#usability >>> efficiency always

[mesaprotector]

i will use a gas stovetop until they're illegal, and when they are i might genuinely choose a wood stove or an old coil-electric type rather than induction. there is nothing i hate more in my appliances than them being fussy in unintuitive ways with no visual or sound cues. you can buy any pot from the thrift store for $4 and it'll work on a regular stovetop, but your fancy $6000 induction stove will throw a fit because it's made from the wrong metal or has the wrong vibes or something.

[twstwizard]

Clothes

Upon first day of your stay in twisted wonderland you realized you didn't have any clothes besides the ceremonial robe and a dusty uniform you were able to find in Ramshackle. Good thing you now have a few friends to borrow things from!

Type: Headcanons, SFW, Romantic or Platonic

Characters: Ace Trappola; Deuce Spade; Jack Howl; Epel Felmier; Sebek Zigvolt

AN: I'm surprised noone has addressed this yet... Unless we're walking around in Crewel's fashion dresses the entire time-

Ace Trappola

-The man is at first reluctant at sharing his clothes, calls you a hobo and teases endlessly, even insinuating that you secretly got rid of your clothes on purpose to have a piece of him. He's horrible as always.

-But as soon as you get fed up and are ready to turn to Duece for help, all of a sudden, the trouble maker has a spare T-shirt he can lend you. Afterwards the man is simply smug that you're wearing his panties. Expect lots of teasing.

- At some point it becomes second nature for him to lend you clothes, to the extent of you two sharing a wardrobe, which can lead to comical situations of him demanding a specific shirt back for an Unbirthday party.

Deuce Spade

-Unlike certain someone, Spade is happy to help his new friend. The man does get a bit flustered the first time he lends you a pair of slacks, but nothing else. There will be no judgment on his end, regardless of what article of clothing you may need.

- Main difference between his and Ace's approach to your problem is that Duece gives you "better" clothes, once he believes to be more comfortable and in better condition.

- Spade is a good friend above all. If it means sleeping without underwear, but you having a pair in turn, he's ready and willing to make such sacrifices.

Jack Howl

- The wolf is flustered (^_-). But much like Duece he's a good friend and will share his shirts and pants with you. Unlike Spade however, Jack will keep his underwear on himself, no matter if you have any or not, though he will help you at least to buy a pair.

- Beast man always lends you clean clothes, those neutral, easily usable in most situations. Jack praises himself on efficiency and fastness of his reactions, surprisingly that shows in the clothes too. All articles matching each scenario you might need in a very convenient timing.

-The young man also asks Ruggie for places which sell clothes cheaper or an easier way for you to get some. He's simply worried for you.

Epel Felmier

- Epel is of course a bit confused by your circumstances, but much like Duece won't rub it in your face. He's a country person, came from a place where people actually build strong communities, helping one another is simply a norm.

- Pomfior student will firstly lend you items he simply doesn't like. Perhaps an extravagant blouse here, a pair of shoes there. Now you look like a princess.

- Epel will also try and pull a few strings in his dorm to shake off some things off of his roommates and such. Are they fashion powerhouse or what?

- Secretly young Felmier will ask his grandmother to knit you a few things if the two of you do become close friends. It would be only fair you get to share the warmth only a family can provide.

Sebek Zigvolt

-HA! Don't be absurd he would never share cloth with a mere hu- Wait, you said Malleus takes midnight strolls near your dorm?! Cover yourself!

- Despite all the yelling and red face Sebek will lend you some clothes. Zigvolt lends you things he either outgrew or stopped wearing for some reason, they're surprisingly well kept.

- The longer the two of you are friends the more clothes he gives, soon giving you his newer items, at times, sevens forbid, socks.

- Despite how much he yells and claims it's all to shield Malleus's eyes from your from, it's balantly obvious he's genuinely worried for you. After all freshly bought clothing sets don't magically manifest in your dorm. Or do they?

[areyoufuckingcrazy]

“Caf Break”

Fixer (RC-1140) x Reader

Your caf shop wasn’t fancy.

One countertop. Four chipped booths. A sputtering holosign that read “CAF & CRUNCH – OPEN” with a flicker that hadn’t been fixed in years.

You didn’t get many clones here.

Too far out. Too quiet. The garrison was small, the rotations fast. They didn’t stay long enough to know your name.

Except one.

Helmet always on. Barely spoke. Green armor with white detailing, scuffed and battle-worn. He ordered the same thing every time: strong black caf, no sweetener, no conversation.

You didn’t know his name.

So you called him Greenie in your head.

And Greenie had come back five times in two weeks.

Fixer was not… sure why he kept returning.

He told himself it was logistical.

The caf was strong. No risk of contamination. The shop was unassuming—good line of sight to both entrances, windows provided 180-degree visibility, and the booths weren’t bolted down, making them usable as cover in case of attack.

It made tactical sense.

But when he sat there—helmet on, fingers curled loosely around the mug—he found himself… pausing.

Observing.

You always had a smudge of caf dust on your apron. You were quick with a smile, not pushy. Efficient. Clean workspace. Minimal chatter unless engaged first. He liked that.

And once, when he’d stood up too fast and knocked a napkin holder onto the floor, you’d just picked it up, smiled, and said, “Even commandos have off days, huh?”

He’d stared at you for three seconds too long. An eternity in commando time.

The next day, he came back.

And the next.

And today, too.

You slid the mug in front of him with a soft clink.

“Double strength, no frills. You’re predictable.”

He paused.

“…Efficient,” he corrected, voice metallic through the helmet.

You leaned against the counter. “So’s a vending droid. At least you tip better.”

He almost smiled.

Almost.

It became routine.

You worked mornings. Fixer showed up during early rotation hours. You made the caf before he even ordered it. He never told you anything—not his name, not his rank, not his mission—but he watched you like he was memorizing your movements. Not in a creepy way. More like… cataloging. Like he was trying to understand something he didn’t have the words for.

Like you were the tactical puzzle he couldn’t solve.

Once, during a light rain, you asked, “Ever thought of taking the bucket off?”

He tilted his head. “No.”

You laughed. “Figures.”

Fixer didn’t feel like he was capable of anything outside the mission.

That’s what being a commando meant. That’s what Skirata had hammered into them. That’s what the Kaminoans designed them for: purpose. Obedience. Kill and move. Survive and follow orders.

He didn’t know what to do with the warmth in his chest when he saw you slide him that caf with a smile.

He didn’t understand why he had memorized the way you tucked your hair behind your ear when you were annoyed. Or the way you sang—quietly, under your breath—when you thought the shop was empty.

He didn’t understand why your voice filtered into his mind even when he was on missions. Why he thought about what your laugh might sound like without the helmet filtering it.

So he stayed quiet.

He came back.

Again.

And again.

And again.

It wasn’t until the sixth visit that you reached over the counter with a datapad.

“Can I at least know what to call you? Something better than ‘Greenie’? Because that’s what I call you in my head and I’m not proud of it.”

He blinked under the helmet. “That’s… not mission-critical information.”

“You’re not on a mission right now.”

“I’m always on a mission.”

You leaned closer, arms crossed, smile playful but firm. “Even when you’re drinking caf?”

He hesitated.

“…Fixer.”

You raised a brow. “That your name or your function?”

“…Yes.”

You laughed, not unkindly. “Alright, Fixer. I’ll remember that.”

He nodded.

He didn’t say it, but he’d already memorized your name from the receipt tucked under the register. He knew your schedule. Your preferred blend. The way you wrote cursive Y’s when you took orders by hand.

He knew too much. But not enough.

⸻

A few days later, the war came closer.

There was an explosion not far from the marketplace. Distant but sharp. You flinched when it hit, spilling caf across the counter. Patrons ducked. One of the booths cracked.

And he was there—immediately.

Fixer pushed through the front entrance before the echoes even died out, blaster raised, visor scanning the room. He found you kneeling behind the counter, heart racing, but unhurt.

You looked up.

“…Fixer?”

He crossed to you fast, like the space between you was an obstacle to eliminate.

“Status?”

“I’m fine.”

He didn’t answer. He just knelt in front of you, one gloved hand gently resting on your shoulder, scanning you for wounds like you were a member of his squad.

You put your hand over his. “I told you I’m okay.”

There was silence. Then—very slowly—he retracted his hand.

“I’m glad.”

You smiled, a little breathless. “You’re not supposed to get attached to civilians, you know.”

“I know.”

“You’re doing it anyway.”

“I know that, too.”

And this time, you reached for his hand. Not as a test. As an answer.

“Good,” you said softly.

He didn’t respond. Not verbally.

But he didn’t let go.

The warmth of your hand lingered in his glove longer than it should have.

Fixer didn’t move at first. Your fingers were still resting gently against his, your eyes steady on his visor, like you could see the man under the armor. Maybe you could.

But then—

“Fixer, move! We’ve got heat east side, half klick. Now!”

Boss.

Fixer’s helmet comm crackled with urgency. Nothing friendly. All business.

He stood abruptly, the shift from human to commando so clean it almost hurt.

You blinked. “Fixer—?”

But he was already backing away, rifle primed.

“Stay inside,” he said shortly. “Secure the back door. Bolt it.”

He paused just before turning to leave—like he wanted to say something else—but then Delta Squad’s comms lit up again.

“Scorch, get your shebs on the west flank. Sev, overwatch from the north tower. We’re drawing them in.”

Fixer was gone.

⸻

Outside, the air was sharp with smoke and ozone.

A low-flying transport had been taken out above the market square—probably a Republic one—and the Separatist droids were crawling from alleyways and downed cargo haulers like insects swarming a carcass. Civilians screamed in the distance. Blaster fire echoed in tight bursts. Close.

Fixer moved with precision, slipping into cover beside Boss, who was already giving orders like the leader he was.

“Sev’s in position. Scorch is making a mess—”

“Hey! Controlled chaos!” Scorch’s voice chirped over comms, followed immediately by a thunderous explosion and a cheer. “They loved that one.”

Boss didn’t flinch. “Fixer, tighten the east corridor. Thermal count says another squad’s flanking through the maintenance tunnels.”

Fixer nodded. “On it.”

“Wait, you came from the caf shop, right?” Scorch broke in again, teasing. “See your girlfriend?”

Fixer didn’t respond.

Sev’s dry voice cut in from the high perch. “Confirmed: Fixer’s still pretending he doesn’t care. Target rich environment out here, by the way.”

Boss sighed. “Focus.”

“I am focused,” Scorch muttered. “Focused on how Fixer only starts calling for backup after he’s finished checking on his civilian crush.”

“Mission protocol prioritizes non-combatant safety,” Fixer replied flatly, already sweeping a corner with his DC-17m.

“Oh sure,” Scorch drawled, “real tactical of you to hold her hand first.”

There was a brief silence on comms. Boss might’ve smirked behind his visor. Sev definitely did.

Fixer didn’t dignify it with a response. Instead, he tapped a few commands into his HUD, redirected two proximity mines, and crouched behind a stack of durasteel crates near the alley entrance.

“Contact,” he said coolly.

The moment the droids stepped into range, his trap triggered���concise, brutal, clean.

Three droids dropped. One limped, firing blindly. Fixer silenced it with a single shot.

“Boring as ever,” Sev muttered from above, “but effective.”

“Hey,” Scorch chimed in again, still grinning. “You think if we all survive this, Fixer will ask her out? Or will he file a formal requisition request for feelings first?”

Fixer adjusted his grip on the rifle. “I’m removing your access to my armor diagnostics.”

“You’d have to admit you have emotions to do that, Fixer.”

“Scorch. Focus.” Boss’s voice was flat, but even he sounded amused now.

Delta moved like a single organism—tight communication, seamless roles. Boss pushed forward through the square, marking targets. Scorch covered left, laughing and setting a charge with a little too much enthusiasm. Sev picked enemies off from above with clinical detachment. And Fixer—silent, efficient—was always one step ahead, rerouting their tech, coordinating their intel, watching every back but never speaking unless necessary.

But even as he moved through the field, his mind flickered once—briefly—to the warmth of your hand. Your voice. The way you’d looked at him like he wasn’t just another armored shadow walking into fire.

It made him hesitate, just for half a heartbeat.

Enough for a B2 to round the corner and raise its arm.

The blaster charge lit up red.

Fixer ducked—too slow.

The bolt clipped his shoulder plate, sending him sprawling behind cover.

“Fixer, report!” Boss barked.

“Still operational,” Fixer said through gritted teeth, locking down the pain response. “Hit left pauldron. Armor held.”

“You good?” Scorch piped up.

“Focus on the droids,” Fixer snapped.

But he wasn’t angry.

Not really.

He was… rattled. Not by the injury. By the distraction.

You.

⸻

Back inside the caf shop, the attack faded into muffled blasts and distant fire.

You stayed behind the counter, just like he said, listening. Waiting.

And worrying.

He had said he was always on a mission.

But now, you were his distraction.

And whether that was a danger or something more… you weren’t sure.

Not yet.

But you planned to find out.

The front bell above the caf shop door gave a soft ding as it opened, and you were already halfway around the counter before you even saw who it was.

Fixer stepped in, pauldron scorched, boots heavy with ash and grime, but otherwise unscathed. Your eyes immediately snapped to the dark blast mark burned into the green-painted armor at his shoulder.

“You’re hit,” you blurted, crossing to him fast. “Are you—?”

“It didn’t breach,” Fixer said flatly, already raising a gloved hand as if to calm you. “Armor held.”

You frowned. “Then why is it black?”

“Because that’s what happens when you’re shot,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Smartass,” you muttered under your breath, then caught yourself and looked up at him. “You scared me.”

He hesitated.

The visor tilted slightly—just enough for the gesture to feel human.

“…Didn’t mean to,” he said.

You exhaled and reached toward the damaged armor before pausing. “May I?”

He nodded once.

Your fingers ghosted over the edge of the charred plate. “I don’t see any cracks. Must’ve been a glancing shot.”

“It was close.” A beat. “Got distracted.”

You looked up. “By what?”

He paused.

“…By nothing,” Fixer said quickly, though even he knew it wasn’t convincing.

The moment stretched—almost something there between you, something unspoken—until the door slammed open again behind him.

Ding!

“Oh, look who’s still alive,” Scorch called, already marching in and tracking mud across the floor like it was a personal hobby. Sev followed, glowering at the bell above the door like it had offended him.

Scorch spun toward you with a grin. “Hope you’re not charging for emotional trauma because this one’s racked up a tab.”

You stifled a laugh as Fixer’s shoulders stiffened.

“Don’t you have ordinance to prep?” he said, still facing you but clearly addressing the clowns behind him.

“We did that already,” Sev said dryly. “Between Scorch’s interpretive dance through the war zone and your heroic trip back here.”

“Very heroic,” Scorch added, sauntering toward a table in the corner and dropping heavily into a chair. “He braved fire for caf and companionship. That’s love.”

Fixer didn’t even look at them. “I will incapacitate you both.”

“That’s the most romantic thing he’s ever said to us,” Scorch said, placing a hand on his heart. “He cares, Sev.”

“Threats of violence are usually how I express affection,” Sev stated, sitting across from his brother and immediately flipping over the sugar jar to poke at it with a spoon.

You tried very, very hard not to laugh.

Fixer finally turned, slowly, helmet tilting in their direction. “If either of you speaks again before I walk out of this shop, I’m initiating lockdown protocol in your armor suits.”

“Oh no,” Scorch gasped, hands in mock horror. “You wouldn’t dare run a diagnostic loop on my HUD in the middle of a firefight!”

“Or reroute his targeting overlay to display motivational quotes,” Sev added blandly. “‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’”

“‘Live, laugh, lob a thermal.’”

You couldn’t hold it in anymore. A laugh escaped, bright and warm.

Fixer turned back to you, somehow looking both flustered and resigned despite the expressionless helmet.

“Sorry about them,” he said simply.

“I kind of love them,” you said. “In a ‘please don’t ever leave them unsupervised with anything explosive’ way.”

“Too late for that,” Sev said, deadpan. Almost staring into Scorch’s soul.

Scorch waved. “Tell him how much you love him, too! It’ll be great. Cathartic. Might even make his audio receptors short-circuit.”

Fixer sighed audibly through the comm, a long-suffering sound. “I’m going to detonate your ration packs.”

“Bold of you to assume I don’t already eat explosives.”

Sev nodded. “He does. It’s a problem.”

Fixer shook his head and leaned just a little closer to you, as if to reclaim some fraction of normalcy.

“You’re okay?” he asked again, quieter now.

You nodded. “Yeah. Thanks to you.”

He shifted slightly on his feet. “…I’ll check in again before we redeploy.”

“Looking forward to it.”

For a moment, he didn’t move. And then, with the softest rasp of durasteel, he stepped back, already preparing to rejoin the chaos he’d walked away from.

“Don’t worry,” you called after him, grinning as Sev and Scorch stood to follow. “I’ll keep your seat warm.”

Scorch stopped beside you, stage-whispered, “He likes you,” and ducked just in time to avoid a light punch to the helmet from Fixer.

The three of them walked out, side by side, back into the fray.

And you watched them go, heart a little lighter.

[tagamantra]

karma engines for sundang langit ttrpg, the most important invention in hingsajagra's world-system, the beginning of the industrial revolution feat. public domain prayer wheel from the PSF archives, since karma engines have prayer wheel furnaces

Text below the cut

The Karma Engine resembles a giant spirit house but with the offering platform replaced with a giant prayer wheel etched with the appropriate offeratory mantras written in Twilight Karitan, a writing system that has no spoken language. Within the prayer wheel is a furnace. There, little gods, weaponsouls, ghosts, sacrificial people, and mantra-mandalas are burned upon samadhi fires. Karma Engines are therefore a joint machinist-monk invention (and indeed, the patenter of the technology is widely agreed to have been Vajra Monk Rakan Jesung, who grew up in a working-class machinist family).

In so doing, their karma is converted into usable energy, often electrical energy or mechanical energy. The study of karma is known as Karmalogy in the world.

The ethics of such an invention was hotly disputed when it was crafted. Vajra Monk Rakan Jesung was always seen as a pariah and an apostate, and as someone who perverted the teachings of the Buddha Gnostics.

But it was wildly useful. In a world mostly influenced by talismanic technology--written script imbued with Sapi of a magick-wielder to perform various movements, such as pulling, pulling, moving side to side, and converting--the Karma Engine allowed amazing amounts of energy to be crafted for relatively smaller cost.

More importantly, all it needed was proper maintenance by Monk-Machinists, instead of requiring paid wizards and mystics to create talismans that could fail or short out if the wizard was not good enough. This heralded the industrial age, there was no need for a steam engine with the invention of a nigh infinite source of power through karma.

In Karmalogy, karma is seen as the potential energy of existence and being itself, and many Karmologists posit that the entire current world of Hingsajagra exists because of the Karma of the past world.

When sentient beings are sacrificed to the Karma Engine, this is seen as a painful but purificatory ritual, and is deemed ethical by many world faiths as the being that dies from the Karma Engine's samadhi fires is almost always reborn as a human due to the neutralizing of their karma. Many who have surplus good karma do not go through this, and so the majority of criminals and harmful animals are given to the Karma Engine.

Infrakarmalogists, however, put forth that there are abundant amounts of ambient karma that arises from the world itself, surplus karma that emanates from the deeds of the past world, and this can be used to power karma engines without voluntary suicide.

Magnetitologists have been creating Magnetite Engines, which seek to replace Karma Engines. Magnetite is widely believed to be the infrasubstance, the aggregates of atoms. A level above the smallest quantum, where the material dissolves from perception.

Magnetite arises from places of intense emotion and thoughts, and so it can be mined from worship, war, joy, and other such sites of powerful explosive emotion. Currently magnetite is being used in socialist Hokou and in Selorong. The bourgeoisie that own Karma Engines (many of them non-religious themselves) have become ardent anti-magnetitians, and have begun slander campaigns against them.

Karma Engines have been made quickly efficient. Demons and Ghosts are commonly used as fuel--demons are beings of pure karma that are not destined to be reborn, and ghosts are beings that need light karma to have a better reincarnation.

The Exorcist Industry, though extremely dangerous and highly professional like mercenarism, has become extremely lucrative because of this fact, wherein spirit-binding and spirit-capturing have become in high demand.

Other popular forms of energy are weapon spirits, armor spirits, heirloom spirits, treasure spirits, and the like who wish to tangibly support a family or a bloodline by providing free power for them until their Karma burns off. This tends to last for centuries, as gods and spirits have copious amounts of positive karma owing to them being of the two Higher Paths. Gods are used sometimes to power entire cities.

Commonly now are used Mini Karma Engines. These are small generators that can be used to power a house, as long as proper rituals are performed to maintain them and proper karma items are fed to it. Those that do have Karma Engines out in the countryside and probinsyas tend to also have some form of knowledge in Karmamakinas, or have a Monk Machinist living amongst their midst. In the present year of 11,664, monasteries almost always have a group of Monk Machinists at the ready to be able to provide free support for a village, town, or city’s Karma Engine.

[yuesya]

A Fyrefly Type-V is more colloquially known as a Personal Escort model. Their primary purpose, in addition to contributing to the war effort against the invading Swarm, is to carry out the role of a royal guard. To protect Her Majesty, Titania, Queen of the Iron Cavalry.

“More than anyone else, Titania’s safety is paramount,” their creators tell them. “For the glory of Glamoth! Dedicate yourselves to your Queen, even at the cost of your lives.”

Yes. They will. A chorus of assent rises from their collective throats in unanimous, simultaneous answer.

… AR-1368 knows that she is fortunate. Overwhelmingly, the vast majority of the Iron Cavalry do not have the opportunity of seeing Her Majesty in person. After all, the Swarm Propagates endlessly among the stars, and there is always a pressing need for new Knights to rise and promptly take their places upon the battlefield –sometimes even straight from their incubation pods, when critical circumstances call for it. What little contact the Knights have with Her Majesty is through the quiet ideas and impressions that are sent to them, the telepathic directives that Her Majesty guides the Iron Cavalry with.

That, and the dreams.

… But for Personal Escort models, who are specifically designed to protect their Queen, they also receive the honor of being permitted to accompany Her Majesty. To remain in her presence, in a more physical sense of things.

The first time that AR-1368 sees Her Majesty is exactly a week after she steps outside of the dark, sterile incubation chambers.

It’s…

Indescribable, the feeling of wonder and awe that one feels when standing in the presence of the Queen. To gaze upon Her Majesty and know what devotion is. But at the same time, there’s also something that’s… that’s not quite…

…

… AR-1368 doesn’t know how to articulate it, this strange feeling that stirs inside her when she sees Her Majesty still and unmoving, suspended within a glowing blue liquid in the glass chamber. There is some nameless emotion that constricts her throat for a brief moment, but she cannot put a name to it. AR-1364 can’t quite decipher it, either, and he’s the most verbose and expressive unit of their batch.

AR-1368 doesn’t understand.

… But the confusion is swiftly replaced by wonder, and a faint nervousness-excitement when Her Majesty turns her attention to them. She greets them easily, her presence a cold, gentle brush upon their minds. Not intruding, never intruding, but a steady sea of calm, crested with an ever-faint flicker of curiosity.

Hello.

There is a strong juxtaposition between the lovely, melodic voice AR-1368 hears in her mind, and the harsh, robotic voice that echoes out in their surroundings at the same time. One that’s almost a little… jarring.

“Hello to you as well, Titania. As of today, AR-1364, AR-1367, and AR-1368 will be added to your personal retinue,” the Chief Scientist said. “Improvements have been made to the newest iteration of the Type-Vs.”

What of the old guard?

“Unfortunately, they’re a complete loss,” the Chief Scientist responds. “Most were destroyed completely during the evacuation process from the previous facility. The survivors… suffered too much damage. Our scientists tried their best, but it was determined that it would be more efficient to salvage usable remains instead of–”

The lights in the room flicker, suddenly unstable. For a moment, everything is cold.

The Chief Scientist frowns. “Titania?”

… It may be efficient in terms of resources, but experience is more important than raw materials, and far more difficult to replace.

In the surrounding room, the Queen’s voice is cold and robotic. But within her mind, AR-1368 can feel the glacial tone seep through her, the Queen’s cold displeasure chilling to the bone. She is not the only one; beside her, she catches a glimpse of AR-1364 flinching slightly.

It’s good that the Chief Scientist does not catch this break in formation, because AR-1364 would be sent for retraining otherwise. But the hoarfrost cold recedes immediately, and a phantom warmth washes over them, tinged with a faint note of something… apologetic.

Is that… Her Majesty?

“Titania,” the Chief Scientist says, voice infinitely patient in a way that indicates this is a topic that has been discussed multiple times before, “We can always make more of them. Focus on directing the war effort, and we will devote our efforts towards providing you with all the Knights you need in order to carve a future for Glamoth beyond the abhorrent Swarm.”

[mavcancees]

@silverstrying you ask, i reply

- how copyright works in code ( and minecraft ! )

to first determine how copyright works for code, we first have to determine whether the code is either a. a piece of code, or b. language coding

minecraft is written in java. java is a coding language. java, the code that builds the language for it to be usable, is copyrightable. matter of fact, there have been many instances of people appropriating java code and oracle ( the company that maintains java ) taking legal action. java is open source and of free access, which means that if you want to borrow code from the base language ( for example, if you wanted to make your own coding language ), you HAVE to make it also open source and free

minecraft code however, isn't exactly copyrightable, save a very specific exception

when you code to a program, you use pointers to put it simply. in the case of minecraft, what composes the game are called "classes", and if you want to change, say, how much damage a sword makes, you point to the sword class, and change the damage value

that is your code that you wrote. but it's not your code, you're pointing to a class that already exists that was written by someone else. and if someone else wants to change the damage a sword makes, they have to use the same class you did. so, your code is yours, but it's not unique, so it's not copyrightable. that is called "default code"

this applies to every single program and coding language ever ( that have a modifiable code ). you cannot claim for yourself something that anyone else will have to use if they want to do something similar or the same to what you did. such is the law ( the actual international law ! )

the singular only exception to this is the uniqueness clause. if you have written code based on someone else's language and program, that has made SIGNIFICANT changes to the base product, and that has enough self references ( meaning, you have created classes from scratch, and have pointers in your code that point to your own classes ) that someone copying must have taken your code because they couldn't simply figure it out, that is copyrightable as long as you have permission from the original program's developer. such is the case for big content mc mods ! if someone steals their code they are allowed to report it

it is worth noting that copyright in code is a big no no in the community. people like sharing and borrowing code because it makes for better more efficient code. people hate idea theft and code rippers, because it's disingenuous and 99% of the time done for profit. people hate lawsuits, they think they are corny. copyright is more of a social agreement thing, something cultural that everyone respects, and the actual legal instances are few and far between

so yes. code is free to use when it says free to use. minecraft is open source and regularly provides code efficiency updates for developers. and microsoft HATES people make legal threats about code copyright. minecraft code is free to use always and forever

[four-alligators-in-a-trenchcoat]

Transitioning to a Flip Phone: Beginning

As my semester started winding down, and finals started ranking up I found myself going back to the ever-present though of transitioning to a flip phone. I finally did it! Here is how it is going. I had done tons of research about transitioning to a flip phone months before hand, I didn't have many requirements like needing WhatsApp or any particular apps as I had access to my computer for specific things such as banking and schoolwork. I ended up going with the Sunbeam Bluebird for a couple reasons, despite its price. (also I just wrote it off as a reward for completing my semester lol)

Accessibility: I knew I wanted a T9 flip phone, a QRTY keyboard would have never worked for me at a flip phone size, woe to my fine motor skills. Voice-to-text is an option if you pay for the subscription (I do) and so although I try to exclusively type as a way to get proficient, longer more urgent texts can be sent quickly. Its very accurate as well! Restrictions: No social media! No googling! No videos! Nothing! Its all I have ever wanted from a flip phone, restriction wise. Instagram reels is/was such an addiction for me, and even with time-limits, greyscale, and just un-downloading it, I always came back to scroll. I was debating on whether or not I wanted a search engine, because although I love to google all the random questions I have, I also will absolutely read on AO3 for as much time as I can possibly allocate to that. Although I am not a huge fan of reading FF on the laptop, its a small workaround for the benefits im seeing. On the case of music: Spotify, I REALLY wanted to keep this as an app, but knew that with what I was looking for I would need to take that loss. I can download music onto the phone through an SD card, and it still has bluetooth which means I am still able to use my noise-cancelling headphones. Additionally, I mainly listen to music while im studying, which means I can just listen through my laptop; and I dont mind driving in silence. Basic Qualifications: Number one, navigation, Im in an area where the construction is crazy and I cant always rely on road signs. I live out in the country, so I havent needed or had the chance to memorize anything other than my usual routes and highways. Luckily, the Bluebird has Waze (which I had never used before) but it works really well! I will need to find a way to attach it to my dash so I'm not looking down at my lap though... I mentioned bluetooth in restrictions, but it was important to me that I could connect my QuiteComfort Bose headphones, especially being on a loud college campus and needing some peace and quiet to study properly.

The transitionary phase was incredibly easy, I have an AT&T phone plan and I just switched my SIM card from my iPhone to my Bluebird. Boom. Done. I imported my contacts with a MicroSD card which was equally as efficient. I can still access and use Messages on my MacBook, but they don't sync to my flip phone. All messages go through to the device I last messaged on. I did have to manually set up my voicemail, but that didnt take much effort.

The only difficulties I have had to deal with is that both my job and my school require apps for two-factor authentication. I believe I can work around that for my school, and get authentication codes by text message, but for my work I don't have that option. This is a big reason why I am considering keeping my iPhone useable, just without a SIM.

On the note of what I am going to do with my iPhone, for right now it is being kept charged and usable, because I'm still transitioning some of the information (like menstrual trackers) and the mentioned need for TFA. Another PRO about the Bluebird is that it does have hotspot capabilities, so Im assuming I would be able to connect my iPhone if I was ever out in the wild and needed to use it, assuming of course that I had taken my iPhone with me.

Day 3 Final Overview:

I have gotten quicker at typing on the T9 predictive keyboard and feel confident responding to messages without using text-to-speech. I also figured out how to attach media to my messages, which means everybody is receiving grainy low-quality pictures of my cats. Im finding that I have so much extra time to do things during the day. Where keeping up with household chores sometimes gets overwhelming by becoming a huge task to schedule into my day, I can do smaller things during downtime. Reheating some food for lunch? Five minuets in the toaster? Boom, I can clean off the counters, sweep the floor, and pick up a little as I wait. That makes such a huge impact on my day-to-day especially compared to the 40 reels I could have seen and than totally forgotten. I learned how to change the ring-tones for my contacts and notifications. There is a 'wolf howling' option that has been dedicated to my friends, of course. The little jingle of my phone can only mean that someone has texted me, so I'm less paranoid about notifications and the urge to pick up my phone whenever I see the screen light up. That was such a huge distraction in my day, picking up my iPhone to check my notifications quickly turned into a 'quick scroll' through Pinterest (my beloved) or Instagram, which was constantly detrimental to my studies. In overview, I'm having a good time and I'm excited to stick with it, especially as winter break approaches (TWO MORE FINALS LEFT LETS GO) and I have a ton of free time I would have spent on my phone. I'm excited to start reading more!

[sumahless]

Some Tips for new DBH modders

This will have 2 sections :

1 . QUANTIC dream textures - getting them stable throughout the game

2. Handy tool I found for normal maps.

QD TEXTURES - MY TOOL KEEPS BREAKING?

this is for the 2 ppl that actually mod Detroit and want to make their mods public and usable the entire game. and don't know abt this.

As you probably know, models ( containers ) share textures. So when you update a quantic dream texture for 1 model you need to update every single container/model that shares that texture or else it'll look black and crash your game. Why? because your game is expecting the file in qd format for that container when it's a dds file now.

But I'm sure youve noticed after the 3rd or so containers texture being 'refreshed' ( inserting the texture for each use of it in the tool) it just breaks. The only way around this is to tell the game it should expect a dds format manually.

Ok enough yapping. Here’s the tutorial :

Add your texture like you normally would in the editor. Do this for only one model, u can do it for more just before it crashes if u want too it shouldn’t affect it, I haven’t tested it tho.

Enable editing for all the containers/models that use that texture. So it clones it.

Now,, Repeat these steps for every texture that needs to be made into dds format other than the ones you changed in the editor:

1.Using Rk900 (INTO_3) as an example, I swapped the connor into_2 model face texture so now we need to tell the game to expect a dds for nines face. Get the offset of nines’ face  texture. It’s SUPER important that the INTO_3 container is cloned as the offset will be different.

2.go to ( ctrl + g ) to the offset in d26 file. (so 80F5B90F)

3.change the following : we start at ‘0E’ for this example.

Change the 14th and 19th bytes (02) to 01 . it should look like this now

The hex code will change for each texture, but it will always be the 14th and 19th bytes.

4.Repeat for all textures and models that use them :)

Your tool will now load the containers correctly ( they will appear black still, but it will work ingame.)

USEFUL TOOL FOR CREATING NORMAL MAPS:

Normal maps are what gives flat surfaces fake 3d-ness without actually being there ! An example of this is the pores of dbh characters. Normal maps basically allow us to use less polygons which is good for efficiency:))

How do normal maps work ? Well all digital images contain 3 color channels : Red, Green and Blue (RGB) , what normal maps do is assign x,y,z values to these channels. So red would be the x value, green is the y value , blue is the z value . These give us the fake 3d values for each pixel that alter how our game calculates the light ( surface normals ) .

I use this website to generate my normal maps from height maps :

Height maps are black and white images that tell us the height (z value) of each pixel, typically white is high,black is low. Here is an example of the sylus mask I made :

IMPORTANT!! 99% of dbh’s normal maps DONT have a blue channel ( z value) so you HAVE to remove the blue channel completely after generating it from here.

This was how my modified face texture looked like after nuking the blue channel ( in gimp you have to go to colors -> Components -> decompose and delete the blue channel then recompose it )

^^ basically i overlayed the new normal map over connors original one.

Ok thats it. idk if this helps anyone but here u go :P

Pls correct me if I’m wrong abt anything, I’m small brain tbh

[carionto]

Humans and Boredom II

The planet cracker.

A devilish name that somehow still does not do this type of Human ship justice. Arrays of massive gravity hooks capable of tearing out kilometers wide and deep chunks of mass from any celestial object one of them decides to settle in orbit of.

The process is slow and tedious and, luckily, unsuitable for any practical military application, but unimaginably rewarding nonetheless. Once a chunk has been lifted, a fleet of harvester drones meticulously tears it further apart and separates into individual minerals and any other categorizable substances. From there the internal refineries of the planet cracker process them further into more usable metals, alloys, resins, and countless other resources. Finally, another fleet of transport ships ferry those back to where they are needed.

The land based production capacity of an entire (small) planet, with a single (albeit metropolis sized) ship, crewed by no more than a hundred Humans and thousands of drones.

One of these immense beasts - The Hardy Gal - was stationed around one of Saturn's moons - Epimetheus - that was recently voted out of the global popularity contest "Who's Even Heard of This One?" and thus sentenced to become part of the Dyson Ring.

The drone fleet that was supposed to be tearing up the unfortunate little moon, however, was recently recalled for refitting after a report showed a key part was manufactured using an outdated guideline by a suspiciously licensed corporation, that was also caught up in an unrelated embezzlement scandal.

Suffice to say that chief Gravity Master Boris Fruischtyen didn't have much to do. Laws and regulations do not permit any unsupervised extraction results to just be left in orbit. Oh no, can't preemptively arrange chunks for processing later, nope, "efficiency? what's that?". *sigh* Lift, hold, harvest, repeat.

Boris would have nothing to do, except the gravity hook arrays were a set of fifty per array, and The Hardy Gal had eight arrays. Four hundred individually aim-able and moveable chunks of matter.

While his day job was not very productive for now, his social media activity shot through the roof. There's a lot you can draw with four hundred "pixels" and the literal cosmos as your canvas and backdrop.

His personal favorites were water features and creatures set against the blue of Saturn, and he arranged quite a few of the extinct whales and penguins too. Additionally, every day he would fulfill one of the audiences top ranking requests.

Through these he discovered he has a fascinatingly good sense for flower compositions, especially from unusual angles. It's odd. He's only ever seen flowers in images and videos, perhaps lacking actual real life flowers to compare to allows his imagination to fill in the gaps in a way referencing factual knowledge would limit him. Who knows.

Despite having access to a three dimensional canvas, he preferred to keep things flat.

"What can I say, 2D is better. *chuckle*"

However, that doesn't mean he keeps things simple. The gravity hooks are quite good at selective manipulation, they have to be to target certain spots beneath a whole lot of other matter (which is then raised alongside the "elevator" matter). He demonstrated how the same image can look wildly different if you just change the "pixels" from squares to spheres, or how certain material compositions change color when squeezed more densely.

His personal favorite part is the finishing touch. After he's had a drone go out and stream his latest piece from plenty of angles for the viewers, he gives the whole image a simultaneous and gentle push back towards the moon. After a few touching hours of people in chat saying farewell, sharing personal stories and just asking questions Boris is always happy to answer, the image impacts the surface where the majority of parts were extracted from in a spectacular show of minor impacts and a shower of debris. Too bad it doesn't have an atmosphere, just imagine how cool it'd look burning up on reentry.

[emblemxeno]

What do you think of armored units?

If I can share my experience, personally after falling into the hype about Engage's armored units, only to find out not only are they worse than FE12 armors, but that Engage somehow invented new problems for the class, I've given up on hope on IS ever being smart enough to make Armored classes work.

At this point, I think they just should ditch reclassing.

I've always loved armored units, but IMO they always struggle because they don't have things to do.

Rout, kill, boss and siege maps are done quicker by the mounted units, while infantry are good at getting early experience from positioning and picking off stragglers.

Armors having the worst Mov of all classes and not being as efficient when they do finally get to fight, screws them majorly.

The armors who tend to avoid this, are ones who exist in instances where game design is more competent like Effie and Benny in Conquest, or because they shine in particular points in the game, like Oswin in early game HHM.

Louis is good starting off in Engage because the game was intentionally designed to accomodate him being in your army during certain points, he has strong base stats, and Emblem rings are such flexible tools to patch up weak spots (hence why giving him the Sigurd ring was so popular). He falls off for the same reasons that Vander starts to fall off. Other units as they grow start to be competent in his job, and his flaws of no speed and low Movement start catching up to him. It's why Jade is comparatively worse, because she joins at a very unfortunate point in the game, right before your rings get taken and in a class that's starting to lose its steam do to more complex objectives. Again, that's what Emblem rings and reclassing are there for, so neither are unviable, but like you imply, you shouldn't have to change a unit's entire class for them to be usable.

Making them immune to Break was a good start, but that only means always using magic a tile away. A fair design decision, since that's always been what's promoted for the player to do since FE started, but other classes tend to have an 'Out' of sorts when it comes to their weakness. Flyers can move quickly away from bows, swordmasters and thieves are high evasion to circumvent damage, mages have the advantage of always having a 1-2 option so they don't have to engage, etc. The only other class that has a similar issue at its core is archers, but even then, they have a niche that no other class does, but armors don't.

If a game had more defense and survive maps, and had armor specific skills like assault troop and wary fighter more often (and can't be used in non armor classes), they'd be more of an actual viable class.

[screenmobile]

Can You Put a Patio Enclosure on a Deck?

Absolutely! A patio enclosure on a deck isn’t just possible—it’s a fantastic way to expand your living space while protecting yourself from the elements. Whether you want a cozy sunroom, a screened-in retreat, or a fully insulated space, enclosing your deck can turn an underused outdoor area into a year-round haven. But before you start dreaming about sipping coffee in your new bug-free oasis, there are a few things to consider.

Why Would You Enclose Your Deck?

A deck enclosure isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about functionality. Here’s why homeowners in South Bend (and beyond) are choosing to enclose their decks:

More Living Space – Need an extra room for reading, working, or entertaining? Enclosing a deck can add functional square footage without the cost of a full home addition.

Weather Protection – South Bend’s seasons can be unpredictable. Enclosures shield you from rain, snow, wind, and the summer sun.

Pest-Free Enjoyment – No more battling mosquitoes or wasps while trying to enjoy a meal outdoors.

Increased Home Value – A well-designed patio enclosure can make your home more attractive to future buyers.

Energy Efficiency – If you add windows or insulation, an enclosed deck can help regulate indoor temperatures, reducing heating and cooling costs.

Now that we know the "why," let's get into the "how."

What Types of Patio Enclosures Can You Put on a Deck?

Not all enclosures are created equal. The best option for you depends on your budget, how you want to use the space, and how much protection you need from South Bend’s seasonal changes.

Screened-In Decks – Keep the Bugs Out

A screened-in enclosure is one of the most affordable ways to enclose a deck. It keeps insects at bay while letting in fresh air. This is perfect if you love the outdoors but could do without the swarms of mosquitoes that show up in summer.

Best for: Homeowners who want an open-air feel without the pests.

Three-Season Rooms – A Bit More Protection

A three-season room takes things a step further by adding glass or vinyl windows instead of just screens. This allows you to use the space during spring, summer, and fall. But, because they’re not fully insulated, these rooms may get too chilly in winter.

Best for: Families who want a functional, enclosed space without major construction.

Four-Season Sunrooms – Year-Round Comfort

A four-season room is fully insulated, with heating and cooling options, making it usable even in South Bend’s coldest months. It’s essentially a home extension, perfect for entertaining or even as a bright home office.

Best for: Homeowners wanting a permanent indoor-outdoor space that can be used all year.

Enclosed Greenhouses – A Plant Lover’s Dream

Love gardening? Enclosing your deck with glass and turning it into a greenhouse-style sunroom lets you grow plants year-round while enjoying natural sunlight.

Best for: Gardening enthusiasts and homeowners who want a bright, airy space.

What to Consider Before Enclosing Your Deck

Before you start picking out furniture for your new enclosed space, there are a few key factors to think about.

Structural Integrity – Can Your Deck Handle It?

Not all decks are built to support an enclosure. A simple wooden deck may need reinforcements before adding walls, windows, or a roof. It’s always a good idea to have a professional check whether your deck can handle the extra weight.

Local Building Codes and Permits

Every city has rules about home modifications. In South Bend, you may need a permit to enclose a deck—especially if you’re making it a permanent structure. Skipping this step could lead to fines or trouble selling your home later.

Roof or No Roof?

If your deck is already covered, enclosing it is much easier. If not, you’ll need to factor in the cost of adding a roof. A solid roof provides better weather protection, but a glass or polycarbonate one can let in more natural light.

Windows, Screens, or Both?

Deciding between full glass windows, retractable screens, or a mix of both will affect how versatile your enclosure is. Screens are great for summer, but glass keeps out wind and rain.

Heating and Cooling

If you’re planning a four-season room, consider how you’ll keep it comfortable year-round. Options include baseboard heaters, mini-split AC units, or even connecting it to your home’s HVAC system.

How Much Does It Cost to Enclose a Deck?

The price varies depending on the materials, size, and whether you DIY or hire a contractor. Here’s a rough breakdown:

Screened-In Deck: $5,000 - $15,000

Three-Season Room: $10,000 - $30,000

Four-Season Sunroom: $20,000 - $50,000+

If you’re handy, a screened-in deck could be a DIY project, but sunrooms usually require professional installation.

Can You Enclose a Deck Yourself?

Yes, but it depends on the complexity of the project. If you’re just adding screens, it’s a manageable DIY job. However, for a three-season or four-season room, electrical work, insulation, and structural reinforcements are best left to professionals.

DIY-Friendly Enclosure Ideas:

Install removable screens for a temporary bug-free space

Add vinyl curtains for a budget-friendly way to block wind and rain

Build a simple wooden frame and attach mosquito netting for summer use

For anything more permanent, a contractor can ensure the job is done safely and up to code.

Is an Enclosed Deck Worth It?

If you’re on the fence about whether enclosing your deck is the right move, here’s the bottom line:

If you love spending time outdoors but hate bugs, rain, or extreme temperatures, an enclosure is a game-changer.

If you plan to stay in your home long-term, it’s a worthwhile investment that adds comfort and functionality.

If you’re thinking about resale value, a sunroom or screened-in porch can boost curb appeal and attract buyers.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat, an entertainment space, or a spot for plants to thrive, enclosing your deck can make it more enjoyable year-round.

Ready to Enclose Your Deck? Let Screenmobile South Bend Help!

Want to turn your deck into a cozy, enclosed space? Screenmobile South Bend specializes in custom patio enclosures, helping homeowners create beautiful, functional spaces tailored to their needs. Whether you’re looking for a screened-in porch, sunroom, or something in between, our team is here to help.

Don’t wait to make the most of your outdoor space. Contact Screenmobile South Bend today!

[droewyn]

RedSpidey plot bunny, free to a good home

Because I'm not confident enough in my BatFam to write them, but this lives in my head rent-free, and I'd love to read it.

Peter Parker / Tim Drake crossover by way of the multiverse.

"Lost objects" soulmate AU. In this AU, anything that you lose winds up in the possession of your soulmate. You can't game the system by throwing things away on purpose; it has to actually be lost.

Six months after the events of No Way Home, Peter Parker is going through the motions. "Peter Parker" himself barely exists anymore; he's faked his own credentials -- not particularly difficult after the Blip -- but those carefully forged ID papers are really all that's left of him. Peter Parker is the nonentity who delivers photos to Jameson. He's the bane of his landlord's existence. The rest of the time, he's Spider-Man.

Peter Three said that he'd eventually stopped pulling his punches. Peter One has stopped ducking them. Oh, he dodges the flung busses, the vaporizing energy rays, and the mutagen grenades. He's not suicidal. Not... not really. He takes the big threats seriously; the city can't afford for him not to. But the street-level thugs and muggers really can't do too much to hurt him, even if they're armed. He'll heal. He always heals. And while they last, those cuts and bruises (and occasional gunshot wounds) remind him that he's real, that he's not just a ghost, haunting New York, possessing his own superhero identity. The pain is a reminder that he's not dead. Which is important. Probably.

He's long since stopped wondering about his soulmate. He still keeps the random objects that he finds, storing them safely in a shoebox under his bed, but it's mostly out of habit. Whoever keeps misplacing the coffeeshop punch-cards, the occasional roll of film, the weird-looking charging cables and bits of disassembled tech, and that one really tacky, bat-shaped throwing star that probably came from the same mall kiosk that sold knockoff Lord of the Rings swords... whoever that person is, they are better off far, far away from Peter. From Spider-Man.

It's been a particularly bad night. He's bruised. He's bloody. He hasn't bothered to look at the camera's memory yet, but he's pretty sure that there won't be anything usable on it. His third eviction notice has been taped to his door, and the contents of his refrigerator should be classified as a bioweapon. He's just. So tired. He barely manages to peel the mask off before flopping into bed, the fabric still clutched between his fingers.

And when he wakes up again, he's in a bedroom larger than his entire apartment, in a bed softer than a cloud (and quite possibly also larger than his entire apartment), and the only thing more astonishing than the thread count of the sheets he's tangled in is the sleeping face of the pretty, black-haired boy roughly his own age, whose nose is eight inches from his own.

Blue eyes blink open, going from sleepy to alert in an instant. The boy's feet kick out, and ow, did they have to connect with the kidney that was still recovering from the stab wound? He finds himself literally booted out of bed, blinking dazedly at a ceiling that doesn't have any water damage at all, and it's only his Peter T... spider sense that gets him to move in time to avoid the staff that slams into the carpet where his head had just been.

Who the hell sleeps with a weapon within reach? A quick thwip, and a practiced jerk of his wrist, and the staff sticks harmlessly to the wall. (It's not a double-standard, okay? Just because he's been sleeping in his costume more often than not lately doesn't make it intentional, just... efficient.)

The black-haired boy also enjoys efficiency. He's firing question after question at Peter, even as he chases him around the room. Who is he working for? What does he want? How did he get inside the bedroom? Something about the main character of Persona 5? Peter's not sure about that one. They're all excellent questions, and ones he'd also like to know the answers to. But he can hear other heartbeats nearby, other voices, running footsteps. He's about to be outnumbered. He also just woke up, hasn't had a chance to pee yet, and his mouth tastes disgusting.

He goes out the window and keeps going, until he gets to a city that definitely isn't New York, and he's managed to lose all of the weirdly competent rich people.

It doesn't take him long to realize that he's in another universe. He's also pretty sure this one isn't his fault; he's stayed as far away from Dr. Strange as he has everyone else from his former life, and he hasn't had any big villains in a while. Not that it really matters; he's back to square one again, only this time, all he has is the suit on his back, a phone that won't connect to anything, and a handful of spare web fluid cartridges tucked into his pocket.

He needs to find a way home. He needs to figure out what happened, and how and why, and fix it. Doesn't he? He doesn't exist here, and okay, he barely existed back home, but that's where he's meant to be. Isn't it? Where every familiar landmark is a bad memory, and "I Believe Mysterio" shirts are commonplace. Where he's just as likely to be cursed at as thanked, and no matter what he does, nothing ever seems to get any better. Not for him, or for anyone else.

He's hungry. He's more alone than he's ever been in his life. He finds a place to squat for the night, and falls into an uneasy sleep.

He wakes up in the black-haired boy's bed again.

[l1brarian1999]

how do i build lavos prime

Start with Health and Armour to stay alive. His 1 is a nice in built healing means.

Pretty much all stats are useful on Lavos, there's not really a clear dump stat so but Range and Duration are your highest priorities. Arguably, you can drop a little strength or efficiency but you couldn't really drop both cause Blind Rage.

Bring the Cedo (Prime if you have it), and a melee weapon with Condition Overload, and you've got the basics.

More detailed thoughts under the cut.

Survival Stats

Lavos Prime's a really good contender for the Umbral Mods, and thankfully we're getting an Umbral Forma on in a few weeks from Nightwave, and there'll be another one in the first week of April.

Until then, I think Archon Vitality and Steel Fiber should do the trick, maybe add Arcane Grace or a Blue-Regen Archon Shard for a little more toughness in Steel Path.

Ability Stats

Like I said before, Lavos doesn't have any especially 'obvious' Dump Stats since all of his stats have some use. To the extent that I would say which stat you use as a 'dump' differs depending on the game mode; For example, Steel Path Survival, sure, dump Efficiency because there will be way more enemies and you'll need the extra 'oomph' However, sub level 50~ish enemies? Dump strength, invest more in your Efficiency and Range since you'll not have that many enemies even alive long enough to bring down your cooldowns. Anything inbetween 50 and 100+? Try a liiiiittle bit of Efficiency.

I'd always have at least Archon Continuity for the Duration and added benefit to any Toxin Procs.

Augments?

Valence Formation is a really solid Augment, offering an unmoddable (meaning even with negative strength, you'll always get the same amount) 200% bonus weapon elemental damage, with guranteed procs. (The duration is moddable). Excellent with Corrosive for Armour Stripping, excellent for Profit Taker, and a nice damage boost all around.

Swift Bite is... Nice but I can't say I would dedicate a mod slot to it as I find I don't use Ophidian Bite as often. Maybe if I dropped armour so I was taking more damage? Maybe for like a specific build if you wanted to play around with this specifically. (If you figure out some crazy combo with this, do let me know)

Archon Shards?

I've gone with two Greens for extra Corrosive Stacks, a Purple for Ability damage on Electric Procs (but another Green for damage on Corrosive stacks, or an Orange on Radiation would also work just fine), a Red for more Duration, and a Blue for Health Regen.

You'd probably be better off with more Duration / Strength / Ability Damage shards, but I like to be "Dummy Tanky".

Helminth?

Helminth'ing Lavos is a risky business since any ability you overwrite won't be usable for elemental mixing anymore. For example, getting rid of Ophidian Bite means you lose Toxin, which also means you lose Viral, Corrosive, and Gas.

I think I'd probably go with either Catalyze or Vial Rush, if I was Helminth'ing. Catalyze could go for Roar if I'm doing a pure weapons build, for Profit Taker or something? I'd lose Heat which means no Gas, Radiation, or Blast which isn't too bad I guess. For Vial Rush, I'd probably change it out for something like Sickening Pulse to help stack up Corrosive quicker. But now, I don't think I'd Helminth Lavos at all, I like the elemental mixing aspect of his abilities.

Weapons?

Well, the Cedo (Prime or otherwise) for starters. In addition to being his signature, its also really quite good. For a secondary, maybe something like the Lex Prime with Secondary Fortifier. I'd take a Melee Influence melee weapon, naturally.

Companions?

The Parvos Hounds are quite good, and you can use Manifold Bond and Repo Audit to spread a huge amount of Status Effects in 30m so that's a strong pick, but the Nautilus also works quite well.

Heavy Weapon?

Pick whichever you fancy, but I like the Larkspur Prime.

[rattlyglitch1]

 Something New and Worse

(Chapter 2 of A Painful Apology)

Sebek had noticed a change in Silver. He wasn't sure if Malleus had but knew there was something different. After everything that had happened with Malleus no one could remember what had happened. Idia even seemed to be unable to remember and Ortho said his memory banks of what had happened must have been wiped somehow the day after. The most reasonable answer was that Malleus' magic had done something to the students.

They still felt like something had happened and were left distraught and upset about dreams they couldn't remember. Sebek felt like whatever he had dreamed had been especially disturbing. He could almost barely remember who was in his dream but knew that one of those people was Silver. He had hoped whatever the dream may have been would have a good dream but he knew that wasn't true.

If he ever tried to remember it, Sebek felt full of dread and wanted nothing more than to be hugged like a scared child during a storm. He had been worried about Silver after everything that had happened but though Silver seemed a bit drawn back and clingy at the same time Sebek wasn't sure how to take an approach to Silver. That's why he was so grateful that Malleus had noticed the change and talked with Silver wondering why he was acting differently.

Silver said nothing was wrong and the next day it was almost like him acting odd had never happened and Silver seemed to be back to his happy and normal self. The only difference was that there was a small purple bird that seemed to follow Silver almost everywhere. The only times the bird was separated from Silver was when he went inside buildings. At the moment though Sebek was glaring the bird down as it was settling in Silver's hair carefully preening it.

Silver had begged Seek to let his sword train with him and Sebek had agreed. 'Where are we going to find a sword for you to train with?" Sebek asked. Silver quickly and efficiently lead him to two perfectly usable wooden practice swords. Sebek wasn't exactly sure how he could have possibly know the swords were there but accepted defeat.v

"Let us begin then human. First we will work on your posture and stance when holding a sword." Silver did seem a tad disappointed but agreed. "Now show me how you believe a sword would be held." Silver moved quickly to show Sebek and he was almost spot on. Sebek straightened Silver a bit. "Now go back to standing as you were before returning to the stance." It took a few minutes but Silver got it down quickly and exactly as Sebek had instructed him.

"Has Master Lilia taught you at all?" Silver nodded, smiling widely at Sebek. "Yeah, Papa has. I've even sword fought with him before and was able to get past those defenses." Sebek could sense the pride in Silver and understood why he had wanted to actually train with him. "If you would like I wouldn't be opposed to training how you wished to earlier." Silver smiled and waited for Sebek to take the other wooden sword. As soon as Sebek had grabbed it he saw Silver sway and walked by his side and simply waited.

It wasn't long till Silver slumped against Sebek's side which led to where they were under a tree that shaded them from the sun and the obnoxious bird moving Silver's hair every which way. Sebek refused to say he was jealous of a bird but he hated how Silver had taken to it so easily. Even Lucius hated the bird and tried to actively catch it multiple times. Sebek decided to at least try to study and ignore the annoyance of a bird.

Potionology was the best to read up on since it had been kicking at Sebek ever since he arrived at Night Raven College. He hated how he barely scraped up passable grades even with the help he had gotten from Malleus. Somehow the amounts of potions ingredients and types never wanted to stick with Sebek well at all. History had been doing far better for Sebek than that class. He guessed that reason was because Lilia seemed to always have history facts to tell when he helped train him.

Sebek tried his best to remain focused on the book at hand but his eyes simply kept wanting to scroll over the information as he seemed to drift off into his own thoughts that wanted to distract him as much as possible. Sebek focused himself again though and began to read, doing his best to ignore every little thought that might enter his mind, pleased when he was finally able to get a gasp on focusing.

It wasn't long after though that he had heard a noise that sounded like a cry. He looked around before looking down at Silver. He was sleeping still but Sebek could see how his eyes were scrunched and he slightly curled in on himself. Sebek moved to stroke Silver's hair, shooing away the annoying bird that had been poking at it. He was confused though when he felt something wet atop Silver's head and moved his hand to look at what it could have possibly been. What he saw though was black and felt like cold ink. It reminded him of the blot that had covered Malleus.

Sebek brushed through Silver's hair again and saw the presence of the ink still that came away with his hand again. That's when Sebek also noticed a black tear that seemed to run across Silver's face leaving a light trail of black in its wake.

Sebek shook Silver a bit fiercely to wake him up. He knew it wasn't quite the best approach but it was an approach nonetheless. Silver woke up quickly and looked at Sebek confused and panicked. "What's wrong Sebek?" Sebek's grip remained on Silver's shoulders as he tried to calm his own self and touched Silver's head. The ink that was on it was still damp but was starting to dry and flake off. "You had something on your head I'm concerned about. We're going to see Malleus. Now."

He knew it wasn't quite the best approach but it was a approach none the less. Silver woke up quickly and looked at Sebek confused and panicked. "What's wrong Sebek?" Sebek's grip remained on Silver's shoulders as he tried to calm his own self and touched Silver's head. The ink that was on it was still damp but was starting to dry and flake off. "You had something on your head I'm concerned about. We're going to see Malleus. Now."

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14

[nuriecreatoraireview]

Nurie Creator Review: The Ultimate Coloring Tool for All Ages

Coloring has always been a beloved pastime, whether for children or adults seeking a creative escape. In the digital age, many innovative tools have emerged to enhance the coloring experience, and Nurie Creator is one of the standout platforms in this space. This review explores its features, usability, benefits, and overall effectiveness in making coloring more engaging and accessible.

What is Nurie Creator?

Nurie Creator is an advanced digital tool that allows users to create custom coloring pages. It is designed for a wide audience, including parents, educators, artists, and even businesses looking for personalized printable content. The platform offers an intuitive interface where users can design, modify, and print unique coloring sheets. Whether you're looking to make educational coloring pages, fun activity sheets, or therapeutic art projects, Nurie Creator provides the flexibility to cater to various needs.

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One of the best aspects of Nurie Creator is its simple and intuitive interface. Even individuals with no prior experience in graphic design can easily navigate through the platform. The drag-and-drop features, customizable templates, and easy editing tools make the process smooth and enjoyable.

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Nurie Creator offers an extensive library of pre-designed templates that cater to different themes and occasions. Whether you need coloring pages for holidays, animals, nature, or educational purposes, there are plenty of options to choose from.

3. Customizable Elements

Users can modify the templates by adding their own elements, such as text, images, and unique patterns. This feature is especially useful for teachers and parents who want to personalize learning materials for children.

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Unlike many free online coloring generators, Nurie Creator ensures high-resolution output. The images are crisp and detailed, making them suitable for professional use as well.

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The platform allows users to save their creations in different formats, including PDF and PNG, making it easy to print or share digitally.

Who Can Benefit from Nurie Creator?

1. Parents & Children

Nurie Creator is an excellent tool for parents who want to keep their children engaged in creative activities. Custom coloring pages help improve fine motor skills, creativity, and focus in young learners.

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Educators can design custom worksheets and activity sheets for their students. Whether for kindergarten or elementary school, teachers can create fun, educational coloring pages to reinforce lessons.

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Professional artists and designers looking for a quick way to generate outline drawings for coloring books can take advantage of this tool.

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Companies can use Nurie Creator to design branded coloring pages for promotional purposes. Many businesses in the children's products sector use custom coloring sheets to engage their audience.

Pros and Cons of Nurie Creator

Pros:

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Cons:

❌ Some advanced features may require a premium subscription ❌ Book Cover generators require a premium subscription

Final Verdict: Is Nurie Creator Worth It?

Absolutely! Nurie Creator is a fantastic tool for anyone who enjoys or works with coloring pages. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, artist, or business owner, this platform provides a seamless way to create and customize coloring sheets. With its user-friendly design, high-quality output, and diverse features, it stands out as one of the best coloring creation tools available today.

If you’re looking for an easy and efficient way to design coloring pages, Nurie Creator is definitely worth trying!

[p5x-theories]

hey ! sorry if this has been asked before , just generally curious

how do you normally get access to all of these files ? do you yourself somehow rip them from the beta or something or do you obtain them secondhand ?

sorry if this sounds weird , ive never been able to figure out how people rip files n im curious as someone really into programming n such

Haha, I actually learned how to datamine just for getting the files from this game! I was annoyed that it felt like none of the dataminers I was seeing on Twitter were posting as thoroughly as they could be, so I decided to start going through everything myself.

I've posted about my process before, but things changed a little with the open beta, so here's what I currently do. I don't know how universally applicable for other games this is, but it works for this one!

I download the latest version of the mainland China open beta. I could datamine the Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan one instead, since that's the one I actually play, but mainland gets the updates a week sooner, so even though it has more censorship that's the one I always grab files from. If you already have the game, you don't need to download it from the site again, you can just run the game and it'll update upon startup whenever there's an update available.

I close the game once the update's done, and check which files updated (if you're downloading the game for the first time, obviously they'll all be new, otherwise you can check the date the file was modified). There are two places that could be updated: /client/bin, and/or /client/OuterPackage. In the past /bin was for bigger updates (usually story updates) while /OuterPackage was for other updates, but they've been updating /bin more and more lately. /bin is ALL the game files (stored in vfiles), while /OuterPackage is just the latest update stuff (stored in /Bundles bundle files).

a. If I just need the /OuterPackage files, great! That's way easier and faster, both for decrypting and for sorting through, since it's just a small slice of the files (I think Version 2.3.2's OuterPackage bundles were about 6 GB). I use this tool, the original upload for which was deleted so I uploaded it to share, and just put it in the /OuterPackage/Bundles folder, then double click the file to run it. b. If I need the /bin files, ugh. That means wading through all the files in the game- and a longer decryption time. I use this tool for that, and end up with a huge pile of all the stuff in the game to sort through (right now the vfiles are about 41 GB).

Either way, once the files are decrypted, I can open them in AssetStudioMod to view them and export them into a usable format. For the sake of efficiency, rather than going through every single file manually, I have a list of a ton of file name keywords to search to quickly look for anything interesting and new. The files aren't really sorted, so I do still end up having to check all 200 folders (whether from /bin or /OuterPackage/Bundles) each time to find everything, even when I know what I'm looking for.

And now I have the image files, 3D models, and fonts! It's also possible to export other stuff, like rigging and animation, but I haven't figured out how to actually implement those, and it'd probably be more time-consuming than it's worth.

For audio files, it's way easier- I don't even need to decrypt them, I can just use foobar2000 to open them directly from the game files (/client/bin/Media and /client/OuterPackage/Media). They're compressed into groups that foobar2000 can split back into separate audio files, so it does still take a bit of digging to find anything new and interesting, but it's much faster than the bundles.

There's also the Lua files, in /client/OuterPackage/Lua, though I don't actually check them much since it tends to be the less interesting data about how the game works. You can use this tool to decrypt them, though!

The more interesting stuff (like mainline quest text) is hidden in the Config files (for instance, those in /client/OuterPackage/Config), but I don't know how to decrypt those, and the people that do are very protective of it since that's the kind of serious information that the developers would probably tighten security on if they knew people were getting into it at all.

I hope that's the answer you were looking for, heh! Possibly I went a bit more in-depth than you wanted, but oh well. I try to be open about how I do all this, since it was a bit of a pain figuring some of it out on my own for the first time, when I was only seeing others post tidbits of the process at most.