Just noodling really
Mar. 15th, 2025 06:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethToday my only achievement has been noticing I wasn't having much fun playing Wrath of the Righteous and stopping.
I started Inevitable Excess on Core difficulty with Angelica the gold dragon from my last play through. Core is a smidge higher difficulty than I was playing her at. It is entirely unforgiving of error. On the other hand, I have a giant stash of diamonds and Daeran Arendae, so my errors last as long as it takes to cast Resurrection. Which probably isn't much fun for the characters but thus far works.
I think I want a new story. But I want a new Pathfinder story, and they haven't made that for the computer yet.
... still sad about Kingmaker being so shonky, it was so good as a story and so utterly crashing unplayable as a console game.
Other than that I have been rereading Torchwood fanfic, ones from my bookmarks so I know I like them already. So far it has been a collection of time travel fixit fics, almost all from the set of fics that clearly and explicitly approve of polyamory. When I was reading through the Jack/Ianto fics I found a lot that thought Jack needed fixing so he'd be monogamous, and a few absolute nightmares that think Ianto being his One True Love is a great ending. Those ones are fans of different characters with the same name, and have a wildly different idea of how things work to me. Five billion years of story to fill in, I think they'd have more fun with more dances.
So far the fic I've been reading was from before Big Finish got their hands on them.
There is a lot a lot a lot going on in Big Finish that sort of decides how to interpret characters and then fills in... something ever approaching all the days we didn't see.
Makes stories that are simply TV canon compliant feel like half a conversation even though that's what we usually mean by canon.
I've been seeing people on tumblr get into listening to Torchwood audios but they weren't distinguishing between BBC and Big Finish audios. And I think you kind of have to? Because the BBC ones went out on the radio as sort of official tie ins, in the lead up to new episodes, and Big Finish... seldom but not never does that. Hmmmm. But. As a matter of which canon will be referred to in which canon, it gets a bit messy. All the audios take the TV episodes as canon, but not afaict vice versa. I don't recall TV or audio referring to the books. Even though some of the books are available as audio books. Big Finish happen after the BBC audios. But I don't think they refer to the audios, not even House of the Dead.
... I keep wanting to get people to listen to House of the Dead in between watching Children of Earth and starting Miracle Day, which was the original broadcast order, but it's really difficult to explain to people why they need to listen in that exact order without giving away giant spoilers, and if that's the only one they listen to it loses a lot of the first listening shock, which depended heavily on that set of audios not giving you external clues when they were set. So you think it is like the other audios, set in the gaps in the Before, but oh no, it is set in the gap AFTER. And hitting that unspoiled has so much more punch. But is really difficult to replicate by now.
... I just want people to listen all the audios and love them. So much more Ianto and Jack in audio.
But also I want people to listen to audios with a more critical hat on. Because I keep seeing people hear about The Torchwood Archive audio and just being like *gasp* Jack and Ianto have a Dog! Called Untitled! And fair enough reacting that way, the wiki takes it at face value too. It's just I think it's actually a Clue? Because not everything in that audio could all have been true. Internally I mean, some characters turn out to be lying. So I think the dog is a Clue that the 'Torchwood' we are hearing are no more real than when the hologram chose to look like Ianto in that other audio with two incompatible versions of the story on it, can't remember the title, another Big Finish in the Story Continues line. I thought that the computer pretending to be familiar characters was actually pretty creepy and manipulative of it. I thought the dog was Untitled because it's drawn from a computer file that didn't have a title. Clue. Though I haven't listened to it for a bit, I just checked the summary. The other way is more cute, obvs, and many people love the idea of a digital afterlife, but with 'AI' chat bots and that fancy autocorrect being a Thing now, I think it's more relevant than ever to wonder what a copy would really have in common with the original.
And how the familiar can be used to manipulate us.
I don't think AI is going to pretend to be people's dead loved ones in order to take over the universe or anything. I think it'll just be the latest iteration of the psychic con that milks grief for every last penny, getting people to pay to talk to people that are gone.
And Big Finish Torchwood did that big story where Influencers are being killed off so their digital avatars can continue selling things without the inconvenience of, well, free will and being a person with expenses and so forth.
How creeptastic is advertising going to get when it's not just fake celebrity endorsements, it's like an avatar based on your grandparents that just nudges you towards certain product lines.
Next level Facebook, family offers, family not included.
So using the familiar Torchwood agents to sell the idea that Many Humans Say To Do This, when it is actually one AI, is pretty simples.
It'll be like the Buffyverse First Evil, you'll have to check people are actual flesh and blood humans before they're worth listening at all.
Ugh.
Well now I've given myself the creeps.
Actually in the Whoniverse what I just said could be robot racist. Like it's not a problem being an artificial person if they are in fact a person, with something in the ball park of free will. The creep factor comes in when they're just mouthpieces and broken ideas. Sales people without the people.
Now I'm thinking about K9 and Kamelion. Well that's not simples. Robot that's so obedient they'll blow themselves up for a Good Dog. Robot that gets taken over a lot. Tricky.
To be fair though a number of humans also get taken over, some of them a lot.
See this is why I end up staying in the Whoniverse for my story consumption. It's not like you run out of variety in there. New corners all the time. Big thoughts if you want them. Just also a lot of Run and Boom and characters you know of already.
I think though I should try reading something slightly different. Just for variety. At some point.
Ah well, this is quite long for not many thoughts, I'll go do something else.
I started Inevitable Excess on Core difficulty with Angelica the gold dragon from my last play through. Core is a smidge higher difficulty than I was playing her at. It is entirely unforgiving of error. On the other hand, I have a giant stash of diamonds and Daeran Arendae, so my errors last as long as it takes to cast Resurrection. Which probably isn't much fun for the characters but thus far works.
I think I want a new story. But I want a new Pathfinder story, and they haven't made that for the computer yet.
... still sad about Kingmaker being so shonky, it was so good as a story and so utterly crashing unplayable as a console game.
Other than that I have been rereading Torchwood fanfic, ones from my bookmarks so I know I like them already. So far it has been a collection of time travel fixit fics, almost all from the set of fics that clearly and explicitly approve of polyamory. When I was reading through the Jack/Ianto fics I found a lot that thought Jack needed fixing so he'd be monogamous, and a few absolute nightmares that think Ianto being his One True Love is a great ending. Those ones are fans of different characters with the same name, and have a wildly different idea of how things work to me. Five billion years of story to fill in, I think they'd have more fun with more dances.
So far the fic I've been reading was from before Big Finish got their hands on them.
There is a lot a lot a lot going on in Big Finish that sort of decides how to interpret characters and then fills in... something ever approaching all the days we didn't see.
Makes stories that are simply TV canon compliant feel like half a conversation even though that's what we usually mean by canon.
I've been seeing people on tumblr get into listening to Torchwood audios but they weren't distinguishing between BBC and Big Finish audios. And I think you kind of have to? Because the BBC ones went out on the radio as sort of official tie ins, in the lead up to new episodes, and Big Finish... seldom but not never does that. Hmmmm. But. As a matter of which canon will be referred to in which canon, it gets a bit messy. All the audios take the TV episodes as canon, but not afaict vice versa. I don't recall TV or audio referring to the books. Even though some of the books are available as audio books. Big Finish happen after the BBC audios. But I don't think they refer to the audios, not even House of the Dead.
... I keep wanting to get people to listen to House of the Dead in between watching Children of Earth and starting Miracle Day, which was the original broadcast order, but it's really difficult to explain to people why they need to listen in that exact order without giving away giant spoilers, and if that's the only one they listen to it loses a lot of the first listening shock, which depended heavily on that set of audios not giving you external clues when they were set. So you think it is like the other audios, set in the gaps in the Before, but oh no, it is set in the gap AFTER. And hitting that unspoiled has so much more punch. But is really difficult to replicate by now.
... I just want people to listen all the audios and love them. So much more Ianto and Jack in audio.
But also I want people to listen to audios with a more critical hat on. Because I keep seeing people hear about The Torchwood Archive audio and just being like *gasp* Jack and Ianto have a Dog! Called Untitled! And fair enough reacting that way, the wiki takes it at face value too. It's just I think it's actually a Clue? Because not everything in that audio could all have been true. Internally I mean, some characters turn out to be lying. So I think the dog is a Clue that the 'Torchwood' we are hearing are no more real than when the hologram chose to look like Ianto in that other audio with two incompatible versions of the story on it, can't remember the title, another Big Finish in the Story Continues line. I thought that the computer pretending to be familiar characters was actually pretty creepy and manipulative of it. I thought the dog was Untitled because it's drawn from a computer file that didn't have a title. Clue. Though I haven't listened to it for a bit, I just checked the summary. The other way is more cute, obvs, and many people love the idea of a digital afterlife, but with 'AI' chat bots and that fancy autocorrect being a Thing now, I think it's more relevant than ever to wonder what a copy would really have in common with the original.
And how the familiar can be used to manipulate us.
I don't think AI is going to pretend to be people's dead loved ones in order to take over the universe or anything. I think it'll just be the latest iteration of the psychic con that milks grief for every last penny, getting people to pay to talk to people that are gone.
And Big Finish Torchwood did that big story where Influencers are being killed off so their digital avatars can continue selling things without the inconvenience of, well, free will and being a person with expenses and so forth.
How creeptastic is advertising going to get when it's not just fake celebrity endorsements, it's like an avatar based on your grandparents that just nudges you towards certain product lines.
Next level Facebook, family offers, family not included.
So using the familiar Torchwood agents to sell the idea that Many Humans Say To Do This, when it is actually one AI, is pretty simples.
It'll be like the Buffyverse First Evil, you'll have to check people are actual flesh and blood humans before they're worth listening at all.
Ugh.
Well now I've given myself the creeps.
Actually in the Whoniverse what I just said could be robot racist. Like it's not a problem being an artificial person if they are in fact a person, with something in the ball park of free will. The creep factor comes in when they're just mouthpieces and broken ideas. Sales people without the people.
Now I'm thinking about K9 and Kamelion. Well that's not simples. Robot that's so obedient they'll blow themselves up for a Good Dog. Robot that gets taken over a lot. Tricky.
To be fair though a number of humans also get taken over, some of them a lot.
See this is why I end up staying in the Whoniverse for my story consumption. It's not like you run out of variety in there. New corners all the time. Big thoughts if you want them. Just also a lot of Run and Boom and characters you know of already.
I think though I should try reading something slightly different. Just for variety. At some point.
Ah well, this is quite long for not many thoughts, I'll go do something else.
So... you play WotR.
Date: 2025-03-15 09:52 pm (UTC)*gently shakes you while sobbing*
I am *torturing* my spouses and close friends with *endless* witter about Sosiel and Wenduag and ALL the rest and I just. Can't --
*breathes*
Hi! How've you been?
Re: So... you play WotR.
Date: 2025-03-16 04:39 pm (UTC)Sadly the only places I do fandom are here and on tumblr, and I don't know where people talk about Pathfinder that isn't guides or rules talk.
I can talk about it but my thoughts are not on the whole highly rated. More speculative theology and wondering what crossover characters would do. I think I've been tagging it games and or rpg ?
I've finished it at Azata, Trickster/Legend, Aeon, and Azata/Gold Dragon so far. Lower difficulties are more fun and character builds are so mathy.
My main thought about Sosiel is it's weird he arrives in the last act upset about sharing, when Shelyn is dating Sarenrae and Desna. I wanted to have a theological discussion the dialogue did not support. Also Sosiel probably has a bunch of feelings about Shelyn never giving up on her brother. Going looking for Trever in the dark has a lot of religious resonance. I like how the story is digging in to the difference between the beauty of the stories he grew up on and the trial of finding the beauty in the reality of the worldwound.
I romanced Daeran and Arushalae to the end of the game so far, so I don't know how things work out with the others.
Re: So... you play WotR.
Date: 2025-03-17 06:31 pm (UTC)I am quietly lurking on the tumblrs of a few people, waiting for an opening, lmao
More speculative theology and wondering what crossover characters would do.
I gotta go back and look, because I have *Thoughts* about Shelyn and Calistria. I've been working some of the Shelyn stuff into fic, here and there, but... *not enough*
I've finished it at Azata, Trickster/Legend, Aeon, and Azata/Gold Dragon so far. Lower difficulties are more fun and character builds are so mathy.
I have totally not finished. *beats head on desk* I reach a certain point in my playthroughs, have to go write a fic, go back to the game, realize I need a whole new KC... and so on. I love my Dhampir Azata so far, though, and omg so mathy.
The character-building is so DEEP. I have been *desperate* to get my spouses and RPG-folk into this, but -- so far no dice.
My main thought about Sosiel is it's weird he arrives in the last act upset about sharing, when Shelyn is dating Sarenrae and Desna.
Thank you so much for reminding me of this and inspiring me to meta. *pffft* Honestly, though, as a thoroughly poly person who has spent too long gnashing their teeth for lack of poly representation? I have *no* problem, as a fanfic writer, jettisoning canon I consider utterly ridiculous and *asinine* in favor of something Better. (And that's what I've done.)
Also Sosiel probably has a bunch of feelings about Shelyn never giving up on her brother. Going looking for Trever in the dark has a lot of religious resonance.
!!!! I NEED TO WRITE THIIIIIIIIS.
I romanced Daeran and Arushalae to the end of the game so far, so I don't know how things work out with the others.
Daeran is *such* a delight. Just -- *boom* goes my brain.
I downloaded the mod that lets you romance everyone at the same time, because I wanted to see all the romance paths before picking one (my mother taught me to comparison shop), and I find Lann's both the most irritating and the most adorable? They do a good job of making Lizardman McBootstraps *believably* inexperienced, yet also an adult. This is a man I would toss out a *window* if I wound up in a relationship with him irl, but I am fascinated by his bumbling lack of self-esteem, self-awareness, and chill, and how the writers *still* manage to keep him from sounding like a 14-yo.
Sosiel's romance path...
...
Excuse me while I melt into a puddle and *squee*, because holy gee, Batman, this man is sugar and honey and affirmation-validation-*adoration*. Lots of people seem to think *his* romance is the most juvenile, but... *shakes head* He's inexperienced, and he struggles to integrate his passion for you with how Shelyn wants him to behave, but at no point does he feel/sound like the adolescent-incel devil on Lann's shoulder.
ANYWAY. <3
Re: So... you play WotR.
Date: 2025-03-18 07:46 pm (UTC)Ignoring the stupid decision is always valid.
The Radiant Prism is a ship name and a pantheon, Sosiel knowing that can only improve the story.
Thing is I have Thoughts about how being mistaken about religion is a Theme in Wrath of the Righteous, so really this error being Sosiel's could generate story, and story could lead to Daeran and the Knight Commander enlightening him about a few things.
Not that I'm entirely convinced Daeran 'it's not a date' Arendae is as ready to share as he claims. Plus he might have some residual ideas about it being another aspect of sin, and getting him to revise his ideas about that seems like holy work. Sosiel can do a lot for Daeran too.
Daeran is a delight. Not romancing him just feels Bad now. But I don't do mods so choosing is required.
Sosiel is so sweet. I wouldn't call him juvenile, just, he's spent a lot of time on the Art/Beauty instead of the Experience. Like he wants everything to be perfect and he has stylised ways to do it in mind.
Lann I have not romanced, yet he thinks he is romancing me, every time I play a ♀ KC. This put me off so much I haven't tried seeing what happens. I'm glad it is well done.
Shelyn and Calistria compare/contrast in excellent ways. Like Gorum and Iomedae, the differences in focus and effects are profound but the overlap is illuminating.
!!!! = :-)
Finishing WotR is a big time investment and there's so many paths to do. *sympathy*
I'm not sure I'll be good at avoiding spoilers if there's stuff you don't want to know.
Do you do the DLCs? I bring Ulbrig everywhere and want another go at his romance now I know the end of his story. Complicated!
Re: So... you play WotR.
Date: 2025-03-25 12:54 am (UTC)It's been in my head for-fucking-EVER. Just -- give me a Black Daeran! For once!
The Radiant Prism is a ship name and a pantheon, Sosiel knowing that can only improve the story.
Thing is I have Thoughts about how being mistaken about religion is a Theme in Wrath of the Righteous, so really this error being Sosiel's could generate story, and story could lead to Daeran and the Knight Commander enlightening him about a few things.
You are 10,000% going to make me write 50 more Sosiel fics, and that is right and proper and needed in this world. I tend to think Sosiel (tries to) carves himself down to a fraction of himself, partly in a mistaken idea that that's what holiness demands, and partly as an act of self-defense against all of his BIG FEELINGS. Not just "uglier" lusts, or un-Shelynite rages, but... hm.
That is a heart that is full at *all* times, I think. And which chooses rules to follow based on what will most allow him to *function* *nobly*.
Not that I'm entirely convinced Daeran 'it's not a date' Arendae is as ready to share as he claims. Plus he might have some residual ideas about it being another aspect of sin, and getting him to revise his ideas about that seems like holy work. Sosiel can do a lot for Daeran too.
I think Daeran has been positively gagging for someone to convince him that his cynicism isn't The Intelligent Choice, that there's room for hope in this world, that love and beauty sometimes win, and that he, personally, deserves all of it.
Shipping him with Sosiel is the obvious choice, snipping and sniping aside, much as shipping Astarion with Wyll is the obvious choice, and that amuses me to *death*.
Daeran is a delight. Not romancing him just feels Bad now. But I don't do mods so choosing is required.
I feeeel that. I am absolutely not good enough at most games to play sans mods, and, since I'm there for the stories far more than I'm there for the gameplay... well, I take advantage. I absolutely understand not wanting to interrupt the purity.
(And mods or no mods, trying to play BG3 without romancing/friend-mancing Astarion is. Difficult.)
Shelyn and Calistria compare/contrast in excellent ways. Like Gorum and Iomedae, the differences in focus and effects are profound but the overlap is illuminating.
I usually play with Calistria as my patron goddess, and, like. I just enjoy her? The *ideas* behind her are fascinating -- and I will not get tired of the ways these games find to show off the whole "every god has reasonable AND unreasonable followers" thing.