This covers the basics of how I do my screenshots.
- If you want overlays, check out these links: one | two | three | four
- My tutorial on editing without G/Reshade, mods and CC is HERE
- My tutorial on how I do my fire effects is HERE. This covers how I edit .png overlays in the context of fire but might work for other overlays.
- I keep seeing people who think these tutorials are 'forcing' them to edit. YOU CONTROL THE TUTORIALS YOU DO OR DON'T FOLLOW.
This is a very rough guide, so it doesn't go super into detail. I am going by what I use most often for generic/ lookbook pics, so it won't go into screenshot overlays or after-effects editing.
Guide under the cut:
PROGRAMS I USE:
I use GShade, but ReShade works fine as well. I use version 5.2.4, and I almost never update it unless I need to reinstall TS4.
I often use SWRE for clearer shots, but that isn't a major necessity.
I don't pay any attention to best dimensions for Tumblr whatsoever.
This guide will teach you how to use SWRE, but ONLY use it if you have a fairly powerful laptop or computer since it will cause things to run slowly as you take your screenshots.
OVERRIDES / GENERIC MODS I USE:
NoGlo and NoBlu lighting mods (A must!)
No Blur in Distance (A must!)
Helgatisha Default Camera Replacement (A must!)
Sunblind Lighting Mod
Eye Shine Remover
Skin: Luumia Vanilla Skin, Lamatisse Bare skintones
Eyes: Pralinesims Oasis Eyes N155 + RubyBird's Aqua Trigger Eyes
No Fade on Everything mod
I use GShade's Screenshot Key to take my screenshots, as opposed to the C key, so that it includes the effects of the shaders.
PRESETS: I only use two GShade presets, both of which I made: Maleficium for lookbooks and Outdoor 2025 for outdoor pics and everything else. You'll need to the shaders that are linked as 'REQUIRES' on both. They both work for ReShade too but might look slightly different. I play with these a lot.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the iMMERSE - Launchpad shader is ALWAYS at the top, right-click it and select 'Move to Top'. I always put the RTGI shader underneath Launchpad. RTGI shader is what carries all of my shots and gives them all the realistic lighting.
I use the Alpha version of ReLight since I don't like the newer one.
SHADERS I LIKE (These came with GShade, so long as you selected to download all of the shaders upon install:)
For extra shadows, I use MXAO, MXAOFFIV, and RayAO shaders most often. I don't always use all of them, it depends on the background, and the MXAOFFIV is only for when I want lots of shadows.
You may like your pics to be sharp, but I always use one of the Anti Aliasing shaders to give a softer edge to everything.
The Prod80 shaders ContrastBrightnessSaturation and Shadows_Midtones_Highlights is always useful.
I use aDoF and CinematicDoF for depth of field. Depth of field can be awkward with using SWRE, and you'll need to be patient whilst it processes it.
If it's on a coloured backdrop, I only use MXAO so it's easier to airbrush over in a paint program with the background's colour to get rid of the crease shadows on the backdrop. sometimes I don't even use MXAO if I'm using a coloured backdrop.
Sometimes, the SSGI shader adds some slightly better lighting, but for me it's very situational.
For bloom, I use MagicBloom or Bloom, and sometimes ArcaneBloom shaders depending on which suits the subject best.
I can't explain what it does, but the PandaFX shader is nice too a lot of the time. It sort of darkens and saturates the image a bit.
Sometimes Drop Shadow is cool, but it doesn't always work the way you want it to.
SWRE: When I open SWRE, and when I select The Sims 4: The resolution of my game as defined in the game's options is 1920 x 991. So I change the numbers to Width: 1920 and Height: 991, and then in Scale, I change the number to 2 and then confirm it.
It takes a second for my GShade preset and shaders to reload, you'll need to be patient if you're using any Depth of Field. (This might make the game + your computer lag.)
And then when I'm done taking my screenshots, I change the numbers in Width and Height back to 1920 and 991.
I'll show you an example now:
- The top one is a zoom-in on a 1920 X 991 screenshot.
- The bottom one is a zoom-in on a screenshot where SWRE is used, where the scale is set to X2 that size.
PORTRAITS
My lighting is inspired by @elderwisp and @flovoid. My style is a kind of combo of Flovoid's vibrant coloured lighting and Elderwisp's darker-toned, more 'gritty' kind of editing style.
With the ReLight shader, I usually have 3 or 4 lights depending on the subject. I tend to choose colours based on what reminds me of the character. For Reynold, I always use a pale blue since it makes me think of moonlight, and he's a mooncaster.
For my lookbooks / edit pics, I use this Better Photography Lighting's AmbientLight_L and Vyxated's flat backdrops.
The left is with no preset, and the right is with the default Maleficium GShade preset. I also try to make sure that there's not too much lighting on the face coming from too many directions. On Reynold's face there's a little bit under his neck and a softer bit of lighting on the other side of his face.
When it comes to Sims with darker skin tones, I have taken inspiration from Black cinematographers' advice for lighting Black skintones and from a Black comic artist's advice for drawing lighting on Black characters. Also by looking at the photos on Google relevant to the subject and shots from films as well. Sadly, I deleted a lot of my bookmarks a while ago and no longer have access to these resources and couldn't find them again, but a piece of advice from the comic book artist especially focused on vibrant colours and edge lighting, so you don't colour-wash the character or end up lightening the skintone. You'll notice this in a lot of my edits of the Reyes family:
I always use bright colours for the edge lighting and try to make sure that their skintones aren't brightened or washed out by the lighting. Or I use low-brightness colours for the same reason, like the low-brightness blue lighting on the left sides of the bottom three portraits.
OUTDOORS
The Outdoor 2025 Gshade preset I linked earlier works well with pretty much any time of day and any skintone. The RTGI shader carries this preset as well.
You might want to turn off MXAO during daytime photos. But this is a nice and very universal preset that works with most things.
I usually only ever use 1 ReLight light for this preset if I'm doing a landscape shot and I position it where the Sun or Moon should be, adjusting the Intensity and Position accordingly. You can't always see the ReLight light super brightly for landscape pics.
For morning, I use pale yellow light. For daytime, very pale blue light. For sunset, usually an orange or yellow light. For night-time, either light blue or white light for moonlight.
If you want some more specific + colourful presets, try my old Mega Collection. I used this with the Milk Thistle lighting mod though, so you might get a different result.
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RANKING NANCY DREW GAMES BY ACCOMMODATION: A VERY SUBJECTIVE LIST
Recently Iāve been enjoying vote4holtās YouTube ND game rankings. He covers the major aspects of each game: story, characters, puzzles, music, atmosphere and endings, with one big final ranking video at the end. It covers most aspects of the game, but it got me thinking: what other things can we rank the games on? I mean, you can make a list about damn near anything thatās featured in all the games, but one thing that always gets my attention is accommodation. Iām very interested in temporary accommodation from a thematic standpoint, and Iām actually working on a book which will be a collection of my hotel stories, half of which are real, and half of which are made up. Nancyās adventures definitely inspired some of it.
IMPORTANT NOTES
I havenāt played MID or KEY, so they arenāt ranked. I might add them when I get around to it. Also, I havenāt played a couple of these games for a while and/or Iāve played them only once, so some factual errors may be present. I welcome corrections and/or comments!
I will be evaluating the accommodations based on several factors: comfort, aesthetic, security, and how irritating any roommates you have might be.
There are actually three categories of accommodation. They are: Not Relevant (i.e. we donāt know where Nancy is staying); Limited Info (i.e. we know where Nancy is saying but we donāt see it in its entirety); and Luxuriously Demonstrated (i.e. we see Nancyās room and can interact with it). You might be wondering: how can you rank places you canāt see? Easy ā Iām going to predict what the accommodation MIGHT be like, and rank based on vibes!
These are going to be VERY biased to my taste. There are several things I value in accommodation that you may feel differently about. I am no outdoorsman, and I value comfort, privacy and safety in my temporary accommodation, with cool aesthetics following swiftly behind. Therefore, these values will inform my list. I didnāt realise this would be the case so much when I started it, but it became clear as I started writing. Thatās not a bad thing per se ā in fact, I hope you vehemently disagree with a few of these! Tell me what you think!
Finally, I tried very hard not to let my feelings about the actual games slip in, but it becomes inevitable at some points. Atmosphere is a big part of this ranking, and a lot of my favourite games have good atmosphere. That said, this is in no way a ranking of my favourite games.
I will overuse the word ācosyā. Also, Iām a yapper, so this is LONG.
All right? Letās go!
NOT RELEVANT
The Final Scene ā Iām imagining a regular corporate-style hotel for this, and honestly?Ā Iām into that. I might as well reveal this now: I LOVE hotels. Even the most boring hotel is magical for me still. I think itās because I never stayed in hotels frequently as a child (all our holidays were in rented cabins/houses, not hotels), and I donāt have a job that allows travel with hotel stays. Consequently, a hotel is an enormous treat, even the most basic place. Oh, someone will change my linens FOR me? Incredible! Thereās a clean bathroom? How wondrous! A continental breakfast? Ambassador, you are spoiling us! Hotels can be kind of a nightmare for some people, because itās stressful to be out of your home, and if you have concerns about hygiene and security then Iām sure itās even more stressful. Still, I think thereās something slightly wonderful about a room thatās only yours temporarily.
Labyrinth of Lies ā history may show Iām not overly enamoured with this game, but you know what? Iāve mellowed a bit over time. I havenāt replayed it (no way to redownload my original purchase and Iām not inclined to spend money on it again), but I think @aniceworld had a point in his game ranking. Itās probably intended to be magical realist, and itās far from the worst offender in the unrealistic category. I stand by the opinion that this era of the series is too self-serious to get away with the extent of wacky nonsense the premise needs to work, but the game probably wasnāt worth the dragging I gave it. All the same, I have no plans to replay it lol. ANYWAY. We donāt know Nancyās digs in this game, but based on previous entries Iām willing to bet her accommodation was either a) whatever the Greek equivalent of a Motel 6 is b) an unrealistically gorgeous boutique hotel with fabulous mosaics and views overlooking the Aegean sea or wherever weāre meant to be or c) a homestay with a quirky Greek family consisting of a stressed out mother, her cheerful father in law and her precocious young scamp of a son, all of whom need us to do culturally-enriching errands constantly. Fingers crossed for Nancyās sake it was b).
Secret of the Old Clock ā we never find out where Nancy is staying despite the setting being an inn. Was she staying here? I donāt entirely remember, but I donāt think so. The inn looks great, but given the circumstances itās probably best that Nancy stay off-property. Fuck it, sheās staying at the Deer Mountain Resort. Iām picturing it kind of like Old Faithful Inn, even though I know thatās nonsense geographically speaking ā historic, charming, outdoorsy and cosy.
GIVES US LIMITED INFO
Trail of the Twister ā this is of a genre of places to stay I like to call āstaircase with nothing to see at the topā. As a scientific observation post, the rooming situation here is likely spartan and utilitarian. Iām picturing camp beds with sleeping bags on top, or else some kind of bunkbed scenario a la DED. This would actually be kinda fun if any of the characters in TOT were in any way the kind of people youād enjoy having a sleepover with. I guess between WAC and SAW, Her had overspent their ability to create characters who were actually interesting ā or who at the very least, had interesting interactions with each other. Top asshole prize goes to the loathsome Debbie, who manages to be both boring and annoying, with her constant āNancy! Time to go to bed!ā whenever sheās done running you ragged for the day. This could have (theoretically) been a fun, cosy place to stay while you watch storms from the window, and instead itās just sort of nothing. Kind of a microcosm for the game.
The Haunting of Castle Malloy ā trying not to let my thoughts about the game infect this one, so Iām trying to imagine a version of Castle Malloy that somehow doesnāt include Kyler Mallory. Itās much nicer. Anyway, the vibes here are of course immaculate, but that doesnāt necessarily make it a nice place to stay. Itās probably dank and draughty in the castle ā Kyler calls the tapestries mouldy and itās hard to know if sheās exaggerating. I can believe it. I bet Nancyās bed was suspiciously damp.Ā
Sea of Darkness ā the inn looks nice enough in a practical, backpacker sort of way, but this one loses points for the very real and horrifying possibility that Nancy is sleeping in one of those eight-bunk hostel rooms. On its own this is a fine way to spend a trip and I too have indulged in the olā mystery roommate selection pack game, but I am on entirely the wrong side of 30 for this to hold any appeal any more.
Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake ā we see the cabin, and we can adjust the time, but Iām taking points off because we donāt see Nancyās room. Still, based on the rest of the cabin, itās hard to believe itās anything more than a basic sleeping bag on an uncomfortable mattress. Did you ever do activity trips in school? I had to go on a couple. I remember the mattresses being basically the same as those mats you have in gym class, blue and shiny and full of foam. If I tried to sleep on one now it would turn my spine into a loose stack of pebbles. Iām convinced that the bed in DOG is exactly this brand of discomfort. Oh, and I bet you have to go outside to use a terrible chemical toilet, and thereās no shower and you have to use one of those solar backpack ones that weighs the same as a hefty toddler. This is probably a 10/10 for people who love the off-the-grid experience, but much lower for those who do not care for it (me. Iām those). I do like the idea of a cabin in the woods, but this is a bit too rustic for me. At least itās private.
Secrets Can Kill ā okay full disclaimer, I havenāt played the original OR the remake, hence the low rating. I am simply not convinced I would enjoy it. Based on YouTube playthroughs thoughā¦ boy is Aunt Eloiseās apartment hard on the eyes. Iām actually willing to go easy on them though because I think I can imagine the look they were going for (that sort of 80s/90s American Victorian Nancy Meyer look that looked a bit better in STD and MHM) and I actually like that aesthetic, so Iām chalking it up to graphical limitations. In the remake they really did stick to those acidy colours rather than go for more subdued jewel tones though, so idk. Aunt Eloise is probably a very unforgiving host, and I bet the whole place smells like band-aids. OH and I was going to avoid the whole āhaha itās the worst cos itās in Floridaā thing cos thatās some low-hanging oranges, but actually I think this kind of interior design (fussy upholstery, heavy wood, carpets) would be pretty hard to deal with in a climate like Floridaās. Literally the only reason this beats DOG is because an indoor bathroom is a deal-breaker for me, and I simply do not believe the cabin has one. THEN AGAIN, if Aunt Eloiseās personality is anything like her decoration taste, maybe pissing in a ditch aināt that bad.
Stay Tuned For Danger ā Mattieās apartment has a similar aesthetic to Aunt Eloiseās apartment, but it does look a bit nicer. Iām giving it a higher score because Iāll take a fancy NY apartment over one in Florida any day.*
*apologies to any Floridians, I have visited many times and I love you guys, but dear lord your climate is a lot to deal with.
Ransom of the Seven Ships ā listen I suffered half of this game only once so my recollection isnāt amazing and my hackles were immediately up when I started thinking about this one. But you have to admit, a beach resort on a tropical island sounds incredible on paper. And it should be, really ā an eco resort? Snorkelling, animals, and sick-ass sunken ships to explore? Sounds incredible! I donāt believe we actually confirm where the gangās rooms are, but the resort looks lovely (and itās not like I can buy the game again to check). Now, the lack of owners or staff? Not so lovely. If I recall correctly itās explained as the off-season, but still ā there should be SOME people around, even if just for maintenance (like, what the entire plot of The Shining is hinged on). This would have actually made for a small cast of intriguing suspects. Why didnāt Her do this???? Now Iām just getting mad about the game. Hackles up again.
Creature of Kapu Cave ā not all that dissimilar to the last in that both are beach resorts, I suppose, but the culture is obviously different. This one only gains points for having an actually staffed resort, and because the place is beautiful despite all the nonsense the game throws at us ā though it loses some as well for the inherent scumminess of the Hawaiāian tourist industry. Having said that, if we were to dissect the scumminess of all tourist industries present in the games, weād be here for a long-ass time.
Secret of Shadow Ranch ā even if youāre not outdoorsy, thereās still a lot to like about Shadow Ranch! The charmingly eclectic interior design, the beautiful Native American arts and crafts, and one thing that all good accommodations should have ā a kitchen! Shortyās creepiness aside, thereās nothing cosier than whipping up dinner in a big, comfy kitchen as the sun goes down, fire crackling in the grate, friends gathered around to hear a ghost storyā¦ We donāt get to see the bedroom (and in fact, thereās no real logical place for it to be ā thereās no door inside that could lead to it, so you must have to go outside to get to the bedrooms?) but Iām picturing beautifully carved wooden headboards and more of those cosy blankets. The established risk of rattlesnakes and scorpions in the room does give me pause, but the vibes are too immaculate to rank the ranch any lower.
Legend of the Crystal Skull ā aight I can fully admit this is so high up because of how much Iām using my imagination to fill in the gaps. From Bessās POV we see a gorgeous balcony overlooking some primo New Orleans real estate. Itās raining, itās pouring, itās ambient, and the only thing we know for a fact is that Bess had a great bubble bath there. Ooohoooohohooooo. What an enticing picture you paint, Her. I imagine the hotel to be one of those old-world turn-of-the-century Belle Epoque builds with a renovated interior ā yāknow, smooth dark wood and soft white sheets, waffle robes, the whole shebang. The thing that really pushes it up, though, is the weather. Two of my fondest hotel memories involve storms, and they also both happened in the USA ā one at the Omni Parker Hotel in Boston, and one at the Royal Pacific in Universal Orlando. In both instances it was raining heavily, with thunder and lightning filling the sky, so going out wasnāt an option. Both times me and my compadres got snacks, put on a podcast, and kicked back and watched the storm until it passed. I imagine Nancy and Bess did this the night after Nancy closed the case.
Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon ā this made-up scenario JUST beats out my made-up CRY scenario because itās a train. Itās a fuckin railway car, from an era when railway cars still looked beautiful.* Weāre moving through the night with a mystery to solveā¦ but wouldnāt it be nice to retreat to our cabin instead? Wouldnāt it be dreamy to retire to a vintage rail cabin? Itās a dark night and our route is so scenic, so wouldnāt you rather get into the soft, comfy bed by the window, lie back, and watch the landscape pass by moonlight? If youāve never done a night train before ā do it. Itās a wonderful travel experience. Iāve only done two, and both were somewhat utilitarian (Amsterdam to Prague, which I loved but our two adjoining cabins had slightly less space than your average sardine tin; and Edinburgh to London on the Caledonian Sleeper, which was fancier but still not Orient Express class). Being rocked to sleep by the motion of the trainā¦ nothing like it in this world. I imagine the train in TRN is meant to be more on the level of super luxury trains, like the modern Venice Simplon Orient Express, or the Seven Stars in Kyushu. Itās not a modern train so the amenities wouldnāt be up to these luxury experiences, but the atmosphere alone would be more than worth it (and, as Lori is meant to be wealthy or at least connected ā who knows! Maybe she had it updated).
*This is of course a joke. All railway cars are beautiful.
LUXURIOUSLY DEMONSTRATED
Alibi in Ashes ā this is ranked lowest because as far as Iām concerned it doesnāt count. This is Nancyās home (and itās very nice). In terms of the actual mystery, Nancy has some not great accommodation in the form of the jail cell.
The Shattered Medallion ā itās only fitting that this wet fart of a game has accommodation to match. Weāre camping, and Iām trying to let my venomous hatred of camping slide ā and I really think I could, if only the game had been good. If a game like SHA or CUR had Nancy sleeping in a tent I could have forgiven a lot for the sake of atmosphere, but this game has no such grace. Itās not even AESTHETIC.
Tomb of the Lost Queen ā there are a few things that make this accommodation very unappealing, and they are: camping (subjective on my part I know, but cāmon. I assume no one camps because they think itās comfortable); sharing with strangers (generally high risk, but especially in a Nancy Drew game, where you could be sleeping mere feet from someone who will shank you for the slightest gain); and the environment (dear lord I would be dead in minutes here. Iām a white Celtic redhead, I am not MADE for the desert. I am made for rain, pillaging, and carving strange things into rock). Still, all things considered, there are bedframes here, the canvas looks sturdy enough, and your tentmates arenāt as bad as they could be (Debbie).
The Ghost of Thornton Hall ā one of the best games, but Nancyās set up is not ideal. She has a sleeping bag in a decaying mansion, with prime views of Charlotteās haunted door. Itās a gothic fantasy, but itās not going to be comfortable in person. No word on the toilet/shower sitch, but you just know it was awful.Ā
Secret of the Scarlet Hand ā a regular, boring hotel, but tbh I love that (see above). I bet the aircon was bountiful and the continental breakfast slapped.
Danger on Deception Island ā another great game where the sleeping setup is pretty bad. Staying on a boat, sharing a tiny cupboard with Katie Firestone (whomst I do not find very compelling, if you do then god speed), and you have to sleep in sleeping bags head-to-head? Nope. The toilet/shower situation definitely sucks. Itās probably a good thing that we never see Nancy turn in for the night, otherwise I do not doubt that Katie would have an insane sleep hygiene routine and Nancy would fantasise about strangling her in the night. Still, the vibes are great, and Iām sure many of us have dreamed of living in a boat.
The Curse of Blackmoor Manor ā my bias is entering here and I can fully admit that. There are a few āNancy stays in a luxury bedroomā games, and this one might be my least favourite. Itās mainly because Blackmoor Manor is so fuckinā ugly. Iāve joked about this before, but even as upper-class old-school maximalist households go (and there are a lot of them IRL), Blackmoor Manor is SPECTACULARLY hideous. I know some of the ugliness is part of the puzzles, but omg HER you couldnāt have made the entryway less of an eyesore? The hallways more aesthetically pleasing? Nancyās room less of the kind of space youād avoid if you were having a migraine? It seems like the bed is nice, and we can get food delivered (which I always like in a game), but the constant interruption of Nancyās sleep really pulls this one down.
Warnings at Waverly Academy ā as anyone who has lived in a dorm can testify, dorm living can actually be very nice. Waverly Academy is gorgeous, though probably somewhat plusher than what actual boarding school dorms look like. My only experience is doing summer day camp at a couple of boarding schools as a kid, and generally I think rooms tend to have more than two occupants and be pretty aesthetically underwhelming, even when the main school building is gorgeous. Anyway, the rooms in WAC seem pleasant, cosy and full of creature comforts, but (as with TOT) it really ultimately hinges on who your roommate is. And Corinne isā¦ well, sort of a lot. She doesnāt quite hit the heights of irritating quite like some characters do (Debbie), but I also feel like sheād keep breaking the silence as you tried to sleep by asking āso, do you think Iām cool?ā or āhaha guess what Nancy itās past midnight, itās tomorrow!ā
The Deadly Device ā Iāve never stayed at a research lab, but if I ever do, I really hope it looks like this one. The bunkbed looks peaceful and comfy, thereās a private bathroom, and the rec room honestly seems great. If it werenāt for the mystery at hand, Iād enjoy myself napping, cooking and playing Aggregate here.
The Haunted Carousel ā another bland hotel, though we see a little more of this one and (as Iāve said) Iām kind of enamoured with these. As in, I have deliberately played this game while staying in hotels like this, to enhance the ambience. I donāt know, I guess I was wired wrong. The room service menu really brings this one up, though ā cheeseburgers and pasta (the two best foods of all time) straight to the door? Itās all I dream of. You also have the option of burning the whole thing down, which is a bold move on the developersā part.
The Silent Spy ā well, here we have the closest Iāve ever come to staying in a bona fide ND location. The station in the game is, Iām fairly certain, inspired by a mixture of Glasgow Queen Street (has some of those smaller archways that lead to the platforms, and leads onto a main square) and Glasgow Central (older brick station with a hotel attached). The IRL hotel attached to Glasgow Central is the Voco Grand Central Glasgow, and it does bear some resemblance to Glaucus Lodge in architecture and interior design. My room was nothing like Nancyās, but it was cosy and pleasant! It is also very nice to be right on the railways station, and thereās something slightly magical about a special exit for hotel guests. Anyway, reality aside, this is a very nice hotel. I have a pet peeve in luxury Scottish hotels (very specific I know) where itās all just tartan and antlers and tweed ā designed for rich tourists, and not very representative of actual Scottish art and culture. Glaucus Lodge is sort of bland luxury, but it doesnāt do that, and Iām kind of grateful for it. There however is a sense of always being on edge in the room that loses it a few points with me.
Message in a Haunted Mansion ā another of Nancyās fancy bedrooms. This one gains points for the Victorian chinoiserie, but loses some for a lack of security in the game (that scary-ass note slipped under your door). Still, I wouldnāt say no to a stay in a San Francisco Victorian, and I bet once the mystery was solved Nancy slept like a baby in that bed.
The Captive Curse ā I donāt have huge amounts to write about this one, but I really like it. The dark wood and red colour scheme work well here where they didnāt in VEN because of the spooky/nighttime atmosphere. I love a four-poster bed (you ever sleep in one? ooooooh baby itās a cool soothing balm for all the angst you had as a teenager that you werenāt actually a Gothic heroine living in a decaying manor on the moors), and I really like the lighting in this room. Itās so glowy and cosy. I would love to work at the desk here, looking out of the window and hoping no monsters shamble on byā¦
White Wolf of Icicle Creek ā this game isnāt perfect, but one area it does do well is the bedrooms. Even though DOG is a much better game, this cabin is far more my vibe. Iāve always enjoyed the National Park Service rustic style of architecture and design (hence my earlier reference to the Old Faithful Inn), and though weāre in Canada I think the aesthetic is similar enough. It would of course be a lot nicer if you werenāt always zipping around doing grunt work, but itās still such a pleasant, cosy place. I like to imagine it has outdoor hot tubs and stargazing pods. The snowed-in vibes are also a big part of what makes the atmosphere so cosy. This is a good place to stay. Maybe get a full staff in, though, not just some teenager run off her feet.
Shadow at the Waterās Edge ā Iāve always dreamed of staying in a ryokan, and SAWās ryokan is REALLY beautiful. In fact, thereās literally one reason why it isnāt number one for me, and thatās how thereās not really a safe place in the whole ryokan ā you get menaced in your room, in the halls, in the bathroom (in the BATHROOM), and even the garden is creepy as heck because the soundtrack follows you. All that said, I still love it and I would stay here, ghost or no ghost. The bedding just looks so comfy and soft, the garden is beautiful, I love the idea of being able to take cultural lessons there, and I need to lower my disgusting body into that hot spring bath right now. And, a SURPRISE BONUS LOCATION: Yumiās apartment! Small and overpriced it may be, but Yumi says she loves it and you can really tell. A cute, cosy little bolthole in the concrete jungle of Kyoto. Mwah.
Treasure in the Royal Tower ā snagging the top spot is Herās fourth game, and the first one to really knock it out of the park. Itās amazing how good the ambience is considering the gameās age, but letās put that aside and focus on Wickford Castle as a place to stay. Oh, boy. I love it. Nancyās bedroom is comfy and cosy without being too fussy, thereās so much to explore, you have a whole ass library, AND it comes with a historical mystery? And thatās before you remember that you can (normally) do winter sports here, too. I would love nothing more than to return from a wintry walk and cosy up in front of the fire (sans Lisa, RIP see you in hell) with a good book and some hot chocolate hand-delivered by Jacques. The catering situation could probably be better, but itās not bad enough to kill the vibe. Absolutely lovely.
ā” - my muse is crushing on / in love withLynnāwo is the loving type. While at one point hard to trust, recent events have returned him to that loving, friendly person he was prior to the tribal conflict. Heās not as naive as before, granted, but love comes easy with him again.
That being said, he has a few crushes - some I wonāt spoil, for obvious reasons!
@opo-oposās Upa was a former mate of his, and heās still very much in love with her - but that chance came and went. Sheās moved on, and heās reached that point where heās mature enough to accept that not every love needs a relationship. A mutual enjoyment of each otherās existence is more than enough, even if they arenāt meant to be.Ā
Eāliah was another love of his, and though they never saw each other, there were a few small circumstances that really prevented the natural forming of a relationship - and, at this point, heād much rather have a close friend and not worry about risking it for any reason whatsoever.Ā
Lihrit is another crush, but itās pretty much at a schoolboy level. They had a tender moment at one point, but she comes and goes far too much to have a real talk about it - so, heād rather leave her to it!Ā
@ferai-caolann was a crush heād had since they were small. It carried into adulthood somewhat, but itās taken a backseat to the wonderful friendship they share as the Seeker is happily taken. Lynnāwo would never intrude on something so special to a dear friend, and it gives him not an onze of sadness to put it to rest for them.Ā
Ā Nesra was one, and then he found out that they were related. Oops, that takes vain to a new level!Ā
@saerdha is an odd sort of crush? The man has done a lot for him. It isnāt strong enough to act on, but he appreciates fully everything Sāaerdha did to get Lynnāwo where he was.Ā (wow, that went on. lynn, you poor romantic bastard.)
ā - makes my muse wish they could fix their relationship
As mentioned above, Upa was very much one of the key points for turning around Lynnās habits of distrusting folks. They managed to fix their friendship and gain something stronger from it, but a romantic relationship isnāt really in the picture, for now.Ā
@embersignās Ranirus is another. His half brother did a few unforgivable things, and will likely never be trusted again. But, there is damage that could be repaired - for the benefit of both of them.Ā
@ersatzaliasās Wyra. Now that Lynnāwo has mostly renounced his ties to the tribe, he feels like - for Upaās sake, if anything - they can put to rest the uneasiness between them. Thatāll take a talk that Lynn has been, for now, too cowardly to have.
