I'm immediately hooked.

I agree that your reframing of the narrative part of the experience is key. I'm much more willing to engage with mechanics when I know the story we're trying to tell.

Also, if you ever need a play tester...

Google "The Paradox of Tolerance". There's some reading for you that might provide some context you seem to be missing.

Me, a person with "ok" insurance - break ankle, no surgery needed. $1400 for MRI, $700 for xray, $200 for doctor visit.

Partner, teacher with good insurance - breaks ankle, needs surgery and rehab. Pays $0.

Insurance is just a straight up scam.

Milk carton that may or may not be majority milk. May be majority turd. Who can say.

Maybe just a touch! Macro / Close Focus shots are tough because the focal plane is so tiny.

If you're using an ILC or any camera that you can adjust the aperture manually, try bumping the f/stop if you haven't already. That still might not be enough, but f/11 might be able to nab both gobbos

I mean, this looks amazing. What, specifically, about the focus seems wrong to you?

Not sure how much time you want to spend in post, but you could also try focusing stacking 2-3 images if you really think something is off.

To be clear, I think this shot looks incredible.

The way I audibly gasped at the last bit.

I always like reading about the difficulties in getting computers to be truly random, but this one is my favorite ever.

The thing that really stung Riley is that she had to wear the 6th place trophy while Lia got to wear the 5th place trophy for the "photo op", where both trophies look EXACTLY the same and are indistinguishable from one another.

Fucking. A.

These are outstanding. Do you ever do book covers?