Yadda yadda, you know I'm still around. Harem machinations take up a lot of my time though that could go to shitposting in the OOC.

I'm here and interested. I just don't have a lot of time to dedicate to being active in the ooc. Work takes me most of my time, though I usually check the forum occasionally for updates (This i'm posting in my lunch break.) Besides my RPs and other hobbies, I have to divide my time very carefully. You can expect me to be active IC, but I can't regularly post ooc. I do guarantee I read everything im @mentioned in at the very least on the same day it is posted.

@Shoryu Magami

You know I'm still interested! =]

I really want to see if my theory about Lucifer (Napoleon) is correct.

@Aewin@Pudding@Melo@Ailyn Evensen@Snagglepuss89@tsukune@Shadow007@Eidolen@MayLien@Heap241

I appreciate those who've let me know so far doing so. As stated previously, people aren't obligated to post all that constantly in the OOC or anything, but since some people who weren't too active here (some of which explained their reasons) were still seemingly actively posting IC/OOC in other threads it did start making me wonder if they'd perhaps lost interest. This was the primary reason why I made this update -- to confirm it. I didn't want to devote more time into a project that might be dead.

While I'm not sure if I need to say this, I'd also like to just make a point that this project is safe despite my PC issues. I've taken steps to ensure the safety of this project so I won't end up having to abandon you all due to the PC screwing with me; in fact, I've arguably been taking more steps to protect this project then I've taken to protect my main project/life's work. I really have no intentions of letting you down, so keep this in mind. I mostly bring up my PC issues because I feel that a good community should be able to talk about what's going on for them and know that people give a shit, and also because occasionally my activity could be reduced while dealing with the PC; however, since I'm considerably more active than most people by default it'd likely just make my activity comparable to a more 'normal' person. All of the information for this role-play is either stored in my head or in PM, so unless RPGuild fucking blows up again (which I'm also taking steps to prepare for) we aren't going to lose this role-play -- at the very least, my PC won't ruin it.

It's also been brought to my attention that the main reason this role-play seemed like it could possibly be dying or losing interest was actually because people on this site prefer to communicate over things like Discord instead of use the OOC regularly, and with this in mind we now officially have a Discord chat earlier than planned (for those of you who haven't found it yet), which is already quite active. I've updated both my signature and the opening post of our OOC to confirm it.

Here's the link: 𝕲𝖗𝖎𝖒 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖕𝖊𝖗'𝖘 𝕲𝖆𝖒𝖇𝖎𝖙 {Discord}

I'm still keen~ This week has just been really bussy for me

@Shoryu Magami

It's also been brought to my attention that the main reason this role-play seemed like it could possibly be dying or losing interest was actually because people on this site prefer to communicate over things like Discord instead of use the OOC regularly, and with this in mind we now officially have a Discord chat earlier than planned (for those of you who haven't found it yet), which is already quite active. I've updated both my signature and the opening post of our OOC to confirm it.

I think it's just actually better, or rather quicker, to communicate ideas through voice chat programs than in the forums. I know you've mentioned me in a previous post that I don't use the OOC here as much because I mostly talk to you whenever regarding my status or if I need help on the fly over Skype. Usually when I work on things, I rather have an immediate voice so I can keep my creative pace going, much like working on my profiles with you. Not to mention we talk about silly little things too. Luckily enough, I do have a discord account, so I may hop on that program whenever I get the chance.

I'm still rearing to go, just fighting the will of the macrocosom, she's trying to turn me into pestilence and start Armageddon.

I think it's just actually better, or rather quicker, to communicate ideas through voice chat programs than in the forums. I know you've mentioned me in a previous post that I don't use the OOC here as much because I mostly talk to you whenever regarding my status or if I need help on the fly over Skype. Usually when I work on things, I rather have an immediate voice so I can keep my creative pace going, much like working on my profiles with you. Not to mention we talk about silly little things too. Luckily enough, I do have a discord account, so I may hop on that program whenever I get the chance.

Yeah, it makes sense. That's why I figured I might as well do it, and the result's been good.

Cheers to everyone who's confirmed their presence here still, whether in the OOC or in the Discord chat.

@Aewin@Pudding@Melo@Ailyn Evensen@Snagglepuss89@tsukune@Shadow007@Eidolen@MayLien@Heap241

Status update:

• Old Man's CS has been added to the 'NPCs' section, but - unlike previous NPCs - his CS is intentionally using a more incomplete version for the time being. It'll be updated in the near future, either as a result of the actions of those who interact with him or due to me simply deciding that it's okay to include certain things. Exactly what information should have been left secret was a bit more complicated on his end. Since he's also the first NPC to not introduce himself upon first appearance, his name is also being left unknown.

• Another update post concerning portrait/map icons will be coming sometime soon.

Sorry I couldn't get on yesterday, I was at work until eleven, but yes I am still in this.

I'm not going to post again yet as I don't have anything to post with until the time catches up to Tatiana. I am reading all the posts as they come up though!

Sorry I couldn't get on yesterday, I was at work until eleven, but yes I am still in this.

No problem. You should check out the Discord chat at some point, since a lot of communication goes on there now.

Also, the most recent post from me gave you something to respond to.

I'm not going to post again yet as I don't have anything to post with until the time catches up to Tatiana. I am reading all the posts as they come up though!

Makes sense, and hopefully you're enjoying it all.

Since you brought up time, I think another update is in order.

@Aewin@Pudding@Melo@Ailyn Evensen@Snagglepuss89@tsukune@Shadow007@Eidolen@MayLien@Heap241

Status update:

• The posts involving NPCs should be giving you all a decent idea of time, and with this in mind I'd like you all to keep time on your thoughts with regards to the escort. Specifically, for those of you who plan on taking the escort near the airport, I'd appreciate you posting IC confirming your arrival at the meet up point (which was elaborated on to some extent in Eidolen's post) at the time that you deem appropriate that your character would arrive there, even if it's several hours before the escort actually appeared. This is due to me wanting the order of you all encountering each other there to make sense chronologically.
  
  For those of you not taking the escort, this isn't as relevant to you, but you should still keep realistic track of the IC time and start writing your character heading for the estate appropriately. Keep in mind that the letter doesn't specify there being a problem with you arriving after the escort arrives at the estate, but you should still work towards being there at a reasonable hour since you characters don't know if the estate will close at some point.

@Shoryu Magami

I am enjoying it very much!

Once time catches up as well I'll have my character head to the estate.

@Shoryu Magami

Lucia is happy to wait at the airport for a while if it means that she's found the correct spot. I think I'll have a short post that has her ready and waiting at the meeting spot when it's closer to the meeting up time.

I am enjoying it very much!

Once time catches up as well I'll have my character head to the estate.

Good to know, and that makes sense. I'd have sped up time for us a bit more, but we're still expecting a few more people to register.

Lucia is happy to wait at the airport for a while if it means that she's found the correct spot. I think I'll have a short post that has her ready and waiting at the meeting spot when it's closer to the meeting up time.

That makes sense. Just make sure that you post IC when the time reaches whenever she'd arrive there. Basically, I want to keep things chronological. I don't want someone else to post their arrival before you, and then you do a post in the IC stating she was already there waiting, because realistically that previous poster might've reacted to your presence there. So whoever posts being at the meeting point first is to be considered actually being the first to arrive there. That's essentially the point of my last update.

Lucia arrives at the airport.

Charges her phone.

Stares at it and struggles over the decision to phone that totes hottie for the next eight hours.

Lol, given how Paula thought he was handsome, does this mean that we've got another harem starting?

@Aewin@Pudding@Melo@Ailyn Evensen@Snagglepuss89@tsukune@Shadow007@Eidolen@MayLien@Heap241

Various bits of work for the project are currently being done in the background as I organize my PC, and more status updates will come as those get sorted out more. I'll officially make a point that it'll probably be a little bit under two weeks before the real phase of the role-play commences -- give or take a bit depending on how long it takes registering the last few people I'm expecting to join.

For now, I've decided to give you another little update regarding character portraits. Some of this was brought up on Discord, but I'm mentioning it here for everyone.

I might've normally wanted everyone to include a portrait at the start of their posts, but earlier in the OOC I chose to give everyone freedom with regards to how they formatted their headers outside of the requirement of listing location and character name. Nevertheless, even if we don't include character portraits as map icons on our map and choose to list people's locations in that section of the OOC differently (some discussion took place regarding this), there's still other reasons I wanted everyone to have a portrait. One of them was for aesthetic purposes (think of the portraits as being like what would come up if your opened the menu in a video game and looked at the party or character entries), another was due to a picture 'The Cast' will receive upon the official start of the role-play, and there's also a few 'gameplay mechanics' where having them is useful.

With this in mind, I've decided to give you an example of what these character portraits might look like if we don't use the circle ones that Ailyn gave examples of earlier (which I think looked good and people should've commented more on them - they presumably didn't due to their being no notification in her post - but the portrait idea probably fits the role-play's aesthetic a lot more). I was thinking that portrait-style icons would fit the overall aesthetic of the role-play. Though not my only inspirations, the style of art used in was keeping in mind the styles of menu screen/portraits/et cetera used in games such as Shadow Hearts, Koudelka, and Shadow of Memories. I suppose ask me if you're curious about specifics regarding that, but I had other reasons for wanting this 'feel' as well. Anyway, I've decided to use Conrad as the basis for this example, but do keep in mind none of this is the final product and I'm looking for thoughts/opinions. Keep in mind that all the portraits will be relatively uniform if I have my way.

Here goes:

@Shoryu Magami
Oh my gawsh I think they look so awesome like that! I think the bottom left is my best pick out of the four examples.

Good posts from everyone in general, and I don't have too much else to update you all on yet while I organize some of my PC data.

@Pudding

Good to know you like them. I'll wait to see if anyone else comments on them too.

@Shadow007

Since you haven't been in the Discord chat (where most of our chatting has been going on) yet, I'll let you know that you've got a response opening now. Paula spoke to Itzal again in my last post, greeting him in both English and French in an attempt to make sure he understood her.

@Aewin@Pudding@Melo@Ailyn Evensen@Snagglepuss89@tsukune@Shadow007@Eidolen@MayLien@Heap241

Posting again this soon because I want to make an important update involving the Discord chat. For some reason, I'm encountering a somewhat random but somewhat consistent glitch with Discord where anytime I close the tab and then come back into the channel there's a good possibility that any messages that were sent by me or anyone else the last time I was logged in will completely vanish out of the log, seemingly permanently. It's rather irritating, so don't expect me to use Discord for any sort of important discussion, especially since the copy/pasting of messages in that program seems very gimmicky compared to other IM programs and subsequently makes it difficult for me to log any important discussions.

With this in mind, make sure you send any important messages over the OOC here or over PM, instead of doing so over Discord. This is not only because I'll be reluctant to talk about anything extensive using the Discord channel until a solution for this problem is found (anyone who knows why it might be happening is free to help -- I'm not certain it isn't an issue with my PC, but that doesn't make a lot of sense to me really), but also because I might not even receive your messages due to this problem. I've updated the opening post of the OOC to inform everyone about this.

Basically, sometimes when I log back into Discord after closing it for a while 'time' appears to have been 'reversed', resulting in the log looking as though the last time I came into the channel simply never happened -- my messages being gone, and everyone else's during that session too. Other people have stated the messages/gifs/et cetera are still there on their ends, but on my end these things are permanently erased. It's an exceedingly inconvenient glitch that I've never really encountered on any other program before.

@Shoryu MagamiForgot to comment, I prefer the top right one, but definitely one of the two in black and white for the portraits.