Witch Doctor is a renowned Battlebot that has made a name for itself in the competitive world of robot combat. Created by the team of Andrea Gellatly and Mike Gellatly, this bot is a force to be reckoned with. Witch Doctor stands out from the crowd with its distinctive design and fearsome appearance. It is painted in a vibrant red and green color scheme, with a spooky skull adorned on its top. This attention to detail not only adds to the bot's aesthetic appeal but also helps intimidate opponents. But Witch Doctor is not just about looks.
Decks for the Season of the Witch
But Witch Doctor is not just about looks. It is a powerful and agile machine that is built for battle. It is armed with a vertical spinning disc that can wreak havoc on opponents.
Do you change the decks you use based on the season?
In this hemisphere the light is fading and the darkness grows long. It’s the season of the witch and honestly my favorite time of the year. While I don’t exclusively change my choice in decks I have noticed that I lean toward decks that feel a bit dark or have just enough of an ick factor to keep me looking.
Of course, your mileage may vary. What spooks or makes me feel uneasy might look downright cheery to you but at the very least, it’s an excuse to indulge in some good old decklust because more than unsettling, all the decks below are wonderful works of art.
The Devil & The Magician from the 5 Cent Tarot
5 Cent Tarot
Okay fine, I’ll admit that this choice was based almost solely on the fact that insects feature heavily in this deck- or at least I feel like they do from the few cards I’ve spotted. My bug fears aside, I really do love decks that creep me out a little bit; they have their own character and draw me in whether I want them to or not. The 5 Cent Tarot definitely does that and once I get past my initial ick reaction I can appreciate the vintage feel and the details that create the final image for each card. It’s actually quite lovely.
“The 5-cent Tarot is a completely different take on traditional tarot. I wanted to create a fun and whimsical deck loosely inspired by Victorian era poster art. Using vintage images and remnants of biological and botanical ephemera, this deck also incorporates keywords in both the upright and reverse positions.”
Antique Anatomy Tarot
For gorgeous spooky decks that hold your attention, Claire Goodchild of Black and the Moon has some of the best tarot and oracle selections. The Antique Anatomy Tarot is a prime example. Again, you’ve got that vintage illustration look, which I’m just now realizing is a thing for me, and amongst the bare anatomy, richly colored flowers and plants bloom creating a delicious contrast. If this style strums your strings you should definitely check out the Memento Mori and Oracle of Oddities from Goodchild as well.
“The cards, which feature illustrations of vintage anatomical drawings collaged with plants and flowers, represent a fresh and creative interpretation of the tarot archetypes.”
The High Priestess & Death from the Antique Anatomy Tarot
The Hermit & The Wheel of Fortune from the Cursed Auguries Tarot
Cursed Auguries Tarot
This one is a recent find for me and was honestly almost too much for my delicate sensibilities. After weeks of having it in my shopping cart though, constantly going through the preview photos and practically hearing the art speak to me, I gave in. The art in the Majors and Court Cards of the Cursed Auguries Tarot is stunning and captures the eye refusing to let go- a creepy description for a creepy deck.
“Follow your intuition and go deep into the woods with this tarot deck that blends together the iconography from pagan tradition of the old craft and christian imagery through the prism of folk magic. Use the deck’s narrative to discover your very own storytelling and the interpretation of the metaphors built upon the cycles of life, death, and nature.”
Marigold Tarot
A favorite since I laid eyes on the Kickstarter campaign a couple of years ago, The Marigold Tarot by Amrit Brar is a phenomenal deck packed with symbolism and a just a bit of cheek. The black, white, and gold palette is perfectly suited to showcasing the art, composed primarily of skeletons dressed rather finely (and I’ve noticed has inspired quite a few decks’ palettes since!). It’s definitely a vibe, and one of my faves to use all year round, I have to admit.
“78-card tarot deck rooted in life, death, and gold. Draws references from anatomy, nature, and distinctly Punjabi imagery.”
The Hanged Man & The Moon from the Marigold Tarot
The (creepiest) Hierophant & Judgement from the Mary-El Tarot
Mary-El Tarot
This is the deck that started me down the creeping path. Before the Mary-El Tarot, I can definitely say I would never have taken a second look at most of the decks I now love on this list. If you’ve worked with the Mary-El you know. There’s something about it that holds on to you, long after you’ve looked away- appropriate for a deck whose companion guide is named Landscapes of the Abyss. The art in this deck is equal parts disturbing and beautiful, and always breathtaking. If you’re at all intrigued I encourage you to try it out for yourself, particularly if you’re drawn to decks whose art you can get lost in. You can also check out my review of the deck here from way back when we first met.
“Exquisite and powerful, if there is a theme in The Mary-el Tarot, it is one of the alchemy of the soul; of finding balance, symmetry, mastery of the self, and becoming your own genius… Enter a doorway between heaven and earth, between microcosm and macrocosm, between the world of eternity and infinity.”
Slow Holler Tarot
Okay, this one might be the one that sends you out of this post screaming “that’s not even a little bit creepy” but it’s just a feeling okay! I don’t often dream of tarot cards, but if I do, there’s a huge chance it’s from the Slow Holler deck. Something about the art keeps my subconscious active and pulls insight from me whether I like it or not. It’s a deadly accurate read, and my go to when I want it served straight up with a pinch to my arm to make sure I’m paying attention.
“One of the goals of this project is to amplify southern voices, voices with southern ties, queer voices, and voices that speak from the intersections of those identities. The collection and collaboration of these voices will create a beautiful, relatable, thoughtful, deck that has intention and integrity.”
I do have to apologize for being a tease with this one, as it is sadly out of print. I hold out hope for a re-release but as with the much hunted Collective Tarot, decks created in collaboration with a great number of artists can be difficult projects to reproduce.
Indecision Isn’t a Sin
Today’s meditation was skipped because it was an orders day but also… it was a holy goddamned 146 orders to be processed and packaged. So yeah. A lot. No time for anything much besides work.
Today’s draw is the Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of love, unions, and the making of decisions that are right and healthy for you.
The imagery here in this card is very Marsielle inspired with the man who must choose between two women. In the Marseille tarot, these women are often depicted as a love interest and a mother figure, in that age old tug of war that happens in familial relationships.
The thing is? There are a lot of times when making healthy choices isn’t so easy. There’s a lot of different influences out there, a lot of push and pull, and sometimes? A lot of indecision clouding our own judgement. It’s not always easy to know what’s the healthiest option, and it can be hard not to punish ourselves for not knowing which choice is the right choice and being more decisive.
The cards today are a reminder to be kind to yourself, even if you think that you should be able to decide right away. Even if you feel you should be hard on yourself about your indecision or struggles. Don’t. Be kind to yourself and be patient with yourself, and accept that doing the best you can is all that should be expected… and you’re already doing it.
DECK USED: WS TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS
Mr Lionharts’ #TheSeptemberTarot Rise and Fall Prompt
Questions for 16th thru 18th
Looking back to my 2021 so far, what can I be proud of?
Balance and Knight of Wands – You’ve done really well at finding a balance between that all consuming passion to push forward and do more and create more, and your personal needs for self-care and growth.
Something I should give myself more credit for.
Verseau, The Hierophant atop Ace of Swords – You are doing really well at learning to communicate more openly with others and, as a result, connect with them more easily. This, in turn, has made the prospect of communicating with others less daunting and more enjoyable.
How can I build on my earlier achievements of this year?
Germeaux and Five of Cups – Don’t look at asking for help as a failure or something abhorrent. Connecting with others and allowing them to help you will then allow you to foster the growth that you have made thus far this year, and keep it healthy and strong during the overwhelming busy season ahead.
DECK USED: TAROT ASTROLOGIQUE ORACLE AND CURSED AUGURIES TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What is humanity’s biggest accomplishment?
Reading Summary: Communication. Intellect. (Ace of Swords)
This then created the ability for humanity to develop the skills needed (Eight of Pentacles) to foster each other as well as support the greater good (The Empress), even when we don’t always agree on the methods (Seven of Swords).
Take Away: Community. This boils down to creating a community and functioning society.
Yes, society has its flaws, but at the same time, it’s what supports humanity through the generations. The communities and society that we have developed and built allows us to support and help each other, grow as individuals and as a group, and gives us the ability to network and connect, expanding our horizons as a result.
DECK USED: WS TAROT
I set up my phone to remind me to eat every three hours and made sure that I didn’t skip any of the alerts.
Relationship Trauma (Daddy Issues)
Knight of Swords and Balance – His impulsively savage treatment and painful words have set you off balance, and now, that balance is something you constantly seek and work to improve upon.
What basic truth / trust has been damaged?
Two of Wands and Transformation – That you don’t need to plan every little thing out for things to turn out okay. It’s hard to trust that if you don’t have your thumb on every little piece of the plan that things will still go as they should and to your benefit.
What is this trauma is holding me back from experiencing?
Two of Swords and Moon – The ability to be decisive without struggling with uncertainty. That uncertainty lies deep within and whispers. You pretend it’s not there, and no one ever sees it… but it’s there beneath the surface and shows itself in how exact and precise you are in executing the decisions you’ve made.
Why it’s important to heal this trauma?
Page of Pentacles, Intuition atop Potential – it will help unleash your potential to grow into something better and greater than you are now, freeing your intuition in the process do that it will become easier to follow.
What are the first steps in healing this trauma?
Five of Pentacles, Vulnerability atop Perseverance – Remember that your feelings of scarcity are an echo of your past and not the reality of this moment. Those feelings compounded with your fears create a sense of vulnerability that makes it feel more reality based than it actually is.
How can you be more open to the healing of this trauma?
Page of Cups and Hope – Stay in touch with your emotions and positive in your outlook. Don’t shut your emotions down just because they are uncomfortable or unpleasant to deal with.
Advice from the spirits and guides.
Three of Cups and Sun – Chin up! Stay positive and look to others to help lift you up and keep you aloft emotionally.
Cursed auguries tarot
There shall not be found among you any one who maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or who useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire [as a sacrifice], one who uses divination and fortune-telling, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, or who uses divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
No one among you is to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery,
There must not be anyone among you who passes his son or daughter through fire; who practices divination, is a sign reader, fortune-teller, sorcerer,
There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through fire, a diviner, a soothsayer, an enchanter, a sorcerer,
Don't sacrifice your son or daughter. And don't try to use any kind of magic or witchcraft to tell fortunes or to cast spells or to talk with spirits of the dead.
There shall not be found among you he that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, that useth divination, that useth auguries, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
Neither let there be found among you any one that shall expiate his son or daughter, making them to pass through the fire: or that consulteth soothsayers, or observeth dreams and omens, neither let there be any wizard,
Don’t sacrifice your sons or daughters in the fires on your altars. Don’t try to learn what will happen in the future by talking to a fortuneteller or by going to a magician, a witch, or a sorcerer.
Nobody among you must ever burn your child in a fire, as an offering. Nobody must use magic or other things to learn about future times. There must not be any magicians or diviners.
Let no one be found among you who makes his son or his daughter pass through fire, or who uses divination, or who engages in fortune telling, or who observes omens, or who practices witchcraft,
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practises divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
Don’t let anyone among you offer a son or daughter as a sacrifice in the fire [12:30–31] . Don’t let anyone use ·magic [divination; Ex. 7:11; Ezek. 21:21] or witchcraft, or ·try to explain the meaning of signs [augury or sorcery] .
Let none be found among you that maketh his son or his daughter to go thorough the fire, or that useth witchcraft, or a regarder of times, or a marker of the flying of fowls, or a sorcerer,
You must never sacrifice your sons or daughters by burning them alive, practice black magic, be a fortuneteller, witch, or sorcerer,
Don't sacrifice your children in the fires on your altars; and don't let your people practice divination or look for omens or use spells
No one among you is to make his son or daughter pass through the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery,
Don’t let anyone among you offer his son or daughter as a sacrifice in the fire. Don’t let anyone use magic or witchcraft. No one should try to explain the meaning of signs.
There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in fire, practices divination, interprets omens, practices sorcery,
There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire or that uses divination or an observer of times or an enchanter or a witch
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices soothsaying or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer,
There shall not be found among you one who makes his son or his daughter go through the fire, or one who practices divination, or an interpreter of signs, or an augur, or sorcerer,
For example, any Israeli who presents his child to be burned to death as a sacrifice to heathen gods must be killed. No Israeli may practice black magic, or call on the evil spirits for aid, or be a fortune-teller,
When you enter the land that God , your God, is giving you, don’t take on the abominable ways of life of the nations there. Don’t you dare sacrifice your son or daughter in the fire. Don’t practice divination, sorcery, fortunetelling, witchery, casting spells, holding séances, or channeling with the dead. People who do these things are an abomination to God . It’s because of just such abominable practices that God , your God, is driving these nations out before you.
There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or who uses divination, or uses witchcraft, or an interpreter of omens, or a sorcerer,
You must never sacrifice your sons or daughters by burning them alive, practice black magic, be a fortuneteller, witch, or sorcerer,
Let there not be found among you anyone who causes their son or daughter to pass through the fire, or practices divination, or is a soothsayer, augur, or sorcerer,
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
Let no one among you offer his son or his daughter as a burnt offering, or practice divination, or interpret omens, or practice witchcraft,
Don’t let anyone among you offer a son or daughter as a sacrifice in the fire. Don’t let anyone use magic or witchcraft, or try to explain the meaning of signs.
There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer,
Here are things you must not do. Don’t sacrifice your children in the fire to other gods. Don’t practice any kind of evil magic at all. Don’t use magic to try to explain the meaning of warnings in the sky or of any other signs. Don’t take part in worshiping evil powers.
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practises divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, or uses secret ways, or does witchcraft, or tells the meaning of special things, or is a witch,
For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,
No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practises divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practises divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his ben or his bat to pass through the eish (i.e., be burned as an idol’s offering) or kosem kesamim (a diviner of divination) or a m’onen (soothsayer, astrologer), or a m’nachesh (one who interprets omens), or a mekhashshef (witch).
There shall not be found among you any one who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, any one who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
There shall not be found among you any one who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, any one who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,
There must not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, or a fortune-teller, soothsayer, omen reader, or sorcerer,
Don’t ever burn any of your sons or daughters alive as a sacrifice! And don’t ever get involved in any divining, such as predicting fortunes, interpreting omens, sorcery,
There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
none be found in thee that cleanseth his son, either his daughter, and leadeth by the fire, either that asketh questions of diviners that divine about the altars, and that taketh heed to dreams, and (to) chittering of birds; neither any witch be (among you), (let none be found among thee who maketh his son, or his daughter, to pass through the fire, or who asketh questions of diviners who divine about the altars, or who taketh heed to dreams, or to the twittering of birds; and let there be no witch found among you,)
there is not found in thee one causing his son and his daughter to pass over into fire, a user of divinations, an observer of clouds, and an enchanter, and a sorcerer,
The disc is capable of delivering devastating blows, often causing significant damage to the opponent's armor or disabling their weapons altogether. To complement its offensive capabilities, Witch Doctor is also equipped with a set of sturdy and durable wheels that allow it to swiftly traverse the arena. This mobility is crucial in maneuvering around opponents and launching strategic attacks. The team behind Witch Doctor has put an immense amount of effort into refining and improving their bot over the years. They have consistently showcased their expertise in engineering and robotics, making Witch Doctor a formidable opponent in every battle it enters. Witch Doctor has competed in several seasons of Battlebots, impressing fans and judges alike with its performance. Thanks to its relentless aggression and powerful attacks, it has earned a spot as one of the top competitors in the competition. What sets Witch Doctor apart is not just its physical abilities but also the passion and dedication of its creators. Andrea and Mike have poured their hearts and souls into perfecting their bot and have become fan favorites in the process. Their innovative design choices, strategic gameplay, and indomitable spirit have earned them respect and admiration within the Battlebots community. In conclusion, Witch Doctor is an exceptional Battlebot that has earned its place among the top competitors in the sport. With its fearsome design, powerful weaponry, and the unwavering dedication of its creators, it continues to make a significant impact in robot combat. Fans eagerly anticipate its appearances in future seasons, ready to witness the awe-inspiring battles that Witch Doctor never fails to deliver..
Reviews for "The Impact of Battlebots Witch Doctor on the Competitive Robotics Scene"
- John - 2 stars - I was really excited to watch "Battlebots Witch Doctor" after hearing so much hype about it. But I was sorely disappointed. The fights were lackluster, and there was no real suspense or excitement. The robots seemed poorly designed and their movements were clunky. Overall, it was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Sarah - 1 star - I found "Battlebots Witch Doctor" to be incredibly boring. The concept of robot fighting is intriguing, but the execution in this show fell flat. The fights were slow-paced and predictable, and the robots lacked any real personality or unique features. I felt like I was watching a poorly choreographed dance instead of an intense battle. I was hoping for more excitement and innovation, but instead, it was a complete snoozefest.
- Mark - 2 stars - "Battlebots Witch Doctor" didn't live up to my expectations. The fights were overhyped, and the robots failed to deliver any real thrills. The commentary was lackluster and the editing made it difficult to follow the action. I also found the constant replays and slow-motion shots to be repetitive and unnecessary. Overall, it was a disappointing experience and I wouldn't bother tuning in again.