Latest Posts by jrmilward - Page 2

Can we talk about Kurtis Trent massive glow up please?!!!! WTF!!!

Thank you @positivelyamazonian for the idea!

Ladies and gentlemen, D.M. again.

Probably the best TRAOD review I’ve ever read. I can’t resist to highlight some awesome bits.

“I cannot for the life of me understand those who felt Core’s Lara had no depth or motivation, especially compared to the wangsty, ham-and-cheese sandwhich Lara of Crystal Dynamics. Jonel Elliot has her limitations, of course, but there is more humanity expressed in the way Lara touches Kurtis after he’s been knocked into the pit with her than there is in Keeley Hawes shouting “WHERE! IS! MY! MOTHER!?” or “No, no, no, my mother’s dead. My mother died a long time ago. You’re not my mother.“ 

“And I loved the interplay between Lara and Kurtis. I understand some people hated it, either because Kurtis has sucky control, because he got grope Lara in the Louvre, or because they object to the notion that Lara could ever have a man play an important role in her life, or that she could age. Just look at her expression when Kurtis disarms her and steals the Obscura painting–say what you want about how ‘mature’ the scene is, but the fact remains that it’s presented to us from Lara’s point of view. She’s ****ed because he stole the painting, but perhaps as much because he didn’t finish what he started. He’s on the same playing field. When he backs away, she’s almost looking at him as if to say, “Now what? You started this.” I think she expresses this when she takes her “revenge” by disarming and searching Kurtis later in the game, though less suggestively. This is the only TR game I’ve seen/played that acknowledges Lara’s sexuality in the sense that she actually reacts to something rather than simply being made the enticing object of our oggling from atop an unreachable pillar. That makes her more human than giving her a wangsty past. Profoundly more so. Just watch her body language during all the scenes in which she interacts with Kurtis. It’s fascinating. “

Agree or disagree with me all you like, but I found their chemistry to be more convincing than the chemistry between Lara and Alex West in the first Tomb Raider movie, and more convincing than chemistry between Lara and Terry Sheridan in the second. Why did it work for me? There was no obligatory banter, flirting, or arguments one would expect. Kurtis very much inhabits Lara’s world, and is just as internally driven as she is. I would have disliked Kurtis if he were a macho stereotype or a braggart (which is why that image of Duke Nukem cupping Lara’s breasts makes me ill, and so do all suggestions that she and Larson had chemistry as well), but instead, he’s a kindred spirit, caught up in the same struggle against the same enemy as Lara, and about as close to a soul mate as she has ever had. Or at least, potentially. Their connection seems to stem, not from something as arbitrary as the attraction of opposites, but something as deep as the symmetry of souls. Once the guns are holstered (and perhaps before), they have an instinctive understanding of each other, and I thought that was fantastic. Kurtis Trent is far and away the best sidekick Lara has ever had, IMHO.”

“Though the game doesn’t make a point of this, Lara is perhaps more invested in Kurtis than she knows, because later on, she does something I have never seen her do once in six games: She forefits the macguffin she has just retrieved for the life of another person. And almost seconds later Kurtis does something similar: He forefits his chance for revenge/justice (and possibly, his life) for the sake of helping Lara. Again, no questions are asked, because the two understand each other.”

Now I’m crawling to a corner to cry and die.

A few loading screens that I made) I hope you enjoyed it - I, like the whole team, did my best to keep the mood of the original and give it a new lease of life)

🖤 Tomb Raider Angel of Darkness ✨️... Modern audiences are just not ready for the edginess of this game 🤭

🖤 I'm so excited for the 2nd round of remasters and really wanted to paint something in time for the release! The end result it's pretty far from my original plan though, cause I ran out of time 😅

I've just seen a post where somebody said

"Judge neil gaiman more harshly because his work reflects that he knows how to be a decent person, he just chooses to be the opposite"

And

I couldn't have put it any better myself.

Fuck Neil Gaiman. Fuck Amanda Palmer.

A Positive Writing Rant

It's like 3am for me rn but I gotta say it dude, writing is so much fun Like real talk for a second, this might be a lil cringe but here we go Truthfully, I've been writing since I was 12 years old, and started attempting to write full novels for my main characters at the time (I got a grand total of 27 pages on my first one, to no one's surprise) Because of that first novel, though, I wrote a sequel which I never completed, but it managed to get to 18 pages before I finally called it quits with those characters because I had lost interest, which continued into me taking a creative writing class that sprung up a few stories that I plan on fleshing out in the future alongside my other projects, which continued into a LOT more adventurous projects Despite that, for a very long time, I never considered myself a writer in any capacity because I simply wasn't good at it to start and thought I couldn't become good(as just about any artist is) but in the last couple of years I FINALLY accepted that I enjoy writing at least a bit more than the average joe I don't know why I decided to keep writing despite thinking my writing was objectively terrible but I am SO glad I did, truly a hidden spark discovered much later than I care to admit So here I am now, working on 2 full length novels (one of them has already FAR beaten out my first attempt at a novel, all while not even being 3 chapters done) and I'm genuinely enjoying writing as well as considering it a potential career For all you beginner writers please don't let that little spark go out, it might be tough getting over that first hill but I promise you that the reward on the other side is so so worth it, even if you think your writing is "bad" or "cringe", it doesn't matter as long as it makes you happy Even if you never pursue writing as a career and stick it as a hobby, or for giving your characters lore or for even building your own personal fantasy world, do not let that spark die This may not hit a lot of people but I do hope it will at least inspire a few to keep writing Thanks for coming to my TED talk

This isn't really a question, but I just finished reading all of both of the books of your Tomb Raider: Angel Of Darkness series plus the other stuff on the website, and it's genuinely amazing and some of the most amazing things I've ever read, I'm extremely excited for the third book!:D

Thank you! That's extremely kind of you to say <3 I hope you enjoy the final book when it's finished :-D xxxxxx

gen z has to reckon with its radicalization problem. you are not a morally pure and superior generation of youth come to save the world, your men and boys are radicalized at an unprecedented level and you ignore it because it’s too hard to address but you have to. these boys are in your classes, they date your friends, you know them and you cannot continue to pretend this is an “old white guy” problem

So yesterday I started playing the remasters starting with Tomb Raider 1 and this popped up...

"The games in this collection contain offensive depictions of people and cultures rooted in racial and ethnic prejudices. These stereotypes are deeply harmful, inexcusable, and do not align with our values at Crystal Dynamics."

“Rather than removing this content, we have chosen to present it here in its original form, unaltered, in the hopes that we may acknowledge its harmful impact and learn from it.”

Honestly, I don't understand what's wrong with the originals, what's so prejudiced and harmful? Like that's so disrespectful to Core! Why does Crystal Dynamics have to put their two cents in on a project they didn't even make at first!? 😞

It is a general disclaimer for those former products which contain some details that didn't age well, or can be called out, and rightly so, nowadays. As much as we love the classics, everyone knows that what Lara basically does in her travels is to steal cultural and historic heritage from other cultures and civilizations and take them to the First World without consulting the political/intellectual authorities of the countries she travels to.

Most of time she's not that covetous of the artifact itself but of the thrill of getting it, that's why lots of times she just gives it away to museums or renounces to achieving it if the cost is too high and the consequences too terrible.

And there's the detail of having to kill the local habitants of these places most of times - even if in self-defense - to achieve it, so you add murder to the fact of robbing.

I think this is what this disclaimer is addressing. And for once, it's OK. That is what Tomb Raider was in the 90s. Today I'm sure it would be addressed differently, though I don't see many differences with the present reboot - Laraboot's manor is still full of plundered artifacts, even if coming from her father, or am I wrong?

Anyway, disclaimers are fine. Better than to alter the original product, which is what they've done til yet. But let's not allow this wander away from what is: acknowledging the original saga's shortcomings is not cancelling the whole product. And frankly I don't think Crystal either is having the high ground here anyway. I saw more horrid colonialist shit in LAU trilogy as well.

Tomg Raider Comic - #3

Self Aware Lara questions the purpose of having multiple weapons

.... only to proudly display it an episode later

Page 1 Reference - Episode 2 17:05

Page 2 Reference - Episode 3 2:35

Those mummies were slow AF but they still scared TF outta me.

Another AoD book fest! Honestly, if I was going to share EVERY book that's influenced my AoD sequel novels, we'd be here all week. But here's a few more that have had a significant impact! Enjoy 🥰

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Path of the Black Alchemist was accompanied by lots of bonus materials in the Appendices. Rest assured, there's more on the way when the third and final, as-yet-untitled book in my AoD sequel trilogy is released!

What bonus goodies are YOU looking forward to seeing?

Check out the Appendices, and download my books for free, from my website: jrmilward.com

Shout out to @dean_kopri for the INCREDIBLE music! 🎶❤️🎶❤️🎶❤️🎶

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Research the Nephilim, you said. It's just another Biblical topic, you said...

Seriously, the number of conspiracy theories, whacky rabbit holes, and outright colonialism/racism I've had to wade through on this subject is WILD 😰 Tread with care!

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We all know AoD is bursting with unique lore, courtesy of the one-and-only Murti Schofield, but what other places do I draw inspiration from when writing my sequel novels? Here's a few...

📚❤️📚❤️📚❤️📚

AOD Lara with unified gear

What Happens When Evil Wins?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and in despair right now, this might help <3

ᴛᴏᴍʙ ʀᴀɪᴅᴇʀ ʀᴇᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ɪ - ɪɪ - ɪɪɪ ✩ ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ ᴍᴇɴᴜ

I'm so excited for the Tomb Raider Remasters!

I played Tomb Raider 2 and 3 a lot when I was a kid and I still play them regularly. It has become kind of a tradition for me to play them at the start of the year and draw some fanart too.

I also played the first one few years ago and absolutely loved it!

2 days baby!

Art: Me (ixcato)

Software: Clip Studio Paint

I had the honor to create cover art for a Polish book of "MAKING OF THE TOMB RAIDER" ♥

You can pre-order the book here.

Prints are available on my website.

AoD sequel part III - delayed but not cancelled!

Hello my dears!

A thousand thank-yous for the incredible reception for PotBA ❤️

A few of you have been asking what's going on with the third and final (as-yet unnamed) book in my AoD sequel trilogy. I want to reassure you that it IS coming and has NOT been cancelled. The first draft is complete (it was written back-to-back with PotBA to ensure continuity), and I'm now deep in the editing process to make it fit for human consumption.

Thanks again for all your amazing support and patience as this project nears its end 🥰

First time public speaking!

I did a thing 👋 Check it out if you're interested in writing, videogames, novels, stories, or just want to see me doing public speaking for the first time 😆

[ Crystal Shaman ] - Tribal Ambient Music - Meditation, Focus and Harmony

After a long hiatus, I’m finally getting back to the writing mindset to continue AoD’s story. Wish me luck! xx 

More witches art! ♥

i don't care if Cyberpunk 2077 was patched and made good. I genuinely think it's shameful that a video game could come out that broken and win an award years later. it's like if Morbius won an Oscar because the DVD release was good.