General => The Lounge => Topic started by: Xifanie on March 28, 2012, 11:18:43 am
Title: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Xifanie on March 28, 2012, 11:18:43 am
I thought I was time for me to finally make an introduction topic, with everyone else doing so, but I'm still taking it with some seriousness as I encourage open-mindness, and thus, I wish for people to understand my position.
I was hacking FFT when it was still cool... Actually, I'm very impressed how much progress FFH has made since Voldemort was fired and when Eternal joined adminship. Even if he had a lot of trouble dealing with that decision, he helped me a lot when I was broken down, and I can't pay back that to it.
Anyway, I'm going to split my introduction into three parts. Read whichever you want; Word tells me all my text has over 2700 words, so I expect a few tl;dr.
FFHacktics is my baby, and it's hard to let it go... especially when so many care about it now!
What got me interested in FFT Hacking was the lack of anyone else doing so. I considered myself a "Final Fantasy Tactics Master", and I wanted to push it even further. I started doing everything on my own, using the GameShark handbook at first to guide me with the already known data. It helped me a lot using it as a guide to determine/find/research all the other things, and in the end I had made a SCUS spreadsheet. I still had to do 95% of the research by myself after creating the "old FFH", posting my findings and all.
When WotL was announced, my first project was born: Add WotL changes to the PSX version. However, after WotL was released, I thought those changes were such trash (and not even because of the translation), that I gave up entirely on that project, deeming it not worth it.
Through years, I messed with excel, and only after 2 years I managed to ASM hack, something I had entirely learned on my own. I don't think it's that great of a feat, because ASM isn't that hard... somehow I was unable to find into about it and was just too deluded to understand it before. I was never a really good hacker though, most of my hacks are extremely buggy and I should really clean my list to remove all those which are unstable, which is about 3/4 of the list in my little ASM reference topic.
I've attempted more research in the recent years on effect files, harder stuff in general, to nearly no avail. I feel my time is over since I don't nearly have the energy I used to, but I'm happy FFH is flourishing today even without me. At least today I'm happy doing more artistic work to help, unlike the more logical stuff which is usually just depressing. I'm glad I could create a place a lot of you can hold unto, dream, while staying friendly and open-minded. This community is awesome and I'm happy to be its admin. My only regret is never finishing KoI, which is still my dream.
Since I began the journey of transition, a lot of things changed for me. I was an obnoxious, anti-social, emotionless, selfish, and even a sociopath. Basically, take all the main Final Fantasy character's bad traits, and you have an idea of the bastard that I was. I wasn't happy being that way, mind you, but it was hard, if not impossible for me to see past that. I've always had gender deviant thoughts, wishing to be on the other side for many aspects of life: career, social life, recreation, and sexuality (obviously). But even with those, I never questioned myself nearly enough until I was 21 to realize all this dysphoria/depression was mainly related to my gender issues. I didn't know anything about transsexuality. In fact, I was wondering if they were girls who had some surgery to get a penis or if they were born-males with a female body. What really started changes for me was when I fell on one of candifla's video on youtube. She's a rather gender fluid transsexual and has a few very useful voice training videos. I trained to develop my female voice I always dreamt of, but a few weeks later I started to ask myself some serious questions... because even at that time I wasn't aware I was transgender, I didn't know such a phenomena could exist. That's when I decided to read on transsexual and transgender topics to find out it was something I could relate to. At the end of the semester at college, I stood unable to perform any classwork for 6 entire days, because during all the time I was awake, I tried to find a way out of that mess.
I didn't want to be transgender. I wanted the easy way out. But there was none.
I came with the conclusion that I was bigender. There was absolutely no doubt that I felt too female to keep repressing it. I had done so all my life and it was a thorn I wanted to get rid of. When I started going out, I packed my female clothes and went to some far random spot no one ever trespassed by and changed there. I was scared to be called a freak if anyone saw me change, and I especially didn't want my parents to see me like this. Afterwards, I would go shopping for more female clothes as my wardrobe was so empty in that department. At first, I stayed 2 hours in my car before gathering enough courage to face people. Thankfully, it went rather well each time and each time, I dealt with less stress.
My male persona didn't gradually go away or anything. My female self was definitely the strongest, but I was afraid of surgery at that time. Having figured what I thought at that time was my true self, I wanted to right the wrongs and start Hormone Replacement Therapy. I contacted every trans help centre in my region, in Quebec, and failed to get any quick access to what I sought so desperately. I have to admit, just figuring out about my female self, doing everything I could while it was still not enough was one strong shock that drove me into depression/suicidal thoughts again. It was easily the most important thing to me in my entire life and I had to do something about it. I managed to get on a 1 year or so waiting list for a clinic in Montreal, but I couldn't wait that long. I tried going twice to no-appointment clinics, but I was too scared to go as a girl, in the waiting room, showing my ID to the woman at the counter and waiting in a room filled with people for hours. Sadly, going there didn't make a change in the world except to discourage me. I got even more suicidal, and I didn't want to die, so I ordered my meds online.
Once I got my meds, I went to the drug store to buy some syringes for intramuscular use, but they refused to sell me because I needed a prescription for that... So in the end I managed to find some shitty insulin syringes which had 0.5" needles when I needed 1.5" long. Basically, this was far more dangerous just because those idiots didn't want to give me the right needles so I would take my medication properly, yet they distribute new syringes to junkies all the time. Fucked up society. I started my hormones one month before going back to school, and I veeryyyyy slowly increased my dosage for 2 months until I had the biggest shock of my life. My brain started re-wiring to female. I'll note here that my brain is extremely sensitive to hormones, so I had a very male-wired brain before and usually transsexual's brain before hormones look rather in-between male/female brains. On the other hand, my brain is extremely feminine now. But when the changes gradually took place, it didn't take much time before I stopped feeling male; entirely. I was very scared at that time, because all my life plans were based on a male life... and I had just lost all interest in my guy dreams, my main one being starting my own gym. I talked to my counsellor at school and she suggested to pursue that path if I was going to be happier that way.
However, because I took estrogen, and I was taking very strong injections too at that time, everything changed to a big mumbo jumbo. I was so sad and crying nearly all the time for no reason, yet I had never felt happier, because I felt so alive! All those emotions... they suddenly surged, something I didn't remember having ever felt before. It wasn't all for the best though: I developed major anxiety issues and to make it short, I had to drop from college 3-4 weeks before the end of the semester because I faced far too much shit in a time lapse of 2 days. I broke down, and I knew that if I pushed myself any further I would have cut badly or killed myself. With little effort, I would have managed to pass 5/7 of my classes, 6/7 with extra effort, but as I was far too anxious to push myself any further. I went to the clinic to get a paper which would cancel my classes, and the doc wrote anxiety as the reason, but it didn't pass. So instead, I failed 6/7 of them. My chances of entering university were almost all swept away just from that.
It wasn't over though. I was highly questioning why I should live and decided to go all the way to the other side of the country to change my ideas and give a new meaning to my life; I was seriously thinking of killing myself. I had 5000 bucks I gained through work to spend, and I managed to burn it all in 3 months staying there. I was fully paying for one of my roomies' groceries and weed (she smokes far more than me) because she was broke and neither of us had jobs. No job + rent + 2x groceries + 2x weed + top hiking gear + filling my wardrobe = pricey. Very pricey. But really, what was 5000 bucks compared to my life? I never really cared about money, and I do even less today.
After that, I went back home but I was already comfortable with myself at that point, so not much happened afterwards. Learning that I was trans was a shock for most of my family and I did get weird looks at Christmas with everyone but it wasn't that bad.
I have no doubt on who I am, and I've never been so happy.
To me, BDSM seemed so strange. I was jealous of those people who could experience, feel all that more. But like everyone vanilla, I thought BDSM was mostly pain play. I thought: "How lucky these girls are for feeling pain as pleasure?" Even if I thought that way, I had absolutely no appeal to anything relating to the fetish community... that is, until my excessively strong submissive nature was revealed to me thanks to estrogen.
In BC, my roomies and I played a bit one day and I discovered spanking. I wanted to try, but I thought I would hate it. What a shock that was, especially when on my second spanking (with a belt) I went into subspace! This was the start of yet another problem I had to face: subspace addiction. This is not to be taken lightly; subspace can be VERY addicting. Even today I can't go on two weeks without pushing myself into that state using a riding crop or something. I don't think it's a bad thing though. It's a natural high, feels so damn good and provides by far the most amazing stress relief I've ever felt. I could go on forever about subspace and why I like it so much, but not everyone can reach it, so I'd rather not insist on the subject as it is a holy grail even in the BDSM community.
My first experience was the Montreal Fetish Weekend, which was quite awesome because I was able to get free lodging from someone I had only messaged through FetLife, which is probably the most generous person I know (and not just toward me). I spent about 90% of my time with people from the community, yet 3 incidents that frightened me occurred: - I was in a junkie park, and when I realized where I was, I turned back, but then an old black man grabbed my arm and told me something, I couldn't understand at first, but then he put his arms around my waist and I totally freaked out and ran away. He said "Why are you scared of me?" I wasn't even leaving at first because of him, but in the end he DID shit scare me. - Some drunk guy at a non fetish party grabbed my leash and asked if I wanted to go out with him, he insisted and I had to resort to force to free myself from him. - The most influent artist photographer in Canada took a liking to me. In fact he stared at me all evening and when I went to the bathroom, I wasn't able to lock the door. I gave up, did what I had to do, washed my hands and when I was about to go out, he sneaked in. I was drunk and wasn't aware of what was going on until he asked, and insisted, to suck my dick. I said "No, no, no!" Then got out, as he stayed in to avoid suspicions
Since then, I have come at peace with my need for slavery. I'm not even joking; I feel just so good when I submit, when I do what I'm told, when I'm praised... I don't need anything else but love. Of course, all of it still has to be consensual and I would rather serve one I love to start with. To me being a slave sounds like the perfect solution to all my issues. That way I can live a calm, simple life, filled with love and happiness, with one who would train me to become better to fill His/Her needs and guide me through life. Making others happy is the best way I have found to make myself happy, and I like it that way.
If anyone feels submissive and would like to experience BDSM, make sure to be well informed. And if you want to try out with someone you recently met, do not fail in reading and understanding this: https://fetlife.com/users/51913/posts/44928 (https://fetlife.com/users/51913/posts/44928). I think you need to create an account, but if you're very interested in the subject, you'll likely need one someday anyway.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Eternal on March 28, 2012, 11:22:00 am
Welcome to FFH where all your dreams come true! :D
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Taichii on March 28, 2012, 11:35:10 am
I dunno what to say XD but..
Welcome to FFH, where all your dreams come true!
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Dome on March 28, 2012, 11:44:10 am
Wow... I read all your intros...such stuff isn't suited for me, at all XD But I still <3 you princess
P.s: Voldemort Lol
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Joseph Strife on March 28, 2012, 01:31:06 pm
Wow, such a story of life, i can't say nothing more than thank you for creating FFH, and be happy that now you are happy with yourself.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Pickle Girl Fanboy on March 28, 2012, 02:01:12 pm
Being homeless, I understand your experiences with your newfound vulnerability. Every homeless female I've ever met carries blades, and I recommend you do too. Barring that, something like Krav Maga can be useful, but the most important thing for you to remember is that fighting is mostly mental - it's a state of mind. A serial killer with a length of clothesline is more dangerous than a cheerleader with a bazooka.
Whatever else you do, remember that you are the only person who knows what is in your best interests - even if your desire in life is to be a submissive, it's still your choice. Someone who forces you to submit, when you don't want to - because you don't know or care about that person - doesn't get it. It's not about pain or pleasure, it's about human contact; trust, and, in the end, love.
QuoteI still had to do 95% of the research by myself after creating the "old FFH", posting my findings and all.
I'm in exactly the same position with SaGa Frontier. I'm feeling kinda burned out, since there's so much to do, and I'm the only person who seems to care about it. I even have an idea for a resource editor slash resource compiler, for editing field scripting, which would blow FFTPatcher and the event editor out of the water.
Any advice? I respect your opinion on this, since you made the greatest modding community on the planet.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: GeneralStrife on March 28, 2012, 02:56:01 pm
Welcome to FFH, where you started making dreams come true!
Good told story, glad to see everythings good now. Thanks for making FFH all those years ago with nothing but the will.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Pickle Girl Fanboy on March 28, 2012, 02:56:53 pm
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Xifanie on March 28, 2012, 07:20:50 pm
Quote from: Pickle Girl Fanboy on March 28, 2012, 02:01:12 pm Every homeless female I've ever met carries blades, and I recommend you do too. Barring that, something like Krav Maga can be useful, but the most important thing for you to remember is that fighting is mostly mental - it's a state of mind. A serial killer with a length of clothesline is more dangerous than a cheerleader with a bazooka.
Whatever else you do, remember that you are the only person who knows what is in your best interests - even if your desire in life is to be a submissive, it's still your choice. Someone who forces you to submit, when you don't want to - because you don't know or care about that person - doesn't get it. It's not about pain or pleasure, it's about human contact; trust, and, in the end, love. I'm in exactly the same position with SaGa Frontier. I'm feeling kinda burned out, since there's so much to do, and I'm the only person who seems to care about it. I even have an idea for a resource editor slash resource compiler, for editing field scripting, which would blow FFTPatcher and the event editor out of the water.
Any advice? I respect your opinion on this, since you made the greatest modding community on the planet.
I was actually recommended to not carry a knife with me as it could easily be used against me. I'm a terrible fighter and I don't know if I could even use a knife. At least, if I have proper footwear I can run. Fast.
I don't have much advice for your hacking; for me things changed when I taught other people how to hack, and especially when the right kind of people appeared: ones motivated to hack the game.
@Xif: Are you at all interested in doing an AMA on Reddit?
AMA is shorthand for "I am a (xyz)", where you have some unique life experiences, and random people ask you questions about them.
Here's an AMA in progress: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/ri3md/iama_eunuch_man_with_no_testicles_and_two_time/
AMA on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/
That seems like an attention whoring site to me, plus I have no intention of going into details on what I live, it concerns only me and the ones I love.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Pickle Girl Fanboy on March 28, 2012, 07:28:08 pm
Quote from: Xifanie on March 28, 2012, 07:20:50 pmI was actually recommended to not carry a knife with me as it could easily be used against me. I'm a terrible fighter and I don't know if I could even use a knife. At least, if I have proper footwear I can run. Fast.
That is much better advice. Personally, I don't like knives, because I like to get in close and grapple. Just be aware that the best parts of a person to hit are the soft parts - eyes, neck, groin, knees - and that how you appear (tone of voice, stance, facial expression) can be a powerful deterrent. Even simply not reacting to someone, walking right past them as they hustle you, can blow someone off. It's the "I don't give a fuck" attitude.
Quote from: Xifanie on March 28, 2012, 07:20:50 pmI don't have much advice for your hacking; for me things changed when I taught other people how to hack, and especially when the right kind of people appeared: ones motivated to hack the game.
I see. That helps - it doesn't seem like much, but it is info I need.
QuoteThat seems like an attention whoring site to me, plus I have no intention of going into details on what I live, it concerns only me and the ones I love.
Fair enough. But there's a lot more to Reddit than AMAs - Reddit is the front page of the internet.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: 3lric on March 28, 2012, 07:30:21 pm
Thank you for creating FFH, where many of my dreams for modding came true!
To be completely honest, I'm a little envious that you are so comfortable with who you are. I might still be a bit young yet (17) and so this just might be typical, but I feel that I still haven't 'found myself' yet, as they say.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Taichii on March 28, 2012, 11:13:09 pm
Quote from: Joseph Strife on March 28, 2012, 10:49:01 pm I still think you should finish it, I would definitely help out event-wise and such. And so would i, it is one of my goals too. Make a patch where Delita is the main2 Character. Can count me in Xif.
2
:D count me in i can help photoshop wise and other ability manip. stuff :D
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: formerdeathcorps on March 28, 2012, 11:47:42 pm
It is one thing to be open-minded. If I weren't, I would condemn you for doing what I personally feel is unnatural.
However, it is another to silence criticism. Xif, although the best I can do is imagine the pain you have experienced, the way you have responded to criticism in the early months of your change created an impregnable wall, an unspeakable topic on IRC for which we all had to pay you deference. (I have no doubt given your mental state then, such deference may have been necessary.) However, this legacy still remains. Just as you were put in a position of overall distrust by your family, in FFH's extended "family", I didn't feel like I could publicly reveal my concerns without being shot down as an insensitive bigot or an incorrigible paternalist who had neither the right (nor experience) to lecture someone else on their life.
I've read the posts by the old Zodiac in Spam and I recall him vividly on IRC. In Spam, he was every bit as bad as Voldemort: he harassed many newcomers so often, and for so little reason, that it became part of his mythos. His public hypocrisy about the nature of his emotions was also quite disturbing: I recall him very impatiently telling me that he was perfectly patient and never emotional when I was making a really dumb ASM error. I commend you, Xifanie, for having the compassion to see that was wrong and having the courage to do something about it.
However, I feel in the process of finding yourself, you've swung too much in the opposite direction. If Zodiac's insistence on "emotionless" logic (and the anti-social, elitist, and selfish hypocrisy needed to maintain it) was wrong, is what you have alternatively embraced (the primacy of emotion and happiness, and the resultant anxieties and breakdowns) so much better? Yes, you are undoubtedly happier (and for someone who never had much positive emotion before, it's like a beggar discovering a gold mine), but is your happiness the only thing that matters? Maybe this is just me (who grew up with parents who emphasized duty before personal satisfaction), but I think your refusal to consider anything "logical" because of its association with Zodiac is an unhealed wound, which you are using as an avoidance tactic, a means of excusing yourself from tasks you don't wish to perform. However, in the long term, this kind of selfishness will only impose barriers on what you can do in life.
Nor does this merely affect yourself; despite the increased ASM activity, we all miss your presence as a hacker and leader. Your mind may have been rewired by estrogen so you are less inclined to focus for 8 hours straight, but you are still the same person who built this site, built so many of our collective tools, taught me and so many others the basics of MIPS assembly, and led us through so much toil. I have no doubt you still have these capacities and it saddens me with regret that you wish to throw such gifts away. No matter how diminished you think you are, no matter how out of practice of an ASMer you think you are compared to me, or SA, or Glain, you will always have a place in the history of FFH's great hackers. I only hope that can continue.
If you feel this goes against your submissive nature, Xif, do realize that writing this note goes against mine. Those of you who know me as an IRC mod or FFTR kingdom leader know that I almost always opposed bans or any other kinds of harsh punishments, even to trolls, ingrates, and liars. I do not like starting strife, inviting disfavor from others, or publicly picking the faults of my friends. Yes, my analytical abilities leads me to pass hasty and often harsh judgments of the people around me, but I usually do this privately or keep my thoughts to myself. It is only right to keep the peace. And yet, here, I don't feel like I can in good conscience do so. Sorry, Xif, for crashing your party with my 1000th post.
FDC
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Xifanie on March 29, 2012, 01:05:10 am
@ Durbs I'd say explore yourself to the fullest, experiment, live, try, anything. Just be aware that there are some things you can't force, and your view on some things may change over time... but it's also part of the fun!
@ Elric42, Joseph Strife & Taichii It's hard for me to find motivation to event; it always has. There's a good reason why I only managed to create 2 events in FFH's history. I don't know how, but somehow I want to complete this project... but until I am able to work on it again, I want to avoid resuming the project to not make everyone's efforts go to waste.
@ Taichii, sorry but art is what I like doing the most and I'm rather a perfectionist too, it can be annoying... I'll still teach you how to do it, but as I know it myself I like putting that knowledge into practice too.
@ formerdeathcorps I'm not sure if the deference was necessary, but simply coming out to FFH was a truly frightening experience. I felt it was still quite a macho community under Voldemort's influence, who I denied affecting me at the time, but today I am aware, and admit that I was dragged into his pattern and caused unacceptable loathing and trolling on FFH. I know I can't put those facts behind me, and I am trying to be the nicest person I can be today as I truly loathe and disrespect that behaviour I once have shown.
I am more aware than anyone how much hormones affected me. In absolutism, if I didn't care for my gender, being male would be by far easier for me, as before transition I was still able to have a life. I could work and gain money, and hack FFT more often with more ease. I was already depressed all the time and just tried to dose it appropriately between my impulses and all. But I am a woman, and while I have far more problems than I have ever faced in my life, what I wish above all is to solve my issues, live happily by making the ones around me happy. Ideally, this will include FFH too, like I said, I still care a lot for KoI and I won't be able to be in peace with FFT modding until I complete it. It is, I admit, my final goal. The reason for that is that later I might not be able to dedicate to FFH at all, so if I at least manage to finish KoI before that happens, I'll be very happy.
I do find it more problematic to perform "logical" tasks than before, and not just because of estrogen (which really affected my logic capacity). I am much better at art today than I ever was, something I have always sought. I have also received so much feedback and comments; about 2 years worth of hacking on FFH for one month of spriting/graphic editing... I feel my work is far more appreciated that way and it's a major reason why I find it so hard to go back ASM hacking. Not to mention I'm motivated for art, whilst hacking makes me depressed, as it always did; unless I succeeded, which really didn't happen all that often. Plus now that I know most of my hacks are broken, I'll have a lot of learning to do to make properly functioning hacks. Coding however, has always depressed me no matter what, probably because it was too extensive.
I don't know why you make such a big deal of me not ASM hacking anymore; it was never my main field. I always prioritized research over hacking, so that people would have meat to work with. As a leader, I feel I am unfit. I did have leadership before, but in all honesty it seems all gone and that relates a lot to my insecurity from being afraid to make any decision.
I can't keep FFH as my priority anymore. I need a job and to do something with my life, and sadly FFH contributes to absolutely nothing toward that. I'm still keeping it as a hobby, and I really like the community, so I'm not going anywhere. But right now, what I want above all is to get rid of my major anxiety issues which (literally) ruin my life.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: efrate on March 29, 2012, 08:55:37 am
Welcome to FFH, where all your dreams come true!
I don't remember Zodiac near at all, just a name mentioned in the video for CoK IIRC, which I prolly don't. I'm glad yer here in whatever capacity. I hate the space bot in chat, and haven't used order much, but I love the punish one.
You were renamed in my DnD campaign as a tavern wench/maid/submissive since the name Xifanie didn't fit the race, but you are remembered by my playgroup, some wistfully, some weirdly, so good job!
Regardless, glad to be here, glad to know ya, glad to make et uncomfortable in chat talking about stuff, and always willing to punish as needed!
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Joseph Strife on March 29, 2012, 01:03:02 pm
Quote from: Xifanie on March 29, 2012, 01:05:10 am @ Elric42, Joseph Strife & Taichii It's hard for me to find motivation to event; it always has. There's a good reason why I only managed to create 2 events in FFH's history. I don't know how, but somehow I want to complete this project... but until I am able to work on it again, I want to avoid resuming the project to not make everyone's efforts go to waste.
It's ok, but be sure that when you have the motivation to resume it, we will be here to help whatever way we can. :D
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Dome on March 29, 2012, 01:41:38 pm
Soon, my work on FFT: Plus will be over and I'll gladily offer my help as well, princess
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: GeneralStrife on March 29, 2012, 04:41:56 pm
I'd love to help too, it was a good idea.
Title: Re: Hey, new maid here
Post by: Taichii on March 30, 2012, 02:12:17 am
Quote from: Xifanie on March 29, 2012, 01:05:10 am @ Elric42, Joseph Strife & Taichii It's hard for me to find motivation to event; it always has. There's a good reason why I only managed to create 2 events in FFH's history. I don't know how, but somehow I want to complete this project... but until I am able to work on it again, I want to avoid resuming the project to not make everyone's efforts go to waste.
@ Taichii, sorry but art is what I like doing the most and I'm rather a perfectionist too, it can be annoying... I'll still teach you how to do it, but as I know it myself I like putting that knowledge into practice too.
i would be willing to learn with you xiffie :D just call us if you need help :D