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sheriff-caitlyn · 3 years

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I started this blog in 2014, as the first Caitlyn on tumblr, and obviously I’ve been through a lot of retcons and changes myself, not only adapting to Riot’s own public retcons (from the minor, like her aesthetics, to the major, like the removal of the Institute of War as an integral part of their lore) but also to my own. That’s the thing about playing a character as complex as this, is that you learn more as you go. In your interactions with others and the creation of backstory, history, and other bits of worldbuilding to better understand the world you’re in, a character goes from a handful of images and some in-game voicelines to a fully-fledged person with a complex narrative. Sometimes things change, and that’s fine. But there are some changes which... aren’t.

For all the fingerprints I’ve put on her, she is still not my character. But I care. Sunk-cost fallacy, maybe, but I care about this character I have been involved in and I care about the direction she has been taken. So, without further ado, I’d like to delve into:

The Recent Caitlyn Update In Piltover’s New Context or, We Gotta Fetishise Police Violence, I Mean, Look At Her, She’s So Hot

Back in August 2015, I went, ‘Oh No, they’re going to try to turn Piltover into Gotham City, aren’t they?’, and lo and behold, suddenly we have Poison Ivy now. But I will get back to that, later. In this particular thread, I noted that many of the characters in Piltover seemed destined for a revamp that would rob them of what originally drew us to them in the first place, and that Piltover seemed destined for a rework that would wash out much of their character. Piltover and Zaun were always meant to be polar opposites, but suddenly we were seeing glimpses of Piltover being ‘not as good as everyone thinks’, which hinted that Piltover and Zaun were destined not to be polar opposites in the future, but indistinguishable from each other. It worried me that the only thing telling these two fascinating cities apart would be the sunlight.

So, when we have so much potential for a clash between Zaun and Piltover, between ‘Science No Matter The Cost’ and ‘We Must Advance The World With Care’, why change Piltover to some murky middleground, turning peace and security into wartime capitalism? A world where the people are shitty, where weapons and profit come first, and the only ones making a stand are the ones who are so embittered they have nothing better to do?

Because it has to be ‘interesting’. We’re going to lose bits that we like, that we’re familiar with. And that’s why I’m concerned.

This was before Piltover and Zaun were squished together in an ugly - and utterly ham-fisted - method of showing How Complex The Future Is. There’s layers, guys! Literal layers to this one single city! That means it’s deep! But when I say ‘bits that we like, that we’re familiar with’, I’m not clinging to a fanon interpretation. I’m saying the things that drew us to the world and to the characters to begin with. I could adapt from Caitlyn turning from brown-haired and brown-eyed to black-haired and blue-eyed, because even through I had been doing art, at that point, the change gave me an opportunity to express and discover more about her character (her eye colour being influenced by her mother’s magic, for one). But some of the more stark changes - to family, to job, to personality, to the city of Piltover itself - these result in a character changing completely. I was worried that the cool detective who literally made the world a better place would be chopped and changed into something unrecognisable. I even expounded on my concerns in November 2016, where I could see some of the ways the writers at Rito might make adjustments in the direction of their lore updates.

All this to say, I’ve been working on her for a while, and I was bracing for some bad news. This? This is kind of the worst.

Caitlyn has always been the Sheriff of Piltover, an authority figure, a representative of the law and order that Piltover is famous for. Piltover’s peace and financial prosperity has been directly linked to Caitlyn’s concerted effort to eradicate crime (not criminals, crime! Which, as I have mentioned particularly in this post from 2014, means she upended and reformed the justice system, from the legal process to the prisons to how people are treated as citizens). The city is safe, people have greater access to personal wealth and development, classism is erased, society is flourishing. Zaun, as Piltover’s polar opposite, is a corporate nightmare, with ‘do as thou wilt’, private bodyguards for the rich and powerful while the poor scramble to survive in a system that barely treats them as human. Vi, as a Zaunite, brings a lot of her ‘violence as a problem-solver’ methodology to Piltover’s law-enforcement, though she seems to have no intention of returning to Zaun and seems to have bonded with Caitlyn (‘teamwork!’) to Get Shit Done. And, apparently, there is still shit that needs to be done, though nowhere near as much as there had been in the Bad Old Days.

Vi was, at the time, the awkward-grit-teeth-grin-ha-ha-um-yeah representation of police violence. ‘Resist arrest’, she cries gleefully, as she beats people and breaks down buildings, and we are supposed to go ‘ha, isn’t that funny’ with varying degrees of sincerity. Of course Piltover is going to have problems: anywhere that has wealth and stability is going to be targeted by the envious and the needy. Peace needs to be protected. The problem lies in how that protection is enacted.

So now we have the recent Legends of Runeterra update to Caitlyn, an update which looked at the context of Piltover needing protection, as well as the modern context of Riot’s California location in the Years of Our Lord 2020-2021, and then decided ‘you know what we need? Police violence, everyone loves police violence’.

MAN I thought the stripper-cop skins were bad but here we go!

Her Yordle Snap-Traps (which I envisioned as from the Yordle Military, rather than a racially-profiling weapon as, y’know, they work on human-and-larger-sized people as well) have now been replaced by electroshock grenades, the intent gone from incapacitation and observation to outright paralysis and destruction. Her net-short is now apparently electro-conductive (admittedly, I have had one (1) single RP where that happened, but it came at both a cost to Caitlyn and to her weapon’s efficiency as a result, a last-resort against a dangerous opponent). Caitlyn’s cards in LoR take her from being a detective coordinating ideas and people and putting together a case to a SWAT team leader. This might be the biggest problem in working for a non-combat-oriented character in a MOBA, or in any fighting game: the game needs to find rationalisations for all of their characters being there, being combatants, being able to kill (even if, as Riot says, the lore is separate from the game). We have monsters and soldiers and ancient powers who of course they know how to spill blood and relish in doing so. But pacifists, like Karma or Bard? Explorers like Ezreal? And a sheriff, a peacekeeper, a law-keeper, someone mindful of responsibility and the importance of saving every life possible, like Caitlyn? They’re stripped of that depth and complexity in-game, but there was always the lore that backed them up. But they’ve done away with that completely. Caitlyn was never special operations. She was never military. But now she is, because she had to be changed to fit better into a fighting game. They had to make her violent, and as a result, they have undermined not only everything about the character that made her interesting to begin with - turning her now into a representative of police brutality, but with long hair, pouty lips, and a thigh gap - but they’re also re-writing the context of Piltover. It was bad enough to squish Piltover and Zaun together. But now, Caitlyn’s update is proof that Piltover has gone from a steampunk utopia to a violent, oppressive and cynical post-industrial world. The depiction of Caitlyn as a SWAT team leader (complete with special-forces beret, because hat! Caitlyn wears a hat! Nevermind the fact that she’s no longer wearing a distinctive tophat but instead a symbol of extreme state-sponsored force!) shows us that Piltover’s ‘army’ is not designed as a defence against outsiders, but as an offensive force against their own people. Caitlyn is supposed to be the representation of how peace and order is maintained in one of the largest factions in League of Legends, and if her method of maintaining order is straight-up police violence against their own citizens, then it’s not really peace and order. It’s authoritarianism at best, and facism at worst.

Piltover was different from every other nation in Runeterra because it didn’t have a military. It had defenders, and it had a powerful economy, and it had a democratic political system. But the Piltover update retconned Caitlyn’s hard work. The gangs were back - though now they’re big powerful families like Clan Ferros - and Caitlyn has been de-aged so that she’s still new to the force, that she hasn’t even had her chance to change anything. Her importance to Piltover is minimised... and why is Vi even there? (Oh boy I guess you’re going to have to watch Arcane to find out! Coming to a Netflix near you soon!) With a younger Caitlyn in a violent society, she has no choice but to be violent herself... even if that undermines everything previously established about Piltover and about Caitlyn. This update has made Piltover just as ugly and oppressive as Demacia, Noxus, and Zaun. It’s just another army equipped to do violence, but now that violence is turned inwards. This isn’t protection, it’s control. It’s fear. It’s oppression. Caitlyn is no longer a peacekeeper. She’s a monster. Chopped and changed, as I feared, into something completely unrecognisable from how she began in a world that no longer looks like what it had been... or should be.

It’s hard to tell what came first, the change to Piltover or the change to Caitlyn. Either way, the changes are inextricably linked. Caitlyn was integral to Piltover’s modern state, and Piltover is integral to Caitlyn as a character. Her (original) drive was to make the city and all its people better; Piltover was a utopia because of the effort of Caitlyn, and of people like her, people who wanted a better world. This new iteration of Piltover - full of fear and violence and hypocricy, layered over Zaun in such a way that makes ham-fisted commentary about the wealth/class divide - undermines the value of the individual. It removes agency. It removes hope, which had been integral to Piltover. Piltover is no longer the CIty of Progress... it’s the City of ‘you better be rich and pretty if you want to progress’. And Caitlyn is no longer a force for good or a representative of responsibility, because those things don’t exist in Piltover anymore. Legends of Runeterra has turned Caitlyn into a bitch, someone to hate. She has a marked lack of respect for people, as demonstrated in her new character traits of ‘casually-racist’ (her lines to Veigar), ‘condescending’ (her lines to Viktor), with some added pride in her violence (’here’s my calling card *shoots gun*’ and ‘I aim to win and my aim is excellent’). She is a representative of her city, and she is a terrible person now. Piltover is terrible. Piltover is ugly.

But Caitlyn avoids that last part. And she’ll get away with it, because she’s a hot twenty-something.

In 2015, I drew Caitlyn-as-Swain, as an AU for what might have been. The overwhelming response at the time was ‘aaa she’s so hot I’d follow that leader of Noxus’, prompting a good friend Swain RPer to comment that Swain - who was, at the time, the withered man in green and gold who needed a cane - was just as smart as Caitlyn if not more so, a proven capable leader, but when it comes down to it, sex-appeal will always trump characterisation and storytelling, and that’s disheartening for someone who puts so much work into stories, to context, to something deeper than ‘Just another MOBA’. And here I am, in 2021, looking at how Caitlyn has been stripped of her fascinating and complex characterisation while maintaining her long legs, long hair, and corsetted figure. Now, I do appreciate the fact they’ve given her a better costume than miniskirt and boobtube. She deserves so much better. I even commissioned back in 2015 for a Better Look for Caitlyn; Tom aka FaerieFountain went on to make her new look canon. But she’s supposed to be a detective. She’s supposed to be careful and methodical and mindful of her status and power. Instead, she’s been made gleefully violent, leaving a lot of depth behind in order to become just Hot Cop With Gun. (As an aside, was anyone else uncomfortable with Caitlyn’s high-school skin? Especially when the writer actually tweeted ‘step on me’? Hello? Ma’am? That is a high school student, that is a CHILD you are talking about? But Caitlyn is hot so it’s fine! Sexualise a child! it’s fine, she’s hot, it’s fine!) Almost everyone who has contacted me about Caitlyn’s LoR cards has been excited to see her. Good! She’s a great character! Or, she was. But the enthusiasm about her is tied to how she’s so violent, how she uses her power to abuse those who don’t conform. But she looks great, smoking hot, you know? And when she’s smoking hot, her dangerous and abusive behaviour and attitude are completely excused. An update to a character needs to take into account characterisation as well as the visuals. Her update, sadly, has focused on the all-too-prevalent problem of the viciousness of state-sponsored violence, rather than the complexity of detective work, of puzzle solving and intellectualism, but because she looks hot and speaks in that British accent, no-one’s going to care. Hot ladies can get away with so much, because legs and pouty lips, but I guess she’s also a cop or whatever.

And, as a momentary aside, why is an eco-terrorist suddenly Caitlyn’s longtime foe? It makes zero sense for Piltover and for Caitlyn that someone who plant-based powers is her biggest rival and the city’s biggest threat. Zero sense, until you take into account that Piltover has been stripped of its character and made into something more aligned with modern authoritarianism than the hopeful vibes of steampunk. Environmentalism? Not on my watch! Deploy the police (the good guys!) to silence the protesters (who are obviously the bad guys becase they’re protesting)! Because Piltover and Zaun are one city now, and therefore indistinguishable, we have a fucking Poison Ivy character causing enough trouble in Piltover to warrant entire fucking SWAT teams opening fire within the city limits and around peoples’ homes! Not Zaun, which is the environmental nightmare, but Piltover! With its fresh air and open skies! Yes, that’s a great place for an eco-terrorist to blame and/or try to fix! The whole thing is honestly so backwards! Like they’ve decided to make a cool character in the form of Corina and just shove her into the story, rather than finding a place in the narrative that suits her. The idea that Corina is C makes no sense. Caitlyn vs C is supposed to be Sherlock versus Moriarty, Ganimard versus Lupin, ACME versus Carmen Sandiego, world’s greatest detective against the world’s greatest thief. It focused on the intellectual battle, the need for self-improvement, and - most importantly! - that this was a fight that didn’t result in gunfire or people being put in bodybags. But we can’t have that in our fighting game! We can’t have people thinking, because that’s not the kind of game we have, it’s left-click-shoot out here on the Rift or in the cards. So now we have a woman with plant powers bombing Piltover, and a policewoman kicking down doors and opening fire. And she’s right there, in Caitlyn’s new splash art, within reaching distance of the sheriff!

She’s right there! In hot pink with a flower in her fucking hair! And Caitlyn doesn’t even notice? Looks like one of my major gripes about Caitlyn being updated - Incompetence - is rearing its ugly head. She cannot even see someone not five feet from her. Oooh, look out, Piltover, no-one can figure out why this single eco-terrorist is causing problems for years, but Caitlyn will figure it out! With her gun! Because she’s a cop with a gun, and cops with guns never cause more problems than they solve, right?

Look... I know. I know she’s not my character. I know that everything I’ve done is fan-interpretation. But I’ve worked for so long and hard and done so much research, and things I’ve done have even been seen by - and used by! - the company itself (not just in the ‘oh what a coincidence’ sense, either, I know my link on Hextech as a form of magic made it to several of the writers, some of whom later contacted me). I might be too jaded by all the disappointment to take it personally anymore, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still happen. We know Riot Games could be and should be better. So many people in this community - and people who have since moved on - put so much love and effort into the characters and the world, building up from scraps and guesswork and extrapolation. It wasn’t our world, but we enjoyed playing in it. We enjoyed struggling in it, because it pushed us to be thoughtful, creative, to be engaged and interested. Critical Theory doesn’t have to be negative... but this recent update to Caitlyn’s character and to Piltover as a whole is... it’s a step backwards. They’ve gone for the ‘ooh isn’t this gritty and dark’ approach, and swept away so much of what made the original so interesting, creative, engaging to begin with. They’d rather have controversy than people genuinely enjoying the thing that they’re opening their wallet for.

Caitlyn was a detective who focused on responsibility, intellectualism, and care. What she is now is not the same Caitlyn they started with, and expresses a set of values that I do not support. This blog will continue to be focusing on the old lore, on what Piltover has been and what it should be: a hopeful utopia, a place for people to grow and be responsible and thoughtful and mindful of their place on the world stage. It’s not going to be perfect, but there’s hope, and there’s people here who want the world, and everyone in it, to be better than it is. I hope you join me, no matter who you are.

#oops I essayed again #Not Your Piltover #caitlyn #riot please #character development #piltover

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batleyistheship · 4 years

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Best BatQuinn moments in Batman: White Knight Series

Spoiler Alert! Batman: White Knight and Curse of White Knight comics by Sean Murphy

(Mostly of White Knight. Next post will be Curse of White Knight)

I love all of these moments throughout the series because it really shows how deep their relationship goes—considering its set in the Murphyverse (where it gets much of its old lore from classic comics)—since they’ve known each other for years, possibly even more than a decade.

So, ever since I found out about the potential between these two in this comic series, I have spent hours just poring over the comics looking back for every scene. Every time they’re in the same panel together, I just dieeee.

Considering their long and shared history together in the Murphyverse, the connection between the two of them is much more logical and deep and has more potential to truly be something if Sean Murphy took the dive into the ship.

And based on his twitter, he doesn’t mind the idea of BatQuinn either.

So let’s begin this list. I’ll try my best to go according to events happening, so chronologically. :)

One, where Bruce goes to Harley because he knows she’s the only close connection between him and Joker. And btw, the art that Sean Murphy (yes, he writes and illustrates this series!) does is just absolutely beautiful. The way they’re both framed in this panel!! Like the both of them are the only ones in the city talking.

They’re so close!!!

Two, still in the same scene, (This is probably my favourite!) where Harley reminisces about the time Batman bought her a dress* and from that moment forward, never doubted that Batman is decent guy. She knows she can trust him with her life if needed be. I love this because it shows what Harley thinks of Batman as a person, and that she trusts him on a certain level.

*(from Batman: The Animated Series, episode: Harley’s Holiday. This is what I mean about Sean Murphy pulling from other sources as lore into his world)

Three, same scene.

Need I explain?

AH!!!! HAND HOLDING!!!!!!!

Four, this is afterwards. Batman loses his temper then flies off into the night. Harley is just frustrated because she knows Jack (the rehabilitated Joker) and Batman working together can do wonders for Gotham City.

You can see that Harley gets slightly protective about Batman (sympathizing with Bruce even though she supports Jack’s efforts) because she knows that Jack takes pleasure in getting under Batman’s skin. She’s like “Why can’t these two just get along!?”

Five, the time when Harley was smarter than both Batman and Jack combined. She wanted Batman to work with them, knowing he’s the perfect person to do the task. She knows better because she knows how much of a powerful duo those two men can potentially be. She trusts Batman to help Jack with the problem. She trusts him.

Six, when Jack goes to Batman for help. And Bruce knows that the only way Jack would even think of going to him is that Harley was able to break through to Jack and convince him to team up with Bruce. He trusts her instincts to put the city first and foremost. He trusts her.

Seven.

Just read it.

Bruce agrees that Harley truly is the best thing to ever happen to Jack/Joker, and Bruce means that honestly. And Bruce even offers for Harley’s freedom.

Eight. Harley has been snunk up on countless times that Batman can’t even do it anymore. They’ve known each other for that long, that Harley’s body is attuned to his.

Nine. The last one for the White Knight.

Just.

This.

Shot.

AH!

Justnrejnfjsk look at how lax she is with him! How unintimidated she is of him! She trusts him!!!

Just. I love this comic, y’all. And I really wanted to share the BatQuinn moments to the other rareshippers out there! :D

I’ll do the Curse of White Knight soon! Especially because the last issue will be out in a few weeks!

#batquinn #batley #barley #bruce x harley #bruce wayne x harley quinn #batman x harley quinn #batman x harleen quinzel #batley post #batquinn post #ship #batquinn ship

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hogwarts-is-my-wonderland · 4 years

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Arrowverse OC Masterlist(To Be Human)

This a masterlist of all the OCs that will appear in my series To Be Human. Some belong to different shows than The Flash, where this story mostly takes place, but that is where they make their debut.

Warning: Spoilers! This post will be constantly updated as the story goes.

Real Name: Unknown.

Title(s): Subject 05; Karen Starr; Divine; Power Girl.

Faceclaim: Kimberly Dos Ramos.

Species: Metahuman.

Series: The Flash; Supergirl.

Relationships: Barry Allen (love interest), Mattie Harcourt (best friend), Alicia Silveira (close friend), Rebecca Lewis (ally), Kara Danvers (ally), Ellie Gand (rival; reluctant ally).

Karen Starr does not remember the life she led before her fourteen-year-old birthday. As a consequence, she also does not know who she is or where she comes from. It was while wandering the streets of Metropolis that then-Officer David Singh found her and eventually took her in to avoid the strange circumstances behind her identity. Years later, Karen works as a receptionist at the CCPD while also finishing her BA in Computer Science with a Minor in Business Management online with Gotham University (courtesy of a Wayne Enterprises scholarship). It isn’t until S.T.A.R Labs’ Particle Accelerator explodes that her past begins to unravel.

Real Name: Matilda Rae Harcourt.

Title(s): Dr. Harcourt.

Faceclaim: Freema Agyeman.

Species: Human.

Series: The Flash.

Relationships: Karen Starr (best friend).

Karen Starr’s best friend, Mattie grew up to be streetwise after the unfortunate demise of her parents. She and her younger brother, Peter, were placed in foster care; due to her challenging personality, only Peter was adopted. While Karen does not recall the moment, she earned Mattie’s loyalty when she saved Peter from an infamous gang and Mattie has followed Karen since then. Mattie recently finished her degree in Medicine and is doing her residency at Central City Hospital.

Real Name: Rebecca Dean Cooper.

Title(s): Subject 02; Becky Cooper; Rebecca Lewis.

Faceclaim: Madelaine Petsch.

Species: Metahuman.

Series: The Flash (S1-ongoing); Legends of Tomorrow (S1-ongoing).

Relationships: Mick Rory (one-sided crush from his end; best friend), Karen Starr (ally), Ellie Gand (rival).

Starlet Rebecca Lewis is shrouded in mystery. Few know she was Becky Cooper once, a somewhat ditzy cheerleader that was Barry Allen’s high school sweetheart. But before that, Lewis’ past darkens—for she alone has met the Karen Starr that was before the memory loss and Rebecca is terrified of that girl.

Real Name: Alicia Stephanie Silveira.

Title(s): Princess Arisa of Themyscira; Wonder Girl; Wonder Twins (with Daniel); Fury (current codename).

Faceclaim: Lyndsy Fonseca.

Species: Demigod; Metahuman.

Series: The Flash (S2—onward); Arrow (S1-S8).

Relationships: Oliver Queen (love interest), Daniel Silveira (brother), Karen Starr (close friend).

Formerly known as Starling City’s Night Nurse, Alicia offered her services in the Glades to those without means and regardless of their past. She was the first to treat Oliver Queen when he returned to civilization and unknowingly won his trust with her altruism. They soon became allies, but parted ways because of their respective principles. Alicia returns to Star City upon Barry Allen’s request, as her past may hold the clue to defeating Zoom.

Real Name: Park Ri-el.

Title(s): Subject 03; Ellie Gand; Andromeda.

Faceclaim: Ji-eun Lee (IU).

Species: Metahuman.

Series: The Flash (S3-S4).

Relationships: Karen Starr, Rebecca Lewis, Kara Danvers (rivals); Killer Frost (Earth-1), Savitar (allies); Team Flash (enemies).

It is unclear whether Gand’s existence is due to Flashpoint, but according to Barry Allen’s and Rebecca Lewis’ statements, there was no previous record of her activities. However, Karen Starr not only identifies Gand as a business rival, Gand herself also harbors a deep hatred for both Starr and Lewis. Savitar recruits her, knowing her valuable skillset will unbalance Team Flash.

Real Name: Daniel Augusto Silveira.

Title(s): Wonder Boy; Wonder Twins (with Alicia); Fury (formerly), Jason (current codename).

Faceclaim: Sebastian Stan.

Species: Demigod; Metahuman.

Series: The Flash (S3); Supergirl (S2—onward).

Relationships: Alicia Silveira (sister), Kara Danvers (love interest), Karen Starr (former enemy; ally), Team Flash (former enemies).

Daniel is Alicia’s twin brother. Born and raised as a tactician and a warrior, Daniel showed excellent prowess in the battlefield. Unfortunately, his gender alienated him from his family’s allies, leaving him to grow resentful toward his grand-mère. Daniel disappeared on a mission, leaving his sister heartbroken. He would reappear many years later in Central City during Team Flash’s fight against Alchemy.

Real Name: Ariella Kent.

Title(s): Detective Kent (formerly); CSI Kent.

Faceclaim: Daniela Luján.

Species: Human.

Series: The Flash (S4-S5).

Relationships: Barry Allen (colleague; close friend), Team Flash (ally).

Lori Kent hails from Gotham City, where criminals are more unstable than Central City’s Metahumans. Her new job is a walk in the park—until the return of Barry Allen, who was supposedly away on sabbatical. And suddenly, not only is her reputation at risk of being damaged, but Allen himself reveals his identity as the Flash. Now, it is up to her to solve the DeVoe case and prove Barry’s innocence in the eyes of the law.

Real Name: None.

Title(s): Subject-X; Divine.

Faceclaim: Dove Cameron.

Species: Metahuman.

Series: The Flash (S6).

Relationships: Barry Allen (best friend), Karen Starr (close friend), Kara Danvers (friend), Team Flash (ally), Team Supergirl (ally).

Original to the recently created Earth-Prime, Divine now forms part of Karen Starr’s, Rebecca Lewis’, and Ellie Gand’s shared lore. Known as Subject-X, Divine became free from Cadmus’ clutches when Black Hole and Intergang moved their warfare to Central City. She took her current codename from Karen’s original records at the Cadmus branch in Metropolis. Unlike Starr, Lewis, and Gand, Divine’s powers do not derive from a specific ability’s area—in fact, they closely resemble those of a Speedster. Which shouldn’t be possible, because the Speed Force is dead.

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williamjkennedy-blog · 5 years

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The Joke’s on Us

The broken mirror director Todd Phillips’ controversial new film Joker holds up to society casts reflections in many different directions, each one suggesting an alternate reading or basis of critique: psychological, Marxist, racial, or feminist. It’s all right there, and each one an indictment of where we find ourselves in 2019, 40 years or so after Reagan’s “Morning in America,” when neo-Liberalism first began to slowly eclipse everything that makes us human. But no matter which reflection you choose to follow, they all lead pretty much to the same conclusion: we are failing our most vulnerable, and we’re starved for human relationship.

Joker isn’t really a super hero story, it’s more of a no-hero story. The angel billionaire benefactor of Batman lore, Thomas Wayne, is this time a bit of a self-serving, Trumpian asshole. The rich won’t save us after all, screenwriters Todd Phillips and Scott Silver seem to tell us. It’s just that the movie had to be called Joker because in today’s Hollywood a film like this couldn’t reach a mass audience without attaching itself to a franchise like Batman, itself an indictment of art under capitalism. The iconography and references made to the Batman mythos do, however, pay tribute to the richness of the Batman universe, acting also as a sign of how absurd things have become.

Much of the controversies surrounding the film tell us what the film is at heart: the story of how a young man became radicalized. What makes us most uncomfortable is the film points the finger of blame for this radicalization squarely on us. With mass shootings and Incels in its margins, it’s a collective and squeamish, “too soon.” Critics call the movie unpleasant. And it certainly is. Unpleasant because we don’t like to hear what it has to say: “No shit extremism is on the rise all over the world. Have you looked around lately?”

Many also dislike that we’re made to feel a little bit of sympathy for Arthur Fleck as he spirals out of control. But this seems to me a bit like criticizing Shakespeare’s Richard III just because King Rick gets all the best lines. The Richard parallels deepen with Joaquin Phoenix’s deformed physique, his shoulder length hair, and the joy he finds in chaos creation. Much has been written about Phoenix’s performance, all of it earned. It’s a humdinger to be sure, Phoenix inhabiting every inch of Arthur Fleck in his slow decline (or is it ascension?) to the clown prince of crime.

Set in Gotham, standing in as a thinly-veiled New York of the `70s and `80s rendered in Scorsese’s washed-out greens and slate grey, Fleck is a party-clown-for-hire, suffering from a Tourettes-like condition that causes involuntary laughter, a choking-cough-cackle as Phoenix manifests it that can be caused by a neurological disorder, or, perhaps, head trauma, foreshadowing one of the film’s biggest reveals. Fleck lives with his mother and dreams of making it big in stand-up comedy, idolizing a Johnny Carson-like late night talk show host played by Robert De Niro. For Fleck the warm laughter of an audience is the human connection he fails to find anywhere else, and, in the film’s view, interrelation is the ultimate purpose of human existence, thwarted at every turn by an increasing isolation.

As the walls of Gotham’s failing society close in on Fleck — there’s a garbage strike, society can’t even get its shit together well enough to take the garbage out — Fleck loses his job, his mental health declines, and he learns of a deep trauma from his past. This is a trauma-informed story but then again Batman has always been the ultimate trauma-informed super hero. Fleck seeks help in social services, but that too is pulled out from under him due to “budget cuts.” A particularly moving bit of the movie is Phoenix’s portrayal of both mental illness and depression. “All I have are negative thoughts,” he tells his caseworker. When everything is rotten to the core the pursuit of an illusory and transient happiness is in itself a form of madness. “Put on a happy face,” the film tells us. But what for? What does that even mean?

Eventually, Fleck turns not to comedy, but to violence, itself a form of human connection. He revels in the chaos, an avenue of self-expression, transforming Fleck into a king of sorts, lord of the wasteland that is his creation. Joker is not a perfect movie: there’s a racial undertone that at best deserves unpacking, and at worst may well be problematic, and there’s a speech near the end about who gets to and who gets to not decide what’s funny, taking the story from human tragedy to a dubious and reductive ideological lecture. Poor Todd Phillips (director of films like The Hangover triptych) just can’t tell jokes anymore.

The film takes us right up to the point when the Joker’s clown army coalesces. The film doesn’t seem to care if this is Antifa, or Proud Boys, Trump’s deplorables, or Occupy Wall Street. Instead, its concern is that humans are driven to connect and with connection thwarted at every turn, humans will still find a way to do just that, even if it leads to violence, destruction, and pathology. Near the end of the film we see a young Bruce Wayne, his parents shot dead in an alley as Gotham goes up in flames, the young boy’s figure in silhouette, as if to say, “When we need a hero most, who will fill the role? What will that hero look like?” I’m not sure if Phillips has a true Batman story to tell in this vision, but I’m excited to find out.

#joker #joaquin phoenix joker

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blood-n-tears · 1 year

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Oswald when he can't get that Riddlussy 😢

#oswald cobblepot #the penguin #edward nygma #the riddler #gotham #the gotham lore goes deep #gotham lore #riddlussyy #the rizzler #nygmobblepot

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enigmaticjblake · 4 years

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Best Video Games of the last decade

The last decade was sensational, a lot of stuff happened, there were dramatic changes all across, especially in videogames. Technological advancements in computer hardware pushed graphical limits and the visual fidelity in gaming kept evolving. Games got more immersive and believable.

The videogame industry saw major changes like the rise of digital gaming platforms such as Steam, Origin, Epic Games Store and so on.

Even the Consoles saw dramatic changes. The PS4 was a major player in the market but Steam on the other hand dominated the PC landscape. Epic Games Store also got a lot of attention.

Even VR stepped out of the shadows and major companies like Microsoft, Google, HTC, Samsung, Facebook and many others discovered the potential of the medium and embarked on the ultimate quest of making the best VR headset in the market. Even Sony made a VR headset for the PS4.

Technological advancements are fine but it is important for us to understand that Videogames cannot just solely depend on technology to be an immersive and unforgettable experience.

They have to have an engaging story, solid and balanced game play mechanics, immersive sound design, perfect balance between narrative and pacing and a few other major factors are what determine a good game and a great game. Ultimately they have to deliver an unforgettable experience.

So after all the trials and tribulations, a few games have emerged to show the world how powerful the medium can be.

So without any further ado, lets jump into the list of best games of the last decade.

Read Dead Redemption 2

The critically acclaimed open world wild west adventure game comes straight from Rockstar Games, the same team that has made the GTA Series. RDR2 is considered as one of the most successful titles of the last decade as it gives you a vast sprawling open world with staggering amount of detail. This is one of the most detailed games of the decade, coming somewhere close the end of the current generation of consoles; it utilizes the fullest potential of modern day hardware and delivers a stunning dynamic open world experience like never before.

CS:GO

Yes, you might be wondering why is CS:GO on this list, well it is there for a good reason. Not only this online classic tactical shooter still among the largest and most played games of all time, it is fun to play even in this age and day. CS:GO manages to bring back an old formula and still keeps it relevant at this age. Countless events and tournaments are centered around CS:GO. Back in the day CS was mod out of another legendary game which we will definitely discuss some day. CS single handedly showed the world what mods are capable of achieving and gave birth to the mod culture. There are quite many games which were mods of the past and apart from that, the game is still fun as hell and me and my friends still play it.

Fortnite

Fortine has a very strange history, it was originally a defense game like minecraft where you build during the day and protect during the night but it wasn’t that successful. People had already seen the idea before, so when Battle Royale was gaining popularity, Fortnite decided to mix its defense formula with BR. The ratings for Fortnite just went off the charts and many people played it as it was released as a free to play title. It had a cosmetic market though which got Epic tons of revenue and that’s how Epic Games Store came into picture. So if a game can do so much for a company, you can definitely process the impact it had on the industry overall.

DOTA 2

Talk about mods again, DOTA was originally a genre defining mod of War Craft 3 but someone else saw its potential. DOTA was more of an underground thing, it was never so popular in the mainstream and very few knew a genre like MOBA even existed. It was around 2009 when I first saw DOTA in a cyber café where some young kids were playing it on LAN. At first, it looked like War Craft 3 but the mechanics were totally different. Soon I learnt it had a cult underground following and Valve made the smart move of acquiring the talent behind this mod and decided to make this thing into a fully blown sequel. DOTA 2 which pushed MOBA into the mainstream. Obviously there were others who joined the bandwagon of MOBA and tried to distinguish themselves. League of Legends is also another MOBA game which is popular but DOTA 2 is still considered as the king and despite of its age is still among the top played games on steam world wide. There are people who have played the game for a staggering 10000 hours and still find new and interesting things. It’s a game which is easy to learn but difficult to master.

Batman Arkham City

Batman needs no introduction, for those who do not know, Batman is a fully ripped grown man who wears Egyptian cotton underwear over a grey suit and is passionate about jumping from building to building during the night and saves the city from bad peeps. He is THE Superhero.

If you haven’t played any of the Batman games of the Arkham trilogy, stop reading this list right away and immediately go and play it! Its really good.

It is debatable which one of the trilogy is the best and its very difficult to make that choice. I personally like all the games but Arkham City is amazing for several reasons as it is an ultimate battle between Batman and Joker, the game goes open world and Gotham City is such well crafted. The Unreal Engine does a marvelous job of putting it all together and the game runs so well AND this is why I could not chose Arkham Knight over Arkham City. Arkham Knight is miles ahead of Arkham City but I made the ultimate mistake of playing it on the PC which was a bad experience. Infact the game was such a mess, Steam had to pull it off and give out refunds to the buyers. It was a great experience on consoles but this misstep was the sole reason why I did not chose it for this list.

BUT now the game has been patched extensively and is in good shape. So if you are a PC gamer and want to be like Batman, this has to be the Ultimate Batman Experience.

Bloodborne

Ever heard of souls like titles? These are considered to be difficult as combat in them is of a different nature. These are not your ordinary action games where you go in front of your enemy and start spamming attacks on them. Souls like titles have be played tactically, timing and accuracy are the name of the game. When to strike, when to dodge and parry are crucial for every encounter and even the most basic enemy can strike you down if you are not paying attention.

Bloodborne is an Action RPG title developed by From Software exclusively for the PS4, set in a dark Victorian world we are tasked to hunt down to take down perils of an odd strange world. Blood Bourne stands out for its unique art style, game play mechanics and an engaging narrative, atmospheric and immersive world design and ruthless difficulty. This game has a deep and interesting lore so a lot of content awaits.

Be warned, this game can crush your soul.

Neir Automata

Set in a dystopian cyberpunk future where sprawling urban scapes are retaken my mother nature, humanity is wiped out by what was considered as their best creation.

Take role of an enhanced cybernetic warrior who is deadly and beautiful at the same time and hack N slash your way through hoards of deadly AI constructs as you make your way to the answers of all the questions that surround the collapse of civilization.

The stunning art style, the graphics, the immersive world and level design blended with fast paced combat makes Neir Automata an unforgettable experience.

INSIDE

Inside is developed by Playdead, the same studio who made Limbo. Inside is a staggering achievement in the 2D side scroller category of games. You take role of an unknown kid who just appears in this strange dystopian world where society has changed. The world is hostile and humanity is engulfed into some kind of a strange social experiment where a few selected individuals of the upper echelon are on the verge of creating something far beyond anything we can possibly imagine.

Inside is ruthless, deadly and hostile but the art style, presentation, pacing and its subtle yet effective gameplay pulls out the unimaginable out of a genre that is so old. It redefines the side scroller genre.

Inside manages to pull you in right from the get go and as you play further, you are just lost in it.

Its depressing, dark, bold and ambitious.

Don’t miss this one out.

Horizon Zero Dawn

A PS4 exclusive developed by Guerrilla games, HZD is an open world action RPG where civilization has moved beyond its post apocalyptic phase and mankind has once again emerged out of the darkness of this cataclysmic event and is facing a whole new world.

Civilization is rebooted but is engraved on the remnants of a past civilization. It is still unknown what cause the wiping of the earlier race.

What is known are the strange metallic beasts which roam around the waste lands of earth.

Imagine fighting a giant robotic T-Rex with a bow and arrow.

That’s HZD in one line.

Metal Gear Solid 5

You wake up in a hospital one day and the doc informs you that you were in comma for 9 years, how will you feel?

Well, Snake doesn’t feel bad at all. Only few hours after waking up you are hunted down by an unknown mercenary group who simply wants you dead for reasons unknown and weird things happen that night. You still manage to make an escape, thanks to your buddy who was undercover as a patient and was protecting you all these years. Soon you embark into a Journey into the heart of Afghanistan to find the answers.

MGS5 is developed my Konami, this is when the legendary Hideo Kojima was part of the team.

MGS5 had a rough development cycle but it turned out to be a great game.

It’s a sandbox stealth action title where you can approach your target or objective anyhow you like or find it convenient. There is a lot of freedom in this game.

You can even hide in a cardboard box and turn it into a makeshift stealth device.

There is base building, you recruit captured soldiers and make them a part of your team.

It’s a damn fine game and the story sometimes just catches you by surprise.

Portal 2

Portal 2 is a first person puzzle platformer developed by Valve. These guys are magical, whatever they touch becomes gold. Portal 2 puts you in the shoes of a test subject who is a part of a scientific experiment where they are testing teleportation technology, you get hands on a portable teleportation device or simply put, a portal gun. It shoots portals of walls.

You solve puzzles by shooting portals and make use of physics. Stuff such as gravity, momentum, reflection and so on come into the picture. Thanks to the Source engine. The story is also engaging and characters are really deep and well written.

You teleport your way out of these test chambers only to discover all is not what it seems.

Portal 2 is definitely one of the finest games of this decade.

GTA 5

Seriously? Wondering why this is on the list. Go play it!

Elders Scroll 5 Skyrim

Its not everyday that you bump into a fellow adventurer who has stopped adventuring cause one fine day he took an arrow in his knee.

Skyrim is open world action RPG that is bold, ambitious and probably the best game made by Bethesda Game Studios.

Skyrim takes place in an enigmatic fantasy world which is engulfed in a political conflict and suddenly an old prophesied threat emerges and is bent on destroying the world.

You take role of an unknown traveler who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but as events unfold. Turns out you are not an ordinary person, you are THE dragon born. The only thing that stands between the dragons and the destruction of Skyrim is you.

Skyrim has a lot of content, side quests and the story is deep. You can keep playing Skrym for hours and hours and get lost in a different dimension.

The last of Us

Naughty Dogs knows what it does. They are the masters of their craft when it comes to developing breathtaking narrative driven experiences. The sheer amount of attention to detail which was earlier observed in the Uncharted games successfully transcends into The Last Of Us.

Exclusive to the PS4, The Last Of Us puts you into the shoes of a man who has lost many things. The world has collapsed and strange mutants ravage the world. As the man of a family it is upto you to protect your loved ones from the perils of the new dangerous world.

The production quality of the game is what sets it apart. A dark and mature story backed by well choreographed cinematics, well acted characters and a blend of stealth horror action gameplay totally set this game apart from anything on this list.

You should get a PS4 only to play this game. Its that good!

Battlefield 1

This in my opinion is the best battlefield game in recent years, obviously there are other battlefield games and I was thinking of voting for BFBC2, this one won for many reasons.

BF1 is a fast paced action multiplayer experience with a solid punch of World War 1.

The originality and the attention to detail BF1 offers is insane, right from the vast deserts in the middle east to conquests in various parts of Europe, Dice has made the perfect formula for World War 1. Its frantic combat is better than ever, tweaking a few mechanics the game is now more enjoyable and fast paced. Its like the perfect spot between fast paced combat and quick general perception of reaction to things.

The game looks beautiful and environments, animations weapon and character models are so well detailed, they all scream authenticity.

64 vs 64 players never gets dull. Also EA was less greedy about this one, I still feel bad for the Star Wars Battlefront games.

Black Mesa

This one is not a game, it’s a mod but it has to be on the list because it’s a Half-Life fan remake on the source engine, if you are unaware of Half-Life, you are dead to me.

Black Mesa is a masterpiece and it totally reimagines the original Half-Life in a way just like Valve would have. Seeing new areas in Source Engine is a visual delight, its hard to believe Wwhat limits can be Source pushed to, considering its such an old engine. Valve was truly thinking long term when they made the source engine.

Basically Half-Life puts you into the shoes of the theoretical physicist who works at a the Black Mesa Research Facility. One day an experiment goes horribly wrong and you rip open a dimension into an alien world and now its upto you to fix things.

Half-Life 1 was revolutionary and helped defined the FPS genre. SO YOU HAVE TO PLAY THIS.

The Xen levels are out now and the game has left early access, so now is the perfect time to play this timeless masterpiece.

Crowbar Collective has done a neat job.

Overwatch

This one is my eyes is the true spiritual successor to Team Fortress 2. Made ground up by Blizzard, this one was a very different thing from them.

Overwatch borrows heavy inspiration from TF2 and manages to fuse it with MOBA perfectly.

On the surface I’ve seen many people complaining this is a TF2 ripoff and its rich dudes Paladin, tbh it is like Paladin but both games have different dynamics.TF2 is more of an old school class based shooter at this point and OW is more fast and streamlined.

The wide variety of characters in OW may seem unnecessary but believe me, each one of them is well made and balanced. Its like Blizzard has a secret recipe of game balance and it becomes very clear how important it is to nail that balance in this hybrid genre when you get your hands on similar titles who achieve this perfection.

The art style is spot on and meant to age well. The graphics will never go old, such is the art style.

Jump into a few games and you wont even realize how the hours pass.

Resident Evil 2

Later this decade a legendary face re-emerged from the mythical shadows of mystery. Resident Evil is Capcoms that comes into everyones mind when we speak of survival horror games, this was the title that created the genre back in the day.

The remake is very faithful to the original, it successfully captures the tense atmosphere and the struggle of managing resources while scavenging the same old corridors of Racoon City Police Station.

While graphics and other things are aligned with 2019 standards, what is more surprising is the fact that the game is so perfectly transferred from those pre rendered 3D environmental backgrounds with fixed cameras into true 3D yet it manages to retain the whole essence of the thing. Its is big achievement and the game does its own thing in a great way.

Animations, Models, Textures, Sounds, Gunplay and the Zombie AI are perfect and the all new Mr. X is totally rad!

Resident Evil 2 being a new comer in this decade has made a solid spot on this list.

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order

The game that saved Star Wars, honestly there were not that many good Star Wars titles in the recent years, both Battlefront games had their issues, while the 2nd one had a good production value, it stirred up the hive with its surprise mechanics. It was basically a Star Wars themed Casino and was brutally P2W. They have patched it now and is pretty playable but whats gone is gone.

Jedi The Fallen Order takes places after order 66 is executed. The Jedi order has fallen and the remnants are forced into exile. The empire has gripped the galaxy with its iron fist and the game puts you into the shoes of a young jedi who is accidently discovered by a high ranking Sith Inquisitor, the event propels the young Jedi into an epic journey of self discovery.

You travel across various planets in the galaxy and learn stuff about the lore which gives the series a fresh angle. It is clear that Respawn entertainment has put a lot of heart and soul into this game, it shows deep respect to the source material. Star Wars needed that. Also, the combat is fresh. It borrows the best of all the successful mechanics introduced in various games of the generation like platforming, souls like combat give a realistic sense to saber battles. It feels like a true Star Wars game.

Overall, this one just came out at the end of the decade and took all of us by surprise.

The Legend of Zelda Breath Of The Wild

Zelda always hands over the torch to the next generation of Nintendo Consoles. BOTW is a fresh take on the long running Zelda series. The series departs from its previous gameplay styles and throws Link into an open world filled with perils. But unlike most games, Zelda is a very relaxing game, the art style is soothing and the game is fun.

You can play this one at your own pace and follow your objectives the way you like. The game looks simple on the surface but whatever goes down the hood is very complex as the game takes interactivity to a whole new level. Climb huge rock faces, cut trees, cook food, find rare loot, craft rare stuff and do all this at your own pace.

DOOM

Rip and Tear baby! Doom 2016 is simply awesome, its fast, brutal, frantic and fluid. Story is classic as ever, where the UAC accidentally opens a portal to hell and now all the demons are pouring in from everywhere. The key difference between the previous Doom games and this one is, earlier you were stuck in a room with demons, now the demons are stuck in a room with you.

Doom gives you a huge arsenal of weapons at your disposal and heaps of demons to kill, kill them the way you see fit.

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt

OOF…..Witcher 3….what can I say…..

CDPR has dethroned Valve in terms of game design, this is what has happened this decade. There was a time when Valve used to make the best games, now its these guys.

You step into the shoes of Geralt, a professional monster slayer who has embarked on a journey to find his missing daughters in a land that is engulfed in conflict.

Witcher 3 takes place on a vast open world which is stunningly detailed, every 45 seconds you bump into something fresh and exciting. The world of Witcher 3 is well crafted, every section of this world feels vivid. The main story line is engaging but even the side quests are meaningful which is not commonly seen in most games.

The game lets you make choices and the story branches out as per the choices you make which drastically alter the outcome of the game which also gives it a high replay value.

If you call yourself a gamer, you have to play this.

#gamer #gaming #technology #topgames #entertainment

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fyrapartnersearch · 5 years

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A chance meeting.

 Greetings to you again my fellow drifters and roleplayers ～ I hope to catch some flies with some honey. I would like to post my ad once more with a more specific request / intent in mind. You may call me Aylo. I am specifically searching for partners who sport the same interests, passion and dedication as me. Regarding myself I’ll keep it short and sweet. If you wish to know more about me, feel free to ask me through email. Age: 20+ years Gender: Female Occupation: Full time student with a side job Timezone: CET  Experience: 11 years If you wish to get in touch with me, here’s my email for contact :)

EMAIL: [email protected]

What I’m looking for in a partner: If you write to me, tell me about yourself, particularise what you would like to do, where your interests lie in and how far you will go limit-wise. To be clear, I will accept 20+ partners only! I am sure there are roleplayers below that age who are wonderful writers, however due to legality issues and the age difference, it would feel awkward… Sorry ;__;

 This will be a mature themed RP and that means it will include very heavy topics that may not be for the faint of heart. So be sure to read every word carefully before you message me, because these kinds of misunderstandings can be easily avoided. I am currently on the hunt for a literate, erudite and witty writer with a creative mindset who can cross the line with me. I don’t care what gender you are or what your timezone is, as long as we correspond well, we should be fine.  Also to note, I am looking for a longterm and dependable partner. If you are not sure if you can fulfil either of these, feel free to scroll past my ad! It won’t be held it against you ^^  Platforms I prefer to write on are:   Email and Google Docs. I try to get myself a Discord as soon as I get a new PC. How to I write, my limits and preferences. Be sure to read them carefully:

Cravings: What I crave at the most, almost always, is the topic of supernatural and urban fantasy. Though I can be persuaded to go more into pop culture (like superheroes or crime). Personally what I would like go for is an original story or anything fandom related that I have listed down below. If you are not sure which I am open to do at the moment, feel free to scroll down and see for yourself if we’re compatible or not. Although I am versatile when it comes to genres, I am only currently seeking someone who would rather do something more supernatural inspired, including demons, spirits, monsters, gods and angels. I do have a few ideas in my repertoires that I would like to pitch, but I prefer to talking to my partner first before setting anything in stone. Interests: My line of interests are very electric when it comes to genres. I love conceiving my own lore inside a stories, be it an original or a pre-existing story. Gothic fantasy among others are one of my favourites. I am not opposed to tapping into science fiction, conspiracies, intrigue, action, romance, crime, action or thriller genres, in fact I encourage it. Inspirations for me are Lovecraft, The Tudors, Gotham, Hellsing, Blade, Underworld, etc. As for the fandom inspired RPs, I am more than willing to bend some rules and be a little indulgent. Writing: 3rd person perspective. My writing is expansive and flexible, which means that frequently, word count will go up 1000+ per reply - though it highly depends on the situation and partner I write with. Quality over quantity as they say - but why not both? I love detail in description, and I am actively seeking someone of the same infamy. My partner should have a basic grasp on grammar, punctuation and somewhat of an interest in knowledgeable writing. I also double! (preferably, but we can always discuss whether it makes sense for our roleplay our not.) When I double, mostly I would like to do it in fandom roleplays. Originals are a different matter. World building & plot: You should be active and help me shape the world around our characters. Even if we discuss many things during and before the roleplay, how we wish for things to play out and take its course, I am always happy to be surprised with a secret of my partner’s character I didn’t know before. You don’t need to lay out all your cards on the table… keep it a little mysterious and suspenseful. Just enough so we can work with the ideas, but not completely kill off the suspense.

Characters: I write canon as well as OC characters. Faceclaims, GIFs, drawings, mood boards or just a plain physical description is absolutely sufficient. Whatever floats your boat when it comes to visualising your character and their backstory, I’m on board. Characters should be flawed, unique, talented, heroic, villainous, spiteful, angry, and everything in-between. In other words, don’t be scared of making them ‘human’, even when they are non-human. Romance: Openly play and accept characters of both genders, preferable m x f pairings, but I am open to m x m and f x f relationships as well. I have more experience with m x f relationships, so I might be more savvy in this one. If the chemistry of two characters compel me, I will ship them no matter what! Classic fangirl shipper here! Ayo, where my shippers at?  When it comes to sexual scenarios and intimacy (intercourse, foreplay, all that jazz) I will not fade to black. I encourage erotism, but in a tasteful manner (that goes for romance as well). The passion must be felt through the screen, even if its just an description of someone’s deep train of thought. Content: Drama, violence, sex, metamorphosis, horror, symbolism, action, romance, pretty much everything is a-okay. I am unbothered by certain subjects that may or may not be uncomfortable for the general public. Roleplays are fictional stories and we best keep viewing them as such. If there are things you are uncomfortable with, name them and I shall respect those boundaries. But don’t be surprised when suddenly one of our characters bites the dust, or gets tortured. It may be difficult to write and read, but it is all part of the story and furthering the plot. My roleplays imply and involve brutality, mayhem, psychological and physical torture as well as other things. But I also endorse beauty, serenity and placid moments, scenes or characters. I love it when it comes full circle… everyone- and everything has their beautiful and hideous side. Both should be embraced. Communication: OOC-chat friendly! I love meeting new people and making potential friends. Plus it strengthens the compatibility between us. Communication is the alpha and the omega. If there is something that bothers you, or if you think you are left out in some way (be it a mistake on my part or we’re both at fault here), don’t be scared of telling me. Really, it won’t be taken personally - since I know that we slip up every now and then, we’re only human after all. It is also completely sufficient if you only type out a few messages per week. I am super chill about it. It doesn’t bother me re-writing a scene to fit the narrative more. If there are mistakes, they can be corrected - just to get that out there. We can always exchange opinions and see what would benefit the story most. I will also voice my opinion should something arise that could be bothersome. World building & plotting: An active roleplayer is wanted without a doubt. Can’t do the thinking for two now. Let’s row this boat together Limits: My only limits are pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia , pedophilia, scat, furries and some other bizarre fetishes. Also no one-liners or text-talk messages. The sentences have to be cohesive, coherent and somewhat structured. On my shipping list, the ones that are marked in bold are the ones I am craving at the most right now!

 Shipping list:

Corrupted x Innocent

Demon x Human

Devil x Human

Cop x Criminal

Bully x Bullied

Bad boy (delinquent) x Good girl (or the other way around)

Mentor x Apprentice

Angel x Human

Angel x Demon

Vampire x Human 

Bureaucrat x Soldier

Scientist / Doctor x Patient / Experiment

Vampire x Vampire

Vampire x Dhampire

Noble x Peasant / Regular citizen

Vampire x Werewolf

Werewolf x Human

Monster x Human

Hybrid x Hybrid

Hybrid x Human

Hybrid x Full fledged (whatever it may be)

Dominant male x Dominant female (or other genders)

Etc.

 Fandom list:

 Films:

Marvel cinematic universe

DC (preferably the comics or animated films / shows)

Alita Battle Angel Riverdale

Harry Potter (Next gen)

 Animated: 

Castlevania

Hellsing

Voltron

Fate Stay Night / Fate Zero

 Comics: 

Justice League (also Dark) 

Teen Titans

The Darkness

Witchblade

Loki - Tales of Asgard

X Men

  Looking forward to talking to you ～ Adios

#indie rp #indie roleplay #independent roleplay #oc rp #multiple paragraph #para #long term #email #marvel rp #harry potter rp #spn rp #smut rp #mcu rp #dc rp #aou rp #submission

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batwomandaily · 5 years

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This week, Ruby Rose joins The CW’s evergrowing Arrowverse as Kate Kane a.k.a. Batwoman in the Elseworlds crossover with The Flash, Supergirl, and Arrow. After the crossover, she will go on to star in her own series that is currently in development for the next TV season.

From Arrowverse guru Greg Berlanti as well as Caroline Dries (Smallville, The Vampire Diaries), the project would be the network’s sixth DC drama, if ordered to series. While the crossover hasn’t even aired yet, That Hashtag Show can exclusively reveal that the spin-off series is currently casting its core characters to join Rose!

With production aimed to start sometime in 2019, casting is currently focused on six main characters that will join Rose’s Batwoman. As per usual, casting has given these six players random names that are most likely cover names as these people may be from the DC Universe. However, we have some good ideas on who they all might be from the comics, so strap in because there are a lot of them.

First off, we have “Joseph”, a Caucasian male in his late 40s to mid-50s. “Joseph” is described as a former high ranking military Colonel, who instead of grieving the terrible loss of his wife and one of his daughters, formed his own army in order to make sure no one else has to ever go through the tragedy he had to experience. “Joseph” also leads a private security and logistics firm in Gotham City, called “The Crows.” He is both extremely tough, political as well as emotionless, but has one weakness in his life that makes him soften up…and that is his other daughter who he constantly tries to push away.

Based on the description, “Joseph” is most likely none other than Kate’s father Jake Kane. Her father has always played a big role in the recent comics. When we broke the breakdown for Kate Kane back in the summer, we got teases of her complicated relationship with her father. But Jake may not be the only family member we will see on the show.

Next up is “Alexa” who the casting department describes as a 27-year old Caucasian who is Batwoman’s greatest enemy, basically her own personal Joker. “Alexa” is a woman who has experienced a tremendous amount of trauma in her more sensitive years. That has in turn caused “Alexa” to divorce herself from reality by living in a fantastical world where she is the star. Attached to Victorian attire, “Alexa” is a charming lunatic who manages to go from being psychotic to caring easily, which is why her unreliable behavior is a dangerous weapon in itself.

“Alexa” sounds exactly like the villainous Alice a.k.a. Kate’s twin sister Elizabeth who Kate and Jake believed to be dead for all these years. But as you know, dead in comics doesn’t always stay dead. So, should this indeed be Alice, our dear Kate will definitely have quite the challenge in her first season.

Next, we have “Sloane”, who is a Latina in her late 20s/early 30s. Brought up in a tight-knit family, “Sloane” is both feisty, charming and has incredible fighting abilities, with soldier experiences, as she is one of the best agents for the Crows and always goes by the book. But “Sloane” is hiding a deep secret from her husband which is that once upon a time, she was in love with Kate Kane.

For any hardcore Batwoman fans out there, it should come as no surprise that “Sloane” sounds very much like Renee Montoya. In the comics, she is one of the prime Gotham PD characters who later on ended up as the second person to carry the Question mantle and also had a romantic relationship with Batwoman. Given that Maggie Sawyers, Kate’s other love interest in later stories, has already come and left the Arrowverse, it would make more sense for the series to play with the Renee/Kate romance. If this is Renee, will we see her as the Question? Only time will tell.

Then there is “Landon”, an African-American male in his early 20s who is devoted to Batman. “Landon” comes from an imperative legacy that has serviced the Caped Crusader with engineered gadgets. With Wayne Enterprises now abandoned, “Landon” is the one keeping it secure. While he is brilliant with tech, his social skills aren’t exactly the strongest as he goes out of his way to not make friends, after being betrayed by Gotham’s bureaucracy. With the Dark Knight missing, “Landon” soon begins to understand Gotham City’s demand for a new hero.

Everything in this description points to “Landon” as the son of Lucius Fox, Luke. He was introduced as part of the New 52 and became the second person to carry the Batwing mantle. Given that most of the Berlanti-DC shows always have a tech-based character (Felicity Smoak, Winn Schott, Zari Tomaz, Brainiac 5, Peter Gambi), it seems fitting to have one for Kate Kane. If this is Luke, there is no telling whether or not we’ll see him become Batwing on the show.

Up next, meet “Meredith”, a woman in her early 20s, a role that is open for any ethnicity, with preference to Asian or Latin actresses. She is described as carrying a lovely and heavy demeanor, which makes it easy to view her as an airheaded amateur. Although she is considered talky, she is deeply compassionate toward those the city has forgotten, with her compassion only surpassed by her own intelligence. Like Kate Kane, “Meredith” will have a secret life of her own in Gotham City.

It would appear that “Meredith” is potentially none other than Kate’s cousin Bette Kane, who is better known as the superhero Flamebird in the DC lore. Given their team-ups in the comics, it makes sense for Flamebird to be part of the series in one way or another.

Last, but not least we have “Charlotte”, a woman in her late 40s to mid-50s who is the mother of “Meredith”, hence the same casting preferences is part of this role. “Charlotte”, a knowledgeable, fashionable, and motivated woman, comes from wealth built from an empire of dealing arms, but she uses this money with the intent on making Gotham a more secure and safe place due to the aid of her husband’s paramilitary business. Despite the fact that it is damaging “Charlotte’s” relationship with her daughter, she continues to pull the strings of Gotham City’s elite.

Should “Meredith” be Bette Kane, then “Charlotte” is Flamebird’s mom, although her real name in the comics hasn’t popped up. So it would appear that this would be Batwoman’s first original character who will somehow play a large role. With David Rapaport (Arrowverse, Titans, Riverdale, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as the casting director for this super-show, we know he will be bringing some amazing talent to these beloved characters!

#batwoman #news

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ultraericthered · 6 years

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“If people are fine with anime adapting the stories and arcs of manga, they’d be perfectly fine with the story and arcs of Spider-Man being told straight in an adaptation of the comics”

*deep breath*

Manga-to-anime adaptations /=/ regular comic books-to-other medium adaptations.

Manga is written by a single author in collaboration with editors and sometimes a different artist, and their stories usually reach an ending point barring a few unusual Long Runners.

Comic books are made by several different authors and artists, all with differing visions, ideas, and styles that they add to the titles, and their narratives go on FOREVER. Elements of comic book lore considered “iconic” and essential to characters’ mythos take YEARS to develop, evolve and reach that status, without any of it being pre-planned by the creator of the comic’s starring hero and their original titles (Superman existed years before Kryptonite became his weakness, before Lex Luthor became a corrupt businessman, before he clashed with titans like Doomsday or Darkseid. Batman existed years before his full supporting cast was established, before Dick was set to become Nightwing, before characters like Ras Al Ghul or Harley Quinn existed and villains like Mr. Freeze got their definitive re-imaginings. Spider-Man existed years before the Green Goblin was considered his arch foe, before the likes of Venom and Carnage existed, before Gwen Stacy was famous for dying and MJ was famous for being the “jackpot” redhead who became Peter’s true love and wife, etc.)

So basically, for an adaptation of a comic book superhero’s “story” in a non-comic medium, the origin story is the ONLY story with an absolute need to exist within that adaptation.

Kal-El is sent to Earth as a baby by his father Jor-El so that he can survive his home planet of Krypton’s destruction, he lands in Smallville, Kansas where he’s found by the Kents and raised as their son. Inheriting his people’s powers and his Earth parents’ morals, Kal-El/Clark Kent eventually moves to Metropolis and becomes Superman. BOOM. Story started, anything goes from that point onward.

One night when he was a child, Bruce Wayne was coming back from a movie with his parents when his parents got shot and murdered by a mugger, leaving young Bruce orphaned and traumatized. Growing up, he vows to honor his parents’ memory and avenge their deaths by waging war on all crime in Gotham City, training himself in combat and deduction and becoming a vigilante with an identity based on something to fear - he becomes the Batman. BOOM. Story started, anything goes from that point onward.

Geeky, social outcast high school student Peter Parker one day is bitten by a radioactive spider, which mutates his blood and grants him spider-based super powers. Peter at first exploits these powers for his own gain, using them irresponsibly, which leads to him being directly responsible for the death of his Uncle Ben, who gets killed by a criminal that Peter had the opportunity to stop with his powers earlier but had chosen not to. Peter learns that with great power, there must also come great responsibility, and that’s his reasoning for becoming Spider-Man. BOOM. Story started, anything goes from that point onward.

Bottom line: No comic book adaptation has adapted the comic’s “story” to the letter, nor should they have to given the nature of this beast. It is perfectly acceptable.

#comics #adaptation #opinion #criticism #vague post #vagueblogging

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x-enter · 4 years

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DC Has Announced a New BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Comic with Paul Dini

DC has announced a new comic book miniseries that is sure to excite Batman fans! This will be a new six-issue Batman: The Animated Series comic titled Batman: The Adventures Continue and it comes from the show’s original producers Paul Dini and Alan Burnett. It will be illustrated by Ty Templeton, who worked on the show’s old tie-in comic series Batman Adventures.

According to EW, Batman: The Adventures Continue is part of an “initiative to introduce new characters into DC Collectibles’ Batman: The Animated Series line of toys” and Templeton will design these new characters in Bruce Timm’s signature style. The comic will “feature many familiar faces from the DC Animated Universe like Superman and Lex Luthor and some that never appeared in that world until now, like Jason Todd.”

Paul Dini talks about the new comic saying: “We’d gone from Dick Grayson to Tim Drake, and we had left out Jason. What we’re doing with this is looking at this as a chance to go back and actually acknowledge that was a part of the animated Batman’s history. For the first time, you’re going to see that story and you’re going to see what happened in that relationship. So, it’s our chance to not only to do Jason Todd but also the Red Hood. There are other characters like Azrael, who was popular in the comics around [the time of the show], and Deathstroke, who we never used in the animated series.”

Templeton adds: “It’s fun that it doesn’t feel like we have to deal with the 15 year gap since we told stories with these characters. We can just feel like we just stepped into these things yesterday, because the shows and comics are always out there. They never go away. I didn’t want it to feel like there’s a big gap and Batman was old and Tim was in his 30’s or anything like that. I’m really happy it just feels like the next day.” (To clarify even further, the comic takes place before the traumatic flashback events in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker).

In the first issue of the series will feature Batman/Bruce Wayne dealing with two mysteries. The first one features a giant robot who breaks into Wayne Enterprises and steals an entire laboratory. The second includes Lex Luthor’s mysterious return Gotham City. Dini says, “We’re kicking off with the Bruce-Lex relationship in a semi sequel of [the Batman and Superman crossover] ‘World’s Finest’ because the events of that are touched on. Where did that leave Bruce and Lex after they were busted by Batman and Superman? It’s interesting to see the little dueling that goes on between them.”

Templeton teases a mystery for the reader in the first issue saying, “Who is the mysterious character in the shadows observing all of this?” Dini adds: “There’s a stranger in town who has staked out the Batman family, who knows them very well, and is watching them from a distance with a mixture of amusement and deep hatred. That’s gonna be a challenge and concern for them at some point. The guy is so good that even though Batman and the others get glimpses of him, they have no idea who he is or what he wants, and that’s a mystery for them to solve.”

Dini also teased an Azrael story arc, saying: “[He comes] to Gotham on a mission of death to recover something that’s been stolen from the Order of St. Dumas and that brings him into conflict with Batman. Batman has to keep him murdering members of the Gotham underworld as they try to put together this mystery of who took it and why. I think it’s one of the coolest reveals we’ve done and it makes perfect sense given the lore of our series. That’s one of the issues I’m most jazzed about.”

As a longtime fan of Batman: The Animated Series, I couldn’t be more excited about this new Batman: The Adventure Continues comic miniseries! It hits shelves May 6, 2020 and the digital-first chapters will be released in April. You can check out a preview that was shared below.

source https://geektyrant.com/news/dc-has-announced-a-new-batman-the-animated-series-comic-with-bruce-timm-and-paul-dini

#Entertainments

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