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[maxernst]

tklivory wrote...




And now a question for the faithful:

1) To those of you who create (whether 'tis writing, art, music, video, &c): what was it about Dragon Age in general and Alistair in particular that made you take your craft and apply it?
.

I didn't write a lot of fanfic pre-DA.  My only efforts in that direction were the backstory for a Neverwinter Nights 2 character that I was playing in a persistent world and an account of my crusader kings game written as a series of diary entries by the rulers of my dynasty.  My output on DA:O exceeds my total fictional output of all other stuff, so...I guess you'd call me a big fan.

As to why, Dragon Age's greatest strength is its characters, particularly the companions, which I still feel are the most fully-fleshed I've encountered in an RPG.  The other thing that DA:O does very well is strike a balance between narrative drive and player freedom that enables each player to feel their playthrough is unique, while still having a strong storyline.  So after playing the game, I wanted to share the experiences of my Warden with the world and speculate on what would happen afterward.

As to Alistair, he's a very well-written and well-voiced character.  I like him for his weaknesses: his immaturity, his insecurity, his vulnerability.  And while he's not at all stupid (regardless of what Morrigan or some
players think), he's often ruled by his emotions rather than his
intellect and torn by conflicting motivations: duty and vengeance, love
and honor.  He was the first character I'd encountered in a computer game that I felt my PC really wanted to romance.  In other games, it's been more of a 'well, the dialogue options are there, might as well explore them.' 

[rak72]

Love the pumpkin!

*waves at KOP* I haven't played the Witcher - it looks good, and as a person of Polish decent, I would like to support my peps, but I don't think I can get into Geralt. I really miss my DAO, it had everything I wanted in a roleplaying game, but never dared to expect. I hope Brent Knowles is out there cooking up a new masterpiece somewhere.

@Max - that was a very good description of Alistair.

[Penarddun]

@java - Nicely done pumpkin carving. What did you use to make some of the smaller more detailed cuts?

[KnightofPhoenix]

@ Rak
Yes, it's understandable that people would not be able to get into Geralt, whether it's due to his fixed gender, personality or voice acting (which I find good personally).

TW2 offered a lot of what I want (but did not dare to expect as well) from a story-telling game. Namely something like this. When it comes to politics, Origins is bad in comparision (still better than DA2, which was just pathetic).

[rak72]

Maybe I'll pick it up if I see it on sale somewhere & give it a try.

[KnightofPhoenix]

I highly recommend it, though I'd advise you to check gameplay videos and read about it before. The gameplay mechanics may not be to your liking.

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 25 octobre 2011 - 05:29 .

[tklivory]

*waves at KoP* good to see ya here again (alas briefly)

And i agree with you about TW2. It is wickedly clever, excellent plot, solid dialogue, and plays with RPG tropes like a demented rifftrax on steroids... BUT the game mechanics for movement and combat can take getting used to. I find it difficult to switch back and forth between it and pretty much any other game. It reminds me of Dark Souls in that it requires an investment from the player in terms of time and attention, but delivers a very satisfying and almost unique gaming experience.

[tklivory]

@java - forgot to say how much i absolutely looooooove your pumpkin. Griffon! Griffon griffon griffon!

where's Wynne when you need her?

[theskymoves]

Mini screen dump:






/threadcr@p

Modifié par theskymoves, 25 octobre 2011 - 07:06 .

[tklivory]

@ tsm - Those are both such quintessential Alistair expressions.  :wub: 

Oh, and the Eyebrow of Doom ™:

[theskymoves]

@tklivory - I've been half-joking about doing an Alistair's Eyebrows Week on my Tumblr, there's so much love for them. I'll let you know if it ever comes to fruition... though his chin is garnering a lot of attention lately, too.

edited to add that I wish I could remember what dialogue was happening in the screenshot with Alistair & Leliana. I know it's in Lothering (b/c she's still wearing Chantry robes, and I armour her up almost immediately), but I'll be darned if I can figure out the context. *fangirl FAIL!*

Modifié par theskymoves, 25 octobre 2011 - 11:56 .

[tklivory]

@ tsm - *channels Meril* DOOOO EEEEEET!

[KnightofPhoenix]

tklivory wrote...

*waves at KoP* good to see ya here again (alas briefly)

And i agree with you about TW2. It is wickedly clever, excellent plot, solid dialogue, and plays with RPG tropes like a demented rifftrax on steroids... BUT the game mechanics for movement and combat can take getting used to. I find it difficult to switch back and forth between it and pretty much any other game. It reminds me of Dark Souls in that it requires an investment from the player in terms of time and attention, but delivers a very satisfying and almost unique gaming experience.

Precisely!

The Loghain thread is pretty much a speak your mind thread, so if you're interested, we can discuss it there. IT would rekindle my interest in the site 

Also, if you are interested, I wrote two blogs about it: Part 1 and Part 2

[tklivory]

AmbraAlhambra wrote...

As for other fanfic, I agree with KOP that some of it is not that great- at least the writing- but I read it to get other people's perspectives of what they like about the game or about Alistair and to just enjoy some funny situation involving someone I really like. It's kind of interesting to see what character traits stick out with certain writers because it seems to me that everyone sees something different in Alistair that they like the best.

I agree, characterization is absolutely vital to enjoying or avoiding FF.  I think one reason why DAO FF is so readily created by people who've never done FF before is because the Warden is so open, and the companions are so malleable based on what the *Warden* does, and only secondarily to the way in which the plot progresses.  And this interest in the PC creates the passion that is vital to creating decent/good FF.

For me, the writer's passion and care brings a great deal to the table.  I attend Comic-Con International every year, and I get to see the huge contrast between amateur, professional amateurs, and professional (i.e., hired by publishers) cosplayers.  Although the professionals will always look better, they usually won't know the name of who they're dressed up as.  And although most amateurs are obvious because their costumes are less snappy, they always are more interesting to talk to.  And the best are the professional amateurs, who look almost as good as the professionals but who can also tell you Superman's SSN (yes, he has one).

I look at FF in that way, really.  Passion is a vital element to FF.  I read... well, let's just say an obscene amount ('normal' writing and FF), so I'm exposed to a lot of writing and writing styles.  In general, I will forgive and even enjoy awkward writing if the characters are true and the writer is *involved* in their work, but I often won't re-read it.  I also won't forgive flawless writing that has no spirit or soul in it (thus I tend to avoid most 'bestsellers' like Grisham, Steele, &c - they tend to write to the beat, not the heartbeat).  Then there is that 1-5% of FF writing that is the professional amateurs - the ones who may not have editors to keep them in line, but still understand the mechanics of writing, pacing and plotting, who stay true to the characterization, and who *get* why FF is so rampant.  These are the ones I bookmark, re-read, and, in certain cases, 'immortalize' by converting into a format for my eBook reader for later perusal.

My favorite has to be Louvette. Her work is amazing! And this picture is just amazing as well!

Anyway, that's my wall-o'-text for the day!

Yes, she is amazing.  I love her stuff as well.



Dangit, verbosity strikes again!   Sorry.

[tklivory]

Eeek, I just realized it's Tuesday!  Let (my part in) the gore commence!  (belatedly...)  Ladies and gents, I propose...


HAIKU RDT!  (cuz I'm just in that mood)




Cloud of blood rises
Twin daggers flash in the sun
Red snow welcomes death





No more sword and board
Poison is fit for Darkspawn
It is a gusher

Modifié par tklivory, 26 octobre 2011 - 03:22 .

[tklivory]

*sniff* didn't mean to kill the thread...


Alistair wants you to post



And no haiku is needed... honest...

[theskymoves]

I'd write a bawdy Alistair limerick, but I'm so sick I can't think straight... been staring for the last 45 minutes at a phenomenally incoherent blog post I wrote this morning, and trying to figure out what the heck my point was. *rustles up screenshot*



~tsm

[tklivory]

@ tsm - Aw, I hope you get better soon!    I can definitely empathize to a degree as I'm fighting a migraine.

I can't do a limerick right now either, but at least it's something to look forward to posting tonight.

[RagingCyclone]

But I don't want to post...so I won't.

Wait...did I just post? >.<


LOL seriously, though, I've playing Awakening and have a couple of new shots...but he's just a lonesome king not doing anything. I should finish some of my tooset shots that I have been working on the go with the D&A stories.

[tklivory]

All right, I swore I'd do a bawdy limerick tonight and I will (cuz bawdy haikus are harder)

*ahem*

There once was a templar in training
Whose interest in it was waning
Along came a Warden
And Darkspawn for thwartin'
And tent time? That needs no explaining!



*Sigh*  I suck at limericks.  Oh, well, hopefully someone else can do better (shouldn't be too hard)

[theskymoves]

@tklivory - Great limerick!

And speaking of tent-time... it's SMUT DAY!

Alistair and one seriously blissed-out Surana. <3:wub:<3:wub:<3:wub:<3:wub:

[tklivory]

It's Thursday!  *does happy dance* 

I'm Cuckoo for Thursdays!

[java_jive_girl]

     I just wanted to say great fills so far, everyone! 

tklivory wrote...

1) To those of you who create (whether 'tis writing, art, music, video, &c): what was it about Dragon Age in general and Alistair in particular that made you take your craft and apply it?

2) To those who consume the creations: which ones do you remember the best and why?  What has struck you the deepest, and what has left you the most cold?  (You can be specific, such as a particular work, or general like a specific sub-genre like kmeme)?

3) To those who avoid such creations: what aspect of the fan-created fictional outlets displeases you?  Are there some types of FF (writings, drawings, video, &c) that you can tolerate, and others you cannot?

To those who take the time to read and respond to these impertinent requests, I give my thanks.

1. The character development in the game is just so unique compared to other games that I have come across so far.  I love the individual background stories and feel that I can easily relate to the companions on some level.  You can really see why they chose the path they are on and what lead them to it.  You can easily get attached to them and see them in situations that aren't even in the game.  It has been a loooong time since I've written stories of any kind.  I used to do it quite often.  Until DAO the last story I had written was back in....oh, probably late 90's. Even though I was just a kid then (I stopped writing in high school...not sure why, other than time constraints), I was much better than I am now.  I just feel so out of practice!  ....and now all the negative comments about other ppl's fanfic is starting to make me self conscious.  [smilie]../../../images/forum/emoticons/unsure.png[/smilie]

2. Haven't run across any that really leave a sour taste...but then I haven't actually read much of the FF out there.  I would probably like to see more that have Alistair remain a Warden and not become king...there's just so many story lines that could hash out that way and the King Alistair plot is done pretty widely.  So, I guess...as long as there's a good variety out there.  It is always interesting to see what others have come up with.

3. I believe the creation/abomination is called something like... Alicorn?  *shudders*

@Penardunn - Thanks!  I used some of my husband's moddel kit tools.  Still couldn't get too fine of detail, though.  If I was more experienced, it probably would have worked.  Other than that, just carving in at different depths was great for some of the shadowing effects I was going for.

@tklivory - Comic-Con!  I'm so jealous!  I've been wanting to go, but it never works out.  I've also considerred getting into cosplay, myself.  A few years ago I made my own She-Ra costume (for Halloween) as the only ones out there were on Ebay for over $300 since they were hand made.  I had a lot of fun planning it and putting it all together.  In the end, it looked better than most of the others (and deffinately better than something you'd buy at a costume store for Halloween).  I'd love to do this kind of thing with other characters and go to conventions!

Editted to fix some strange format issues.

Modifié par java_jive_girl, 27 octobre 2011 - 04:12 .

[Penarddun]

@tklivory - Nice! Limericks are my weakness, love them! I couldn't resist... :innocent:  Bad limerick incoming.... you've been forewarned.

There was a young templar named Alistair
He loved cheese and cherished his head of hair
When the new Warden arrived
He blushed red, paralyzed
"Maker's breath! I'm doomed," he said with despair.


@java - I'd try not to worry too much about negative comments on FF. If you want to write, just write. And that goes for any type of writing. It's how you get better at it. Don't get discouraged! Most other writers will know exactly what you're going through and have been there themselves.