Like I have preferences but nothing that will get you farther up the ladder? If that makes sense, its rlly actually based on personalitt and how much we click. Im not much of a looks or outfit type person. Idk just ranting abt stupid shit on reddit at midnight.
Like it matters to me more if your interested in what I say n match my vibe, idc how tall you are, what color your hair is, your style, aesthetic, anything. Just be you and like me for me, thats my "type".

at the start of the year, I decided I wanted to run a campaign for some friends, and to save myself some effort, I thought I would run a pre-written game. I looked up Eberron adventures, and the convergence manifesto looked like it would suit the quick, very-slightly-casual-ish campaign I wished to run. While I haven't finished the campaign yet, I want to write out some thoughts about it.
WHAT FOLLOWS WILL SPOIL THE CONVERGENCE MANIFESTO CAMPAIGN. DON'T READ IF YOU INTEND TO PLAY IT.
ALSO, PARTS OF THIS MIGHT NOT MAKE SENSE IF YOU HAVEN'T READ OR RUN THE ADVENTURES BECAUSE I'M BAD AT EXPLAINING THINGS.
To start with, I'd like to say that some of my criticisms of the campaign are probably problems with me. I have focus issues, and I'm a picky perfectionist, and to be fair to all the writers involved, they have done better jobs than I would in their shoes.
A note on my group: our party consisted of a human wild magic sorcerer (ex-skycoach driver), human wizard (aundairian expatriot), a gargoyle barbarian (used the rules for a Hadozee), an eladrin eloquence bard, and a goblin rogue (retired Conquerer champion looking for something new to do)
The Campaign As a Whole:
The premise of the Convergence manifesto is that Nigel Faurious, Provost of Morgrave university, wants a bunch of relics that are each attuned to one of Eberron's planes. Each adventure is a mission to some location on Khorvaire to retrieve or create such an item.
Each of the adventures is written by a different author, and as a result I think they vary pretty wildly in quality.
Adventure 1: Fired and Forgotten.
Synopsis: PCs go through hazing ritual to join adventuring guild in Sharn, get sent to pick up bespoke Fernia-linked magic item from a forge in the Cogs, discover forge has been shuttered due to warforged workers protesting - they have to convince the owner to be less of an ass. Then Daask show up.
This one was good! A strong start. Everybody enjoyed the hazing ritual, and I decided to use the optional NPC with the aberrant dragonmark manifesting (for reasons I'll explain further down). The warforged union situation was a very good introduction to what is special and different about the Eberron setting. This might be an issue with me as GM, but I found that the PCs dealt with the non-combat parts of the adventure VERY easily through use of skills and illusions, never thought about leaving the immediate vicinity of the forge (and thus missed some content), and I felt kind of bad having the forge owner not immediately cooperate in the face of 20+ results on Persuasion and Intimidate.
The daask Ettin bruiser being toned down for a bunch of level 1s was a very nice touch, but throwing that at the players right after the fight with the mephits made that bit rough.
Adventure 2: Live Another Day
Synopsis: PCs get air-dropped into Droaam so they can find a hidden valley with an Irian manifest zone, so they can charge up a crystal. On the way they may encounter some ogres, have to navigate a hidden set of tunnels, and then on arriving discover a clan of harpies is living in the valley, as they are persona-non-grata in Droaam. When Droaam monsters follow the PCs into the valley, they have to fight them off before the harpies will let them complete their mission
So, slight issue with this one, probably unique to my party - the adventure calls for a lot of Survival rolls for the overland travel and nobody in my party had survival. They were a bunch of city-slickers. Seemed a little odd the adventuring guild picking the party to do this.
While the adventure was somewhat rail-roady, it at least makes sense in that the PCs are following in the footsteps of a prior explorer. My main issue was the last portion - once the PCs get to the valley, there will ALWAYS be Droaamite monsters on their heels. Firstly, this discounts the possibility that the party had been religiously using Pass Without Trace or doing other things to make them untrackable. My party didn't, but a party with a ranger and/or druid might have. Secondly, the fight as written is a bit boring. It's two Gnolls. Two gnolls shouldn't be a threat to a clan of harpies. Once the gnolls are dead, three goblins show up. After that, two half-ogres show up. You can optionally add some more scenes fighting gnolls and chasing anything trying to get away. I revamped the fight a bit by making all of these fight scenes one long drawn-out battle with reinforcements arriving, and I re-contextualized the Harpies wanting the PCs to fight the monsters without their help - the Harpies could probably run rings around the ground-based humanoids, but the Harpies both thought this was the PCs fault they were here, and didn't want to show themselves in case any stragglers got away to report on the Harpies' presence.
Weird thing my party did: when they encountered the ogres at the start of the adventure, the group came up with a plan to pretend to be fellow Droaamite monsters if they failed to sneak past - they then snuck past the ogres without any issue, and were disappointed that they couldn't use their disguises... so they used them when the encountered the harpies, not knowing the harpies were enemies of Droaam. This very nearly turned into a combat situation, but the bard managed to talk everybody down and explain why they had been lying.
Adventure 3: Rime or Reason
Synopsis: Nigel sends PCs to Icewhite island to get a Risia macguffin after another expedition failed to return. They have to contend with a blizzard, find a tower of ice in the middle, and defeat ice monsters, a puzzle/trap, the possibly backstabby survivors of the failed expedition, and then deal with the tower collapsing once they find the item.
Some parts of this one were good - my party really seemed to enjoy trying to find a solution to get through the blizzard despite their lack of survival skill proficiency. Two of the casters were constantly casting prestidigitation to keep the Constitution 8 rogue from succumbing to hypothermia, and even then it was a bit touch and go.
Now, I had some issues with the ice tower as presented. First, the adventure says it's an ancient dwarven ruin, dating back to when the dwarves came down from the Frostfell. Personally, that didn't make great sense to me - why would you willingly make a building in a risian manifest zone? The whole of Icewhite island is freezing cold, and the manifest zone is worse.
Second problem - there is door, with a puzzle. The puzzle is so easy that I worked out the answer the instant I looked at the handout at the back of the adventure, before even reading the description - there are four columns of symbols (a book, scroll, wand, potion - again, not terribly dwarf-y?), and each symbol rotates a certain number of octagonal faces from one row to the next, and you just have to make the last row match the pattern. If you mess it up, it will spring a trap that will potentially either tickle the PCs a little, or cause a TPK if they're messed up from any prior fights because anybody reduced to 0 HP by the trap is frozen solid until freed by greater restoration, which no PC at this level of adventure will have.
Third problem - the tower is only four storeys tall. As described, it more cube-shaped than tower shaped. Also, as described, a PC with misty step standing on the shoulders of another PC of above average height could potentially teleport to the top of the tower and avoid 50% of the adventure content.
Fourth problem - the top of the tower is described as a garden made of icy plants... which doesn't make sense with Risia's canonical loathing of life.
my fixes: I changed the backstory of the tower, rather than being a dwarven relic, it was an Aundairian Magical Congress research facility, set up during the war to try to draw weaponizable power out of the Risian manifest zone - a wizard tower felt more right than a dwarven one. I then changed the solution to the puzzle - the symbols still had to be rotated, but what columns they were in had to be swapped, to represent the Congress sharing magical knowledge. I had the other expedition that was there explain they had tried the obvious solution and it hadn't worked. I also made the tower taller, mostly as an aesthetic thing, and so that the stand-on-shoulders-and-teleport trick only got the party Eladrin up to a balcony, rather than the roof. I kept the set-piece of the tower collapsing, saying that the magic the Aundairians had been trying had kept the manifest zone coterminous and removing the macguffin broke the spell holding the ice tower together.
Adventure 4: Living Legend
Synopsis: the party goes to Darguun, hunting a legendary hobgoblin hero. They get to see the fact that bugbears take slaves, follow a guide to a Thelanis manifest zone, and undertake several trials to prove they are worthy of claiming the hero's weapon to bring back.
So... the premise is cool. The execution is anything but
Even setting aside the fact that some parties might get entirely side-tracked by fighting slavers, the issue I had was that the trials in the adventure didn't seem to really key into the fact that Eberron goblinoids are supposed to have some different and interesting cultural mores.
The trials aren't bad, per se, but they don't feel goblin-y at all.
Worst of all, though, there is a Hobgoblin you encounter during the trials who is one of the Dhakaani fallout-vault people who is set on passing the trials to claim the weapon herself. As written, she is quite easy to befriend, will readily tell the PCs that she is from a hidden vault of survivors of the goblinoid empire, and if they DO befriend her, doesn't leave the room she's in despite the fact she's here for the same cultural relic the PCs are. WHICH FEELS INSANE. Every bit of canon and kanon lore I've encountered about the Dhakaani suggest that they distrust non-Dhankaani at best, and outright loath them at worst, and are trying to keep their presence secret. She should be either fighting to the death or keeping her origin secret then betraying the PCs, or not here at all.
Between the un-goblin-ish trials, and the insanely cooperative yet unhelpful NPC, this one needed the most fixing to satisfy my tastes. As I didn't have the time and brain juice to do that before the session, I decided to skip this adventure, and have the PCs collect a Thelanis macguffin as part of the later adventurer where they go to a Feyspire (adventure 12: Lost in Dreams).
Adventure 5: Perfect Timing
Synopsis: PCs get on a lighting rail intending to jump off it as it goes over a bridge, so they can appear in Daanvi to acquire the macguffin. twist: there's emerald claw terrorists on the train, and one of them has stolen the thing the PCs need to get into Daanvi, intending to go himself. Once in Daanvi, it's a race against the Emerald Claw guy to fill out all the paperwork to get the macguffin first
So, over-all, this one is really good. The premise is good. Situation is hilarious. It's very Eberron
Minor issues: the train has SO MANY COMBAT ENCOUNTERS. the PCs start at one end, and have to fight their way to the other, with one fight in every single train car, one of which is purely due to a misunderstanding. It took two sessions to get through the train half of the adventure, and that is with me having skipped two of the fights. In hindsight, I would have maybe also varied the stats of the enemies a bit more.
Also, while I comprehend the drama of having the thief jump out of train with his accomplices during a fight, this presumes the PCs don't kill every single one of his accomplices. I had to pull some shady DM shenanigans to get the guy out of the train in one piece, and give him new allies to help in the final battle at the end of the paperwork race.
My players enjoyed this one a heap, but one did comment that he thought it should have come later in the campaign, as it was such a departure from the others.
Adventure 6: Night's Gambit
Synopsis: PCs have to infiltrate Fort Bones in Karrnath and steal a mabaran macguffin from under the nose of the military there.
Another really good one, although not without it's issues. The adventure presents interesting characters in the form of the fort's up-tight commander and relatively chill head necromancer, a timeline of what they will be up to at various times of day, and has options of all kinds of approaches: sneaking in, joining up with what is basically the Karrnathi Foreign Legion, or acting as bodyguards for a visiting inspector. I loved that it gave all these options.
my only complaints were that the timeline was a little hard to make sense of as presented, and the map of the fort seemed... a bit too small and simple for the facility as it's described. I feel like you'd expect one of Karrnath's most important border forts to be at least a two-storey building (I fixed that by describing the fort's upper levels as being still under construction after the last time it was sacked).
How my party handled it: so, my group aren't terribly sneaky on the whole. They also do not look like adventurers - to glance at, they are a Gargoyle, the hottest and floweryest elf you've ever seen, a depressed cab driver, the least magical aundairan wizard ever, and a goblin grandmother. So they couldn't really sneak in, wouldn't blend in as recruits, and I felt wouldn't really be the kind of people the inspector would hire as bodyguards....
...so they decided to BE the inspector. Eladrin lady was the inspector herself, gargoyle got dressed up as weird undead bodyguard, aundairian wizard was silent note-keeper, grandmother was a servant, and cabbie became the coach-driver. The group arrived a day early ("surprise inspection"), and were given a tour of the fortress. They executed everything perfectly. In the end, the only fight they had was an ambush on the necromancer in his own bedroom at 3am, wherein they beat him senseless, put him to sleep with a spell, and healed him back to full HP, so when he woke up in the morning he had no physical proof that anything had happened and was questioning his own sanity. They even fashioned a replica of the macguffin (it's a conqueror piece - the goblin rogue had her own set, which the wizard imbued with some necromantic energy), so the alarm wasn't raised for several hours after the PCs had left the fort.
Adventure 7: The Silvered Edge of Twilight
Synopsis: PCs go to Thaliost to pick up a Lammanian macguffin from a silver flame priest - when they get there, it's been stolen. They do some investigating, track the theives to the railway station, and chase them down to the Eldeen reaches where they fight Ashbound druids and lycanthropes.
Kind of middling adventure - nice premise, but very railroady. For starters, there's an NPC (who I edited out) who gets sent with the PCs for all of the investigation portion who basically seems to exist to keep them on track and/or provide lore about Thaliost and also to force them into a fight they might otherwise be able to avoid. Even outside of that, the investigation seemed a bit being-led-by-the-nose, although maybe that came down to how I was running it.
The issue, for my run at least, was once they were on the train. As written, the PCs need to track down the missing item on the train - it's written with there being a few red herrings as to who might be the thief, but it's a magic item. I have never seen a group of PCs who didn't have access to detect magic, so my PCs just bypassed all the red herrings with a single spell.
Next, there is supposed to be a set-piece fight where the were-tiger with the item jumps off the train, and leaves here were-rat minions to fight the PCs. I can't really criticise the adventure writer for not forseeing what my PCs did: the eladrin bard walked scootched up to the were-tiger, went "hey, I gather you're a nature-themed terrorist? I am too! I hate civilization. Can I tag along and then borrow your item when you're done with it? Also are you single?" and then rolled a 27 for persuasion.
The PCs came along and jumped the lycanthropes a day later. To be fair, the adventure never explained how the were-tiger was supposed to get to the final battle before the PCs as she jumped off a moving train and is slower than it is.
Adventure 8: The March of Madness
Synopsis: PCs go to an ancient dungeon in the Shadow Marches, go on a vision quest before being allowed inside by the druid guardian, and then have to contend with/repair the wards inside the dungeon before they can get their Xoriat macguffin. Depending on how it plays out, they may or may not end up accidentally killing an ancient orcish guardian inside the dungeon, and may or may not be betrayed by an insane warlock.
The adventure is very solid, great even. The map that comes with it is... very uninspiring, so I re-mapped the dungeon and added a bit of extra flavour to one room (there's a weird trap that doesn't make much sense, so I made it a weird manigest zone effect rather than a deliberate thing), but that is basically the only changes I made. 4.5 stars!
Adventure 9: Weathering the Storm
Synopsis: PCs get sent to the Lazaar principalities to receive a Kythri macguffin that is being imported. Ship doesn't arrive, investigation leads to sky pirates, which in turn leads to an attack on a skyship.
So, again, really nice premise. Some issues with the execution, though - see, the synopsis in the adventure itself makes reference to the Chaos Fleet, a concept introduced in 4th edition, where there was a pirate fleet in the principalities that were basically Davy Jones' crew from Pirates of the Carribean, if they went all elemental-y rather than all fish-y.
Except, the Chaos Fleet never actually show up in the adventure at any point. All the opposition in the adventure is Wind Whisperer pirates. ALL of it. Literally, it's only the one statblock for everybody except the final boss.
my fixes: when the PCs are inspecting the wreck of the vessel that had their macguffin on it, rather than Wind Whisperers returning to the scene of the crime, I had a Chaos fleet ship turn up chasing the scent of the macguffin that they were lusting after - I used weirds from the Ravnica book, and some mephits. After that, I fed the PCs info of sightings of Chaos Fleet ships chasing after a skyship in the heart of a storm - the Chaos guys I described as not usually a threat because they're terminally incapable of cooperating with each other, but this was concerning because the Wind Whisperers seemed to be trying to use the macguffin to draw all of them into their wake and then force them into Regalport.
In the adventure as written, then PCs are airdropped onto the macguffin-holding skyship with some friendly Regalport sailors to help them (and to keep the fight against the Wind Whisperers manageable). I gave the wind whisperers some more variance in statblocks (scounts, thugs, deck wizards from ghosts of saltmarsh), and had the ship under attack by elementals at the same time, rather than give the PCs allies.
I also had the aberrant dragonmarked NPC from adventure 1 show up in Regalport, saying she had been given a grant by Nigel to continue her studies somewhere other than Sharn.
Adventure 10: At Death's Door
Synopsis: PCs sneak into the upper level of the Lair of the Keeper to get a Dolurrh macguffin while the (alleged) Keeper is out having a meeting with some minions. It's a dungeon crawl.
This is the best one. Almost every encounter can be fought or talked through (with varying difficulty). The Rakshasa is great. The demon and the bodak are great. The Orcs are great. I loved it. No fixes. No notes. 5/5 stars.
Further Adventures:
This is as far as we've gotten at time of writing. I'm currently gearing up to run A Heart in Mourning, and am running into some of the same issues as Rime or Reason - the adventure site feels too small, the approach to it a bit too rail-roady due to being a tower, combined with the fact it doesn't really feel like it's Shavarath-ish enough. Also, ending with a collapsing tower seems repetitive at this point.
I need to read Lost in Dreams in more detail. It looks complex, so I'll report back on that one.
As for the last adventure - a read-through revealed some really neat set-piece fights and the stupidest twist I've ever \***ing heard of*. As written, the adventure reveals that Nigel Faurious has secretly been... a gnome woman from zilargo who the PCs have never heard of and who wants revenge on Sharn for her sons dying in the War.
...What???
I at least have a fix for that: Nigel Faurious is... actually Nigel Faurious. Nothing secret going on there. He came to Morgrave university in his 20s in hopes of studying to help his fiancé - the fiancé had an aberrant dragonmark that meant they would create spontaneous manifest zones temporarily. One day they had a bad flare-up, and got killed by a mob, just like the NPC nearly is in adventure 1. After that Nigel as spent the last 20 years trying to reverse-engineer the manifest-zone creation effect with the intention of destroying the city that killed the love of his life.
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Thanks for reading all this way, I know this has been a really long post. I appreciate the effort.

I got the DROP SHIFT Keyboard and i really like this layout.
Recently i wanted to change the keycaps to match my switch's aesthetics but couldn't find decent key caps that feels like or Matches my JoyCons .
Also One thing that i hate is the keys bottom side is exposed and its Silver, is there something like a plate that i could put that hide the exposed parts while also being matte black or fits the theme of my joycons (blackpink)

Hi all, My husband and I recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary and it occurred to me that I hadn't really shared the details.
https://imgur.com/a/z1Sw6cY
I got so much inspiration from redditors on this sub. I wanted to keep us to a pretty tight budget, but I also wanted it to have a classic yet on trend aesthetic. It was also a cross cultural wedding as well, with one day being the Hindu wedding and the next being a Christian wedding. I would say we spent on two weddings what most spend on one and both nights the food was incredible and the bar was wide open! I'm particularly proud of the flowers, put together by me and my bridesmaids. None of us had any prior experience and they'e everything I wanted! Also there are about a billion little details I didn't include here (like the thrifted mix and match candle votive etc).
Flowers were from FlowerMoxie(90%) and Sam's Club(fillers and some roses). We had some issues woth the flower delivery from Sam's and the flower moxie delivery was seamless. I also didn't use flower moxie's flower packages and instead drew inspo from other flower arrangements I had seen online. I knew there were certain flowers I HAD TO HAVE (ranunculus, anyone?). Main flower inspo: https://winstonandmain.com/moody-jewel-toned-wedding-at-the-houdini-estate/
I hired a stylist for my hair, but did my own makeup. My bridesmaids picked their own dresses, I just asked them to stay within the jewel tone family and to not double up on colors. They clearly nailed it!
Backyard wedding: We hired rentals for the backyard wedding and bar tenders who would handle everything from serving mixed alcoholic beverages to keeping our guests hydrated with water. We did everything from draping flowers to draping fabric.
General tip: Jamie Wolfer's videos were a GODSEND. Her video on staying under budget was especially helpful (I'll see if I can find it and I'll drop it in here). Her tip was to pick 3 things you both care about and cut corners on the other things. So, I didn't want a cake but For us it was an open bar, a great photographer, and a good DJ. We got all three and didn't break the bank!
We made most of the signs using a cricut or designed in Word (very low tech).
Happy to answer any questions, but just wanted to share some detail shots! Also happy to share wedding shots of our BEAUTIFUL Colorado wedding if folks are interested!
https://imgur.com/a/z1Sw6cY

I thought of this question a few days ago and wanted to know just how long it would take to design/redesign characters for GGST. This game has gorgeous visuals & animations (the best I've ever seen in any fighting game), music, and lore. so I found it pretty amazing how the developers were able to pump out so many different characters in the span of 2 years at 3-4 month intervals.
Here's a list of things I've noticed each DLC character having:
● A design/complete redesign of the character's appearance to fit the Guilty Gear -Strive- aesthetic
● An entire theme song dedicated to them, reflecting their lore, personality, hopes, struggles, etc...
● An arcade story mode with multiple endings, voice lines, and sometimes unique animations and maybe a new character filling the role as the stage 8/9 boss, whose frame data would need to be altered and balanced enough for the player to defeat
● All new animations (this includes the character's intro, outro, victory, defeat, attacks, whiffs, taunts, wake-ups, damage, Faust super, Potemkin Buster, etc... bonus if they have an attack that makes other characters have unique animations as well)
● Dozens upon dozens of voice lines and unique interactions with the rest of the cast
● New lore to be written by Daisuke
● 15 different colors
● Creating a match-up tutorial against the new DLC character in the mission mode
● Translate all of the character's voice lines and info from Japanese to Korean & English, then have them all recorded after hiring their voice actors
● Occasionally, we'll receive new fighting stages
● Create an exciting DLC character trailer for all to see at the end May be missing a thing or two, but the process to me seems insane, I don't know how they're able to do it so consistently. If anyone is familiar with game development, please let me know how long you think it would take for a professional game company to produce a new character of this scale and what the process would be like from start to finish! Thanks!! :))

https://bafurnitureclearance.au/blogs/ba-furniture-clearance-blog/elevating-bedroom-aesthetics-latest-furniture-trends-for-2023
The world of bedroom furniture is witnessing a revolution in 2023, with designers pushing boundaries and exploring innovative concepts. From fluid and contradictory shapes to nostalgic nods and opulent finishes, this year's trends promise to transform your bedroom into a luxurious sanctuary. In this blog, we will explore the latest bedroom furniture trends for 2023, incorporating keywords such as fluidity, nostalgia, opulence, and fusion of textures and patterns.

1. Fluidity and Contradictory Shapes: Say goodbye to traditional straight lines and welcome the era of fluidity and contradictory shapes. Furniture pieces with asymmetrical designs and unexpected angles are gaining popularity. This trend brings a sense of dynamism and movement to your bedroom, adding an element of intrigue and visual interest.
2. Exaggerated Forms: In 2023, bedroom furniture is all about making a statement. Embrace exaggerated forms and bold silhouettes that demand attention. From oversized headboards to elaborately shaped nightstands, these eye-catching pieces create a focal point and showcase your individuality.
3. Scalloped Skirting and Trims: Nostalgia meets contemporary design with the revival of scalloped skirting and trims. Adding a touch of femininity and elegance, scalloped details adorn beds, chairs, and dressers. The intricate scalloping adds depth and texture, creating a visually captivating experience.
4. Cylindrical Arms: Sleek and modern, cylindrical arms are becoming a prominent feature in bedroom furniture. Upholstered chairs and sofas with rounded arms offer a contemporary twist to classic designs. The smooth lines and clean curves provide a visually pleasing contrast against angular furniture pieces.
5. Pleated Upholstery on Sharp Structural Furniture: Experience the fusion of softness and sharpness with pleated upholstery on sharp structural furniture. Chairs, ottomans, and bed frames feature pleated fabrics that add texture and dimension. This unique combination creates visually captivating and comfortable furniture pieces.
6. Nostalgia and Opulence: Indulge in nostalgia and opulence as bedroom furniture takes inspiration from the past. Luxurious materials like velvet, gold detailing, chrome accents, marble, and glass bring a sense of grandeur to your space. These opulent finishes create a sophisticated and inviting atmosphere.
7. Monochromatic Schemes: Simplicity and elegance merge in monochromatic schemes. Ranging from soft pastels to rich jewel tones, a harmonious blend of hues sets the stage for the extravagant furniture pieces. This monochromatic backdrop allows the furniture to shine and become the focal point of the room.
8. Striking Tableware: Fusion of Shapes, Textures, and Patterns: Extend the allure of your bedroom furniture to the dining area with striking tableware sets. Fusion of different shapes, textures, and patterns creates an artistic and visually captivating dining experience. Geometric plates, textured glassware, and patterned dinnerware add depth and excitement to the room.
9. Pattern on Pattern: Dare to be bold with pattern on pattern styling. Mix and match different patterns, such as stripes, florals, and geometric prints, to create an eclectic and vibrant bedroom. This trend allows you to showcase your personality and create a truly unique and visually stimulating space.

The bedroom furniture trends for 2023 embrace fluidity, contradictory shapes, and opulent finishes. From scalloped skirting to pleated upholstery, designers are pushing boundaries and transforming bedrooms into luxurious sanctuaries. Nostalgic touches, gold detailing, chrome, marble, glass, velvet, and monochromatic schemes bring a sense of opulence and sophistication. Striking tableware and pattern on pattern styling add excitement and personality to the bedroom.

🚩The first is that once again she told Chris it was his job to monitor her mental state. He is supposed to save her from her own impulses. No Nicole. Your husband is not your keepecounseloparent. He is a partner.
🚩🚩 The second red flag is when she said that it was reasonable to spend two or three times your salary on a quality piece of furniture. No it’s not. That isn’t real life, for most people. You spend what you can afford. If you are making $4000 a months, it sounds crazy to say a 8-12k couch is a reasonable investment.
🚩🚩🚩 Third, Chris should not be put in the position to seriously negotiate about that chair. The chair itself was fine for a single person or people with matching aesthetics, but the chair was too over the top to try to push on someone. Someone should not have to negotiate rejecting a flamboyant, crazy looking, $1000 chair, in a small apartment. She says she cares about Chris’ needs, wants, etc, but this is looking like a marriage that Nicole thinks is all about Nicole and not about Chris at all.

INTRO
I’ve recently had to scroll through my old posts on this account and, reading back my old reviews, I was not satisfied with the quality of some of these old posts (partially due to lack of knowledge on my part for some of these older reviews). So I’ve decided to redo all my old reviews with the added benefit of having done some extensive durability testing on most of them over the last few years (I have a talent for breaking my mouse buttons). I hope you all enjoy!
XTRFY M42
SHAPE/COATING/WEIGHT
The M42 is quite unique when it comes to shape. By default it’s a shrunk down sensei, however by swapping out the back you can change the shape to something a little closer to a mm710. Overall the shape felt a little awkward for me. With its sensei-like shape the mouse felt like the mouse felt too narrow for how tall and long it is. The mm710 like shape felt better, but the taller back plate doesn’t get too much structural support from the side walls. Because of this the back tends to wiggle around slightly and creak quite a bit, giving you an experience below par for a high end mouse. With its high back the mouse is usable for medium to small hands when using a claw grip. Its low back is better when using a fingertip grip but there are plenty of better options out there if you intend to use it as a fingertip mouse.
The coating is a slightly cheap feeling matte coating. Over the 2 ish months I’ve mained the mouse for it’s worn down a little bit and picked up a slight shine on the buttons near where my fingers rest. I don’t expect this coating to last for too long for most people.
The mouse also has round holes all over its body. XTRFY advertises these as weight reducing holes. The mouse however isn’t all too light for its size with its 60 gram weight. I suspect that, because round holes are not great for structural integrity, they had to make the side walls of the shell thicker to compensate which in turn will increase the weight. The holes are also very noticeable when holding the mouse which can be a little annoying. Furthermore the holes collect all kinds of dirt (dust, oil and dead skin) and are almost impossible to clean out properly. In my opinion these holes are only there to give the aesthetic of lower weight without actually making a meaningful difference and only deteriorate the quality of the product.
BUTTONS
The main buttons are Chinese Omron 20M switches. The main clicks on my copy have developed quite a bit of pre-travel and have a weird feeling at the start of the click (almost as if 2 pieces of plastic are rubbing against each other. Issues can mainly be felt on the left mouse button (probably because it’s been used more) but are present, albeit to a lesser degree, on the right button as well. The buttons feel fairly light but are not very tactile and do not have enough post travel to cushion out a button press so you will feel them bottom out when you press them. As far as main buttons go these are usable but not great.
The side buttons on the M42 are some of my favorites. They are light, have very little pre travel, have just enough post travel to cushion out your clicks and are not overly tactile. It’s just a shame that the rest of the mouse couldn’t be closer to their quality.
CABLE
The cable on this mouse is absolutely horrendous. The outside of the cable is a shoelace-like braid while the inside is a thin, dense rubber cable. The cable is not very flexible and it keeps its shape extremely well. Out of the box it comes rolled up very tight creating multiple kinks in the cable which will probably not come out no matter how hard you try. Overall the cable is below par.
FEET
The feet are white dyed PTFE. Although dyed feet were (and still are) pretty common I have a specific issue with these. For a bit of historical context: this mouse came out around the time we saw the first mice with 100% pure PTFE mouse feet. The way people recognized those feet at the time was simply to look at their color. If it was white it was pure, if it was black it was dyed. Generally speaking pure PTFE feet feel slightly more smooth and have slightly less friction than dyed feet and are an overall better experience. The feet on the M42 feel a little bit scratchy and have a bit more friction than I would like. A replacement set of mouse feet is included in the box but if you end up using the mouse for long enough to wear down the feet and want to replace them I would suggest using an aftermarket replacement for an overall better experience.
SCROLL WHEEL
The scroll wheel is a standard 24 step wheel. It requires an above average amount of force to scroll up and down. The scroll wheel is also not very tactile. Scrolling up and down with this mouse feels a little bit like dragging the scroll wheel through mud and is overall not a great experience. The scroll wheel is however fairly quiet.
The scroll wheel click has the same crunchy feeling to it as the main buttons. The click requires a relatively large amount of force and is not very tactile. Overall the scroll wheel click is not great.
SENSOR
As far as the sensor goes I’ve not had any issues. The mouse tracks fine on any non glass surface and I could not make it spin out no matter how fast I moved it. LOD is relatively low at 2mm but cannot be adjusted. DPI can be changed but only to one of the 8 predefined steps (400, 800, 1200, 1600, 3200, 4000, 7200, 16000) the last 2 steps being way too high and absolutely unusable. If you normally use any other DPI on your mouse your only real option would be to change your sensitivity in Windows and in game to attempt to match your old sensitivity.
RGB
The m42 features multi zone RGB at the front of the mouse and on the scroll wheel. The RGB diffuser is placed in a spot that’s not covered by your hand during normal use making it an actual useful addition. The mouse comes with a few preset RGB effects. Effects can be selected using the main and side buttons in combination with the button below the scroll wheel on the top of the mouse. The mouse unfortunately lacks software to customize the RGB effects so unless you want to use the default rainbow wave or one of the preset static colors you might want to turn it off. Although RGB lighting is implemented in a tasteful way on the M42, the lack of software to customize effects makes it slightly redundant.
RECOMMENDATION
Even at its current price of €32- i would not recommend this mouse. There’s durability concerns with its main buttons and coating, the cable and feet are worse than most budget options and its better sensor compared to some budget options is not worth the tradeoff of a flat out worse feeling product. If you want something cheap I’d recommend looking at any decent mouse from 1 or 2 generations ago instead.
Razer Viper ultimate
SHAPE/COATING/WEIGHT The Viper Ultimate shape might look familiar to some. It’s essentially the exact same shape as a Zowie FK1 with a slightly wider front. The shape is alright for claw or fingertip grip for medium to large hands. It’s a fine shape for everyone that doesn’t know exactly what they’re looking for in a mouse, but if you already know what you like it’s not perfect for either grip style. For claw grip a mouse with the hump more towards the back would probably be better and for fingertip grip a shorter mouse with sides that are a bit flatter towards the front would probably be preferred.
The sides are made of a textured rubber that feels fine, but after some time will wear down and become more and more smooth. With dry hands this isn’t much of an issue, when your hands get sweaty however it does become quite slippery.
The top is made of matte coated plastic. It’s fairly grippy, cleans easily and does not show fingerprints. Unlike the sides this matte coating does not wear down easily.
The mouse weighs about 73 grams and feels fairly well balanced with the middle part being a little bit lighter than the front and back pieces.
BUTTONS
The main buttons are Razer’s v2 optical switches (unless you somehow manage to find one with an early production date out there). These v2 switches are a significant upgrade over their v1 variant and feel only slightly worse than the v3 version. They feel almost like a true mechanical switch with a very light click and plenty of tactility. The buttons have very little pre travel and just enough post travel to cushion out the click. The only issue I have with the main buttons is that after my almost year of use the left click has gotten slightly loose and you can feel the main button rub on the switch ever so slightly. Although it’s not perfect this is something that could be expected after my almost full year of use.
The side buttons don’t extrude too far out the shell. This is to prevent you from accidentally clicking the buttons on your non thumb side. In my experience it does not prevent you from accidentally pressing the buttons (unless you hold the mouse in a way where your fingers go nowhere near them), while not extruding too far out the shell makes them hard to click without moving your thumb all the way to over. There is a slight gap between the buttons and the switches which makes them slightly rattly but does not ruin the feel. They require a decent amount of force to actuate and are very tactile. In fact, in my opinion they are slightly too heavy and tactile and I would've preferred something lighter and smoother. They have a very slight bit of post travel but not enough to fully cushion the press (so you will feel them bottom out).
CABLE Even though it is a wireless mouse the cable on the Viper Ultimate feels quite nice. It’s a medium thickness cable micro USB with a slightly loose, thin braid. It’s fairly flexible and doesn’t hold its shape too much. Although it could’ve been a bit more flexible I had no problem with using the cable while charging the mouse. The only downside of the cable is its special connector housing that makes it hard to use with any other product and makes it so almost no other micro USB cable will fit the mouse.
FEET
The feet on the Viper Ultimate are undyed (pure) PTFE. They have a decent glide but their cornered edges can make them feel a little scratchy on some surfaces. One pretty important issue I had with them is that one of the feet was slightly thinner than the others causing it to wobble on hard surfaces and tilt enough to have the bottom plate scratch the mouse pad on softer surfaces. Overall they’re fine but I just got a little unlucky on my unit.
SCROLL WHEEL
The scroll wheel is a standard 24 step wheel. It requires a medium amount of force to scroll and the scroll steps are slightly less defined than I’d like them to be. Overall it’s a perfectly acceptable scroll wheel but it’s not exceptionally good. When scrolling down the wheel is fairly quiet but when scrolling up it makes a distinct rattly sound which I can hear even while wearing my headphones and playing music.
The scroll wheel click is a Panasonic style dome switch. It is fairly tactile and light. As far as scroll wheel clicks go this one feels good.
CHARGING DOCK
The charging dock is a nice bonus when it works. Most of the time it will work fine but sometimes the mouse will just not charge when placed onto it due to dust or dirt building up on the contact pads. The issue is easily fixed by cleaning the contact pads on the charging dock and the bottom of the mouse but often will happen unnoticed which can leave you with a mouse that’s almost out of battery when you need it. It also works as an extender for the wireless dongle to get it closer to the mouse in order to avoid possible connection issues.
SENSOR
I’ve had no issues with the sensor. The sensor works fine on all surfaces I’ve tested it on (which include wood, cordura, and cloth) but might have some tracking issues on glass. I’m also unable to make the sensor spin out with fast flicks. DPI can be set between 100 and 20000 in steps of 50 and LOD can be set from 1mm to 3mm in steps of 1mm. In its low power mode (which activates when the battery is about to run out) it still seems to track fine but has a slightly floaty feeling to it, almost as if there’s a tiny bit of motion delay. With my current setup I’m not able to accurately test what causes this floaty feeling but to me it’s definitely noticeable.
SOFTWARE
First of all installing the software was quite annoying. After downloading and running the installer it will ask you what Razer software you want to install. By default it will install Razer Synapse and its 3 chroma plugins (chroma visualizer, chroma studio and chroma connect). If you don’t want these you have to uncheck the boxes for installing them which are hidden in a drop down menu and are easily missed. When the installation started it also showed me an ad asking me to install Razer Cortex which is their PC “optimizer”. All Cortex will do is change some game settings and delete some temporary or unused Windows files. I’d recommend not installing Cortex because it doesn’t really do anything useful and essentially functions as bloatware. Then when synapse finally finishes installing and launches you’re greeted by ads for multiple other razer products. Disabling these ads requires you to go to another decently well hidden settings menu to turn them off.
Synapse itself is fine as far as software goes. It’s reasonably easy to change settings or navigate menus. The software allows you to change DPI, polling rate, button binds, RGB, LOD and the idle timer and low power mode thresholds. It also shows a fairly accurate battery percentage. I’m currently not experiencing any issues with the software but there were some issues with it in the past. First of all the software will sometimes decide to update by itself which will cause all your razer devices to become unresponsive for a few seconds. Next up there’s been issues where the software would just be unable to save certain profiles to the devices on board storage. Finally there’s been issues where the in app update tool just stopped working for some reason and the only way to get a software update would be to uninstall the software and reinstall the newer version. As far as gaming software goes my experience with Razer Synapse unfortunately is slightly above average, which is more due to other gaming software being even more horrible rather than Razer Synapse being good.
BATTERY LIFE
I get about 4-5 days of battery out of a single full charge with RGB turned off. With RGB on, battery life is closer to about 3 days. Battery drain when idle is minimal. Leaving the mouse on overnight will only drain the battery by about 1%. Overall battery life is slightly below par compared to other modern wireless mice with similar performance but still good enough.
RECOMMENDATION
Nowadays you can get a viper ultimate (with the charging dock) for about €80-. For this price the mouse is honestly not that bad. It’s going to perform better than most other mice around this price range but in return it might not be as durable as some of the other options. Battery life is also not as good as most alternatives but if you charge your mouse every day it shouldn’t be an issue. I would recommend this mouse over the Viper V2 Pro if you’re not planning on using 4000hz wireless and you don’t care too much about long term durability. If you do care about these things however the Viper V2 Pro is the better product even at its significantly higher price of €140-.
Upcoming reviews (in no particular order)
Roccat Burst Pro
Steelseries Rival 3
Steelseries Rival 310
Razer Deathadder V3 (wired)
Razer Orochi v2
Endgame Gear Xm1r

rWiiHacks' Support Megathread

General Troubleshooting

NOTE: FLASH DRIVES Are not recommended
If you are using one and you find yourself here for support, please reconsider.

Loader Support Here "My Wii/GC Game Won't Load!!"

If you came here with the problem "I am trying to load my Wii or GC game and it's not working", this is your link.
The rWiiHacks Loader Support Document
Please read through this document if you are having problems loading Wii/GC games with your Wii.

Unlock Your Write Protect Switch


Game and App Directory Structure Visualized

Wii Games

💾 SD Card or USB Drives ╸📁 wbfs ╸📁 GameName [GameID] ╸📄 GameID.wbfs

GameCube Games

💾 SD Card or USB Drive ╸📁 games ╸📁 GameName GameID ╸📄 game.iso

Applications

💾 SD Card or USB Drive ╸📁 apps ╸📁 AppName ╸📄 boot.dol ╸📄 meta.xml ╸📄 icon.png

• Note: meta.xml is not always needed but may provide key app functionality. icon.png is not required and may be added in for aesthetic reasons.

Letterbomb

💾 SD Card ╸📁 private ╸📄 boot.elf/dol

• Note: You may have several .txt files. These are simply readmes and are not necessary.

CTGP-R

💾 SD Card ╸📁 apps ╸📁 ctgpr ╸📄 boot.dol ╸📄 meta.xml ╸📄 icon.png ╸📁 ctgpr ╸📁 riivolution

How Perform a Syscheck

RiiConnect24's Guide is great for that!

Wiiflow Lite

• Some versions of Wiiflow Lite come with default settings that cause a black screen on load of Wii games.
• Consider updating to the latest version!

1) Open Wiiflow lite settings.
1) Go into NAND Emulation settings (it's got 3 pages of settings about NAND emulation) and make your settings match this:
``` Page 1- Select NAND: default NAND emulation: Partial Select Saves NAND: default Saves NAND emulation: off
Page 3- Saves NAND Partition: SD Use Real NAND Config: On Use Real NAND Miis: On ```

• Try to see if WiiFlow will play any of your wii games again.
• If it still crashes/black screens:
  • Load WiiFlow again
  • Press HOME on the Wiimote
  • Select Reload Cache
  • Try playing a Wii game again

Modding Support Here

The Guide Wii Recommend

• still RiiConnect24's guide is the best out there
  • its very well maintained
  • if this changes, we'll change our recommendation
• do not use out of date guides
  • this doesn't mean all video/youtube guides are bad, just most of them
  • most print/web page guides are wrong/outdated in some way too
  • if you're adamant on not using RiiConnect24's guide please find someone who knows what they are talking about to verify that the one you use isn't wrong BEFORE you start to mod your Wii

Useful Link to Bootmii SD Files

• Here you can find the direct link to the BootMii SD Files
• This is the hackmii site and completely safe.

To Change a Drive From GPT to MBR

• To change a drive to MBR on Windows
  • open disk management.
  • If you're on Windows 8 or higher, do Windows key + X and click on disk management.
  • Once you're there, find the drive you need to convert to MBR and right click on the area where it says "Disk" and then the number of the disc.
  • If it's not already MBR, you'll see an available option to convert to MBR disk. Use that option.

Updating You Wii System Menu to 4.3x

• Hey whattaya know? RiiConnect24 has a guide on that too!

ISO/Game Image Management

WiiBackup Manager

• Software to help you manage your Wii game collection.
• It will split/convert/prepare images for transfer to your Wii Storage.
• It does not do anything for GameCube images.

Witt Tools (Same As Above, But Nerdier)

• has none of the 'frills' of Wii Backup Manager as it's more focused on image manipulation than collection management
• has a much more complex interface (command line, unix-like)
• it does work on Gamecube images

ISOtoWBFS

• Command line
• no collection management
• no complexity
• it simply does one thing; ISO to WBFS
• there is also a WBFStoISO, but it's less useful

CIOS Offline Script (If You Have No network)

• You need to be able to access discord for this, as the help is provided by our bot
• https://discord.com/channels/582816924359065611/720513394804785162/1052350004020396123

The Wii and Wifi

• Your router must support 802.11 b/g
• A lot do, but 15 years later, none are enabled by default
• You must be able to re-configure your router
• Phone hotspots often work
• In the hardware section below is a listing for a Wii-Working Ethernet dongle

Miscellaneous Hardware

ID Your Wii's Motherboard Revision

• Wanna know what motherboard revision you have?
• Here's a Graphic
• It's for Wiidual compatibility, but they don't make those anymore.
• It'll tell you if your motherboard is prone to overheat (6 layer boards).

Ethernet Dongle That Works With the Wii

• Nuff said

Replacement Jack Socket Dock Connector Port for Nintendo Wii Right/Left Socket Link Controller

• Of course this section title came straight from AliExpress

SD / USB Storage Tester

• H2Testw

What USB Device Do We Recommend?

• A good enclosure, with a cheap and possibly refurbished hard drive
• The enclosure below is known to work with the Wii
• Which means any hard drive you put in it will also work with the Wii
• within the Wii's size limitation of > 2tb
• Sabrient Tool-free Enclosure
• Most of our staff have these

**** FLASH DRIVES OFTEN CAUSE ISSUES ****
We do not suggest using one.

Modernize Your Wii's Video Output

• To get the best out of your Wii without hardware modifications, you need component cables.
• To be the most compatible with modern televisions, you need an HDMI converter that upscales to at least 720p, the minimum resolution defined in High Definition.
• Below are links for the two items we recommend for doing so.
• SUNNATCH Component to HDMI Converter with Scaler Function
• HD Retrovision Wii/Wii U Premium YPbPr Component Video Cable

Wii2HDMI

• if you are low on funds, this is an option
• do not expect the video, sound, or construction quality to be good for ~10$USD
• Portholic Wii2HDMI

Please leave comments below for updated information or questions.

Meta

Q&A

What is This?

• This is a periodical list of resources for the Wii, and Wii modding. It is maintained by the WiiHacks staff and users of our community.

How Often is it Revised?

• As often as needed, when there is time to do so

Can I Contribute?

Comment. Revisions will be discussed in the comments.
If you'd like to be notified when the new revision is out, please also put that in the comments and we'll add you to the list below.

Disclaimer: This is an excerpt from a long script I wrote for a youtube vid that will no longer be made due to private complications.
People don’t seem to understand that the appeal of human, non-AI art is similar to the appeal of human, non-AI sports. Human art, like human sports, is a game of working within the limitations that are intrinsic to us and natural to us as a species. Artists use legitimate tools, sure, just like athletes use legitimate tools (I acknowledge key differences in the parenthetical after this paragraph). Golf players use clubs, tennis players use rackets, and speedrunners use gaming consoles. The legitimate tools of non-AI art and the legitimate tools of sports help the players play the specific game they’re playing. The tools don’t play most or all of the game for the player. Why don’t they? Because the point of human sports is not just to see the most amazing feats. It’s for us to see members of our own species working within the limitations of their biology to achieve the most amazing feats they can. If a human athlete secretly uses performance enhancing drugs at the Olympics, he’ll be more capable of pulling off amazing physical stunts, but the whole point of watching him excel primarily because of his natural ability will be gone. Likewise, tool-assisted speedruns, in which software compensates for the limitations of the human player, can be spectacles to behold, but the core meaning of seeing a human player refine the reflexes of his own body to perform skillfully isn’t as present within these runs. Tool-assisted speedrunning may be a legitimate category on official leaderboards, but if technical execution were all that mattered to speedrunning enthusiasts, it’d be the only category.
(If the legitimate tools of artists are more elaborate and flexible than the legitimate tools of athletes, that’s because non-AI art is a much more elaborate and flexible game than most sports, with more intricate and varied ways to win. In the “sport” of filmmaking, you can ‘win’ by making a good Western, a good police procedural, a good superhero movie, etc. All these genres have vastly different technical requirements, and so nonAI tools have to be flexible to account for those vastly different technical requirements. Non-AI tools also have to account for a multitude of environments that the sport of filmmaking takes place in. In many scenarios, the sport of filmmaking doesn’t take place in a standardized stadium, whereas a football game will generally take place in a field with the same basic layout. These differences don’t ruin the sports and art comparison, because like with soccer or basketball, non-AI art is about achieving good results despite our intrinsic limitations, not just about the good results in isolation. This is the reason that while non-AI art tools can legitimately evolve to better account for the different circumstances that can burden the core work of craftsmanship, they cease to be legitimate the second they remove the core work of craftsmanship, unless you're playing a vastly different game with a vastly different standard, which I believe AI art is. Removing the core craftsmanship from the equation of non-AI art is the art equivalent of basketball players no longer doing the physical work of playing basketball and calling their performance "Basketball." I also suspect that if you remove human limitations from the equation of art entirely, even our isolated and abstract appreciation of aesthetics will gradually suffer. Don’t underestimate how much of our appreciation of art's abstract aesthetic quality is unconsciously tied to our in-born, instinctive understanding of what aesthetic achievements are impressive for humans like us to achieve, unaided by tools that do most of the core work.)
Like with physical achievements in human sports, what’s truly magical about artistic achievements like the Sistine Chapel, the Divine Comedy, the plays of Shakespeare, and more modern and popular masterpieces of narrative art like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Fullmetal Alchemist, Breaking Bad, and so on and so forth, isn’t just their abstract aesthetic beauty, though their aesthetic beauty is awe-inspiring. The context that makes those works of human art so meaningful even as aesthetic experiences is that the artists who made these paintings, poems, plays, and shows made them with their own abilities, and within the limitations of the human body, the human mind and the human soul. In the same way that it’s inspiring to see a human athlete gracefully leap over a bar at the olympics, it’s inspiring to see Kubrick with his human mind figure out the match-cut between mankind’s first weapon and the Discovery One, to see David Lean turn the same sands that T.E Lawrence walked across into his own personal canvas, to see Jackie Chan turn deadly, hand-to-hand showdowns into mesmerizing, dance-like stunts, to see Pixar’s 3D modellers manually invest imaginary cartoon puppets with soul and humanity, to see Hironobu Sakaguchi manually transform simple adventure games into personal epics about accepting your own mortality, after the passing of his mother.
Like with human sports, technical execution in art is only part of the point. The human himself is the point. There can be categories for art mostly made by artificial intelligence, but those shouldn’t be the only categories, nor should they make other categories existentially impossible to verify. If we replace all athletes with machines, the resulting spectacle will be a wonderful sight, but the parts of our souls that want to see members of our own species strive to excel despite our limitations, as well as the parts of our souls that personally want to excel despite our limitations, will eventually starve and die a quiet death. Automated Tennis probably will be beautiful, but it’s objectively not human tennis. The players of automated tennis, whether or not they can eventually become persons as valuable as us, will objectively never be the same species as us, in the same way that extraterrestrials who count as equally valuable persons as homo sapiens objectively won’t be homo sapiens. Whether we realize it or not, it’s meaningful for us to see fellow members of mankind train themselves until they can make themselves perform great physical feats. What applies to physical feats also applies to artistic feats.
Someone might respond by saying “well, AI will still offer limitations for artists to struggle against.” This person is comparing the wrong things in that analogy. The drugs that athletes illicitly use also have limitations. The robots that may replace those same athletes will have limitations. The programs that speedrunners use to make tool-assisted runs have limitations. The things we use to erase our limitations will always have their own limitations, even if they’re imperceptible. The problem with using these things isn’t that they’re perfect. Nothing’s perfect. The problem is that they erase so much of our own imperfection that our triumph over our own weaknesses is no longer ours. The victory belongs to the drugs we used, to the software we used, to the robots who replaced us, and to the inventors of all of these things. Sure, non-AI tools in movie-making have advanced and have made movies way easier to make, but at the end of the day the screenwriter has to struggle against his human eloquence to write a screenplay from scratch, the cinematographer has to struggle against his human taste for composition to frame and light a beautiful shot, and the actors have to struggle against their human control over their emotions to act.
Too many critics of AI Art miss this. They focus too much on the rapidly disappearing imperfections of AI Art itself, or on the rapidly disappearing uniqueness of the purely material properties of human ability. Instead, we have to emphasize the human beings themselves, and emphasize that the point of human art, like with human sports, is to express and test our natural human ability not because that ability is particularly strong or special as an abstract reality, but because our desire to personally excel at the things we love to do is one of the most ennobling and humanizing desires we can satisfy, and our desire to see other people personally excel at the things we love to do is also one of the most ennobling and humanizing desires we can satisfy. Like with many things that make life worth living, that’s the point.

Are they a good idea functionally, aesthetically? I would plan to wear with kilties.
And what are your thoughts on tongue leathecolour? Should it match the boot and shaft (and so with a smooth over roughout would go with a smooth tongue?)
Obviously this is in large part a matter of taste, but is there a general standard, and what are the reasons for it that I might not know about?
Cheers.

Hi Friends,
We know you are still waiting for our Freya Update, while working on it’s prototypes, we can’t wait sharing our Aurora’s progress with you too :) In this hot summer, let’s add these lovely cute Aurora boards and Pads to our shelves!

Aurora V2 Renders

Aurora is created by hobbyists for hobbyists ever since it’s birth in 2020, after experiencing two previous rounds and making our other boards, we have been listening to new features requirements and also come to new understanding for our designs.

What we look forward from Aurora

• A comfortable and pleasing daily driver to work with
• A playable tool for fun and custom typing feel
• A light compact portable board to move around easily

What’s New We Bring with Aurora V2

• New Translucent and Solid colorway
• Tri-mode PCB with RGB
• Aluminium and PC Stitched plate
• 2D and 3D badge
• Aurora Num pad

The structural design idea - Adding more flexibility for mounting structure design and differentiate typing feel for mods and alphas. We replace gasket foams with gasket sleeves, so that we can choose gasket hardness or not to use at all, and add daughter board for PCB to give it more flex. However, we have found that most gasket mounted keyboards have a commonly seen problem - mod keys are too soft and difficult to press on. Therefore, we have partitioned the plate. The PC and aluminum structure makes mod keys stiffer, powerful and sound full, while the alphas enjoy the soft flex from normal PC plate.

Tri-mode PCB with RGB

Update from PCB with daughter board integration to daughter board and PCB separation type. Furthermore, the PCB of Aurora V2 is upgraded to tri-mode with RGB.

Aluminium and PC Stitched plate

The plate of Aurora V2 will be upgraded from the traditional PC plate to aluminium and PC Stitched plat design.

2D and 3D badge designs

Our designer @VAMP has designed these beautiful badge for V2.

• Aurora V2 - 3D Badge
• Aurora V2 - 2D Badges

Aurora num pad

Aurora V2 adds a matching color numeric pad as an option. It can improve the work efficiency and at the same time let you experience a different kind of customization.

Aurora V2 Keyboard Kit Specifications

• Layout: 68%
• Typing angle: 7 degrees
• Front Height: 20.5mm
• Dimension: 345.6x 112.2 x 33 (mm)
• Case material: Injection molded Polycarbonate
• Mounting Method: Gasket Mount
• Aurora V2 Keyboard Explosion Diagram

PCB Specifications

• Hot-swap PCB: 1.2mm thick, flex cuts
• Per-key RGB
• With daughterboard
• Support ISO & ANSI
• Support Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.4G Hz
• VIA compatible
• ESD Protection

Multi-Layout

ANSI, ISO, split spacebars, step caps lock, split right shift, split backspace

Aurora Pad

Aurora Pad - Amethyst Color Renders

Aurora Pad Specifications

• Layout: 17%
• Typing angle: 6.5 degrees
• Front Height: 20.7mm
• Dimension: 112.2x 93.6 x 33 (mm)
• Weight: 240g
• Case material: Injection molded Polycarbonate
• Mounting Method: Gasket Mount
• Aurora V2 Pad Explosion Diagram

PCB Specifications

• Hot-swap PCB: 1.2mm thick, non-flex cuts
• Per-key RGB
• With daughterboard
• Support Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.4G Hz
• VIA compatible
• ESD Protection

Davy Jones' Locker for Aurora V2

We are so excited to work with the designer of GMK DAVY JONES'LOCKER to bring out the Aurora V2 x DAVY JONES'LOCKER collaboration. Welcome to join the Davy Jones' Locker for Aurora V2 discord server and share more ideas.

Aurora V2 - Community Badge Design Contest

We were really impressed by so many aesthetic designs from R1 and R2, and we would love to continue to host such contest and welcome more designs again! And this time, we have both 2D and 3D!

More details here

Thoughts and Ideas

We need your vote to help us proceed! We’d love to know

• Colors you like
  
• Badges you want
  
• Aluminium Aurora or not
  

Please fill in Aurora V2 IC form, join our Discord for more frequent updates!

Want a collab with Aurora board?

If you are a designer and would love to have an Aurora board collab, please email [email protected] or contact our discord @ Harry Vic Wuque. Studio#7057 Or, have a collab you want to see with Aurora? Please leave us comment or fill in our IC form :)
Thank you!

Hi Friends,
We know you are still waiting for our Freya Update, while working on it’s prototypes, we can’t wait sharing our Aurora’s progress with you too :) In this hot summer, let’s add these lovely cute Aurora boards and Pads to our shelves!

Aurora V2 Renders

Aurora is created by hobbyists for hobbyists ever since it’s birth in 2020, after experiencing two previous rounds and making our other boards, we have been listening to new features requirements and also come to new understanding for our designs.

What we look forward from Aurora

• A comfortable and pleasing daily driver to work with
• A playable tool for fun and custom typing feel
• A light compact portable board to move around easily

What’s New We Bring with Aurora V2

• New Translucent and Solid colorway
• Tri-mode PCB with RGB
• Aluminium and PC Stitched plate
• 2D and 3D badge
• Aurora Num pad

The structural design idea - Adding more flexibility for mounting structure design and differentiate typing feel for mods and alphas. We replace gasket foams with gasket sleeves, so that we can choose gasket hardness or not to use at all, and add daughter board for PCB to give it more flex. However, we have found that most gasket mounted keyboards have a commonly seen problem - mod keys are too soft and difficult to press on. Therefore, we have partitioned the plate. The PC and aluminum structure makes mod keys stiffer, powerful and sound full, while the alphas enjoy the soft flex from normal PC plate.

Tri-mode PCB with RGB

Update from PCB with daughter board integration to daughter board and PCB separation type. Furthermore, the PCB of Aurora V2 is upgraded to tri-mode with RGB.

Aluminium and PC Stitched plate

The plate of Aurora V2 will be upgraded from the traditional PC plate to aluminium and PC Stitched plat design.

2D and 3D badge designs

Our designer @VAMP has designed these beautiful badge for V2.

• Aurora V2 - 3D Badge
• Aurora V2 - 2D Badges

Aurora num pad

Aurora V2 adds a matching color numeric pad as an option. It can improve the work efficiency and at the same time let you experience a different kind of customization.

Aurora V2 Keyboard Kit Specifications

• Layout: 68%
• Typing angle: 7 degrees
• Front Height: 20.5mm
• Dimension: 345.6x 112.2 x 33 (mm)
• Case material: Injection molded Polycarbonate
• Mounting Method: Gasket Mount
• Aurora V2 Keyboard Explosion Diagram

PCB Specifications

• Hot-swap PCB: 1.2mm thick, flex cuts
• Per-key RGB
• With daughterboard
• Support ISO & ANSI
• Support Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.4G Hz
• VIA compatible
• ESD Protection

Multi-Layout

ANSI, ISO, split spacebars, step caps lock, split right shift, split backspace

Aurora Pad

Aurora Pad - Amethyst Color Renders

Aurora Pad Specifications

• Layout: 17%
• Typing angle: 6.5 degrees
• Front Height: 20.7mm
• Dimension: 112.2x 93.6 x 33 (mm)
• Weight: 240g
• Case material: Injection molded Polycarbonate
• Mounting Method: Gasket Mount
• Aurora V2 Pad Explosion Diagram

PCB Specifications

• Hot-swap PCB: 1.2mm thick, non-flex cuts
• Per-key RGB
• With daughterboard
• Support Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.4G Hz
• VIA compatible
• ESD Protection

Davy Jones' Locker for Aurora V2

We are so excited to work with the designer of GMK DAVY JONES'LOCKER to bring out the Aurora V2 x DAVY JONES'LOCKER collaboration. Welcome to join the Davy Jones' Locker for Aurora V2 discord server and share more ideas.

Aurora V2 - Community Badge Design Contest

We were really impressed by so many aesthetic designs from R1 and R2, and we would love to continue to host such contest and welcome more designs again! And this time, we have both 2D and 3D!

More details here

Thoughts and Ideas

We need your vote to help us proceed! We’d love to know

• Colors you like
  
• Badges you want
  
• Aluminium Aurora or not
  

Please fill in Aurora V2 IC form, join our Discord for more frequent updates!

Want a collab with Aurora board?

If you are a designer and would love to have an Aurora board collab, please email [email protected] or contact our discord @ Harry Vic Wuque. Studio#7057 Or, have a collab you want to see with Aurora? Please leave us comment or fill in our IC form :)
Thank you!

When it comes to home security and durability, steel doors have become a popular choice for many homeowners. With their robust construction and numerous benefits, they offer a practical and stylish solution for entryways. If you're considering steel doors for your home, here's everything you should know.

• Strength and Security: One of the primary advantages of steel doors is their strength. They are extremely durable and can withstand forceful impacts, making them a formidable deterrent against burglars and intruders. Steel doors are often equipped with multiple locks and reinforced frames, further enhancing their security features.
• Weather Resistance: Steel doors are highly resistant to extreme weather conditions. Whether it's heavy rain, strong winds, or intense heat, these doors are designed to withstand the elements. They do not warp, crack, or rot like other materials, making them ideal for areas prone to harsh weather.
• Energy Efficiency: Steel doors offer excellent insulation, which helps regulate indoor temperature and reduce energy costs. The insulation core in steel doors prevents heat transfer, keeping your home warm during the winter and cool during the summer. Additionally, many steel doors are ENERGY STAR® certified, ensuring energy efficiency and reducing your carbon footprint.

Know more: Steel doors gurgaon

• Low Maintenance: Unlike wooden doors that require regular maintenance, steel doors are relatively low maintenance. They do not require staining or painting, and a simple wipe down with mild soap and water is usually sufficient to keep them clean and looking new. Additionally, steel doors are resistant to pests such as termites and do not deteriorate over time.
• Design Options: Steel doors are available in a wide range of designs, finishes, and colors, allowing you to find the perfect match for your home's aesthetic. Whether you prefer a traditional, modern, or contemporary look, there's a steel door style to suit your taste. Some steel doors can even mimic the appearance of wood or have decorative glass inserts to add elegance to your entryway.
• Fire Resistance: Steel doors offer excellent fire resistance, providing an extra layer of safety for your home. They can withstand high temperatures for an extended period, delaying the spread of fire and allowing more time for evacuation.
• Cost-Effective: While steel doors may have a higher upfront cost compared to some other materials, their long-term benefits make them a cost-effective investment. With their durability and low maintenance requirements, steel doors can last for decades, saving you money on repairs and replacements in the long run.

In conclusion, steel doors offer a winning combination of strength, security, energy efficiency, and design versatility. They provide a robust barrier against intruders, withstand severe weather conditions, and require minimal upkeep. If you're looking for a durable, stylish, and secure entryway solution, steel doors are an excellent choice. Consider installing steel doors in your home and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with enhanced security and long-lasting performance.
Read more: Steel security doors

What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.

• Mostly gaming (Tactical shooters, Grand Strategy game, AAA) and some light Art-related work.

What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?

• $1600.

When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.

• This weekend.

What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc)

• Case, motherboard, GPU, CPU, cooler, SSD, RAM, PSU.

If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.

• All new.

Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?

• No overclock.

Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)

• NVIDIA card only. Can go Intel 13th + DDR4 for cheaper price.

What type of network connectivity do you need? (Wired and/or WiFi) If WiFi is needed and you would like to find the fastest match for your wireless router, please list any specifics.

• Both is preferable but Wired-only is fine.

Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?

• Mid-tower. Black aesthetic (no or minimal RGB) is what I'm aiming at.

Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?

• No.

Extra info or particulars: I've been saving money for a while now. This will be the first thing that I bought with my own money so any help is appreciated.

Given the rising want for unique and customized products, opening a personalized present keep might be a profitable business venture. Your store's profitability will be influenced by a variety of variables, such as your goal market, product line, pricing scheme, marketing initiatives, and operational effectiveness. Without understanding greater about your company, it is not possible to supply you with a unique number, however, I can list the essential factors that can have an effect on a customized present shop's profitability.
Unique and Diverse Product Range:
It's essential to provide a variety of personalized gift options if you want to draw clients and increase sales. Think of including things like monogrammed mugs, t-sublimation shirts, picture frames, sublimation keychains, engraved jewelry, and stationery. You may set your store apart from rivals and increase market share by providing distinctive and cutting-edge merchandise.
Target Market Identification:
To customize your product selection and marketing techniques, it is crucial to understand your target market. Determine which customer groups, such as couples, families, friends, or business clients, are most likely to value personalized gifts. Consider their tastes, demographics, and purchasing patterns when putting together a selection of goods that will speak to their wants and desires.
Competitive Pricing:
In order to draw customers while maintaining profitability, it is essential to choose the appropriate pricing plan. Do some market research to find out how much-personalized presents often cost in your region. Think about things like labor costs, overheads, material costs, and the target profit margin. It's crucial to strike a balance between profitability and competitive pricing, especially in the early phases of your company when establishing a clientele is crucial.
Efficient Operations:
Your operating procedures can be improved to increase profit margins. Streamline your supply chain to get products and materials at reasonable pricing. To negotiate good terms, think about developing relationships with dependable manufacturers or suppliers. Additionally, streamlined order fulfillment, shipping, and inventory management procedures will cut costs and guarantee client delight.
Marketing and Branding:
Driving sales and boosting profitability requires building a strong brand and putting those plans into practice. Spend money developing a website that is both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use and that displays your personalized gift selection. Use influencer partnerships, email marketing, and social media platforms to raise brand awareness and draw in customers. Encourage pleased customers to leave feedback or reviews because good word-of-mouth can have a big impact on how profitable your store is.
Repeat Customers and Customer Loyalty:
Long-term success depends on developing client loyalty and repeats business. Implement tactics like rewards programs, special discounts for loyal consumers, or individualized offers for holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries. Building a loyal customer base that returns for more personalized presents can be facilitated by providing outstanding customer service and creating a frictionless buying experience.
Upselling and Cross-selling Opportunities:
Look for chances to add more products or services to the order to raise the average order value. You may, for instance, recommend matching coasters or a gift-wrapping service at the checkout if a consumer buys a personalized mug. You may increase income and improve the entire customer experience by upselling and cross-selling related products.
Cost Control and Financial Management:
For continued success, keeping a careful watch on your spending is essential. Review your expenses frequently, look for areas where you can cut prices, and wherever you can, bargain with suppliers for better terms. To track the financial health of your company and pinpoint opportunities for development, keep accurate financial records and frequently review your profit and loss accounts.
It's crucial to keep in mind that these variables are only basic suggestions, and actual profitability might vary greatly depending on a number of factors unique to your company. Your personalized gift shop will be well-positioned for success and profitability by conducting in-depth market research, creating a strong business plan, and continually changing your strategies in response to client feedback and market trends.