Divided (Updated 08/09/23) «1234567…22...Next Go

GlacierSnow

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SnowBnuuy wrote: »

@GlacierSnow Thank you as always for your thoughts < 3

I feel like Kat and Aine teaming up is either going to be hilarious or dangerous. We’ll have to see how it goes : p

Or, it could be both. Looking forward to it either way.

SnowBnuuy

Ignore my 'hiatus' post. I may be slow getting to the next chapter for a few reasons. We’ll go with ‘short break’ for now. I won't explain why, but I'm not feeling good about TS4 or the community right now for multiple reasons. I don't know how short or potentially-long this break might be, but I will try to plan ahead in the process.

Lucy_Henley

@SnowBnuuy Taking a break can be a good thing. Hopefully you feel better about the game soon.

GlacierSnow

@SnowBnuuy Stepping away for a breather is an important part of any project. We can wait. Hopefully, you feel better about things after a bit. I've really been enjoying your story, so you've got a ready fan when you get back.

EA_Mari

SnowBnuuy wrote: »

Thank you so much to you both! Also thank you to EA_Mari for featuring this on the 29/07 Friday Highlights ;-;

Well deserved. Im huge fan of 'Divided'!

SnowBnuuy

EDIT: Ignore this post!

HermioneSims

This really caught me off guard, @SnowBnuuy , I'm really sorry and sad to read this from you.
I've no idea about what happened (and, as you asked, I won't make questions about it either), but I wish you that whatever happened will solve soon (and I don't write it just to see you back on the forum, reading those last few comments really made it clear you're passing through a bad moment and I really wish you can at least feel better soon... )

Lucy_Henley

Sorry to hear that @SnowBnuuy . Hopefully the situation improves soon and you feel better.

SnowBnuuy

@Lucy_Henley @HermioneSims @GlacierSnow Tagging all my regulars here, as I think I've worried some people... Love to you all < 3 I've decided to expand on it here so I don't worry any of you.

I was a little 'final' in my wording. I've decided to not delete my account, since I have written a lot about the process of writing, and tutorials and such. I've also backed up all of my Sims, all of my files, and so on. I myself am not doing well, but that's not to do with my indefinite leave. I won't explain here as it is likely violation of forum rules as well as irrelevant to Creative Corner, but all I will say is some decisions made at the very top by EA regarding a certain facet of the TS4 modding community have left me pretty furious, and so as a result I am not interacting with TS4 or the community until that issue is corrected. Just thinking about TS4 currently just...leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I hope you all take care of yourselves < 3

Lucy_Henley

@SnowBnuuy

I think I know what you’re referring to. And yeah, hopefully the issue is resolved soon. I’m not so much saying that because I’m desperate for you to get back to the story, I think it’ll be useful/necessary for a lot of people. I’m not very heavily involved in the modding community so I’m only faintly aware of the whole issue myself.
You take care of yourself too!

HermioneSims

@SnowBnuuy ,

It's a relief to read this new message, and I can fully understand the desire to move apart from this game if it is not fun for you anymore.
So goodbye, I wish you to feel better soon!

SnowBnuuy

Thank you both. < 3 I'm sorry for all of my up-and-downs at the moment. This is normally something I enjoy and you all know that, but right now that's not the case. I've backtracked more than EA at this point haven't I? : P

BUT, I've been talking with a few in-fandom friends, and they've made me realise something: I think taking a break, rather than quitting altogether like I originally said, is a better idea. I was going to wait until the higher-ups sort out the issue I was talking about, but I don't think that will happen, and I don't think me going on a long hiatus will do anyone or the situation any favours.
I think my friends were right to say that I can still do what I enjoy, and what gives others joy, whilst simultaneously calling out what's wrong, and making sure I stay aware of everything going on. They've convinced me that completely separating myself from a hobby I enjoy because of issues within the community probably isn't a good idea and they're right. If I go entirely, that will just mean less positivity in this community to counteract all that's going on.

I'm going to re-upload the Chapter Index and such here and on my blog, and I am redownloading TS4 as we speak. I realise my decision was...not sure what the word is but defo wasn't the right one. I'm going to take a short-ish break from the game and do some planning until I feel like playing and storytelling again. I aim to be back by September at the absolute latest. I apologise for a) being bad at making decisions, b) being up and down and c) scaring people. < 3

@EA_Mari Late response, but thank you! I'm happy to have so many readers on board < 3

Lucy_Henley

I’m bad at decision making too @SnowBnuuy !

Although the situation is pretty rubbish, EA is not entirely at fault here. Sure, they could handle it a lot better, but ultimately it’s that group of modders/CC creators who are the ones who are most at fault.

I haven’t played in ages because my computer stopped working a while ago now, and I’m very good at saying “ooh yes I should do xyz” and then… not doing it. But I’m sending it off to hopefully be fixed on Monday. It’s been beneficial in some ways because it’s given me the opportunity to really think about what I want to happen in my stories. I can’t wait to start playing again!

GlacierSnow

I'm glad to hear that you won't be leaving forever. I look forward to reading more of your story when you're ready to resume it.

SnowBnuuy

Well, I managed to release the new chapter faster than I'd anticipated...Again I apologise for my near-departure from the community.

The new chapter has been uploaded to the chapter index.

GlacierSnow

Yay! I will read this tomorrow morning. Got some other stuff irl going on tonight.

GlacierSnow

Oooo, this is a juicy chapter! I love how much complexity you are giving each character.

The scene that introduces the conflict between Reynold and Julian is really well written. I liked seeing it from Julian's perspective to get a clear idea of how he thinks.

Also... Reynold's a witch! I was wondering about that... (unless you mentioned it before and I just missed it ) He seemed pretty sympathetic to them and there was Mother Joyce's concern about him having a kid.

I'm wondering who the werewolf is now...

SnowBnuuy

@GlacierSnow Thank you so much for your comments < 3

Oooh good question. Who is this werewolf? Someone we already know or someone we’ve yet to meet? : O I absolutely love that werewolf costume and that whole scene.

The discussion between Julian and Reynold wasn’t meant to get as heated as it did originally Julian may seem pretty cruel, but in his eyes (for the most part) he’s absolutely doing the right thing. As far as he’s concerned, the witches are dangerous and the Watcher will bring horrible things to people if they don’t join the Jacoban cathedral.

Yeah he is! There hasn’t been a lot of mention of it, but Aine sensed magic from him earlier and they had a slight discussion about it, though Reynold seems more reluctant to talk about magic than Aine or Kat do.

GlacierSnow

Julian and Reynold...

That scene between Julian and Reynold getting so heated was exactly what I loved about it. So I'm glad you just went with it. They both have very strong convictions, and values they don't seem to want to question, and the clash between them was fun to read. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with them as this story unfolds.

Lucy_Henley

Your artwork is AMAZING!

mightysprite

I like that Julian's motivation for working against the witches is that he's concerned about the welfare of the peasants. That makes it less black and white, hero vs. villain than religious conflicts in fantasy stories can often be.

.......

Lucy_Henley

Also…

I just saw the Vitriol Trilogy Extra Social Media Antics thing. I snort-laughed at Ethren tweeting his own name because I know what that refers to… at least I think I do. A certain ex-politician with a rather naughty surname? Rhymes with halls?*

Interesting too that Julian refers to the Watcher with gender-neutral pronouns. One might’ve thought that a conservative church from centuries ago would be all patriarchal and use He/His, but then Clementia is going to be the High Shepherdess in the future, and many Christian denominations won’t recognise female priests/pastors etc today, in the 21st Century).

*In case you aren’t familiar…

On 28 April 2011, Balls, urged by an assistant to search Twitter for a recent article about himself, accidentally entered his intended search term in the wrong box and sent a tweet reading only "Ed Balls". The tweet was retweeted by thousands; Balls was unaware that it was possible to delete tweets. The tweet has never been deleted. The incident is now celebrated as "Ed Balls Day" every 28 April, with followers retweeting his original message and commemorating the occasion in other ways. When invited to send something to be auctioned to raise funds for the party in 2015, Balls submitted a framed, signed printout of the tweet. To celebrate "Ed Balls Day" in 2016, Balls baked a cake featuring the tweet.

HermioneSims

I'm very happy to see that you're in the mood to write again!

And to draw, that art is wonderful!
I agree with the previous comments, a lot is happening here. For now, I would be scared of those werewolves too! On the other hand though, I'm also curious to know more about them when not transforming/raging, there are many possible scenarios for that... And, then, who actually is that werewolf, another character we know already or that we will meet at some point? I'm so curious now!
And then the argument between Reynold and Julian, that definitively looks like a setup for something big coming next... And even more so was what Clementia* revealed at the end, Reynold having magic in him definitively sounds like something which will have consequences!

*very ironic name for a Jacobian follower with good swordsmanship skills, btw XD

SnowBnuuy

Oh my, so much feedback I'm flattered /O\ Thank you everyone for the comments, and thank you Glacier and Lucy for the comments on the art / argument in the last chapter < 3

@mightysprite

I appreciate you picking up on that because that's one of my issues with a lot of religious conflicts in fiction as well, there's always obvious bad and obvious good (I felt this way as I was playing Sims Medieval) and I didn't want that, especially because I don't want parallells being drawn to any existing faith either. All Julian wants to do is ensure people a comfortable afterlife, spare them from the wrath of the Watcher and protect who he sees as his people. His methods might seem cruel but in his eyes what he's doing is the only way to save everyone including himself from whatever the Watcher plans to do with them.

@Lucy_Henley

YES! OH MY GOSH I'm so glad you got the reference to Ethren Tweeting his own name. I hoped someone would have picked up that reference XD I'm so happy. Oh yeah, Julian is surprisingly progressive for a Jacoban. I imagine he wouldn't take to any sort of prejudice (outside of anti-witchcraft anyway XD) under the cathedral roof, especially now that Clementia is eventually going to be in charge. Both Peteran and Jacoban consider the Watcher to be an androgynous figure of sorts, I figured it'd make sense for a deity figure who's considered shrouded in mystery for the most part.

@HermioneSims

Ohh I'm not sure what you're referring to in the name? I looked at a list of historical names and picked one out that I liked. You might have to explain the reference further cuz I'm intrigued! I'm glad you like the art ;-; Ahh yes, we're getting to the bit I'm REALLY excited for and that's the mystery of the werewolf. Oh yeah, Reynold doesn't use his magic much, but maybe that will change soon...

HermioneSims

This thread is really funny and interesting to read today XD

@SnowBnuuy

Clementia is a name borrowed from Latin, originally it was the name of a goddess which was practically the personification of mercy, forgiveness and similar concepts (ref). I tend to notice this stuff a lot because my first language is Italian, and a lot of words a similar enough to Latin to ring a bell. For example, one word for saying "mercy" in my language is clemenza, it's very easy to spot to us

Also the whole "Peteran and Jacoban consider the Watcher to be an androgynous figure of sorts" part is very interesting and refreshing to me, being from a catholic country it sounds like a very interesting change of paradigm to be explored. And the same applies to their freedom to have romantic relationships of any kind, a priest falling in love is still a source of a huge scandal even nowadays here...