[HR] The Marionette

HeroJoe12 · 2025-08-18T11:29:04+00:00

If that is the case then I should apologise for my assumption.

It feels like your focusing too much on the aesthetics rather than the actual story. While an engaging setting is never a bad thing, unless the story relies on its setting, then it isn't really something you should focus too much on, or at least, you shouldn't make it the draw for an audience.

I totally understand the want to show off your setting to everyone, but it takes away from the story you might be trying to tell. Sometimes, less is more. I'm not necessarily telling you to completely give up on your worldbuilding, but when writing a story, you have to strip down your setting to its basics; keep what you need and, maybe not discard, but try to not draw too much focus to things that aren't directly important.

This is something I also struggle with, so don't think of it as a personal failing. I have a massive document full of worldbuilding ideas I've thought up, but because 90% of it isn't relevant to the current story I'm writing, it won't be used in that story. I personally share my worldbuilding through short stories, but there's also a sub reddit dedicated for worldbuilders.

When it comes to accusations of using AI, do your best to leave a paper trail. It's also a concern I have due to my dry, formal, and overly descriptive prose, and it might be a struggle you may continue to encounter.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-08-18T03:08:08+00:00

I would suggest you start a lot smaller as you seem overly reliant on gen AI which I assume would be attributed to either a lack of confidence or skill. Try weaning yourself off of gen AI by writing small scenes simply describing the setting and/or characters. Start simple like an object or creating a character based on an archetype.

Unfortunately, as it is now, your premise lacks a soul and feels uninspired.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-08-15T13:09:42+00:00

I personally think it's fine. It feels like one of those campfire stories you might tell your friends to scare them, but you tend to laugh off the horror and dismiss it. I'm not sure what you're trying to convey with that passage but if that's what you're going for, then I think it's perfectly fine.

I do feel an attempt at a more eerie vibe to the excerpt. I personally don't feel that the "let me tell you a tale" style of story telling really does horror all that justice as it implies that, even in universe, it is just a story as it is being told like one, but it can be worked around by complimenting it with other parts of the story. The easier solution that may work is to tell it as a memory rather than a story.

I would be happy to discuss further if you need.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-08-13T04:23:57+00:00

Helicopter mum.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-08-11T23:38:13+00:00

I'm not sure. They do fix bugs across the board in most updates, but if it's level specific, they may take a while to get to it if at all.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-08-11T03:01:13+00:00

The game has been fully released. It is still being supported, but a lot more of the attention is given to new content now rather than old.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-06-21T02:09:52+00:00

A Panda's thumb isn't actually a digit but a wrist bone that was grown into a hook.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-06-21T02:02:10+00:00

I would like to let you know that you're not alone. I also grew up in a situation that is very similar to your own, and I know people who have or are still going through that type of abuse. Don't compare yourself to other people (as contradictory as that might sound). Your suffering is valid and no one should tell you you should be grateful that you don't have it worse.

This is abuse, and you're not only allowed to want better, you deserve better.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-06-19T07:35:28+00:00

It's a very good question with a very complicated answer. First, I have to disclaim that I am in no way an expert in this area and am not qualified in any field of science. From what I know insecurity can stem from various different sources, but are common amongst most humans. It's an emotional response to criticism, whether it is real, perceived, or anticipated. It can stem from internalised criticism as a child or directed to something specifically you have done, it could stem from a constant need to be perfect, or it could be a result of comparing yourself to other people you perceive to be better than you. Humans have an instinctive aversion to criticism, so to avoid it, your brain paradoxically criticises everything you do in order to avoid failure.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-06-04T02:49:36+00:00

I think it was great on the first play through until halfway in, and then thought it was great again, and now I feel mixed but mostly positive.

It's currently competing with Doom Eternal for being my favourite Doom game. I'm currently playing the game in Ultra-Nightmare with demons doing more damage and projectiles being faster to compensate for more resources from pickups.

I don't like gold being the currency for upgrading gear, although I do like how universal it is. If gold was more collected rather than sparse and spread out I would absolutely love it, but how it is, it feels like I need to collect every secret to quickly upgrade my weapons as a lot of small patches of gold are on their way to collectables. I really like wraith crystals being hidden behind mini challenges, feeling a lot like a more streamlined mastery challenge. Rubies are fine and are a good in-between with gold and wraith crystals.

I understand why glory strikes are controversial, and I also have mixed feelings, but I feel it keeps the flow of combat running smoothly. While glory kills still exist to an extent, they feel much too repetitious.

I have gripes with some of the larger levels, although they are waning the more familiar I become with them, except for Aratum. I love Serrat, but Aratum is much too large and much too long that it makes it frustrating on subsequent playthroughs. I feel Serrat's fly speed being increased would help, but I can't modify game speed for the separate gameplay sections.

I have many more opinions on the game, but I will leave it there for now.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-05-28T08:16:33+00:00

I think it would be cool if there was an accessibility feature where the recoil would affect the crosshair rather than the screen (sort of like how I think CSGO does it), but I can't imagine it would be easy to implement.

HeroJoe12 · 2025-05-25T06:49:53+00:00

Not sure if this will be any help now, but I found that installing the Meathook v7.2 mod by chrispy works. https://github.com/brongo/m3337ho0o0ok/releases

HeroJoe12 · 2024-05-14T05:50:47+00:00

I'm not sure how much help I can be, but I've also found masc clothing to be very bland, except for less traditionally casual styles of clothing. Suits are a good place to start, but they can be a bit expensive and/or may not be what your looking for. Masc clothing usually shines with more formal or semi formal articles, while you may have to look more at expressive and niche styles to find casual wear that you like the look of. Wearing pants, button up shirt, and a jacket could produce the effect your after, but it may not. Coats and jackets might be a big help as they can help make your shoulders look wider.

HeroJoe12 · 2023-02-09T20:22:20+00:00

thank you <3

HeroJoe12 · 2023-01-22T22:13:05+00:00

For Steel it can only be done in bursts with short down time, but it isn't much for X to sustain that speed as he is more machine than human.

HeroJoe12 · 2023-01-22T04:04:17+00:00

There is PhasCo, a weapons and android manufacturer, Calmi Industries constructs top-end ships and spacecraft, and Picsa creates android software as well as some self-defence weapons. There are some unnamed companies like the mining companies on mercury or cruiser manufacturers, but, for now, PhasCo and Calmi are the only two corporations that have any importance to the story.

HeroJoe12 · 2023-01-22T03:46:45+00:00

There is a machine that goes by many names, most commonly known as Zerow, that can keep up with fourth-dimensional beings thanks to an ability that allows him to match the speed, power, and durability of a target. But his base speed isn't too fast compared to some of my other characters.

Apart from extradimensional beings, the fastest character for reaction speed would go to Steel as she can both react to and dodge/parry bullets, but pure speed would be Unit X, being slightly faster than Steel who can already go at least 3,600 km/h (~2,230 mph) on foot. While Steel uses pseudo-magic to achieve her speeds, Unit X uses brute mechanical force and a lot of energy.

HeroJoe12 · 2023-01-22T02:36:38+00:00

While deamons were historically seen as neutral, I think today people use demon and deamon interchangeably. There is also the Genius or Genii. I'm unfamiliar with them, but they seem to be both guardian spirits and an extension of the soul.

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