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E.M. Bryant
Rapture (DIARY TRILOGY Book 1) Kindle Edition
E.M. Bryant (Author)
› Visit Amazon's E.M. Bryant Page
E.M. Bryant (Author), Stacy Doyle (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
$45.27 —
$7.55 —
In the midst of a boarding school's demise, a young and naive nun experiences an intense sexual awakening.
Retold through her diary, the secluded school of St. Martin's is falling apart. To make matters worse, a student goes missing, pitting fear and doubt against the school's headmaster. When the headmaster begins exhibiting disturbing behavior, it's up to the nun to protect the last remaining students. Aide arrives in the form of a mysterious priest, whose very presence poses the rawest temptation for the nun. But as winter closes in on the isolated group, an unseen danger takes hold, threatening escape. The nun's final testimony of her affair with a priest and their battle against seemingly true evil will blur the line between cabin fever and a haunting from hell.
I've spent the last few days avoiding Fr. Derrick. Not an easy task in a school with a population of 7. Today he finally cornered me alone, though. I suppose it was inevitable.
"Do I look diseased?"
"You've done your best to keep me at a distance, and cover yourself with the kids the past few days. I'm assuming my appearance has rattled you." He wasn't wrong. My nerves were on edge, and what I had prayed for was a way out. Not a new stranger to figure out.
"I like to keep structure for the children. It keeps them occupied." I wanted to get away from him, but he was blocking the doorway.
"I'm just asking for a moment. I'd like to help. The missing boy—that has to have taken a toll. And the recent disappearance of Sister Mary—also unsettling."
"They're coping," I said, listlessly. He stepped closer to me, his blue eyes on my face, impossible to get around them.
"I'm talking about you." His concern made me laugh. We were all on our own, except for the children.
"I'm alright. I am disappointed, I'll admit, that you've essentially come to help babysit." My tone was biting, unfriendly. And I wanted to back off, but the anger was on the surface, and I was tired.
"You can't do this alone, Sister." All I could do was nod my head. Annoyance in my eyes, I knew my speech would be shaky, so I stood mute. Finally he moved away from the door, and I made my escape down to the kitchen. There was something about that man that just unsettled me. No, not unsettled. That was the wrong word.
Length: 92 pages Word Wise: Enabled Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled Language: English Age Level: 18 - 18
Grade Level: 12 - 12
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E.M. Bryant is a writer from Southeast Missouri. She has a background in literature and a passion for Medieval and American Folklore. Her books are considered dark romances with heavy paranormal and horror elements. Bryant also pens fantasy romance books with HEA themes as Lana Moon. In her spare time, Bryant is a freelance blogger and cat whisperer. --This text refers to the paperback edition.
ASIN : B00SU83GZA
Publisher : Moon/Bryant Books; 2 edition (31 January 2015)
Page numbers source ISBN : 1507736878
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book from a new author
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 May 2013
Religious horror novel. Really all you need to know. EM Bryant skillfully mixes religion and creeptastic thrills in this short but sweet book. My only complaint was that I wanted more, more, more...but it's going to be a trilogy so I guess I just have to wait! I really loved the atmosphere Bryant created in the novel, and I was honestly surprised in the last few chapters (in a good way). Ultimately satisfying and a great read.
5.0 out of 5 stars old school horror
Good story
Kids mom
5.0 out of 5 stars You will love it.
Reviewed in the United States on 18 May 2018
This trilogy was amazing. I loved all three of these books. I could not put them down. It only took my three day to read them because I had to know what was going to happen. In book three you think you know what is going on, but you don't, trust me. It was the greatest ending. I can not wait to read more by this author.
Leslie Evans
4.0 out of 5 stars Read with the lights on!
I purchased this book after reading this author's two short stories. I enjoyed the short stories, so I thought I'd read her novella. There are very few similarities in the three pieces of writing. I think that's why I was happily surprised when I read this novella-she doesn't rely on the same tricks in all of her writing.
I started this book right before bed, but I couldn't stop reading because the suspense was built up. It wasn't just the suspense of "What is going on in this place??" but the tension between the nun and the priest. I ended up staying up and reading the entire thing in one sitting.
The diary entries gives the reader the first person point of view which is crucial for building up the horror aspects of the story. We are right there with the nun watching the events unfold. At one point during reading the book, I wanted to turn all the lights in my house on because I was thoroughly creeped out. Of course, the limitation of the first person point of view is that we are left wondering what isn't being told in the story, and questioning how reliable our narrator really is.
I enjoyed the setting quite a bit. Even though the diary entries are from the nineties, it seems like an era further in the past. I think it's the nun's innocence to the world and the remote location of the school that gives the book that feeling of being from the past. Personally, I enjoyed that aspect of it. I got to see how "modern" people adapted to living in an old world situation.
If you are a fan of "American Horror Story" like me, I would recommend this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this author
I'd highly recommend-thought provoking and entertaining! I enjoy the Diary type style the book is written. I normally read non-fiction, but I really liked reading this book.


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Game|Home Sweet Home — Thai Culture/Superstitions Breakdown[Part 1]
Hihi loves~ So last week I was reached out to by Dez (Dezrah) of PSVR Without Parole [LINK]. He was doing some research for a review discussion they were doing of the Thai horror game Home Sweet Home. Upon his research he stumbled upon the post I did a while back [LINK]. Anways, he reached out to me and Kenny to ask if he could reference my post. He also wanted to ask me a couple questions about the Thai cultural and superstitious aspects in the game. Which of course, I was happy to help with. They just uploaded their podcast review, and were kind enough to mention me in it~
Home Sweet Home is a truly fantastic Thai horror game. It draws from alot of aspects from Thai culture, superstitions, and folklore. The music even uses sounds of traditional instruments. I loved the usage of Thai superstitions and folklore. I was also amazed at the little details that really sold the Thai setting. Being Thai, I really appreciated it. However, I also recognize that there are alot of things that was probably confusing or completely missed by non-Thai players. I had alot of fun talking to Dez about all the little details. I've always had fun talking about cultural stuffs. Now, I always wanted to do a post breaking down the cultural and superstitious aspects of Home Sweet Home. I kept putting it off though. Honestly, I almost forgot about it. However, my recent discussion with Dez and his podcast really made me want to finally do it.
Your girl at Wat Phra Kaew (The Emerald Buddha Temple) in Bangkok, Thailand. Summer 2015.
So first, let me clear up my background a bit. If you didn't know, I'm Thai-American. My family is from Thailand, but I was born, raised, and live in in the States. Technically, I'm ethnically Thai and a quarter Chinese. I grew up in a pretty traditional Thai family, and I spent almost every summer in Thailand. Bangkok is basically my second home. I also grew up listening to alot of Thai music and watching Thai movies and TV series. So I grew being pretty fluent in Thai, and being pretty informed and well connected to my roots. I speak Thai fairly well and don't have a noticeable Thai-American accent. Although I do have some trouble with more difficult vocabulary. I can't write it, but I taught myself to read a little bit of Thai (at like a kindergartner level). So I don't know -EVERYTHING-, but I think I'm pretty knowledgeable. Therefore, I'll be taking it upon myself to help explain different things in the game for everyone. I expect that it could be too long for one post, so I'll be breaking it down to several posts.
I'll be using/referring to the first impressions video from my new friends at PSVR Without Parole. I'm also watching Thai play throughs make some comparisons between the English version vs the Thai version.
At around the [7:00 mark] of the video, you'll see a shelf with various objects. The object in the middle is basically a mortar and pestle. It's common to find this in most Thai homes, because we use it alot in Thai cooking. It's especially known for being used to make ส้มตำ/somtam, or spicy green papaya salad. The thing in the back is what's used to make a traditional Thai dessert called ขนมครก/khanom khrok. It's basically these little coconut-rice pudding-pancake type of desserts. I remember alot of my relatives and friends in Thailand had these as well. As kids, we'd often use this to play house and pretend we were cooking. Except we'd use mud and dirt. It's not really important, but I found it amusing since it really helped sell the setting. It definitely helped bring back alot of memories for me. It really made think, "This is definitely someone's home in Thailand!" The only thing was that I was wondering why it was in a random room and not in the kitchen.
Thai Buddhist monks chanting from the movie, Phobia 2. That thread is what's called "sai sin", but we'll get to that in a bit.
At around the [7:23 mark], you start to hear some chanting. This is the sound of Thai Buddhist monks chanting. I should also note that there are different types of chantings for different purposes and occasions. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, about 98-99%. Specifically, we observe Theravada Buddhism; Basically the oldest form of Buddhism. It's kind of like Catholicism being the OG form of Christianity (I think? I apologize…it's been like 10 years since I was in Catholic school…). Theravada Buddhism also uses the Pali language. So this is typically the kind of thing you'd hear at many Thai Buddhist ceremonies. Also,you know how Western countries have Christian channels that'll show Christian masses and such? We kind of have Thai Buddhist equivalents as well. Some Buddhists will play this Buddhist monk chanting, and follow along to help meditate as well. I'm pretty used to it, because my dad is a hellaaaaa devout Buddhist and plays this kind of stuff almost 24/7… Typically, it's said that the chanting should help keep you safe and keep the spirits away. But if you hear the kind of chanting said at funerals…that's kind of ominous.
Not so much a cultural note, but I did notice a difference between the Thai audio and English audio versions of the game. At the [17:06 mark] you hear the ghost say, "I miss you so much…" However, that's not what she says in the Thai version. In the Thai version she says, "Don't you love me anymore?" I kind of find this interesting since the English audio makes me feel like the ghost is an obsessive lover. However, the Thai version sounds like a heartbroken and possibly scorned lover. The Thai audio sounds creepy, but sad. The English audio sounds creepy and obsessed.
Tokay gecko from the 2009 movie Phobia 2.
At the [20:20 mark] you hear the sound of a tokay gecko. Tokay geckos are these large geckos that are also known for their pretty vicious bite. They basically don't let go if they bite. However, they're most well known for their distinctive croaking sounds. Which is how they get their name. As far as superstitions go, suddenly hearing their cries like that is considered an ominous sign. In horror movies, it's basically a sign that some bad shit is about to go down.
At the [21:20 mark] you see a little golden statue of a woman. This statue is known as นางกวัก/Nang Kwak. She's like a Thai version of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. She's basically known as a benevolent spirit or household divinity. It's said that she brings good fortune and prosperity. It's also said that she'll help attract customers to businesses. So you'll often see alot of Thai businesses, including those outside of Thailand, having one of these. My family's restaurants have always had these as well. She's usually shown in a sitting position with one hand by her side or holding a money bag, and the other hand in a beckoning position; As if to beckon customers and fortune.
Around the [24:42 mark] Bryan enters a bathroom in the dilapidated/abandoned dorm, and you see a giant ceramic water jar; Also known as a "(ceramic) dragon pot". Often times, it has a dragon design on it. This thing is just basically used to store water. It's pretty old school. There are some homes where they don't necessarily have showers, or they still have this so they won't waste water. It's basically the old school way of bathing. It's usually full of water, and you have something like a little bucket to scoop out the water. I remember back in the day my grandparents and some of my relatives would have this (along with an actual shower). I think for the most part (at least in my family), people these days have your regular modern day shower. However, I think it's still fairly common to use these things in some places like in the more rural areas. Again, for me it's not a relevant thing. However, it's a small detail that helps sell the setting. However, this is also apparently a reference to an old Thai movie from the 80's where the character hid from the ghost by hiding in the water jar. On a side note, in some of the other bathrooms you'll see these large plastic basins. That's just what people use to do their laundry the old fashioned way. Alot of people in Asia tend to do their laundry the old fashioned way.
To answer Bryan's question at the [26:44 mark], it's an abandoned university dorm~
At the [31:18 mark] we find information about the the cursed nail jinx/hex. In Thai it's known as ฝังรูปฝังรอย, or "Nails into the Stomach Spell". Thai people are pretty superstitious. While there are some people who are a more skeptical, there are alot of people who strongly believe in superstitions and the supernatural. There are quite alot of people who do believe in curses and hexes. This is a pretty common one as well. I don't think you'd typically find some magazine ad info on it though. Typically, people believe in going to shamans/witch doctors for these things. Although I will say, often times people say that many shamans aren't legit. Often times, it's the elderly or rural people who are getting scammed by con-artists. However, people do believe that a handful of these shamans are legit, have power, and can do these kinds of things like black magic. Of course, there's also a saying that you shouldn't mess with black magic because it may backfire and you may risk getting hexed yourself. It's also believed that there's always a price and consequence (guaranteed by karma). Black magic spells and hexes are also believed to require something from the target. It could be blood, hair, nails, etc. I remember my grandma and mom would tell me to carefully dispose of anything with blood, hair, or nails myself. She'd tell me that it's said that you should be careful because someone with bad intentions may try to use it go hex you. There are many different kinds of hexes or voodoo, but the nail jinx is a pretty well known one. It's known to be one of those possibly fatal jinxes as well.
The description of the jinx also refers to a thread. It's referring to the สายสิญจน์/sai sin. The sai sin is usually translated as "sacred thread" or "holy thread". Sometimes it's called "enchanted thread". It's a cotton thread that's been blessed by Buddhist monks and used for various ceremonies. The thread comes in many colors, however the white thread is typically used. White represents purity and protection. The sai sin is also used for bracelets as well. You can typically get them at temples, for Buddhist holidays and ceremonies, and funerals. Typically you get blessed and they put it around your wrist. It's meant to be a form of protection and good luck.
The sai sin bracelet I've had currently since 2011.
I typically found two types of sai sin bracelets. You have the simple one where it's just the thread tied around your wrist. There are also thicker, and more elaborate types of sai sin bracelets. Either way, they typically have this part that's a bit thicker than the rest of the bracelet. I've been told by my elders that you're not supposed to cut it off. You're supposed to just let it come off naturally. The thicker ones definitely last much longer. The one I currently have, I've had it from when I visited my cousin in Koh Samui back in the summer of 2011. Mine has faded, frayed, and loosened a bit…but it's still on and pretty strong. My last sai sin (which I had maybe for 2-3 years before this one) only lasted me about 4 years? I've had the simple ones from funeral services before. In my experience those would fray and come off after a few months to a year.
Scene from the 2013 film, Pee Mak Phrakhanong.
Other than for various occasions and ceremonies, sai sin is also used to create a barrier to protect yourself from evil spirits. You'll typically see this done by monks or shamans in Thai horror movies. It's kind of like how Western films and the Supernatural TV series uses salt to create a barrier of protection. It's also used to tie corpses as well. Which is exactly what this jinx called for. So yeah, sai sin has different uses.
I also wanted to point out how you may miss something due to the English translation for the note at the [33:05 mark]. The English version has a note that refers to a guy just by the name of Chai. However, the note literally translates to, "Bring (these) things to A. Chai. Shane's hair and nails." The อ/A shows that he's referred to as Ajarn Chai. อาจารย์ /Ajarn can be translated as teacher or professor. It can also be used to refer to a doctor. I would also say that it can also be translated as "Master". It's typically a title that denotes some kind of respect or stature. It's also used to refer to/address shamans/witch doctors. It may be a minor detail, but in the English version it just seems like "Okay, get this stuff to a random guy." In actuality, the note shows that you're definitely going to a "professional".
She says something around the [34:35 mark]. I couldn't really make out what she's saying in the English audio at first. Later, it's clear that she says, "You said, 'Together, forever…'","I miss you so much" and "Come back…come back to me…" However, I do know that in the Thai version she says something like,"Didn't you say we'd be together?" Later on, she can be clearly heard saying, "Didn't you say we'd be together forever?" She does also say, "I miss you so much."
At around the [37:34 mark] we see a creepy doll. It reminded me of another Thai superstition. Generally, you shouldn't take old or abandoned things. Especially if it's found in obscure places. It's believed that there may be bad luck or evil spirits attached to it. Kids are also told not to pick up things like dolls they may find in random areas. My mom told me a story from when she was a kid once. She said she once found this seemingly abandoned doll. She picked it up and brought it home with her. However, that night she had a nightmare. The spirit of the doll chased her around the house and made loud noises, demanding that she return it. Mom said it felt so incredibly real and really spooked her. So she returned it first thing in the morning.
At around the [39:08 mark] we see what looks to be like a little shrine. There seems to be figures of traditional Thai dancers, garlands, cup, and incense/joss sticks. There also seems to be cups with either water, alcohol, or some other drink offering. This may be a spoiler, but I assume this may tie in with Episode 2 of Home Sweet Home.
At the [39:50 mark] we see two dolls hugging each other. We find out that this is used for the lechery jinx. In Thai it's known as ฝังรูปฝังรอย. This is again, another jinx that actually exists. Again, I don't know whether these jinxes are effective. However, it is something that people have used.
A newspaper is found at the [47:42 mark]. I actually had to watch a Thai playthrough to see the other side of the newspaper. There's actually a bit of an easter egg. One of the headliners (on the left) says, "Horror game by Thai developers YGGDRAZIL Group. Continue on p. 13." You can also see the picture of the Thai dancer ghost that was in the promo material for the game. The other news stories include: 1) A haunted room/home where someone's head was pulled at in the middle of the night. 2) A 50 year old grandfather kidnapped his 10 year old granddaughter, and brought her to the forest/jungle 3) A wicked shaman's institution has been destroyed. 4) GOGOJO, the amazing Korean dancing and singing show has set out to open a concert in Thailand. It could be possible that these may be easter eggs or spoilers for the continuation of this game? Also I just want to say, this actually looks like an actual newspaper; Specifically the Thairath newspaper.
At around the [1:06:06 mark] we see a spirit house and the Rolled Metal Amulet. Let's first talk about the amulet. In Thai it's called ตะกรุด ("Takrut"). Traditionally it was a type of rolled metal jewelry around one's arms, waist or arms. What made it special was that it would be inscribed with sacred words. It was believed to have some power to protect the wearer. It was mostly worn by men. It was believed to make them more attractive, and even immortal. The traditional ones don't typically look like the one you see in the game. I suggest just looking up the Thai word in Google images.
Remember the sai sin bracelets we talked about earlier? These days, there are sai sin bracelets that kind of double as this kind of amulet. Remember the thicker part of the bracelet? These versions of the bracelets have rolled metal that has those sacred inscriptions on there.
Spirit houses at the shrine in front of my step-cousin's home in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
So let's move onto the spirit houses, or ศาลพระภูมิ ("San Phra Poom"). They're also known as guardian spirit houses or a joss house. They're found in many homes, and in front of many businesses. So if you haven't noticed by now, Thai culture is rooted in mysticism and superstitions. Thais believe that there are spirits everywhere. People used to believe that illnesses were caused by bad spirits. We also believe that spirits are tied to your land. Usually, you'd build a spirit house to house the guardian spirits of the land. You'd also give food and drink offerings. You can also offer flowers and garlands. You do this to placate them and so that they may protect you and your home. For the most part, these spirit houses can be pretty elaborate, and often draw alot of traditional Thai architectural elements. However, you can find simple ones like the one in the game. Typically, you're supposed to do a special ceremony to placate spirits whenever you're going to start construction, moving into a new home, or start any large production (movie/ TV dramas). The ceremony is to ask for their permission, placate them, and hope everything goes smoothly. My mom and grandma often always tell me that whenever I go somewhere or stay in an unfamiliar place, I should pray and ask for permission and safety from the local guardian spirit. I should also note that spirit houses aren't only found in Thailand. It's a common practice in many other Southeast Asian cultures.
At the [1:08:42 mark] we find out the name of our character, Tim. So this is where I'm going to take the opportunity to explain something about names in Thai culture. Thai people all have their real name and a nickname. We really only use our real names for formal situations. For the most part, we just use our nicknames in our daily lives and more than our real names. Honestly, I wouldn't know many of my friends' and family's full names. The reason for Thai nicknames is due to the old belief that evil spirits are looking to spirit away and control children; Especially newborns. Thai nicknames can be a shorted version of your actual name. However, it's typically something pretty random. Most Thai nicknames come from animals, flowers, food, colors, activities. numbers, descriptions, etc. So for example, my real name is Thitaree. However, my Thai nickname is "Mint" (pronounced "Min") from the word mint. My sister's nickname is "Mo". Her Thai nickname comes from แตงโม (Tang-Mo), the Thai word for watermelon. Some other common Thai nicknames are ฟ้า (Fah, meaning "sky" or "blue"), แดง (Daeng/Dang, meaning "red"), หมู (Moo, meaning "pig"), บัว (Bua, meaning "lotus), ชมพู่ (Chompoo, meaning "Rose Apple"), อั๋น (Oun, meaning "fat" or "plump"), and บอล (Bon/Ball, meaning "ball". Now back to our character, Tim. "Tim" is his nickname. We find out from a note [1:10:33 mark] in the office that his real name is Chadchai Tubloy. What I can tell you is that "Tim" comes from the Thai word ไอติม (Ai-Dtim), which is one of the Thai words/pronunciations of "Ice Cream". I know, these nicknames sound really weird to westerners. However, these are just seen as pretty common names in Thailand. We also find out Jane's real name is Nitharinya.
We also find out that the house they live in is located in Samut Phrakan. So this takes place in an area south or southeast of Bangkok. Basically, they're not in the heart of the big city.
At [1:08:54] you see this mesh thing on the table. This is called a ฝาชี /Fa Chi. It's a plastic mesh cover that you put over your food on the table. It's to prevent things like flies from getting on your food when you're not eating it. This is another minor detail that sells the setting for me. It's something that's found in many Thai homes. Hell, I've got one in my kitchen right now. I also want to add that the house has alot of very Thai decorations. For example, the hanging banners/tapestries with the elephants or the wooden carving of a man in the office. Those would be considered Thai art. Funny enough, my family and relatives have these kinds of things in their homes and businesses too. Even the ones in the States.
At the [1:09:28 mark] we notice that there's this red string everywhere. It looks like red sai sin, and we basically see more and more of it throughout the game. Typically, red is seen as an auspicious color in Thai, Chinese, and many other cultures. However, after discussing it with my grandma, we came to the conclusion that the red string in the game may be symbolic of blood and vengeance. Dez also mentioned how he came across the "Red String/Thread of Fate" lore, and how he believes this may be to tied to the game.
So the Red Thread of Fate is a belief from East Asian cultures (China, Japan, Korea, etc), where you're tied to your soulmate by a red thread. It originated from an ancient Chinese legend, and the belief was adopted by several other East Asian cultures. While this isn't really something found in purely Thai beliefs, I wouldn't rule it out. Thailand does have a large population of Chinese descent. So it's possible that this idea could've been put into the game by Thai-Chinese cultural influences. It also seems to be confirmed from one of the official promo pictures.
At the [1:23:15 mark], you'll noticed a statue on top of the book case. This is a กุมาร (Kuman) statue. It's a statue of a young boy with gold. The Kuman is a household divinity (and spirit) that looks like a young boy. It's said that they'll bring good fortune and luck; If properly revered by the owner. There's also something called กุมารทอง (Kumanthong). It could be translated as "Golden (Little) Boy". However, the origin of the Kumantong is tied to necromancy and black magic. Authentic Kumantong were made from fetuses of children that died in the womb. Witch doctors/Shamans are said to have the power to invoke them, adopt them, and then use them. Kumantong spirits basically serve the shamans and help do their bidding. Apparently, ancient texts say that the bodies would be roasted dry. They'd then be painted with the same lacquer used for amulets and trakut. Lastly, they would then be covered in gold leaf. Hence, "Golden Little Boy". This practice is obviously incredibly illegal and frowned upon now. However, there are news stories of people still doing it, and authentic amulets being found on the black market.
The knife at [1:27:32 mark] is known as a มีดหมอ (Meed Mor), or an exorcist's knife. It's typically used by shamans/witch doctor's to get rid of evil spirits.
At the [1:29:33 mark] we start to enter the old wooden house in the countryside. I just want to say how amazed I am at the design and detail. It truly is very much like an actual wooden house you'd find in the country side. I love the little details such as the Thai triangular pillows (Something my family always had as well).
At [1:29:57 mark] you start to hear dogs suddenly howl and bark in the middle of the night. It's an ominous sign. Thai people believe that it's an ominous sign and that there are spirits nearby.
At the [1:32:15 mark] we see a bunch of black and white portraits on the wall. There are many homes that will typically have portraits of family members who've passed.
Pictures of relatives on my mom's side at her aunt's home in Udon Thani, Thailand. Her aunt put flower garlands underneath.
Again, this game has alot of interesting details. There's even more things in the rest of the game~ There is some irony though. The mechanics of this game has you basically playing hide and seek from the ghosts. It's ironic since there's a Thai superstition that you shouldn't play hide and seek at night, as you might get spirited away. I just found it amusing and ironic. I'll try continuing this for the entire game, but it may take a while. Like I said, this game has alooooooooot of stuff in it. Let me know if you have any questions! And on a final note: I'll be taking a brief hiatus from BAYOG for about a week or 2. I basically have to go back to my subber life. I'll be back soon though!
Got some questions about specific things in or related to the game? Let me know! I'd be happy to answer your questions!~
LET'S BE FRIENDS!~ (つ✧ω✧)つ
Fangirl all the things!~
Hihi! I'm Minty! I'm Thai-American~ เป็นคนไทยค่ะ~ ยินดีที่ได้รู้จักนะคะ~
I'm BAYOG's hella basic Asian chick, Real People Stuffs expert, and boba addict. I fangirl and blog about music, live action movies/dramas, and manga/webtoons~ When I'm not blogging, I'm usually writing/singing Thai-English covers~
It's nice to meet all of you lovely people from around the world! Thanks for stopping by our blog!~
• ขอบคุณค่ะ • ありがとうございます • 감사합니다 • 谢谢你 • Salamat Po •
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3 Replies to "Game|Home Sweet Home — Thai Culture/Superstitions Breakdown[Part 1]"
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Panzer Battles – June 2017 Update (Part Two)
Posted on June 9, 2017 June 10, 2017 by david
As promised, we're going to provide an update on the state of Panzer Battles 3 in this post.
We've been working on this title since the release of Panzer Battles – Normandy in December 2015. Normally, a title has an 18 month to 30-month gestation period – as we cross the 18-month mark for Panzer Battles 3, we're looking at a longer development cycle. That said, we became an independent studio in August 2016 and that has added a lot of overhead – web pages, blogs etc. Additionally, we have released the Panzer Battles Demo (almost like a full release), prepared upgrades for Panzer Campaigns and created our own builds with new features for the existing Panzer Battle titles.
Panzer Battles 3 has continued through our normal development cycle. The process is normally as follows;
Determine potential topics
Conduct initial research for feasibility
Confirm the operation(s) to be covered
Conduct deeper research to identify battles to simulate in each operation
Build the initial order of battle(s) based on the identified battles
Create graphics for all units in the order of battle
Create game maps for each operation
Focused research on each battle to start scenario creation and confirm the applicability of the order of battle
Create the parameter data values to represent any of the unique features of the operations
Create scenarios, which may also spawn the need to update both the maps and order of battle
Test the created scenarios and run through an iteration process
Create campaigns if required and test
Write documentation including briefings, player's note's and Getting Started documentation. Where necessary update the game manuals for new game features.
Final quality assurance
Prepare web properties, store pages and PR plan
Release the game
Post release patch cycle
We're currently in the midst of step 10 & 11 – creating (and testing) scenarios. The steps prior is all pretty mechanical. Creating maps and graphics are a standard practice that just requires time. The real creative work is in the order of battle and scenario creation
For the scenarios, we currently have thirty-two completed and in the test cycle. These cover four of the eight proposed operations we hope to cover in the game. Ideally we would have sixty plus playable scenarios in the final game release. Currently there are a further sixteen 'reference' scenarios laying out the various order of battles and game maps.
We've already released information on two of the operations we're including in Panzer Battles 3. The first is Operation Sonnenblume (Sunflower) coving the arrival of the Afrika Korps in North Africa. The Mersa el Brega scenario that was included in the Panzer Battles Demo is from this operation. Crete is the second operation that has been publicly shown through our 'So you want to design a War Game' blog series. We have almost completed all the scenarios for the Crete operation with fourteen done to date and the need for play against the AI and other variants to be determined during testing.
Of interest, we have found a new source of information for the Sonnenblume operation with the acquisition of the book; 'Infantry, Artillery and Tank Combat in Libya and Egypt – Volume One from Armour Publishing Limited. You can learn more here; http://www.armourpublishing.co.uk/outlinevolume1.html
Julian Shales book is built up from primary sources and based upon his description we expect to revise the Mersa el Brega scenario quite significantly. His book also covers off a range of operations that we had little data for and has some fascinating comparisons of various weapons systems as well as their effectiveness. He has a particularly insightful view of the performance of the 88mm Flak gun in the anti-tank role from contemporary accounts, that may surprise as it was not as 'feared' as many currently believe. If you have an interest in the initial operations of the Afrika Korps, from March '41 to May '41, this is a must have book. The Mobile Force/7th Support Group's Columns fighting Panzer Abteilung Hohman and Gruppe Herff in the Frontier area 11th April – 14th May is something I have not seen documented in any depth, anywhere else. The second volume covering Operations Brevity and Battleaxe is expected out later in 2017.
The testing of the scenarios has been very interesting. As expected, there is a low density of units and room to manoeuvre. The forces on both sides have a range of strengths and weaknesses with variation coming less from difference in the technology of the weaponry than the quality of leadership and training. Many of the Allied forces (particularly the initial Commonwealth Divisions) were worthy opponents for the Germans.
The other interesting observation is the role the Italians play. Other than the initial push into Egypt that led up to Operation Compass, the Italians are not the patsy's history has written them up to be. The 1941 Italians were quite good units with only their leadership and logistical support letting them down. The Italians made up the bulk of the Axis forces for the whole North African campaign and were effective, particularly on the defence.
We are not planning to release details on the other six (potential) operations just yet, but we're confident that we will get a good range of tactical and operational situations. The jury is still out on the value of including campaigns (linked scenarios that follow a branching dialog) as we have had little feedback or evidence of these being played when first released with Normandy. We will probably poll the community to get their opinion.
Finally, for reference, we can get a few scenarios done each week dependent on how much time we can dedicate to the game. Unfortunately, there is always lots of distractions such as having to write this blog(!), but be aware we are making solid progress overall. I'm looking forward to moving onto step 13 – Documentation as that is an indication that we're almost done.
Here are a few more shots from in-game.
← Panzer Battles – June 2017 Update (Part One)
Wargame Design Studio to support and enhance John Tiller's Civil War Battles →
17 thoughts on "Panzer Battles – June 2017 Update (Part Two)"
Herschel Sarnoff says:
looks great, can't wait to buy the games.
Dave Zimmer says:
Has your map designer thought about reversing the colors for the hills, lighter colors on the top darker for the bottom like in the real world. Also adjusting the forest/woods to give the tops of them a lighter look.
Overall looks great so far.
Yes we originally had it that way using the Normandy palette – it ended being too dark. That said, I am still tinkering and we will probably reverse the colours as you suggest and lighten up the lowest level. Everything shown is WIP and can/could/will change…
And now has changed. I have reversed the colours and lightened them up to lift some of the 'drabness'. It's looking better…
Robert Ingoglia says:
When will this new palette/map be available for download?
I have only changed the Crete palette at this point. I may look at including the new palette as an option in the other games when they are next patched.
Sava Toufexis says:
I've been waiting for a game like this. I will be the first to Paypal you folks when it's ready. Give me a buzz.
I am very impressed with the research and the "looks" of this title. The Italians usually get "short shrift" in the popular imagination, and am so pleased that your prefer to rely on documentation and primary sources for an accurate assessment of their military strengths and weaknesses.
I would love to see a game feature that allows me to trace – turn by turn – the movement of at least one or two units. My rationale is simply this: when playing the PB Normandy game, I move up mine-clearing units which locate and clear minefields, but then, in subsequent turns – forgetting the exact path of these units – I wind up not replicating their exact forward path and have other units run into hexes which have not been checked or cleared. I know that the fault is my stupidity, but there are so many things to keep in mind that I believe this feature would make life a lot easier.
Also, while I have your ear, I would love to see a feature for scattered airborne units (parachute and glider) which – when clicked – would draw a temporary line to their scattered "brothers." Maybe it is just my eyesight, but I spend an inordinate amount of time tracking down scattered units for combination.
That said – count me in for a purchase of this and all future titles – I am very, very impressed with the work done.
Unfortunately, there is no plan to track prior turns at this point. Of interest there was regular casualties from mines in areas thought swept or clear by friendly forces. There is a story from Kursk of a Tiger company supporting III Panzerkorps attack that lost 12 out of 14 vehicles in the initial advance to contact due to friendly mines that had been laid without sufficient mapping. The failure to share information between various units was endemic and with WW 2 communication technology rarely time to inform units in contact of all the threats they faced. Your experience is actually quite realistic!
As far as scattered paratroops – use the 'Highlight Org' Icon or press shortcut key 'Q' once you select one of the paratroop units. The other related units will be highlighted. Keep in mind thi sis usually giving you more control than the actually commanders had in their day.
* says:
Fuck it cool.
Your comments make perfect sense. I often worry about the omniscient "God" factor in games (the player knowing much more about the overall situation than was possible). Thanks for the correction.
"Down the road," would you have any plans to expand PZB series to WWI? I am still waiting for a decent game on the Isonzo front of WWI (The Operational Art of War scenario was not to my liking). I would also love to see gamed the Russo-Japanese undeclared conflict at Khalkhyn Gol (Nomonhan). I just finished Coox's massive two volume tome on the subject – excellent read!
No plan at this point to go back to WWI unfortunately – I honestly believe Ed Williams Squad Battles title handles that very well. As far as Khalkhyn Gol, there is potential for that. We have been discussing the potential for a Pacific title that may include even the Sino-Japanese war from 1937. Khalkhyn Gol could fall under the same coverage. Let me be clear, this has been a 'shoot the breeze' conversation not any form of adding it to a development schedule. We honestly have a lot of material ready for the next couple of releases…
Xaver says:
Nice update, i like how looks the PzB3 title, mix crete+north Africa sounds great, maybe i am curious about what you plan cover in Africa area… 8 operations in title… i think in 1-Crete 2-italian offensive 3-Compass 4-germans enter 5-Tobruk siege 6-Brevity 7-Battlexe 8-Crusader (that is maybe the biggest operation because has a lot of phases, even in PzC Tobruk41 was covered the defensive combat after axis retreat).
WWI has a good point in Middle east (Sinai, Gaza…) and Pacific… cover China is interesting but maybe more in a superior level and not at PzB scale… maybe is possible create tematic titles and do like in Salerno-demo-PzB3 and mix in a "Rising Sun blitkrieg" Phipines as base and complete with other actions in the area… or Burma+combats in chinese colonies.
Well, things looks promising.
I am so glad to see PB continue to more titles and your choices are superb. It doesn't matter what you cover, I'll buy it asap.
I'm also very pleased to read about the updates to the older PC titles. Favorites of mine and I'll even purchase a second release of all the titles, as I did the first. I've updated most of them for maps and graphics, but I would be happy to get the games "officially" updated. The hours of enjoyment already delivered far exheeds other series.
Please keep progress rolling.
May I please make a suggested improvement re: gameplay?
After accessing the artillery dialog and going through the available artillery sources, it is quite annoying to move down the list, firing those pieces chosen to fire and – after a fired artillery piece receives either counter-battery fire or – in the case of mortar units in close proximity to enemy units, direct fire – to have the list "jump" back to the beginning of the list. This means that I have to go through the list again and take up where I left off.
In no way am I a programmer, but it seems "easy" to have the list remain at the last fired piece.
Just a suggestion…
Garry Kump says:
Goodness gracious, is it soup yet? The year is coming to an end, and I want my third PB title! It is too cold here and I would rather be battling it out on the Southern Front!
The demo has whet my appetite and I hunger for more.
While Santa might be listening for years to come, I wonder if PB will ever venture into the modern era? Ranges might be a bit much, but maybe a change in scale to fit? Sorry, I was just thinking my wish list out loud. I'm very happy just to have WW2 content, but there is always room for more…
Clinton Matthews says:
just downloaded your Panzerbatles demo.
I have a suggestion regarding your unit box (lower left hand corner).
When I right click on that box, it is almost impossible to read the data…….specifically ……range to target.
This is true in this series as well as your "Gold" games.
This unit box should zoom to a readable size when we click on the box.
Or just make the data (range ect) font size the same size as the font size in the unit box.
Also…….never put white text on light background. I have seen that in Stalingrad 42 Gold.
again………..almost impossible to read.
Please stick to black fonts on the unit boxes.


The surprise election of Donald Trump electrified financial markets and pushed the Dow above 20,000 for the first time. The prospect of the Republican Party controlling all three branches of the US government, combined with Donald Trump's fiery pledges to cut corporate tax rates and embark on large-scale infrastructure spending programmes, has driven equity markets, the US dollar and US interest rates significantly higher. Financial markets around the world now anticipate substantial fiscal easing and a programme of deregulation under the new administration.
The chart below (next page) shows the US National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index, for which data has been collected for since 1973. In December 2016, the month following Trump's election, the index rose to 105.8, the highest reading since December 2004.
On a month-on-month basis, two of the 10 underlying components in this index accounted for 73% of total index gains: the outlook for business conditions and expectations for real sales growth.
Small business accounts for 49% of private-sector employment in the US and 46% of private sector output. It is a section of the economy that feels it has largely missed out on the current economic expansion. Aggressive monetary easing from the US Fed has pushed asset prices to record highs and interest rates to effectively zero (in real terms) for large borrowers. However, such actions have a limited impact on small businesses which hold few assets and which, eight years after the financial crisis, still struggle to secure financing.
The bullish arguments underpinning the current market rally are thus based on the idea that the small business sector ight now begin to participate in the economic recovery in earnest. Such participation could create a virtuous self-reinforcing cycle, with increasing aggregate demand putting to work latent economic capacity and lifting employment and wages, the effect of which would be to further increase aggregate demand. The idea is thus that the small business sector might now provide a new leg to the current economic expansion (already the third longest post-war US expansion on record) and the equity bull market that has ridden alongside it.
"Optimistic consumers and business owners are more likely to bet (spend and hire) on a future that seems to hold promise, but to maintain the enthusiasm, reality will play an important supporting role. The appearance of a new customer is much more powerful than the expectation of one".
Since the election of Trump until the time of writing (26 January 2017), the S&P 500 has risen by 7.9% while the Russell 2000, an index that measures the small-cap segment of the US equity market, has risen by 16.0%. In tandem, US government 10-year yields have risen by 0.66%, while the US dollar index reached a 14-year high during December, although it has since retraced some of those gains. These are not insignificant moves and it is worth reflecting on what markets have now priced in, ahead of any actual action being forthcoming.
Whatever your views on Trump, he has put forward scant detail on what his economic policies will entail and which ones he will actually pursue (can you simultaneously build a wall, repeal Obamacare and cut corporate taxes?). It is fair to wonder therefore, how much of his agenda he will actually be able to implement.
In 2008, Barack Obama arrived into office also promising a revolution in Washington. Like Trump, he too led a party that controlled all three branches of government. Eight years on, few people today would say that Obama's legacy has matched his incoming rhetoric of reform. Unlike Obama, Trump arrives into office with the lowest approval ratings ever for an incoming president.
Only Donald Trump (and hopefully Donald Trump) knows what a Trump presidency entails. Since his election, the market has broadly had to consider three key new policy agendas for the incoming administration: i) growth-supportive fiscal easing, ii) increased market protectionism and iii) new geo-political concerns.
To date the market has focused almost exclusively on the first of these. While fiscal easing certainly has the potential to stimulate growth, the established economic consensus is that protectionist policies shrink the aggregate economic pie. Meanwhile, it will be instructive to see how markets respond to, say, a military incident in the South China Sea.
For the market rally to sustain itself and move higher, reality will need to catch up to hope. Donald Trump is certainly a new kind of politician, but his promises to deliver a new kind of politics are not. Markets are probably correct to be anticipating a programme of (unfunded) fiscal stimulus. However, how much of this is already in asset-market pricing, and what is the impact to US growth and market sentiment from the enactment of some of the protectionist policies Trump has championed?
This article is the opinion of the writer and does not consider the circumstances of any individual.
Staude Capital Limited is an appointed representative of Mirabella Advisers LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.


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Professor Bauer – Building Bridges between Students and Alumni
Schlagwörter » | Thema: englisch
Professor Emeritus Kurt-Heinz Bauer has served as alumni representative of the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy for 16 years. He uses the post to build bridges between his faculty and the Alumni Office as well as between current students and alumni.
Professor emeritus and alumni representative Professor Kurt-Heinz Bauer is committed to supporting students.
For decades, professor Kurt-Heinz Bauer devoted his efforts to research, helping to pave the way for important innovations in the field of pharmaceutical technology. Today, as alumni representative of the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, he commits himself to promoting talented and dedicated students. Each year he awards Alumni Freiburg's prizes for academic achievement to students at the faculty and invites young graduates to stay in contact with the university.
Recognizing students for social involvement is also very important to him. He is thus more than happy to advise candidates for the "Alumni Prize for Social Involvement" awarded each year by Alumni Freiburg e.V. and is impressed by the wide range of causes the candidates give their time and effort to support. The 2000-euro prize helps the students to spread the word about their cause and extend their involvement.
Professor Bauer first came into personal contact with the idea of alumni work while studying in the USA in the 1960s, long before it caught on Germany around two decades ago. Now fully committed to the idea of maintaining contact with one's alma mater and establishing contact between the university and its former students, he has served as a liaison between the Alumni Office, the faculty, and alumni for 16 years as the alumni representative of his faculty. He helps the Alumni Office to organize events at his faculty for alumni meetings and occasionally receives visits from his former students.
The professor emeritus regards the support he provides to students as a means of ensuring scientific progress, the cornerstone of Germany's prosperity. But in addition to his work as alumni representative, he also promotes young academic talents by making financial contributions. Last year he gave 2000 euros to the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship program and established a generous endowment at the university. He provided the endowment with an initial amount of 200,000 euros and pledged to donate all future proceeds from a European patent he applied for in 2004 and received in 2008 to the endowment fund.
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