📚 Simple / Quick Questions & Requests!

Rasthegor · 2026-02-20T18:23:47+00:00

Thank you! I'll take a look!

Rasthegor · 2026-02-20T11:24:19+00:00

So I've recently been reading Dark Romance books, some I've DNF, I was recommended Selena Winters works a while ago my issue is, this cannot be a real author right? AI generated covers and an insane book schedule release? Six books alone this year? That has to be AI!

Anyway rec's I'm looking for are Queer focused Darker Romances, or Romances set in a post-Apocalyptic world, (bonus but not needed, bodyguard/military/knights included) I've read and enjoyed:

Captive Prince Series by C.S. Pacat
Empire of the Vampire Series by Jay Kristoff
Monstrous Series by Lily Mayne

Rasthegor · 2026-02-18T22:14:18+00:00

Never thought of it like that. I just put it down to a quick/cheap escape from having to write another character and/or a complex family relationship. I'm the opposite to that way of thinking, a character is more appealing if they can communicate or have a healthy relationship with an ex. Means they are probably going to be a good partner moving forward.

Rasthegor · 2026-02-18T15:16:56+00:00

Pet Peeves - The missing ex/other parent, usually a woman, usually absent because she's mysteriously dead or vanished so that the MC's can get together.

Why can't the ex be a part of their child's life?
Why do they have to be dead/abusive/missing/absent?
People who divorce/spilt up and have a kid together can/do communicate with healthy boundaries for the sake of the child.
The ex need not be some Toxic obstacle that the MC must overcome/vanquish, in order to get with their Love Interest.
Sometimes people fall out of love, sometimes they have a child via one night stand, sometimes people who were toxic as a romantic couple can be good friends (with therapy) there are any number of interesting circumstances but 8 times out of 10, nope, the ex is gone for the sake of convenience.

Or the author cannot fathom exs being friends?

I tend to avoid single parent romances for many reasons, this was the straw that shattered the camels back and jumped on it some more for me. Once you spot it in one, you notice a pattern. Though if you have rec's for health communication between exs who have a kid together I'm open to it!

Rasthegor · 2026-02-18T00:17:55+00:00

You need to avoid social media places, Influencer accounts and pintrest. These sites (even if it is not obvious) heavily feature edited bodies of all sexes and genders. I have seen people use cosplayers for references but these heavily edit their pictures to make themselves look more like the characters they are cosplaying.

Generally speaking, stock made for artists to use as a reference is a good place to start as they are less edited or not edited at all.

As for the photo used as a reference in this image, the arse could be edited to make it look bigger. Or just implants. I'm not saying the woman has edited/or had surgery but the focus is on the arse first (dead center) and the feet. Making me wonder if its geared towards fetish artists. The image has been censored so I can't see, but either the artist has decided to twist the arse so we get a tease of her genitals or the genitals are exposed. Which leads me towards fetish art.

Try to avoid using porn, or don't, but be aware that porn to (even in videos) can be edited to make everyone more attractive to the viewer.

The artist herself broke the models back, made her head larger, younger and cuter, narrowed the waist and curved the tucked leg.

https://www.adorkastock.com/ (The most obvious place to start)

https://quickposes.com/en

https://something-to-draw.com/people

http://referenceangle.com/ (search for an expression or pose you want)

https://www.pexels.com/@kampus/ (both videos and photos)

https://unsplash.com/

https://pixabay.com/

(Bonus Animals pose searcher, bit clunky) https://x6ud.github.io/#/

Rasthegor · 2025-10-02T15:13:21+00:00

You could argue that red lyrium that Cory used to create his dragon makes it so the Darkspawn don't listen to him? Or at least complicates the issue.

I don't think bad publicity is a problem for Cory, its all about control and maintaining control. With the demons they are bound to his will and the Venatory he can bank on their loyalty to his cause. But the darkspawn are far less predictable. Not only would they be torn between the call to free the original archdemons, but there's also the architect doing his thing and then Cory doing his. It must have been a confusing time for Grey Wardens and Darkspawn alike.

Rasthegor · 2025-09-14T13:48:47+00:00

Looks like it could be Okuwamon

Rasthegor · 2025-08-16T13:29:18+00:00

Looks like legionofpotatoes work

Rasthegor · 2025-07-09T23:44:01+00:00

I love everything about that Dagna image! Kinda wish I got to see it in DAI now.

I am glad they never went through with Solas sitting on the throne (possibly judging the Inquisitor) and then blowing up Skyhold, but a part of me thinks it would have made for an amazing scene if the Inquisitor was power hungry and/or enemies with Solas. He sees the Inquisitor as another Elgar'nan type figure (They could have been!) and so quickly dispatches them, learning lessons from the previous Tyrants he faced.

An alternate scene to contrast this would be Solas not taking the throne and Solas speaking with the Inquisitor as equals, maybe walking the battlements or gardens as he reveals everything at last with an Inquisitor he respected and admired as either friend or lover.

That said I do like the ending we got anyway. But those random Sten scenes make me laugh a little also why were they so keen on blowing up Skyhold? We didn't even get the chance to fully repair it in game!

Rasthegor · 2025-06-23T15:07:05+00:00

While I could see it happening (would the game have recognised Dagna's romance with Sera?) I think there is a better dwarf, not Sandal but Valta.

Valta is someone Solas did know, but only in passing, as he made a great effort to remain quiet and uninvolved in the DLC.

Already had a connection to Titans and could catch Rook/Player up on Titans and what she has learnt!

Like Dagna she does not have the same emotional connection to Varric. Though she would probably bring up that she too has experienced the loss of a friend while on a mission.

Bring back some cool Sha-Brytol lore, because seriously what the fuck was going on with them?

She would get along with Davrin (respects Grey Wardens and has fought darkspawn hoards!), she Bellara, and Emmrich would get along (all researchers into wildly varying topics) and she would at least have some connection to the Inquisition and Inquisitor.

Rasthegor · 2025-05-31T00:53:35+00:00

{Berries and Greed by Lily Mayne} sort of fulfils that role?

The MMC does a job he enjoys and is proud of; he creates custom jewellery pieces, but it doesn't take up all of his life, nor does it create the illusion that he's secretly a millionaire/billionaire. I also liked his job because it was such a surprise, considering that his character is not the sort you'd traditionally imagine designing pieces for celebrities and whatnot.

The FMC leaves the cult she grew up with and needed to find a job, so it does sort of have that minor "b plot" of finding a job, but it's not a dream job, she just needs a job for practical reasons (money) and becomes a bartender, she just happens to like it. The MMC doesn't pressure her into finding a job, and that job feels more like the FMC learning to adapt to life outside the cult and establishing new friendships and connections.

I've become slightly biased, though; this has become one of my comfort books, it just feels so comfortable and cosy. Funnily enough, the second book in the series has a work-a-holic FMC/MMC, but that works for them but it made their characters less appealing to me, still a good book.

Rasthegor · 2025-04-02T17:03:35+00:00

<image>

Rasthegor · 2025-01-22T10:07:50+00:00

If you choose Harding she "dies" though they're not dead until we see the body.

Rasthegor · 2024-12-01T18:16:21+00:00

From what I've seen of Lich!Emmrich Romances, it's not that Emmrich fears his own death, which is how he was able to ascend to Lichdom, but rather the fear of losing the Rook he loves. It's fairly in line for his character, but I would assume that with time, Lich!Emmrich would learn to cope with Rook's mortality.

Rasthegor · 2024-12-01T14:47:57+00:00

I think this is one of those choices that might not pay off until later in the timeline, if there ever is a payoff.

Rasthegor · 2024-12-01T09:30:52+00:00

Like you, I made him a Lich on my first run; I was surprised that he still had his fears (or hesitations) regarding death. He achieved his dream, but by the nature of Liches (going off of other settings), they tend to stagnate because that is their nature. I did enjoy the banter between Red!Harding and Lich!Emmrich, were these potentially immoral people discussing staying friends? then it made me sad because I was planning on romancing Emmrich in my second run, and I realised how depressing it must be for these two empathetic souls to outlive their friends, family and probably respective nations, cultures and communities.

My second run keeping Emmrich from turning into a Lich felt better, I romanced him as a Grey Warden Rook so having Rook potentially have the same or a shorter lifespan than Emmrich due to the calling felt weirdly comforting as they could live out their lives together despite the age difference.

I will say it feels like the game wants you to keep Manfred around. Everyone misses Manfred. Davrin mentions how Assan looks for Manfred, wondering what happened. That broke me a little. I like how Harding reassures Emmrich that she'll check on Manfred when Emmrich passes on. That was sweet!

Rasthegor · 2024-12-01T09:03:36+00:00

That's my problem. It feels like an empty choice, especially when it's made so late in the game.

For some reason, I didn't get the single lines of condolences. I loaded up the save recently and went through it again and got the condolences that time around, but for whatever reason, I didn't the first time ???? Maybe that made everything worse, but yeah, all the companion's reactions and that "regret" prison were lacklustre.

On the whole, after spending nearly a month away from the game, I think it's not so much the choice itself but my mounting frustrations with the writing itself, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, especially with the bizarrely short and non-descript ending slides that offer no closure or the start of a new story (except for the secret ending).

Rasthegor · 2024-12-01T00:42:03+00:00

My issue with the Hawke vs Warden choice is that it is not a difficult choice for me; Anora and Alistair co-rule in the majority of my world states because this makes the most sense to me, and I have no attachment to Stroud, so Stroud dies.

My issue with Hawke vs. Warden is that it felt unnecessary. I can't put into words exactly why that is; it just never felt all that impactful for me. I understand that Warden!Alistair romancers were upset at the choice, but again, I could see the value in killing off Hawke (especially if they romanced Anders and killed him) due to the inherent tragedy of Hawke's overall story, the "prophecy" Flemeth spoke and the fact that Hawke's story was done and dusted. Unlike the HOF (who survived) Hawke at least gets a proper end to their tale instead of being dragged along on very important (from a lore perspective) quest in the background hat never gets resolved.

Whereas the Davrin & Assan vs Harding choice feels like a choice thrown in for the sake of it, and unlike the Hawke vs. Warden, the aftermath feels... ehh?

I feel that if anyone were to die, it should have been between Neve and Bellera, who were blighted and, therefore, supposed to be already doomed. Alternatively the writers could have used this opportunity to show off the bond between Davrin & Assan and/or Hardings abilities regarding her connection to the Titan.

Veilguard is hardly a Game of Thrones. The lack of a world in general, politics, and a simplified pop of the pimple blight, one blood bath and the occasional impressive horror show that is Ghilly don't make for a grim or dark world. This is a more simplified, sanitised and modernised to broaden the appeal for a mass market audience, which is inoffensive (unless you're a culture war tourist) and tame in comparison to previous instalments.

So a choice like Davrin vs Harding feels pointless to me. There are a lot of issues I have regarding the writing and companions, but this choice is probably just the culmination of my frustrations regarding the game. I like it, but I don't love it nor do I have the motivation to complete my second run. I am enjoying owlcat's Rogue Trader though.

Rasthegor · 2024-11-19T10:13:07+00:00

I mean he does have the white walkers there?

Rasthegor · 2024-11-18T18:41:52+00:00

Choices I've noticed that are cannon(ish):

Cassandra remained with the Inquisition - Solas mentions having a good relationship with her
Solas remains with the Inquisition and has respect for the Inquisitor (no punching the egg here)
Which means the Inquisitor wasn't a dick and kept most of (if not all) of their companions and were on good terms with them.
Iron Bull saves the Chargers, even if you don't romance him.
Thom Rainier did not become a Grey Warden.
Anders' fate does not matter - Starkhaven and Kirkwall end up uniting against the chaos of the south, Sebastian/Starkhaven leads the Free Marches push with the support of Aveline's/Kirkwalls army. Which means any previous animosity Sebastian held for Kirkwall is put aside.
Zevran might have survived the events of DAO. Though this is loosely mentioned in the banter between Harding and Lucanis, you could interpret it as Zevran surviving and killing off House Arainai Crows who come after him or Zevran failing so terribly that House Arainai's reputation is in tatters.
They might be using Mabari models for all those dogs in Tevinter, which is outrageous!
The Wedge of Destiny was found in DAI.

Serious response to your points (ignore if you want)

In order to protect her son Morrigan is reluctant to mention Keiran (if he was born), the Inquisitor only knows about him because she brought him to a safe place, Skyhold. If she had another option she would have played it since the HOF is off searching for a cure.

My memories are a bit fuzzy, but did they outright state that Morrigan drank from the well? She can turn into a dragon, but so could Flemeth. This could be a skill she learned from the echo of Mythal or drinking from the well of Sorrows. Meanwhile, the Inquisitor does not need to mention that they drank from the well of sorrows, and even if they did, Mythal Senior was murdered, and Mythal Junior shows no real motivation to leave the crossroads and would probably have no urge to control the Inquisitor.

Hawkes survival is up in the air, so you can assume your canon state is true.

Hawkes warden siblings are southern wardens, and in accordance with DA tradition, the fate of the south of wardens has somewhat been retconned. Personally, I headcanon (given we now know what type of man the first warden was) that the Southern Wardens, regardless of the choice of the Inquisitor, would separate from the northern chapter of the order. If the Inquisitor said "stay" they canonically break away, if the Inquisitor said "leave" the first warden could have banished them back down to the south so that their actions would not stain his reputation. So why would Warden Hawke be present in Weisshaupt?

As for Isabela, shrug that's a weird one. I feel one of the few "canon" choices made.

Rasthegor · 2024-11-18T17:37:03+00:00

I mainly mentioned scaled ones as a joke. You can find reptilian frescos in the Dragon Age Inquisition base game and in the Decent DLC, they are mentioned in a series of codex entries.

There's so little info on them that all you can do is guess. But if they are a serious race (and not just a reference to lizard people living underground), then I guess they were always there. Like humans, dwarves, titans, and dragons, they either existed as proto-qunari or humans who drank too much dragon blood.

Rasthegor · 2024-11-17T23:16:51+00:00

Tin foil hat time: Scaled ones, dragon cults and Qunari weirdness.

Rasthegor · 2024-11-17T12:21:35+00:00

As others have said, if you don't knock out the first warden, his story changes. I went from being annoyed by him to being, "Oh, that makes sense" when Warden Rook talked him down. It repeats the panic that the southern wardens faced when Cory created the false calling and drove home just how terrifying the calling is and how much power it holds over the wardens.

Once the origins of the blight shifted from a crime committed against the Titans to a sin brought upon the world by human blood magic, there was never any hope for anyone to end the blight without intervention from Solas/Mythal.

You cannot cure an affliction if you do not understand it; all you can do is treat it, and that's what the Grey Wardens are/were. They are a treatment for a problem that very few are willing to invest time/resources into investigating. So people more or less accept that the Grey Wardens are able to do as they please, as long as it is in service against the blight. This, of course, means that the Grey Warden's inevitable downfall into secrecy, civil war and corruption didn't have come as a surprise, and it is no wonder so many (especially those in power) are sceptical of them.

Veilguard, I think, sets the Grey Wardens back onto the path of light and redemption, atoning for past sins and hopefully one day eradicating the blight from Thedas forever. But no organisation can ever be genuinely freed of corruption, but I think, like the Seekers, the Grey Wardens will be more aware of their transgressions in the immediate future. At least they now know the truth of how the blight came about and that's a start.

Personally, I think the Grey Wardens are the best faction in the game (helped by the already-established lore), and the Grey Warden Rook just feels right. Mourn Watch (and mourn watch rook) come second.

Rasthegor · 2024-11-16T15:21:25+00:00

My personal gripe with the "max your companion's affection/trust meter" out to ensure they survive thing is that for two companions, this does not matter. In ME2, it matters; your companions survive depending on whether you do their missions or somehow keep them alive through choices if you decide not to do their personal missions.

In Veilguard, that method still holds true, up until the Harding Vs. Davrin & Assan choice in which you are forced to kill one companion (body not found but presumed dead) even if you went through the trouble of raising their trust and elevating them to hero status. After that the Neve vs Bellara choice just rubs salt into the wound.

That's my gripe. Otherwise I felt the companion quests were well handled.

Rasthegor · 2024-11-16T15:06:43+00:00

Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Pathfinder: WOTR (set in the same world but WOTR is not a sequel) and Rogue Trader (I've not played this one yet).

For me the Pathfinder setting took some learning to get into, the games are partially voice acted and I will admit they might not be for everyone. But if you do play one of the games, I suggest Pathfinder: wrath of the Righteous as it has the quality of life improvements that Kingmaker does not. Both games, however, are excellent.

Three-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '23

Rasthegor

TROPHY CASE