Hey Y’all, Kat here! Welcome back to Kat’s Guide, where a freshman describes games with the hope that someone who reads this find out about a game they love.

Now, I know you’re wondering “Didn’t you already cover Rain World?” 

Yes! But due to some scheduling issues (me being “last minute” incarnate), I ended up having to split what was initially 1 article into two. So… without further ado…

Welcome to Rain World: Downpour

Downpour is a DLC for Rain World that was released on January 19th, 2023. It adds a lot of new content, including new enemies, slugcats, items, food, lore, and all the cool stuff. 

Downpour is to Rain World what color is to art. The original is fine on its own but feels like it’s missing some things, while the new stuff feels like a fresh coat of paint and helps redefine an already amazing piece.

Now, if I were to describe the entirety of Downpour, we would be here all day, so let’s keep it simple and start with some history.

Downpour was initially a fan mod that was so good that the main devs decided to add it to the base game. While this is something rare in the gaming scene, this isn’t the first time this has happened, and nor will it be the last.

Downpour turns Rain World into effectively a different game. It not only affects the 5 (6 if you include the secret one) main slugcats of Downpour, it changes the other 3 who were in the base game. 

You know how I was talking about how boring Rain World movement can be and how lacking the slugs are in abilities? Well, Downpour is the antithesis of that. We now have slugs that explode, fast slugs, slugs that can make spears, slugs that are tests of skill, and slugs that fight with their bodies and nothing else. It also adds multiple new predators such as the swimming centipede, a bigger spider, and a new vulture that shows what vultures should be. The new slugs also have campaigns that are a lot different than the other 3 slugs in the base game. The Artificer is a violent combat campaign, the Gourmand is a campaign about experimentation, the Rivulet is a quick, frantic campaign about exploring, the Spearmaster is a campaign about limitations and having to fight for survival, and the Saint has come to share peace and learn the story of a freezing world.

Downpour is the perfect example of what a DLC should be. Something that adds extras to the already existing campaigns, along with new stuff for the people who want entirely new parts of a game they already love. The best way I can describe Downpour as a DLC is by summarizing all the main campaigns and what makes them so unique.

Starting strong with my favorite campaign, Let’s discuss the Artificer!

The Artificer’s Campaign is all about fighting a lot of creatures (and being ridiculously overpowered at doing that). The main things include the ability to explosive jump/parry, the ability to craft explosive spears (one of the strongest spears in the game), and your bloodthirsty hatred of the scavengers. This is one of the only campaigns where the slugcat in question is based on combat rather than survival. You no longer earn karma and you have to hunt for food rather than just eating fruit that is everywhere. The Artificer also has a locked reputation of -100 with the scavengers. This means that she is a kill-on-sight to them and it also means that you are forced to engage in scavenger combat. This campaign is by far the most unique. Arti’s playstyle and mobility lead to her being ridiculously overpowered, but her campaign and enemies make it so that she is equal in difficulty to the Hunter.

The Gourmand’s Campaign is simply about food. The side quest is literally to eat a bunch of food. It’s also about returning home. Gourmand is an interesting slugcat, to say the least. Unlike the Artificer, a lot more of Gourmand’s powers are more subtle. The ability to craft items and make infinite supplies is nice but requires tons of experimentation, and Gourmand also gets tired easily. He would be the weakest slugcat if he also didn’t have one of the strongest and funniest abilities in the game. Gourmand is so heavy that he can kill things using JUST HIS BODY. He does it pretty well too. A simple body slam tends to one-shot most creatures in the game. Gourmand is the campaign of sillies and food. Gourmand’s Campaign tells you to experiment as much as possible and watch what happens.

The Rivulet is SPEED. Seriously. She has THE fastest base speed, the highest base jumping speed, and can stay underwater for a long time. Fittingly enough, her campaign is mostly about doing as much as you can in such a limited amount of time. The rains fall HARD and FAST in Ruffles’ Campaign, giving you very little time to get from shelter to shelter AND eat along the way. This campaign just lets you be fast and agile, giving you a lot of free space to run around. It also involves areas not many can go to and going through an area so destroyed and infested that it can only be named by what’s inside of it. This is by far one of the most unique and memorable campaigns, and I personally think it has some of the most fun quests in the game.

The Spearmaster is by far the second most challenging campaign and the one that is ridiculously unique in HOW it challenges you. The slugcat in question is able to make a whole ton of spears at will and will get food from hitting creatures with them. However, this more combat-focused campaign also leads to one of the more challenging gameplay styles. For one, deadly creatures are EVERYWHERE and they can often be overwhelming. Secondly, you cannot eat food normally. You must get it by using your spears. Thirdly, you are very light. While this also helps you due to jump-affecting things being stronger, it also means you can’t carry corpses well at all and things such as Worm Grass can kill you quickly if you’re not careful. Finally, this campaign has a big challenge of “inventory management.” Because you don’t have the ability to store things in your stomach, you have be very careful about how much you can carry. So many things become a lot harder just because of this, especially when you have to carry an item from one place to another and then BACK. The Spearmaster’s quest is effectively a fetch quest but one that truly forces you to think and survive.

Now remember how I said Spearmaster is the second hardest?

The Saint is the hardest. You are incredibly frail, dying to basically every hostile creature even if they use RNG to kill you (such as Lizards and Dropwigs). You cannot use spears*, which adds another level of frailty. The world is in a freezing winter during the Saint’s campaign, so without special tools, you cannot survive for long outside. You cannot eat meat, making some of the easiest food sources such as batflies completely inaccessible. Most importantly though, Your task will take you through the ENTIRE MAP. You start out with a max Karma of 2. You must make it to Max Karma 10 MANUALLY. The best source of karma has collapsed, so you must go through each part of the map and find the Echo that awaits you. You are going to be in very hostile lands for long periods of time. However, Saint isn’t entirely weak. They have a very versatile and super useful tongue that can keep them safe even through harsh conditions, and they are genuinely fun because they require you to sneak around and avoid creatures in ways that aren’t usually done by most slugcats. Once you reach karma 10, you reach Attunement and while I won’t directly speak of it, I will give a short summary. With Attunement, Saint goes from the weakest slugcat to the third strongest.

That’s all. 

…

oh yeah inv exists.

Inv is… weird. They’re a secret slugcat who takes the cake for the ACTUAL HARDEST campaign. They are weak, having Monk’s Spear damage and nothing good from any other slugcat (apart from borrowing Artificer’s mauling,) and have a high amount of food pips to fill. However, it’s not like Saint where the Slugcat is the hard part. It’s the world for Inv. Despite spawning every cycle with THE strongest weapon in the game, THE WORLD PERFECTLY OUTSCALES IT. Strong enemy spawns are higher, most regions have changes that make them goofy but HARD, and worst of all, you have basically no help. This campaign is basically for the masters of the game, and will rigorously test you from beginning to end. The reward? Eh idk if it’s worth it.

And that is TRULY all of the slugcats. I honestly do not know what else to talk about. There’s so much added (Expedition, Jolly Co-op, Pipeyard) and I want to keep most of it for you to see for yourself. 

Negatives?

For the first time, most of my negatives are REALLY subjective. 

Let’s start out with the more objective negatives. I don’t want to go too in-depth so I’ll do a list of bullet points for these.

1. Tons of content can be simply missed or hidden if you don’t explore for it. Most notably, Pipeyard.

2. Some things aren’t necessarily done… well. Namely, a boss fight in Arti’s Campaign, and one of the final locations for Saint.

3. Downpour drives far, far away from normal Rain World gameplay.

Now for the more subjective ones.

1. The quests for most slugcats added are LONG. I’ll be honest, the ONLY slugcat campaign I’ve completed is Artificer simply BECAUSE the other ones are so long.

2. For as near-perfect it is, there are still certain things that make it obvious most of Downpour was not made by the og developers.

3. Balance is SO off the table. All of the slugcats added are in one way or another (except for Inv) ridiculously strong. 

4. It takes a long time to unlock everything in Downpour. In order to reach Saint, you have to beat the game at least 4 TIMES (Survivor or Monk (1) + Hunter, Gourmand, or Artificer (2) + Spearmaster AND Rivulet (3 + 4)). Don’t get me started on the Arena Unlocks.

However, despite ALL of this, Rain World Downpour is in my opinion a (for the first time here) 10/10. 15$ for this feels like I’M scamming the DEVELOPERS. The content added could EASILY be made into a separate game, and this even spices up the 3 slugcats already added with new content.

If you love Rain World, buy Downpour if you can. I genuinely cannot believe how amazing it is.

This is Kat.

I’ll see you later for April!

One change that is already underway for MASH this year is the launch of FLEX. In previous years, FLEX has been a designated time to focus on your specific interests during what now is known as I/E. I wanted to gather both student and faculty opinions on re-introducing FLEX to MASH. 

When it comes to students' opinions, none of the students have experienced FLEX before, as it was something implemented before any of us were at MASH. Because of this, students don’t have much personal experience and preference when it comes to this topic. For that reason, I was able to reach out to MASH graduate students who did have the chance to experience FLEX at some point. One graduate student from MASH, Kerrigan Lebo, thinks that it would be beneficial to have FLEX as an option, but she believes that study halls should continue to be available to students who want them. When Kerrigan was here at MASH, she recalls, “watching cooking shows with a food teacher,” and follows up with the fact that, “it was a fun end of the day with friends.” 

Another MASH alumni, Luke Hopkins, believes reintroducing FLEX is a great idea! When Luke was at MASH, his favorite part of FLEX was that, “it lets students work together and lets students bond with teachers that have similar interests.” He goes on to explain that when he was in high school, they had FLEX groups such as, “ultimate frisbee, Mario Kart, chess, and music.” Lastly, he mentions, “those little ways to bond really help people feel connected in such a digital isolated world.”

On that note, I did grasp current student opinions. An anonymous junior suggests FLEX is an, “okay idea,” in the sense that he finds it a benefit that there would be more time for, “hanging out with friends.” However, one downside they added was that students would be at the school for, “a little bit longer than expected.” 

Another Jr., Katelyn Miller, thinks, “the idea of FLEX is nice, but it shouldn’t be required for everyone and should remain optional.” Katelyn answers that one advantage of FLEX would be, “an increase in attendees at clubs.” However, she adds that one disadvantage would be that, “it takes away the opportunity for students to finish up homework and get help from teachers if needed.” She continues to say that she has talked to many friends who are disappointed to be, “losing quality time to get work done.” Lastly, I was able to capture the opinion of Fr. Christopher Harry, who agrees that flex is a beneficial idea and has some beneficial qualities, “as it gives people the option to try new things, or do things they already like to do.” According to Harry, one downside to FLEX would be that, “with many people being in Spring sports, a large portion of the student body won’t have the time.”

On the other side of the spectrum, I wanted to have teachers and staff include their opinions on FLEX. For this, I was able to ask chemistry teacher Mrs. Kelly. Mrs. Kelly answered that she thinks, “Flex could be a great alternative to the old I/E schedule. This way students can sign up for something they’re interested in whether that is a study hall, a new hobby, or learn more about any subject.” She continues to highlight the fact that FLEX is a great way to let students have choice at the end of their day. She also mentions that she is getting involved by hosting a reading room for students who want to come read, as well as a chemistry help desk. 

The talented cast here at MASH did not disappoint in the latest Wildcat production! Crowds fought over tickets, leaving 3 performances completely sold out! Community members still shook over the performance raving saying, “It was the best performance seen in years at any local high school.” Energetic, fun, polished, masterpiece, were just a few of the words theatergoers used to describe the performances. 

Cast members also report it was one of their favorite shows they have ever been in. Sophomore Audrey Hunt, who played one of the lead characters of Sophie says, “My favorite part of being in Mamma Mia was honestly performing with such an amazing community.” She was a star to watch on the stage and through her whole performance was so kind and humble to her fellow cast members making the show process even more fun for everyone. Senior Olivia Rengen ended her MASH music career playing Donna, another one of the amazing leads in the show. She stated, “My favorite part was performing with my friends one last time! We’ve been performing together for years, and it was fun to end it on some of our favorite songs!” While this may be her last show at MASH, she gave a performance of a lifetime, as every detail in her performances couldn’t have been done any better. This being said, there are so many talented cast members in this show whose roles, large and small, made MAMA MIA so incredible.  

But what goes into putting on such a performance? 

This was a question many people were asking themselves walking away from the show. The answer to this is a lot of hard work, time, and people. The cast starts practicing in November and puts in countless hours every week from then on out. The numerous Saturdays spent rehearsing, to the weeks closer to the show when the students do not leave until 10:30 or later. Those are the moments that shape a good show into a great show. Another big part of the show is the individuals working behind the scenes to tie together all of the loose ends. Whether it be the costume designers that consist largely of community volunteers who have not had a kid in the show in over 20 years, or the students that work to build the majority of the set and move the furniture pieces during scene changes, there are many working parts to marking it all come together. Additionally all of the teachers that choose to spend their weekends and after schools to become a part of something that is so much bigger than themselves really is what makes the show incredible

No doubt MAMA MIA was an incredible performance put on by our own students here at MASH. The show could not have been completed without the hard work and dedication put in by both students and staff. If this article has been interesting to you, consider joining the production next year in one of the many on and off stage roles!

If your 18th birthday is before April 23rd or on that day, you are eligible to vote in the 2024 primary election. The deadline to register is quickly approaching, and by April 8th your registration must be received by the county office. 

Voting in Pennsylvania is a critical part of our democratic system. As a first time voter registering for a primary election can be confusing and complicated; however, there are resources available and some simple guidelines to make it easier. 

Primary elections are held on even numbered years, every four years, and decide which candidate from the Democratic and Republican party will be nominated for the general election. This process narrows down the candidates available on the ballot, and gives voters a chance to show a political party who they support and want to see on the presidential ballot. 

In Pennsylvania the primary election will take place this spring on April 23rd. In order to register there are a few steps to consider before you can fill out a ballot. First, those hoping to vote must be a U.S citizen for at least one year prior to an election. In the case of state and local  elections you must be a resident of Pennsylvania and the district you’d like to vote in 30 days prior to the election. As a first time voter the rules will differ from that of an average citizen. Once these requirements are met  the next step is submitting a PA Voter Registration Application, which you can find here: 

https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx

The Cumberland County voter registration office will approve your application, and your application will be considered complete. In order to ensure you are eligible to vote in the upcoming primary your application must be received before April 8th. 

Additionally, when choosing a party to register as it’s important to note Pennsylvania holds closed primaries. Unlike other states, citizens who are not registered as democrat or republican may not participate in the primary election. Third party presidential candidates can run for office; however, they  are not a part of the primary election process, and their party members can not vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary. If a constituent registers with a third party, they may write them in or select a third party candidate  on the general election ballot in November. 

On the day of the primary election, a voter may only cast a ballot in their designated polling place. Many first time voters are unaware of where this location is. It’s important to plan ahead as many polling locations close and open at designated times and do not allow voting outside of these hours. To locate the designated polling location, the state of Pennsylvania has created a Polling Place Search Tool:

https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx

Furthermore, prospective voters in the state of Pennsylvania are required by law as a first time voter to present proof of identification at a polling place. The identification can be photo ID or non-photo ID, regardless you will not be allowed to proceed at a polling place without an ID in the state of Pennsylvania as a first time voter. After your first voting experience you no longer are required to show proof of identification at a polling place. 

While the primary election is quickly approaching, it is not the only election to keep in mind. The general election for a presidential candidate will be held on November 5th, 2024. The general election allows you to vote for a president, congressional candidates, and the Pennsylvania governor as well as other state offices. While presidential elections are important, municipal elections are also a crucial part of our democratic system. On odd numbered years county and city officials offices are put up for reelection as well as judges. 

Even if you are undecided on who to vote for, registering to vote gives you the choice to participate in the upcoming primary election if you do reach a decision. Voting for the first time can be daunting, but it is an important institution of our democracy, which is upheld by your choice to turn out and vote. 

A recent legislation has been approved by lawmakers in Florida to ban all social media sites for kids under fourteen; however, it comes with specific requirements. The social media can only be banned if more than 10% of its daily users are younger than sixteen, and if they spend more than two hours a day using the site. As of right now, that doesn’t mean anything, as we don’t know which social media sites that would encompass. It is likely to include popular sites such as TikTok and Snapchat, but it is even less clear for sites such as X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and more. 

As of 3/25, DeSantis has signed the bill. This means all social media accounts of kids under fourteen will be deleted starting January 2025, and kids fourteen and fifteen years old will need parental permission to create social media accounts. Many were against the bill being signed, as they believe it shouldn’t be up to the government if kids can have social media, rather the parents. 

So why are they so concerned with kids under fourteen being on social media? Well, social media has been proven to negatively affect some children. It makes it easy to compare yourself with the unrealistic expectation of influencers, and can lead to things like depression and anxiety. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media double their risk of depression and anxiety.” The goal is to limit children’s access to these potentially toxic environments, potentially before they even enter them. However, not all of social media’s effects are negative. They can inspire creativity, give access to easy communication between friends and simply entertain. 

So with that in mind, I decided to ask some students what they think about the ban. Sophomores Gavin Parsons and Silas Miller shared the same opinion, being that it’s in Florida, so why should we care? Silas also shared the concern “How are they going to tell? People lie all the time.” I also asked local news team Mechanicsburg News what they thought of the ban, and got this reply. “It’s very sad to hear our Floridian fans won’t be able to get truthful news from Mechanicsburg News, but lucky for our team we’re not in Florida.”

Overall, there doesn’t seem to be much concern or thought about the ban, considering its not impacting us right now, and likely never will, as most of us are older than fourteen and fifteen. However, I believe that it is a concerning bill that should just stay in Florida.