industry behind social media is not our friend, and indeed are intentionally, and systematically causing real harm to users.

My life experiences will most likely significantly differ from the average student and younger person today. I grew up long before social media was even a thought. Heck, when I was a kid, Nintendo was just coming out. In fact, I remember before Nintendo where Pong was the high-tech toy of the day (google it if you don’t know what Pong is). So, growing up when I did, there was zero social media presence, and the internet was some foggy thing that most people you knew didn’t know what it was. This resulted in some long, boring afternoons when it was rainy and cold, with little to entertain yourself with. However, it also provided a freedom and energetic drive to go out and explore that helped me grow into the person I am today. Summers were spent riding bikes to the local beach, running through the woods, and once a certain age, looking for girls! Not to say kids today don’t do these things, but I’m not sure it is the same. The constant barrage of information, connections, and (let’s be honest) judgement. My friends and I never had to worry about someone posting something on social media that would embarrass us, or judge us. We simply got to be ourselves (for better or worse).

My current use of social media is by many standards limited. My first foray into this mysterious world was on MySpace, which is a kind of basic Facebook. Today I do have a Facebook account, and I think an Instagram account, but I never log into the latter. With this limited exposure to social media, it really isn’t too hard for me to back away from the phone and tune it all out. I like to go backpacking, and the vast majority of my time in the wilderness there is no cell signal. I have my phone only as an emergency use option in case of need, but otherwise, I’m totally tuned out. Now, this is a great feeling, and it allows me to focus on other things, such as relationships with them people I’m hiking with, some introspection, and really just being in the here and now. However, I must admit the first thing I do once in cell range is check my phone. Typically, I’m wondering about the news of the past few days while I was out of touch, but I may take a wandering glance at my Facebook feed (just for a moment or two, or ten of course).

I’ll be taking part in a mini experiment on tracking my phone/social media use and it will be interesting exactly how often I reach for my phone when I have a spare moment of inactivity. I’d like to think I’m not all that attached to it, but I’m afraid the reality may be a little more revealing than I would prefer. The results, no matter the verdict, will hopefully provide insight into my subconscious behavior, and then allow for further self-examination (and hopefully improvement).

[nerdythebard]

#11: Gilan [Ranger's Apprentice]

Hello there!

NO! ...Not yet. One day, maybe.

Anyway, today we're building Gilan, a Rangers from the fantastic Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. This request was made by my best friend, @iximaz. They sure know I love challenges. Now, let's see if I can surprise them with this build.

Next Time: The Question... the First Question, the oldest question in the universe, that must never be answered, hidden in plain sight!

Now, what do we need to make Gilan work?

Silent & Deadly: Every Ranger's ultimate party trick. They are able to move in complete silence and blend into the environment so well, people tell stories about their supernatural powers... Rangers are basically Medieval ninjas, and Gilan was stated to be the best of them all at Unseen Movement.

Look at my Horse: All Rangers have a special, almost familiar-like bond with their mounts. We shall give Gilan a horse, or at the very least skills to obtain and maintain a horse.

Brains & Brawn: Rangers are trained in a large variety of topics, ranging (heh) from survival and archery to cooking and sewing. We need to be a little skill monkey.

---

Gilan is a Human (although a Tabaxi would also work if you're feeling adventurous). As always, pick a Variant option, it's just better. We get a +1 to two abilities of our choice, go for Dexterity and Wisdom. We also learn Common and one language of our choice, one skill of our choice (Investigation), and we can take a feat. Skulker works fantastically for sneaky Rangers; we can hide in lightly obscured places, missing an attack doesn't reveal our hiding spot, and we don't get a disadvantage on Perception checks in dim light.

Gilan is the son of one of Araluen's most respected knights, but he himself doesn't seem to use his position and family privilege enough to give him the Noble background. Instead, let's focus on his Ranger career and make him the Folk Hero. This background gives us proficiency in Animal Handling and Survival, proficiency with land vehicles (carriages, wagons, etc.) and one set of artisan's tools (woodcarver's tools let us create our own arrows), and we get the Rustic Hospitality feature; if we're good to common folk, we can find a place to sleep or hide in their settlements.

ABILITY SCORES

Dexterity is our highest score, we're sneaky and we're accurate with a bow. Follow that up with Constitution, we need endurance for long travels. Wisdom is next, almost all of our knowledge is practical street-smarts and survival techniques.

Next is Charisma, we've managed to charm at least one lucky lady, who knows who else fell for Gilan (fan-fiction writers do!). Strength is a little lower than I want it to be, especially since we are trained in swordsmanship. Finally, we're dumping Intelligence - we're not stupid, we just need other abilities more.

CLASS

Level 1 - Ranger: Unsurprisingly, we start with Ranger (Revised). Our Hit Die is a d10, we get [10 + Constitution modifier] initial Hit Points, proficiency with light armour, medium armour, shields, simple weapons, and martial weapons. Standard leather armour sounds like the right choice for a Ranger, and we can't forget about a bow, daggers, throwing knives (here: darts) and - in Gilan's case - a sword. Our saving throws are Strength and Dexterity, and we get to choose three class skills: let's go for Insight, Perception, and Stealth.

We start off this class by choosing our Favoured Enemy: beasts, fey, humanoids, monstrosities, or undead. We get +2 to damage rolls against our chosen type, as well as an advantage on Survival check when tracking them and Intelligence check when recalling information about them. We also learn one language of our choice.

The Natural Explorer feature grants us several benefits when exploring the wilderness:

We no longer suffer from difficult terrain;

We have an advantage on initiative rolls;

On our first combat turn, we have an advantage against a creature that hadn't made its move yet.

Additionally, if we're travelling for longer than 1 hour:

Difficult terrain doesn't slow the group's travel time;

The group cannot become lost, unless via magical means;

The group cannot be surprised, even if engaged in an activity (foraging, tracking, etc.);

If we move by ourselves, we can move stealthily at a normal pace;

When we forage, we find twice as much food;

While tracking other creatures, we also learn their exact number, size, and how long ago they passed through the area we're currently at.

Level 2 - Ranger: At this level, we get to choose our Fighting Style, and Archery is a no-brainer, it's the preferred combat option of all RA Rangers. We get a +2 bonus to all attack rolls we make with our ranged weapons.

Although RA Rangers don't use magic, D&D Rangers get access to Spellcasting. Wisdom is our spellcasting ability, we get no cantrips, and we begin with two 1st-level spell slots:

Beast Bond is a divination spell that creates an empathic bond between us and a beast of our choice, like a horse. For 10 minutes (concentration), we can communicate telepathically with our beast, and it is able to reply with simple emotions and concepts that we understand. The beast also gets an advantage on attack rolls against any creature within 5 feet of us. Just remember the password.

Hunter's Mark makes us focus our attention on a particular target. For 1 hour (concentration), you deal extra 1d6 damage to the marked creature, and we have an advantage on Perception and Survival checks related to tracking and finding it. If the marked target dies before the spell ends, we can use a bonus action to mark a new creature.

Level 3 - Ranger: We gain the Primeval Awareness feature, which lets us communicate simple concepts and ideas with beasts around us. We learn of the beast's emotional state, mood, and intent, which might save us from a fight.

Additionally, we can spend 1 minute concentrating, and detect if our Favoured Enemy type is somewhere within 5 miles of us. We learn the enemy numbers, presence, and the general direction from us.

This is also where we pick our subclass, our Ranger Conclave. For quiet and stealthy Rangers, who keep mostly to the shadows and avoid open conflicts, the Gloom Stalker Conclave works best. First, we learn the Disguise Self spell, which lets us change our appearance for 1 hour. We also gain the Dread Ambusher feature, we can get our Wisdom modifier added to our Initiative roll. At the start of our first turn, our ground speed increases by 10 feet and lasts so until the end of that turn. If we make an Attack during that turn, we can make one additional Attack. If that attack hits, the target takes extra 1d8 damage. Finally, we get Umbral Sight, which grants us 60 feet of darkvision. We are also invisible to creatures with darkvision if we're moving in the darkness.

We gain one more 1st-level spell: Snare utilizes 25 feet of rope to create a concealed trap that lasts for 8 hours. A creature that walks into the radius of the trap must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw, or be hoisted 3 feet in the air and restrained until the spell ends.

Level 4 - Ranger: Time for our first Ability Score Improvement! Let's put two points into Dexterity, to get it maxed out ASAP.

Level 5 - Ranger: From our subclass, we get the Extra Attack. This lets us attack twice during one Attack action.

We get another spell from our Gloom Stalker Magic table: Rope Trick uses at least 60 feet of rope to create an extradimensional space that fits up to eight Medium-sized creatures for 1 hour. Attacks and spells cannot reach the space, but anyone inside it can observe the surrounding area.

We also unlock 2nd-level spells: Pass Without Trace enhances our stealth skills for 1 hour (concentration). For the duration, each creature within 30 feet from us that we choose gets a +10 to their Stealth checks and cannot be traced via magical means.

Level 6 - Rogue: Jumping ships for the rest of the build. When multiclassing into Rogue, we gain proficiencies with light armour (got it already), thieves' tools, and we get to choose one class skill; let's get Acrobatics.

1st-level Rogues begin with Expertise. We select two skills and double our proficiency bonus (NOT modifier) for checks involving those. Stealth and Perception are the skills every RA Ranger must hone. We also learn Thieves' Cant, a system of phrases/gestures/sounds used by Rogues in their line of work. Additionally, the Sneak Attack feature gives us extra 1d6 damage to any creature we have an advantage against. We don't have to get an advantage to roll Sneak Attack if another enemy of our target is within 5 feet of it, or the target is incapacitated.

Level 7 - Rogue: At this level, we gain Cunning Action, which is a series of actions we can use as a bonus action on our turn. These include Dash, Disengage, Hide, and Aim (if you include Unearthed Arcana: Class Feature Variants).

Level 8 - Rogue: Our Sneak Attack die increases to 2d6. We also get to choose our second subclass, our Roguish Archetype. Now, there is no Ranger-like subclass for a Rogue, but I did mention that RA Rogues were basically ninjas, right? The Scout Archetype got us covered! This stealth-and-survival subclass gives us two features at the start: Skirmisher makes us very difficult to pin down, letting us move up to half of our ground speed when the enemy ends its turn within 5 feet of us, and not provoke an opportunity attack. Survivalist gives us proficiency in Nature and Survival skills. Since we already have the latter, our proficiency bonus is doubled for Survival checks.

Level 9 - Rogue: Time for another ASI. Once again, let's increase our Dexterity to get it to 20.

Level 10 - Rogue: Our Sneak Attack die once again increases, this time to 3d6. At this level, we gain Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker that we can see hits us with an attack, we can use our reaction to halve the damage.

Level 11 - Rogue: We get another Expertise option. Once again, we have a choice between two skills, or one skill and our thieves' tools. Let's go for Insight and Acrobatics.

Level 12 - Rogue: At this level, we get Evasion. This incredibly useful feature allows us to nimble our way out of some AoE effects, such as the Fireball spell. When we are forced to make a Dexterity saving throw that would result in taking half damage on a successful one, we take no damage is we pass and half damage if we fail.

Our Sneak Attack die also improves to 4d6.

Level 13 - Rogue: Another level, another ASI. This time, let's raise our Intelligence by two points, to get rid of the negative modifier.

Level 14 - Rogue: We get another subclass upgrade. Superior Mobility increases our ground speed by 10 feet.

Our Sneak Attack die becomes 5d6.

Level 15 - Rogue: Once again, we get an ASI. Let's put one point into Strength and one into Intelligence.

Level 16 - Rogue: Our skill increase with Reliable Talent. From this point onwards, we cannot roll lower than 10 when making checks for skills we are proficient in.

Our Sneak Attack die becomes 6d6.

Level 17 - Rogue: Time for the final ASI of the build, to round up the odd numbers, raise up Strength and Intelligence once again.

Level 18 - Rogue: This time, we get the final subclass upgrade of the build. Ambush Master grants us an advantage on our Initiative rolls. Additionally, the first creature we hit during our first combat round becomes easier to hit; all attacks against it are made with an advantage until the end of our next round.

Our Sneak Attack die becomes 7d6.

Level 19 - Rogue: Our senses are so sharp at this point, we don't even need sight. With Blindsense, we can detect creatures within 10 feet of us, even if they are hiding or invisible.

Level 20 - Rogue: Our capstone is Rogue 15 and the Slippery Mind feature, which grants us proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.

Finally, our Sneak Attack die becomes 8d6.

---

And that's Gilan the Ranger. Let's see what we created:

First of all, we're an absolute legend when it comes to unseen movement and sneaking around. With the Skulker feat, Expertise in Stealth, Pass Without Trace spell, and Reliable Talent we cannot roll lower than 27! We have darkvision and blindsense, which is rare for a human, and we can hide from other creatures with darkvision. We have a large repertoire of skills we're proficient with, and with a +7 to initiative, we're definitely be somewhere in the front of turn order.

Unfortunately, our sword skills are pretty neglected, even with a +7 to attack and damage rolls. Extra Attack helps out slightly, though. Our AC is 16, and we have 149 Hit Points on average. Our Intelligence and Charisma are also pretty low, so saving throws on those abilities might be tricky.

---

Anyway, that's it for Gilan. I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll see you next time... for a very... difficult build.

- Nerdy out!

[bestworstcase]

farran rewatches tangled: before ever after, pt 1

(01:50-05:00)

i’ve been wanting to do a full, start-to-finish episode-by-episode rewatch of the series for a good long while now with a focus on just... picking apart every episode to see what there is to see and well. i somewhat optimistically planned to do one post per episode but i... i was a fool. 

as a set of... basic guiding principles here i 1) am going to evaluate the text of each episode on its own merits, 2) without taking into account authorial intent  or extratextual creator statements, and 3) yeeting the phrase “it’s a disney princess cartoon, it isn’t that deep” out of my brain.*

(*except in the case of Cartoon Physics, which must simply be accepted in the same way that the existence of unbreakable magical hair is accepted.)

the first thing i want to talk about with before ever after is the way it establishes the characters of rapunzel and eugene and how it sets up the development of the new dream relationship for the rest of the show during the introductory sequence. 

before ever after does this thing a couple of times where it frames a character or scenario in such a way as to lead the viewer to expect one thing, only to reveal more information or additional context that significantly shifts our understanding. and these are interesting moments to examine, because of what they can say subtextually about the characters involved. 

consider the opening.

once the introductory narration is done, we’re thrown into a chase scene that is structured to trick us into thinking that the stakes are much higher than they truly are—the tense, dramatic scoring, in particular, prime the viewer to assume that the situation is serious.

look at this establishing shot. it grounds us in a location—we can see corona in the background—and sets a specific mood. rapunzel, eugene, max, and fidella all look serious and determined; meanwhile their pursuers are obscured in shadow, making them appear far more threatening than they really are. 

rapunzel’s seemingly genuine fear of being caught (“they’re gaining on us!” and “there’s more of them!”) strengthens this first impression, as does the fact that the pursuers continue to be obscured in shadow even when they, realistically speaking, shouldn’t be, as in this shot where the pursuing guards are galloping in full sunlight but still too darkly lit (and distant) for us to make out any identifying details: 

but now that we’ve had a few seconds for this impression to “set,” the show begins to dismantle it. rapunzel and eugene exchange a little playful banter, part ways, rapunzel glances back over her shoulder, and...

for the first time, we get a good look at one of their pursuers—and it’s a coronan guard. at this point, the tone of the chase shifts; the score becomes less tense and more adventuresome, beats of comedy are introduced with eugene’s log jump and rapunzel’s bunny crossing, and we end on this shot:

a bright, welcoming meadow opening up out of the more rugged / forested terrain of the chase. rapunzel gallops on into the nice-looking wilderness beyond, while eugene turns around to get in a last, witty one-liner in.

now on the one hand... this is a fun way to ease us into the action of the story with an attention-grabbing but low-stakes chase sequence, while establishing the playful dynamic in the new dream relationship. but! i argue that this whole chase scene, and the subsequent scene with rapunzel and eugene on the wall, is in fact a microcosm of the core conflict within the new dream relationship: to wit, that eugene is content and ready to settle down, rapunzel very much is not, and they are not yet ready to reconcile that difference with each other. 

how so? well,

#1: the shifting of the viewer’s understanding of this chase reflects both sides of the new dream perspective on palace life. 

in rapunzel’s view, being corona’s princess—a role here represented by the royal guard—is a frightening, suffocating job, one she struggles to reconcile with and longs to escape. her distress at the idea of being “captured” before they reach the wall—and having to return to the palace for the welcoming ceremony, as we learn shortly—is real, not because the guards pose a real threat but because she’s running away from them to get a break from the princess responsibilities that are drowning her.

eugene, on the other hand, is having a grand time. he banters, he grins, he mocks his pursuing guards, because to him, there are no stakes here. he enjoys living in the palace with no more bounties or convictions hanging* over his head, and he’s more interested in pausing to crack a joke at the captain’s expense than in winning the race to the outer wall—which in rapunzel’s mind is a representation of freedom. 

(*heh.)

so as viewers, the first impression we’re given of this chase scene is more in line with what rapunzel is feeling, and then shifts to reveal eugene’s perspective, which is more in line with objective reality (they’re racing the guardsmen to the outer wall, and nobody is going to get hurt) rather than rapunzel’s internal feelings (of fleeing to escape the intense pressure on her shoulders, even just for a little while). 

#2: and this, in turn, shows us precisely how far apart rapunzel’s feelings and eugene’s feelings about their present situation are. 

these are two people who love each other very much but are on completely different planets emotionally. eugene is content and relaxed, rapunzel is antsy and stressed out. they get along on a superficial level and enjoy each other’s company, but there is a huge disconnect lurking just beneath the surface that neither of them is yet aware of. 

the scene on the wall drives this message home.

we see the pure delight on rapunzel’s face when she reaches the wall...

...which intensifies as she climbs onto it and sees what waits for her on the other side...

...and the camera swings around to show us this gorgeous view of a lush, vibrant landscape pulling us into the sunrise. rapunzel heaves a longing sigh and tension falls out of her shoulders as she soaks in the view. 

this moment evokes the same mood as rapunzel’s early scenes in tangled, when she looks out of her tower window at the beautiful world outside. 

notice even the echoes of the tower landscape in the landscape outside of corona in the series: the lines of the cliffs on the left side of both shots are the same, and the colors of the wildflowers in the series landscape echo the colors of the flowers kept on the windowsill of rapunzel’s tower (here’s a better screencap of those, for comparison’s sake:)

anyway, the point of all this is to establish that rapunzel, despite having been freed from her tower, still feels trapped in her present circumstances. seeing the lanterns and finding her true family didn’t cure her restlessness but has instead intensified her wanderlust, and she once again finds herself in the position of sitting inside a wall and staring out at the world she isn’t allowed to explore.

the key difference in the series is that, where eugene’s role in the film was to help rapunzel escape her tower and seek out her dreams in the wider world...

...in the series, he has become an anchor tethering rapunzel to her life in the palace, and we see this illustrated symbolically when his interruption is what pulls rapunzel away from the view beyond the walls. 

now, this is a wonderful shift, because it doesn’t grow out of any arbitrary or out-of-character behavior in eugene but is, rather, an artifact of their changed circumstances. eugene still values rapunzel’s freedom and happiness just as much as he did in the film, but he’s oblivious to how stifled and trapped rapunzel feels within the coronan walls, and he’s oblivious because, a) rapunzel hasn’t told him, and b) he’s having a great time living in the lap of luxury with zero responsibilities, and c) that blinds him to the amount of pressure that is being put on rapunzel’s shoulders. he isn’t in tune with what rapunzel is feeling or why, and that damages his ability to act as a source of support for her in this stressful transitional time in her life.

this is the core conflict of their relationship, not just in before ever after, but over the course of the entire show. which is brilliant! it is so realistic for somebody like eugene—a 23-year-old man who has lived an exciting, adventurous life while cultivating a self-absorbed, devil-may-care attitude and is now ready to settle down and live a nice, peaceful, happily-boring married life with the woman he loves—to have this kind of incompatibility with somebody like rapunzel—an 18-year-old woman who has been sheltered and abused her entire life and who is only just beginning to figure out who she is and what she wants and is absolutely not ready to settle down and spend the rest of her life staying put and doing the same things every single day. they’re at completely different stages of their lives! of course there’s a tremendous gap between their expectations and desires within the context of their relationship and of course this causes problems as soon as this mismatch in priorities rises to the surface!

as a final note, as this scene on the wall wraps up, it introduces something that is... something of a recurring theme in before ever after, namely that things keep interrupting new dream kisses before they can happen.

in this case, it’s the captain—having caught up with rapunzel and eugene—telling them their little game is over and that it’s time for rapunzel to hustle back to the palace so she won’t miss the welcoming ceremony. this is another important beat in establishing the basic interpersonal conflict here; it’s not just that the kiss is interrupted, but that the kiss is interrupted by a manifestation of the strict requirements of rapunzel’s role as princess, which at the end of the day is what’s pulling rapunzel and eugene apart. i will talk about this more once i get to the proposal, but suffice it to say for now that the very same force that is stifling rapunzel and making her long for escape is what ruins this little romantic new dream moment, and that gets directly at the core of the conflict here. 

rapunzel has all these factors weighing her down and making her uncomfortable in her position inside corona, and none of them have anything to do with eugene, but they still create this stress on her relationship with eugene, because—due to his own comfort, his own readiness to settle down, and his current lack of empathy for rapunzel’s situation*—he’s blind to how unhappy rapunzel is in their current situation, and that makes hamstrings his ability to provide the emotional support she needs right now. 

(*something i will talk about more in my next segment; for now, the tl;dr here is even though eugene loves rapunzel deeply, and even though she drastically changed his outlook on life in a matter of days, it takes much longer for habits of personality to change, and in before ever after eugene is still very deeply entrenched in his self-absorbed flynn rider persona. the core of his character growth over the course of the series is his journey of growing out of that persona as he becomes more emotionally open and less content to laze about enjoying his luxuries every day.)

TO CONCLUDE: i love the opening sequence of before ever after because it is a microcosm of the interpersonal conflict within the new dream relationship. it establishes very neatly and succinctly that the love rapunzel and eugene have for each other, though genuine and deep, is not enough, and that they have serious work to do in bridging the gaps between them in order for the relationship to become lasting and strong. the journey of new dream over the course of the series is one from this starting position of fragility and miscommunication hidden just beneath the surface to the end point of two people who are in tune with each other and understand each other perfectly, and all of that is built on the foundation set down in these first few minutes of the very first episode. 

[brynwrites]

2019 READING RECAP: 

BOOKS I READ THIS YEAR AND LOVED.

I read 45 books in 2019. (Well, technically I listened to most of them as audio-books. Dyslexia was a pain in the ass this year and I gave it a whopping middle finger.) 

This is not a "Best Of" list. I didn't read all the books published in 2019, nor will all these books be from 2019 to begin with. They're just books I read this year and happened to enjoy. I hope some of you will enjoy them too.

Note: The little summaries in italics are written by me, not official blurbs. Click the links to see those!

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

This lovely slice-of-magical-life book tells the story of a sassy young man navigating a magical world and all the trials and romances it brings.

I fully recommend it to anyone who likes humorous mythology, beautiful deconstructions of social topics, snarky protagonists, and a romance with fantastic pinning and realistic relationships. This has a mlm endgame ship!

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

A biologist explores a dangerous piece of coastline contaminated by distinctly unnatural forces, which puts her relationship with her late husband into new light.

The slow revelation of and engulfment by the hauntingly peculiar yet breathe-taking world really hit me in the center of my soul. The Biologist felt incredibly real and personal, and by the end of the story, she seemed like a friend I knew and adored. Her relationship with her husband was one of the most stunning and accurate "romances" I've ever read.

Circe by Madeline Miller

A stunning showcase of the life of Circe, as seen from a new angle, highlighting both the flaws of humans and the beauty of mortality.

I've heard people describe this as a love letter to humanity and that's more accurate than anything I could write. Also I cried at the end.

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

A con woman with healing powers accidentally summons a djinn warrior and ends up whisked into a mythological world of elaborate politics.

This book gave me so many feels I don't know how to recover. Strap in for epic world building, suspenseful plot, wonderful (often morally grey) characters with complex biases.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The story of how a fictional Hollywood actress ends up marrying seven different men over the course of her life. Spoilers: She's in love with a woman.

This book portrays a stunning and realistic look at a queer woman's journey through Hollywood, with lovely takes on romance, sex, and sexuality, as well as a couple beautiful instances of queer non-traditional/polyamorous families. Endgame wlw!

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

With the god of the kingdom fading and the current ruler missing, the aid to the next ruler must meddle in the affairs of gods. But someone is watching him... and she's been around for a very, very long time.

The peculiar narrative choice of having a first person narrator speak of the main character in second person played well in the growing mystery, and the world building surrounding the gods was fantastic and unique, lending itself to the sort of story you read once in a lifetime. I would recommend this book for people who like unique and/or non-traditional story telling mechanisms, incredible world building, and thinking. The main character is a transman!

The Songbird's Refrain by Jillian Maria

When a girl who feels perpetually unseen is captured by a witch and forced to grow feathers, she must use her dreams to uncover the witch's motivations and escape.

This Young Adult book is a blast with a hint of creepy, a dose of suspense, and a nice dollop of fluffy romance. Overall, a wonderful fall read, with a heavy focus on healthy relationships, believing in one's self, and choosing love. The endgame is a wlw!

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

An episodic novella of the two most powerful time war opponents falling in love through letters exchanged in very particular ways.

This book made my eyes well and my throat catch and my mind linger over the pages with ecstasy and melancholy. It is lyrical and beautiful, with stunning world building built of metaphors. The endgame is a wlw!

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Not your typical portal fantasy.

This was lovely. Everything from the slow beginnings ties beautifully back together in a fast paced second half. I ended up with so many feels about this dumb little wandering family.

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

The new ambassador to the largest colonizing empire in the galaxy must uncover the reasons for her predecessor's demise, which would be a bit easier of only the artificial version of him embedded in her brain would help out.

This was such a fantastic ride. Stunning world building, great characters, politics that doesn't feel bogged down, a plot that's constantly moving forward. I totally recommend for anyone who likes science fiction, quirky friend groups, and the analysis of colonization. Endgame wlw!

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Sometimes a family can be a nerdy dumb-ass with a sword, an arrogant snarky dumb-ass with a smirk, and their demon servant who nibbles on their live force and mothers them both to hell and back.

I had so much fun with this Young Adult book. The world building is lovely and the pacing keeps you on your toes without stressing you out and the main characters are fabulous. A good, solid read, with a beautiful ending. Also, I would die for Silas.

Some books I wanted to read in 2019 but didn't get around to:

The Fifth Season

The Priory of the Orange Tree

Jade City

Middlegame

Wilder Girls

Into the Drowning Deep

Rules for Vanishing

Which books did you guys enjoy this year? (Let me know so I can read them next year? ;)

[alexsfictionaddiction]

10 of the best pandemic novels

It’s an understatement to say that the world as we know it has changed insurmountably over the last few weeks. We’re apart from our loved ones, most of our summer plans have been cancelled and we’re faced with more uncertainty than ever before. Pandemics and plagues have been present in horror, sci-fi and post-apocalyptic books for decades and they’ve always seemed to be exactly that. Abandoned cities, fast-acting deadly diseases and epic efforts for survival are things that happen in different worlds to our own but of course, they’ve never reflected reality more than they do right now.

I’ve been using this time to research and read a bunch of books that deal with pandemics and I wanted to share 10 of the very best of them with you. I completely understand if you’re trying to avoid these kinds of reads at the moment to limit anxiety or simply to escape. That’s why I also have a list of feel-good reads especially for you!

1. The Stand by Stephen King

The Stand is a book you’ll see on every pandemic fiction list because it is widely considered to be King’s masterpiece. The virus is really just the beginning of this enormous tome as its proceeded by ominous dreams, the inevitable end of days and the very real eternal battle between good and evil -perhaps not unlike some of your recent political discussions? Typical of a King novel, it’s populated by a huge cast of morally complex, tragic characters and there is an overwhelming sense of dread from the very first chapter. Expect a harrowing atmospheric read that will stay with you for a long time.

2. The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey

Essentially, it’s a zombie book but it’s also so much more than that. Set in a world where ‘hungries’ roam the wastelands, a select group of infected but high-functioning children are contained in a special facility. Amongst a ruthless scientist, a kindly teacher and a wary sergeant, child genius Melanie’s story will become one that haunts you in the middle of the night. It’s a classic page-turning thriller that isn’t an exact reflection of our current world but there are some eerie likenesses that will have you questioning who the real monsters are.

3. Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

Station Eleven is so full of believable situations and characters that I could easily see the end of the Earth looking exactly like this huge sprawling landscape, dotted with towns populated by small groups of suspicious, scared people. It chiefly follows five principal characters -seasoned Hollywood actor Arthur Leander who dies on stage during a production of King Lear, his incredibly talented but unappreciated first wife Miranda, his oldest friend Clark, Jeevan Chaudhary who tried to save him and Kirsten, one of Arthur’s child co-stars whose life has been shaped by the events of that fateful night. It’s a beautifully written, expertly constructed book that explores loss, resilience and the heartbreaking notion of desperately trying to hold on to the past. You’ll want several boxes of tissues for this one!

4. The Fireman by Joe Hill

Ok, so the virus in this one isn’t QUITE like COVID-19 but the intense fear, teetering sanity and unexpected small rays of hope aren’t unlike our current set of feels. Dragonscale marks its host with black and gold and burns them up from the inside causing them to eventually spontaneously combust and no one appears to be safe from this horrifying end. We follow pregnant nurse Harper who bears the ominous marks but is desperate to live long enough to give birth and the mystery of the Fireman -an afflicted man who has somehow learned to control the fire within him. It’s a very original premise and although it’s another beast of a book at over 700 pages, it will have you gripped from the very first page.

5. The Book of M by Peng Shepherd

There’s something about memory that feels so precious to me. It may be because in a normal functioning brain, it’s the only thing that constantly keeps us company and therefore, in some ways it’s like an old friend. The Book of M features a virus where shadows have begun to disappear, leaving their humans with a strange new power but also with a rapidly deteriorating memory. Following Ory and Max -two halves of a couple who have been torn apart by the prospect of heartbreak- we meet a bunch of wonderful characters on a journey to New Orleans, where sanctuary reportedly awaits. I stayed up late to finish it because I became so invested in getting these characters back together but I was left completely thrown and sobbing my eyes out by the very cruel twist at the end. Yeah... brace yourself!

6. The Last Town On Earth by Thomas Mullen

Set in 1918 in Washington state, this story follows a small quarantined town trying to stave off the Spanish influenza. The effects of financial instability on the community, the fear of the unknown and the erratic actions of a panicked mind will definitely seem familiar in our current world. It’s an enclosed domestic drama with a lot of social history, tear-jerking moments and a truly explosive ending. I’m delighted that I discovered this emotional hidden gem!

7. Skin by Liam Brown

Skin describes a world with an extreme version of a COVID-esque virus. Everyone must completely isolate from everyone else including the people they live with and can only communicate from separate bedrooms via technology. But then our protagonist Angela spots a man outside without any protective gear on and he doesn’t even seem to be slightly sick. Full of intrigue, complex characters and a twist in the tale, it’s a fast read with a lot to say about contemporary society via a wry cynical voice.

8. Severance by Ling Ma

Candace Chen is a routine-loving millennial who turns ghost city photo-blogger when the deadly Shen Fever sweeps New York. Joining an eclectic band of survivors on a trek to a supposed sanctuary, she is harboring a secret of epic proportions. Things get progressively darker as the group begins to develop a cult-like dynamic and the seemingly self-elected ‘leader’ Bob becomes increasingly tyrannical. The sudden jolt out of ordinary life and the making and breaking of human relationships in times of hardship mixed with a touch of satire makes for a thoroughly entertaining, topical read.

9. Wilder Girls by Rory Power

I love a good boarding school novel and this is possibly the darkest, most unique one I’ve ever read. The Tox has left multiple pupils at Raxter School For Girls with deformities and they’re now waiting patiently for a cure. But then Hetty’s best friend Byatt goes missing and suspicion heightens as to what’s really happening on the remote island. I couldn’t shake the feeling of doom for the entire time and there was such a heavy gloomy atmosphere that seeps through the pages. There was a lot of buzz around this book on YA Twitter when it was released late last year and it’s definitely worth all of the hype! 

10. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

This impeccably strange, enchanting novel is a little glimpse into some of the weirder rooms of Atwood’s mind. Snowman lives in a tree on a deserted beach and spends his days foraging for scraps and mourning his best friend Crake and the woman he loved, the enigmatic Oryx. He seems to be the only human left but somehow he has become a prophet-esque figure to the beautiful, ethereal Children of Crake. The actual virus doesn't appear until the final 50 pages but we see the effects of it from the very beginning, so I was pretty eager to find out exactly what had happened, which kept the pages turning. Although it is funny in places and exceptionally thought-provoking, there is a lot of disturbing content to be aware of including animal experimentation and child trafficking and sexual abuse. It’s a horrifying window into a possible future if extreme capitalism and the fast advances in genetic engineering were ever to meet in a head-on collision. 

[rebelcourtesan]

My D&D Build for Wolf

Tough, strong, and no nonsense, Wolf has survived in post-apocalyptic world on her own since she was a young age.  Raised by wolves, she knows how to fight fiercely like one with her trusty weapon she lovingly calls Stalky.  For a time, Wolf was the main fighter of the group until Kipo comes into her own as part Mute.  

 Long Post Below

***Stats***

Dexterity: Highest stat.  After watching Wolf in action, I’m going to say that her dexterity is her number one stat as she avoids getting hit long enough to deliver a devastating blow.  Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to increase her Strength which leads us to . . .

Strength:  Second Highest.  Wolf is pretty strong for her size, but will break skulls with Stalky.  

Wisdom: Third Highest.  Wolf is street wise or apocalyptic wise to the dangers of the surface world.  She can see danger coming and knows how to avoid or deal with it one way or another.      

Constitution:  Fourth Highest.  This girl has survived for a long time despite the odds against and also, she handles a still poison scorpion stinger so she must have develop some resistance to it. 

Charisma:  Fifth Highest.  Low because Wolf doesn’t easily open up to others though she does warm up to Kipo eventually.  

Intelligence:  Dump Stat.  Wolf has trouble understanding the purposes of modern items of the pre-apocalyptic world. 

For her race we’re going with Variant Human.  Put her two ability score points into Dexterity and Strength. 

For the Feat: Choose Alert since Wolf is always on the lookout for danger.  Wolf cannot be surprised unless she’s unconscious and she gets +5 to her initiative roll.  Also, hidden enemies cannot get advantage on attack rolls on her.  

For Skill: Choose Acrobatics.  Wolf is pretty nimble.

We’re going start off in Fighter for this build.

***Fighter Level 1***

For skills choose Survival as Wolf has had to take care of herself in the wilderness and post-apocalypse cities.  And choose Perception as Wolf is always on the look out for danger and notices things the group fails to see.

Weapon:  This took some thought and since Wolf mostly uses Stalky as a bludgeoning weapon so use the states for a Maul, or you can use a Pike for piercing damage.  You can talk to you DM about  giving you the option to use piercing with a sleep poison that the target would need to make a saving throw against.  

Fighting Style:  The best one for Wolf would be Great Weapon Fighting.  When Wolf fights with a two handed weapon (Stalky), she can reroll any 1 or 2 on the damage die and take the second result.  

Wolf also gets Second Wind which will let Wolf to heal herself for 1d10 + Fighter level per short or long rest.              

***Fighter Level 2***

Wolf gets Action Surge which will allow her to take another action on top of her action and bonus action.  Can be done once after a short or long rest.

***Fighter Level 3***

For Martial Archetype, we’re going with Monster Hunter (UA).  Wolf has grown up fighting mutes for most of her life.  Which gives her Superiority Dice.  

She gets 4 1d8 dice that she can use to make her attacks deal more damage and gives her an edge to determine potential dangerous situations.  She regains all the dice back after a short or long rest.

She can spend a dice to add a 1d8 to:

Precision Attack: For an weapon attack, she can add a 1d8 to an attack roll before or after she rolls it, 

Sharpened Attack. When she lands a hit with a weapon attack, she can add a 1d8 to the damage.  If the attacks forces the target to make a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell or ability saving throw, it must roll at disadvantage.  

Sharpened Senses: When Wolf rolls Perception to find a creature or hidden object or Insight to determine if someone is lying, she can add a 1d8 to the roll.  Can be added after the roll, but must be applied before determining if the check succeeded or not.  

Superior Willpower: Wolf can add a 1d8 to a Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving through.  Like when she saw through Tad Mulholland’s illusion.  

She also gets two additional skills for proficiency bonus.  Select Nature and Insight.        

On top of all of this, she can use two spells.  As a Ritual, she can cast Detect Magic to see magical auras and after a short or long rest, she can cast Protection from Good or Evil.  I know she never casts spells in the show, but these are useful additions if the need should arise.  

***Fighter Level 4***

Ability Score Improvement:  Usually, I would be telling you to max out her main Ability Scores, but in this case I’m going to recommend a Feat instead.

Great Weapon Master:  Whenever she scores a critical hit with a melee weapon or reduces a creature to 0 hit points from an attack, she can use her bonus action to perform another melee weapon attack! 

Also, she can take a -5 to her attack roll to deal additional +10 points of damage!

Wolf is fast, dealing multiple attacks to overwhelm her enemies.  Anyone you can take an additional attack works for her.

***Fighter Level 5***

Extra Attack:  Wolf can now perform 2 attacks when she takes the attack action!  Even better when coupled with Great Weapon Master feat.

***Fighter Level 6***

Ability Score Improvement: Okay, this time start maxing out Dexterity.

***Fighter Level 7***  

Monster Slayer: Wolf can spend two Superiority Dice instead of just one.

***Fighter Level 8***  

Ability Score Improvement: This time max Dexterity.  If it’s already maxed out, put the points into Strength.

***Fighter Level 9***

Indomitable: Once per long rest, Wolf can reroll a failed save, but must take the second roll.  It’ll help in seeing through false fantasies and illusions brought on by water mutes.

***Fighter Level 10***

With Improved Combat Superiority Wolf’s superiority dice are now 1d10s allowing her to hit more often and deal more damage.  Not to mention overcoming any mind manipulation.

Now we’re going to dip into Ranger (UA).  I considered going full Fighter, but Wolf has been surviving on her own for years which means finding her own food and mapping out territories.  Not to mention she fights mutes on a daily basis.  

***Ranger Level 1***

For Wolf’s Favored Enemy since there’s no mutes int the game (unless you DM is coming up with a special homebrewed setting) select monstrosities.  Wolf gets a +2 to damage on weapon attacks on favored enemy.  Also she gets advantage on Survival checks to track or recall information about them.  Wolf knew where the Mod Frogs were and how to negotiate with them.  She also new about Newton Wolves and other mutes.  

Also, she’s a Natural Explorer - she can ignore difficult terrain, advantage on initiative rolls, on her first turn in combat, she has advantage on attack rolls against enemies who haven’t acted yet.

She also function as the group’s guide.  The party isn’t slowed by difficult terrain and cannot be lost except by magical means.  Also, Wolf gains twice as much food when she forages.  When she’s tracking creatures, she can determine thier group number, size, and how long ago they had pass through the area.

***Fighter Level 11***  

Extra Attack (x2):  Wolf not gets two extra attacks.  Meaning she can take THREE attacks per attack action.  Potentially four with Great Weapon Master, if she crits or reduces a creature to 0 hit points and uses her bonus action to attack.  Not to mention if she uses an Action Surge to attack, that’s five attacks in one turn!

***Fighter Level 12***

Ability Score Improvement:  If Dexterity is maxed out, put points into Strength. 

***Fighter Level 13***

Wolf now has two uses of Indomitable per long rest.

***Fighter Level 14***

Ability Score Improvement: Max out Strength.  If it’s already maxed out by now put the extra points into Wisdom or round out your odd number ability scores.

***Fighter Level 15***

Relentless: Wolf is a tough fighter.  When she starts combat with no Superiority Dice, she automatically regains one! 

***Fighter Level 16***

Ability Score Improvement:  Max out Strength and/or round out odd number ability scores. 

***Fighter Level 17***

Wolf is not to be underestimated.  She now gets two Action Surges per short and long rest and three Indomitable rerolls per long rest.  

***Fighter Level 18***

Improved Combat Superiority: Wolf’s Superiority Dice are now 1d12s.  She’s more efficient in serious battles and a force to be reckoned with.

***Fighter Level 19***

Ability Score Improvement:  Dexterity and Strength should be maxed out by now.  If all the other points are rounded out, put these last two points into Wisdom.

There you have it.  Wolf from Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts.  

With a high Dexterity, she’s fast and hard to hit in combat while able to deliver several blows per round.  With Superiority Dice to help out in a pinch, she’s scrappy and tough enough to deal the final blow.  Also, she��s resistant against mutes with mind control powers.  With the level in Ranger, she can lead the group to safety while navigating dangerous territory.

The only downside would be that her Hit Points might be a little low, but if she’s hard to hit, then she shouldn’t take damage that often.  However, having a healer to back her up in combat wouldn’t hurt or give her a certain partner or Best Friend.

Next up is Kipo herself!

[celestialtrait]

Pastel Patisserie: A Legacy Challenge [Recovered 5/18/19]

My Pastel Patisserie challenge is back! Thank you to @strwbrrycremu for recovering the original rules and sending them my way! Since writing this challenge, a lot of new features have been added to the game. My hope is to alter this ruleset to include all of the new packs we have!

Hungry for some more berry sweet game play? Looking for a challenge that incorporates all of your EPs and GPs? Want to give your sims pastel hair colors and sugary sweet names? The Pastel Patisserie is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Pastel Patisserie is a 10 generation legacy challenge structured like the Not-So-Berry and Rainbowcy challenges, but written to incorporate aspects of recently released packs. True to The Sims series, it is filled with wacky drama and larger than life characters.

*This is something I’ve made mostly for myself, because I’ve played the first two gens of NSB over too many times and I’m sick of the scientist career.

Rules:

Like some of the other berry sweet legacies here on tumblr, each heir must represent the color or in this case, “flavor” of their generation. You can play with actual berry sims, or “banilla” sims (sims with colored hair but regular, human skin tones).

Color-coded spouses are totally optional. Personally, I think I’m going to fill a save with a bunch of berry townies to keep with the theme.

There are no money restrictions, but the challenge is probably a lot more fun if you don’t excessively use money cheats.

Your legacy is not bound to one lot for its entirety. But if you prefer your legacies to live in one house the whole time, go for it

Wanna share your progress? Use the hashtag #pastelpat

Gen 1: Bubblegum (Founder)

You’re new to the area and ready to put down roots! You love baking, and have always dreamed of opening your own bakery. You start a club for local bakers and put what little savings you have into your business. You spend most of your time at the bakery, so it’s no surprise that it’s where you meet the love of your life. You have one child whom you both love dearly and spoil often. When they finally move out, the house feels so empty you and your spouse adopt another child.

Traits: Cheerful, Good, Glutton Aspiration: Leader of the Pack

Max Baking Skill

Open and run your own bakery. Do not join any careers.

Start a baking club and meet once a week

Complete Leader of the Pack aspiration

Date and marry a sim you meet at your bakery.

Have 1 child (the heir) you both dote on, and adopt a second as elders.

Gen 2: Lavender

Your parents spoiled you a lot as a child, so you don’t really know how to take care of yourself. You love music, but you love partying even more. Children and a white picket fence are nowhere on your radar; you want to DJ and dance the night away for the rest of your life. You have one boyfriend/girlfriend who you are mostly faithful to, but one night you slip up. You/your lover gets pregnant and you must take care of the child. You’re not very good with kids and you never wanted them, so you’re not around very often. You enlist your adopted sibling as a babysitter.

Traits: Music Lover, Dance Machine, Hates Children

Aspiration: Party Animal

Be best friends with your adoptive sibling

Max DJ and Dance skills

Make all of your money from tips

Complete the Party Animal aspiration

Have a boyfriend/girlfriend

Cheat on your partner and conceive, breakup or stay together.

Have little to no relationship with your child.

Have your adoptive sibling watch your child

Gen 3: Baby Blue

Growing up your parent was always out late, so you spent a lot of time playing video games and watching movies. You’re closer to your aunt/uncle than you ever were to your parent, and they taught you a lot about empathy and caring for other sims. You desperately want to give your children what you never had, and are inspired by your aunt/uncle’s story. You end up adopting a child before you start your own family.

Traits: Geeky, Loner, Unflirty

Aspiration: Super Parent

Be best friends with your aunt/uncle

Have 1 childhood friend

Max the Video Gaming Skill

Go to Geek Con every time it’s in town

Complete the Medical Career

Complete the Super Parent aspiration

Your aunt/uncle’s story inspires you. Adopt 1 child prior to marriage.

Marry your childhood friend.

Have two children with your spouse.

Be Good Friends with all of your children

Gen 4: Pistachio

You grew up well in a loving household, but you wanted more than the safe little life your parents built for you. You’re free spirited, and yearn to expand your mind and explore the wilderness. You spend your days living off the land and improving your wellness. You go camping often, and have many lovers throughout your lifetime. All the unprotected woohoo catches up to you, and you have a lot of children. You and your family spend your days working the farm and living commune style.

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Vegetarian, Noncommittal

Aspiration: Outdoor Enthusiast

Complete the Social Butterfly aspiration as a child

Live in a rural neighbourhood

Make all of your money gardening. You may open a retail lot and run a flower shop or farmer’s stand.

Master Herbalism and Gardening skills. Make it to at least level 5 of the Wellness skill.

Have at least 5 children with at least 4 different sims. One of these sims must be the Granite Falls Hermit (you will probably need cheats for this).

Never marry, but you may have multiple girlfriends/boyfriends. Bonus points if they all live with you at once.

Gen 5: Lemonade

You hated growing up in the country with so many siblings. Dirt and bugs gross you out, and there was always so much work to do. You long to start a new life in the city, far away from your embarrassing family. You move to San Myshuno as a teen, and work part-time while you focus on your grades. When you finally age up, you join the business career and marry a rich old sim. You have two children and they have the best of everything. You have brunches and spa days with your rich friends once a week.

Traits: Materialistic, Squeamish, Perfectionist

Aspiration: Fabulously Wealthy

Move to San Myshuno as a teen

Complete the Business career

Try to complete the Fabulously Wealthy aspiration

Marry a rich sim. They must be older than you are.

Avoid your big, messy family.

Have a maximum of two children.

Create a Socialites club. Meet once a week for brunch or a spa day.

Gen 6: Peach

You got everything you ever wanted as a child and lived San Myshuno’s high society life. You love living in the city and never want to leave. You are the sim equivalent of the millennial. All you want to do is explore the city and enjoy yourself for the rest of your life. You eat spicy food, blog your whole life, and become a simstagram star. You date a few people, but eventually settle down with one of your exes.

Traits: Childish, Outgoing, Bro

Aspiration: City Native

Never leave San Myshuno

Learn all 22 new recipes

Eat mostly spicy food. It’s your favorite.

Master the Singing skill

Complete the Social Media career

Have a roommate throughout your YA years. Become best friends with that roommate.

Have 3 boyfriends/girlfriends throughout your life. Get back together with one, but don’t get married until you’re both elders.

Have as many children as you want, as long as they’re with the sim you eventually marry.

Gen 7: Tangerine

As a kid you had all kinds of food, but your favorite is Grilled Cheese. You have a small group of close knit friends, and you like to invite them over once a week for grilled cheese. You live in Oasis Springs and work as a detective for the local police department. You are the epitome of dad culture: you’re clumsy and like to take naps. You marry your coworker and have a very happy marriage, but they die after your third child together. Your children are devastated and you have trouble letting go. You re-marry your ghostly spouse.

Traits: Clumsy, Foodie, Lazy

Aspiration: Grilled Cheese

Live in Oasis Springs

Have a core group of 3 friends.

Only eat grilled cheese.

Complete the Detective Career

Master the Handiness skill

Marry a coworker

Have 3 children.

Your spouse dies after the birth of your 3rd child.

Your family takes the death hard. All children must have the gloomy trait.

Never remarry. Stay with your ghostly spouse.

Gen 8: Ash

You lost one of your parents when you were young and it left a mark on you. You want desperately to make your own family, but struggle to do so. One of your pregnancies miscarry and it destroys you. You can’t bear to be around your children, and start a string of affairs. One day your spouse catches you, and leaves with the kids. You become obsessed with death. You raise a cow plant and marry the Grim Reaper.

Traits: Family-Oriented, Gloomy, Insane

Aspiration: Serial Romantic

Marry young

Be a stay-at-home parent

“Miscarry” once (end a pregnancy with cheats).

Begin cheating on your spouse shortly after miscarrying.

Complete the Serial Romantic Aspiration

Sabotage your relationships with your children

Your spouse finds out about the cheating, and divorces you. They take your children with them.

You are preoccupied with death. Download a Grim Reaper from the gallery and marry him.

Have 1 child with the grim reaper. Have all of their half-siblings hate them. This sim does not have to be the heir, but it is recommended.

Raise one cow plant. Eat the cake.

Gen 9: Vanilla

You had a rough home life growing up, but you’re optimistic that you’ll find true love. You adopt a dog and spend your days taking lots of photos. You’re definitely your father’s child, and still spend a lot of time with him. You have a rivalry with one of your siblings and fight almost every time you see one another. You go on dates often in your quest for love. Eventually you marry a cat sim and have a big wedding.

Traits: Creative, Dog Lover, Hopeless Romantic

Aspiration: Animal Lover

Be enemies with at least one of your siblings

Be best friends with your father

Have one close friend

Have at least 1 dog

Master the Photography Skill

Master the Pet Training Skill

Complete the Animal Lover aspiration

Own and operate your own photography studio

Go on multiple dates during your YA years.  

Marry a Cat Lover as an Adult

Have a gold wedding

Have as many children as you want

Gen 10: Toffee

There are so many things you want to do, that you can’t stick to just one thing. You’re a jack-of-all trades and have a myriad of interests. Your many talents attract a lot of potential romantic partners to you, and some are rather eccentric. You find that you really enjoy science, and spend a lot of time visiting other planets. Eventually, you get abducted and have an alien child.

Traits: Goofy, Genius, Romantic

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim

Change jobs often. You need a total of 3 for your aspiration

Your last job must be the astronaut career

It is recommended that the scientist career is one of your careers

Complete the Renaissance Sim aspiration

Master the Rocket Science Skill

Go to Sixam

Marry an Occult sim

Get abducted

Have as many children as you want