2124 réponses à ce sujet

[Firky]

@Twinky Yes! (I went to a writing workshop last year that used that as an example.)

I did introduce 3 characters who weren't in the mod that I think contextalise her as a woman - most aptly her mother. (Still, I don't know how it all came across. I have no perspective.

@moto I don't feel attacked. It's an interesting discussion. On lore, I was hoping that an interpretation would suffice. Like, mine was about a Tranquil person but she doesn't have a lyrium brand on her forehead - and this ties into my story. I couldn't confirm whether the lyrium brand in DA2 was supposed to be there in Origins, so I took an Origins interpretation. :/

Modifié par Firky, 16 janvier 2012 - 07:34 .

[Aenne]

motomotogirl wrote...

Like some of you guys, I also think I don't have a chance. I didn't do any research on lore or anything. The story relies more on the feel of Thedas and the games ... and (again) overarching themes, like what it means and feels to be poor or marginalized because of your race, sexuality, etc. (I sometimes think of mages as fantasy equivalents of LGBTQ peoples; they are simply born as they are, and yet tormented for it).

So everyone talking about all the codices they researched and scenes they replayed for purposes of clarity are making me hang my head in shame LOL

I think capturing the emotion and the feel of the games are just as important as the lore.

For the life of me I couldn't remember how templars took lyrium and spent a good couple hours figuring it out.   I really wanted lyrium to be transdermal, like lotion.  Imagine all the "trouble" templars could get in with lyrium lotion.

[Arkatera]

motomotogirl wrote...

Like some of you guys, I also think I don't have a chance. I didn't do any research on lore or anything. The story relies more on the feel of Thedas and the games ... and (again) overarching themes, like what it means and feels to be poor or marginalized because of your race, sexuality, etc. (I sometimes think of mages as fantasy equivalents of LGBTQ peoples; they are simply born as they are, and yet tormented for it).

So everyone talking about all the codices they researched and scenes they replayed for purposes of clarity are making me hang my head in shame LOL

I revisited a few codex and lore things via the DragonAge Wiki (also how I found out about the contest), but I didn't do a huge amount of research. A lot of my story relied on the characteristics of storytelling prevalent in almost all BioWare games - examining the intricate aspects of character interaction and the emotional attachment you could have to them.

My protagonist is an unnamed mage, but I did that on purpose so people could relate to the Mage more in such a short amount of story. The plight of the mages explored in both Dragon Age games is such that my story is plausibly happening to several people; that is: Mages and Templar alike have moral and ethical issues they need to examine while carrying out their lives and livelihoods, and also the consequences of whatever actions they take or do not take.

I find it extremely encouraging that several people chose to examine issues like this, and each of the stories will offer unique views on the subject matter; it's also a fantastic representation of how BioWare and game companies allow their games to intrinsically connect with their gamers on a deep, mental level.

My 2 cents anyway, heh.
-Ark

[Mahati]

I *think* I remembered enough lore when I wrote my story. I didn't go back and forth searching for material when I finally got down to the writing 
 
And I agree with Aenne. Capturing the emotion and the feel of the games, trying to at least, is important. As important as making a story lore friendly... 

Modifié par Mahati, 16 janvier 2012 - 07:00 .

[The Sarendoctrinator]

Arkatera wrote...

My protagonist is an unnamed mage, but I did that on purpose so people could relate to the Mage more in such a short amount of story. The plight of the mages explored in both Dragon Age games is such that my story is plausibly happening to several people; that is: Mages and Templar alike have moral and ethical issues they need to examine while carrying out their lives and livelihoods, and also the consequences of whatever actions they take or do not take.

I find it extremely encouraging that several people chose to examine issues like this, and each of the stories will offer unique views on the subject matter; it's also a fantastic representation of how BioWare and game companies allow their games to intrinsically connect with their gamers on a deep, mental level.

My story included this sort of internal conflict too, mostly focused on the main character. Kane will take actions to ensure his survival that others might consider cruel, and it's not that he doesn't care at all for other mages (hopefully, if nothing else, the ending shows that he does), but he's made his peace with these methods a long time ago.

I like reading about the ideas that everyone else has too, and what motivates their characters.

[TEWR]

Firky wrote...

@Twinky Yes! (I went to a writing workshop last year that used that as an example.)

I did introduce 3 characters who weren't in the mod that I think contextalise her as a woman - most aptly her mother. (Still, I don't know how it all came across. I have no perspective.

@moto I don't feel attacked. It's an interesting discussion. On lore, I was hoping that an interpretation would suffice. Like, mine was about a Tranquil but she doesn't have a lyrium brand on her forehead - and this ties into my story. I couldn't confirm whether the lyrium brand in DA2 was supposed to be there in Origins, so I took an Origins interpretation. :/

David Gaider said a few months back that the brand was supposed to be present in origins, but for whatever reason wasn't seen in game (either the engine couldn't handle it or they forgot to implement it or whatever).

I doubt it'll cost you though, as it wasn't really known until just recently and not everyone has seen that thread it was in.

Modifié par The Ethereal Writer Redux, 16 janvier 2012 - 07:25 .

[TEWR]

motomotogirl wrote...

Firky, while I personally do try to keep in mind what my writing is saying about big, overarching issues like sexism, LGBT issues, etc., I know not all writers feel the same.

Also, hope you don't feel like people are attacking you (at least not me!); I only felt intrigued enough by your original comment to respond And hey we got a fun conversation out of it!

Upon first seeing the prompt ... I'm the same as some of you; I knew immediately what I write! You can even see my comment earlier in this thread I saw the final scene in my head and knew I'd be writing up to that scene.

Like some of you guys, I also think I don't have a chance. I didn't do any research on lore or anything. The story relies more on the feel of Thedas and the games ... and (again) overarching themes, like what it means and feels to be poor or marginalized because of your race, sexuality, etc. (I sometimes think of mages as fantasy equivalents of LGBTQ peoples; they are simply born as they are, and yet tormented for it).

So everyone talking about all the codices they researched and scenes they replayed for purposes of clarity are making me hang my head in shame LOL

My story didn't really need any lore for it but I feel that I may have focused too much on my Templar character than I did my Elven mage character. Then again, I also have considered the thought that this would be the first chapter in a series of short stories revolving around these two characters, so that gives me the opportunity to further explore how an Elven mage in the Circle of Kirkwall was treated.

I didn't really need to do much research for mine really, as it was really just a basic idea.

A renegade Templar and an apostate Mage that fled from Kirkwall's Annulment seek safe harbor in Ferelden, a chance to meet with King Alistair, and hold a hope that change for the better will be on the horizon.

But the road they travel is fraught with dangers of all kinds. From the fanatical Templars pursuing them to far less human creatures, no where is safe for these two people. 

Sometimes though, the greatest torment isn't in who you fight, but what you're fighting.

[Firky]

^ I had read that David Gaider had said that, not the actual quote. Based on the fact that I was trying to create this character for Origins, I decided just to be consistent with that. If it gets the chop for that reason alone, I'll happily suck it up.

@Arkatera I agree. I think it's a real testament to the DA world that I can read through the abstracts and they are all about templars/mages and they all seem quite different.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Probably one of the most important things you can do where lore is concerned is spell names correctly. XD Not just people names, but place names and item names. Spellcheckers don't pick that stuff up unless you tell them to, so you gotta be careful trusting the ol' memory sometimes...the wiki, toolset and map are your friends.

Well...except when they contradict each other. I have two versions of the Map of Thedas. One says 'The Kocari Wilds' and the other 'The Korcari Wilds'. Which just goes to show the DA lore is out to get us.

Modifié par Shadow of Light Dragon, 16 janvier 2012 - 11:44 .

[Mahati]

 Spellcheck had marked nearly every other word in my entry with a red squiggly line  Something that bothers me, though, is Fereldan, and Ferelden. Easy to get them mixed up.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Hah, yes. I used to think 'Fereldan' was a typo by people who didn't know how to spell 'Ferelden'. I have since learned the appropriate usage of both. ;D

(For those interested: 'Ferelden' is for the name of the country, but 'Fereldan' is for someone from the country. Like 'Asia' and Asian'.)

[BrennaCeDria]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

Hah, yes. I used to think 'Fereldan' was a typo by people who didn't know how to spell 'Ferelden'. I have since learned the appropriate usage of both. ;D

(For those interested: 'Ferelden' is for the name of the country, but 'Fereldan' is for someone from the country. Like 'Asia' and Asian'.)

Haha, 40 chapters into my main fic and my MS Word doesn't even try anymore. I've "taught" it so many fictional words that the spell checked just calls bull**** on me and won't check anything anymore. I have to be VERY careful because of it, lol.

[Momiji.mii]

I thought working both with the lore of Thedas and the time line was an interesting experience. I've only done something similar a few times before while experimenting with writing fan fiction, which is kind of new to me (Dragon Age was a first though). Ultimately, the lore didn't make me have to change anything, but I made sure to account for some particulars that I otherwize wouldn't have bothered mentioning at all. Using the timeline was both beneficial and difficult and was what had the most effect on my writing. I had to put some thought into what happened when, where and why it happened the way it did. All in all, it was a good experience that taught me a bit or two about writing in another creator's world.

Modifié par Momiji.mii, 16 janvier 2012 - 02:15 .

[TEWR]

I do find it funny when my MS word documents say "This isn't a real word/name" and I just tell it that it is in the realm of fanfic and that it should suck it up.

I think MS Word has been going down to the local bar lately to drown his sorrows.

"I used to be someone, y'know? I... I used to know what words were real and which weren't. Now I'm just a walking dictionary of made-up words. God, I hate fanfic."

[nick cymru]

Just posting to say good luck to everyone who entered. I can't say writing fantasy is an area of mine but I've been a big fan of Bioware for almost half my life now.

What is key to remember is your characters will be the driving point of your story. I understand being consistent with lore but don't get too hung up on it. From my experience when writing shorts, it's all about characters.

[BrennaCeDria]

Yeah, it's much simpler in a small one-shot like this to stay faithful to the world with as little stress as possible. It's the novelization-style fics that get tricky, making it your version of the story while still remaining true to the material.

[DiBernsGB]

Echoing Nick, good luck to everyone who sent in a sub. I'll be waiting for the results before posting a link to my own, but I can't wait to share and get feedback from the community here. Hope you enjoy it when it's up and good luck to everyone!

[Arkatera]

BrennaCeDria wrote...

Yeah, it's much simpler in a small one-shot like this to stay faithful to the world with as little stress as possible. It's the novelization-style fics that get tricky, making it your version of the story while still remaining true to the material.

This is certainly true. And no doubt it's easier on the Community Team to read through the entries this way too. But I struggled SO MUCH to fit the 2500 word bill and attempt to fit in great character/story development at the same time.

Also: I forgot to say it earlier, but good luck to everyone! It's great to see everyone so enthusiastic about a fantasy world

[BrennaCeDria]

Arkatera wrote...

BrennaCeDria wrote...

Yeah, it's much simpler in a small one-shot like this to stay faithful to the world with as little stress as possible. It's the novelization-style fics that get tricky, making it your version of the story while still remaining true to the material.

This is certainly true. And no doubt it's easier on the Community Team to read through the entries this way too. But I struggled SO MUCH to fit the 2500 word bill and attempt to fit in great character/story development at the same time.

Also: I forgot to say it earlier, but good luck to everyone! It's great to see everyone so enthusiastic about a fantasy world

That's why I took the cheap way out, in a sense, by beginning my story after the events of it had already started, and ending the story before they completely resolved. There's enough info to know exactly where you are, and enough openness for the reader to decide what happens. Ironically, one of the other entries' synposis (can't remember the username, but it's the first entry on page three or four of the synopsis thread) could almost run as a sequel to mine, and I'm really looking forward to seeing that one once more people are posting publically.

[theblackalchemist]

Well, the spell check screwed me up.. and i just noticed my mistake today...

Andraste became Andante (tempo in music)...

Now i really have to sit and pray at her feet and beg for forgiveness...unless i missed a lore page which said that Andraste was a bard with that nickname...

TBA

Modifié par theblackalchemist, 16 janvier 2012 - 05:55 .

[JoeLaTurkey]

BrennaCeDria wrote...

Yeah, it's much simpler in a small one-shot like this to stay faithful to the world with as little stress as possible. It's the novelization-style fics that get tricky, making it your version of the story while still remaining true to the material.

Tell me about it. It's very rewarding though.

[BrennaCeDria]

JoeLaTurkey wrote...

BrennaCeDria wrote...

Yeah, it's much simpler in a small one-shot like this to stay faithful to the world with as little stress as possible. It's the novelization-style fics that get tricky, making it your version of the story while still remaining true to the material.

Tell me about it. It's very rewarding though.

Haha, I'm writing my Fem Cousland story right now, and I swear to god if it were me, I'd have beaten the hell out of Alistair after last night's chapter. 

[Raenemon]

What do you think of gaming as an art-form? I'm guessing since most of you posted short stories that you feel there is a craft involved with game design that can inspire creative endeavors in other forms, such as fiction. What I am curious is whether you think there can be creative writing that derives from games could approach the quality of what is published in journals and anthologies and novels? In other words, can fanfiction, such as what was written for this competition, be described as encouraging ever surpass the form that inspired it? Even if that was true, would such 'derivative' fiction be take seriously in the 'real world' of publishing agencies and starred reviews?

[JoeLaTurkey]

Raenemon wrote...

What do you think of gaming as an art-form? I'm guessing since most of you posted short stories that you feel there is a craft involved with game design that can inspire creative endeavors in other forms, such as fiction. What I am curious is whether you think there can be creative writing that derives from games could approach the quality of what is published in journals and anthologies and novels? In other words, can fanfiction, such as what was written for this competition, be described as encouraging ever surpass the form that inspired it? Even if that was true, would such 'derivative' fiction be take seriously in the 'real world' of publishing agencies and starred reviews?

Three words: Wide Sargasso Sea


And I think Victory at Ostagar (DA:O) and Fight for the Lost (ME2) have proven beyond all doubt that fanfiction can be truly great writing.

[jagabond]

Raenemon wrote...

What do you think of gaming as an art-form? I'm guessing since most of you posted short stories that you feel there is a craft involved with game design that can inspire creative endeavors in other forms, such as fiction. What I am curious is whether you think there can be creative writing that derives from games could approach the quality of what is published in journals and anthologies and novels? In other words, can fanfiction, such as what was written for this competition, be described as encouraging ever surpass the form that inspired it? Even if that was true, would such 'derivative' fiction be take seriously in the 'real world' of publishing agencies and starred reviews?

Well you figure, pretty much any Star Wars expanded universe novel would be a good example of this. Some of them are very good; while they could stand on their own without the Star Wars label, they probably wouldn't sell nearly as well.

As for unapproved fanfiction, I think unless it's authorized and commissioned by the original authors of the content, it will be placed in a secondary category, and rightfully so. Not to say there won't be fanfiction that isn't straight up better than the original content, but you need to give credit to the rights holders.