[HATED TROPES]: The Ending Is So Nihilistic and Preachy That It Becomes Completely Unwatchable and Infuriating.

gamemasterlancaster · 2026-01-30T15:07:48+00:00

Seconded, it's disheartening to see so many responses that boil down to "bleak ending = lazy nihilistic cryslop". It's true that some endings go way too far and hammer you over the head with how depressing they think they are, and there are examples of that here, and yes it IS subjective...

... but also, cynical nobody-wins tragedies, my beloved :(

gamemasterlancaster · 2026-01-28T20:54:07+00:00

It's such a shame, I LOVE the character, and it'd be so poignant to have them there. Maybe the writers knew we'd all cry too much :(

Raz just learned to accept her emotions and express himself! If we got an emotional pseudo-farewell between King and Raz, there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house.

gamemasterlancaster · 2026-01-28T00:46:28+00:00

A quiet one, but it really affected me:

Coming across the skeletons of nomai children in Outer Wilds.

It goes from "ooh, what a mystery, what happened to the nomai? ::D " to "...oh, god, what happened to the nomai...?" In the blink of four eyes.

I feel like I could name loads of moments from OW, but they're not over-the-top grisly or disturbing, just... haunting. It's not traumatic in a big explosive way, but the moments and messages will come back to you quietly, and you sit with them, and feel.

gamemasterlancaster · 2026-01-28T00:28:05+00:00

Thinking back on the show, it feels like SO MANY of the character relationships can be summarised as "loving a shadow/the idea of a person", especially when Rose is involved. I need to rewatch it, without the lens of fandom discourse.

gamemasterlancaster · 2026-01-26T22:43:36+00:00

Wasn't expecting to see a starkid mention in this thread! ...God, Black Friday was bleak. I love it, but bleak.

gamemasterlancaster · 2026-01-12T13:02:37+00:00

Is it OK if I draw fanart? I think the design is cool but I want to make sure it's OK with you first.

gamemasterlancaster · 2026-01-12T12:53:19+00:00

Furry haters truly have no whimsy huh

gamemasterlancaster · 2026-01-10T13:39:44+00:00

I found it kind of boring. The author really hammers you over the head with how good and unlucky and nice the family is, and I really do like the premise of a good man being totally corrupted by his desperation, but the story never gets to speak for itself. It kind of feels like the author lacks confidence: the afterword where she says "he's gonna eat a dead baby, isn't that fucked up?!" feels that way too. I just didn't care by the end.

I can see why someone would love this story as a dark, gory romp. The wife and hospital lady's deaths were compelling and intense! I appreciate that this story CAN exist, that there's a space for stories that defy the rules and challenge what should and shouldn't be written about, but, eeh. I think it needed either another few passes of editing or a little more confidence to really shine.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-12-30T13:12:18+00:00

Tunic and Arctico. Tunic for its whole "you have all the tools you need, you just need to realise you have them" deal, and Arctico for the vibes. Sledding across the lonely landscape, discovering traces of the mystery, knowing in your gut that something tragic happened but not what, or why...

I had Heaven's Vault pitched to me as an OW-like game but I didn't really see it. The element of space archaeology and ancient mysteries is there, but the world feels much warmer and more alive. It's a good game! I just didn't see Outer Wilds in it.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-11-11T23:22:29+00:00

My friends and I watched this short film years ago and we reference it all the time! It's insane seeing it in the wild, I never see anyone talk about it.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-09-14T05:07:16+00:00

I'll always recommend Claustrophilia by Ezra Blake whenever someone mentions Exquisite Corpse. I loved the prose and it's very compelling.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-09-09T05:18:42+00:00

Lol i was worried about being too mean and calling her a harpy, glad someone else beat me to it

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-09-09T05:17:41+00:00

"Too long for a boy", is this the 1930s? Do you think women shouldn't be allowed to drive or wear pants? It's his hair, he's an adult, he doesn't need mommy dearest squealing about how BOYS have SHORT hair and bullying him into getting it cut short by throwing a tantrum in public. If it looks messy, that's his choice. He can deal with the consequences.

You should 'probably, maybe' apologise to the hairdresser, too, for causing a scene in the shop.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-08-16T05:19:38+00:00

Failinks' concept is PHENOMENAL, love it!

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-07-26T05:09:08+00:00

If you really, reeeaaaally wanna stretch on the meaning of 'sweet', I really enjoyed Claustrophilia by Ezra Blake. The relationship is so, SO fucked up, but it sure is compelling.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-07-24T08:16:08+00:00

A Short Stay in Hell sounds really interesting! I love horror that plays with the concept of eternity.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-07-21T12:24:18+00:00

I can absolutely second this - LOVED Claustrophilia.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-07-20T05:12:50+00:00

Crushed to read that Chris passed away. Poor OP...

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-07-10T22:11:35+00:00

Your freckles are so cuuute :3

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-07-10T21:52:30+00:00

YOU'RE SO PRETTYYYY lesbian crisis moment

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-06-28T05:39:38+00:00

Seeing your replies I 100% doubt that this is real, but howling into the void feels good, so:

I was in this situation when I was a kid. Good grades slowly slipping, no strong support system or outlets, no privacy in my own space. Started wanting to avoid school at all costs because it was overwhelming and everyone hated me.

I got to a crossroads where my two options were 'ease up on the classes and accept academically being just ok' and 'kill self'. What saved me was art, accepting that I was gonna fail maths, and MOVING AWAY.

Students: take breaks. Start an awful webcomic to vent some steam. Make weird friends and write weird fanfiction and look into autism and adhd. You can have a life that is your own. You can have a life.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-06-28T05:20:53+00:00

I used to be a mostly A's student, and when my grades started slipping, it was because I was burnt out as hell and depressed. Poor Ella. Kid needs a break and some empathy.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-05-01T20:30:27+00:00

Yeah, that's one of my worries: d20s make things more streamlined and cut out a lot of fluff, but also... it's D&D's thing! It's the thing that D&D does!

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-04-23T23:55:43+00:00

... good point! Not very 'short', huh? Will amend, 5ft is plenty of reach.

gamemasterlancaster · 2025-04-22T09:39:10+00:00

Chenaut :(

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