9962 réponses à ce sujet

[Drussius]

TheMarshal wrote...

lillitheris wrote...

Honestly, I don’t think asari relationships are at all rare for maiden years, or even beyond. Might even be the rule. Simple demography dictates that there just aren’t enough aliens to go around (as much as they might want to…)

So, personally, I think that only the breeding is frowned-upon.

That's a great point, but I'm sure being a pureblood and being in a same-species relationship would have raised a few more hairless eyebrows than usual.

I would think that almost every asari's first crush would be on another asari. Like was previously said, it's the breeding that's the issue, not the relationship itself. While there might be a few whispers regarding a pureblood in a relationship with an asari, I doubt that it would get all that much more attention than any other relationship between two asari unless they'd become bondmates and were having children.

[MrStoob]

On barriers. I mean the bubble type ones that only exist for NPCs (boooo).

In the Long Walk, the barrier is up for a long time. Obv you have to take 'game time' into consideration, but I would have thought a barrier could stay up for quite a while. Like 20 mins if not under constant attack?

[lillitheris]

TheMarshal wrote...

lillitheris wrote...

Honestly, I don’t think asari relationships are at all rare for maiden years, or even beyond. Might even be the rule. Simple demography dictates that there just aren’t enough aliens to go around (as much as they might want to…)

So, personally, I think that only the breeding is frowned-upon.

That's a great point, but I'm sure being a pureblood and being in a same-species relationship would have raised a few more hairless eyebrows than usual.

That’s quite possible — though I’d imagine it’d be easy enough to ‘disappear’ in a large university (thinking Serrice has at least 25-30,000 students) no matter how famous your mom is

[hot_heart]

With the barrier stuff and the Long Walk, though it's game lore, you have to keep in mind that the crew are exceptional. They are pretty much the best (thebesthebestthebest) the galaxy has to offer.

So while Liara may be good...I don't know if she's that good?

[hot_heart]

On and unrelated note, my Miranda story got added to a 'Fanfiction's Greatest' community on FF.net. I have no idea how significant that is, but I am flattered either way!

[MrStoob]

hot_heart wrote...

With the barrier stuff and the Long Walk, though it's game lore, you have to keep in mind that the crew are exceptional. They are pretty much the best (thebesthebestthebest) the galaxy has to offer.

So while Liara may be good...I don't know if she's that good?

Wash your mouth out!  

Seriously though... lol.  Liara has had years of combat practice, so I don't think it's unreasonable to assume she's in the ranks of the best.

[hot_heart]

Hehe. I wouldn't be against her being at that level just, you know, TIM never gave me her dossier...

[fainmaca]

lillitheris wrote...

@fainmaca

“targetting all non-indoctrinated forces in the vicinity of the station.” This seems kinda iffy. How can it tell?

I don’t have anything particularly useful to offer, except one note: I was never a big fan of the Interchangeable Alien Person motif. Lost your turian? Too bad. No, you can’t just have another one appear.

Its not that its differentiating, its more that all of the indoctrinated forces have been destroyed, including the two Reapers directing the battle.

So would you say that it would be better to not have Bakliss as a potential squad mate if Etarn dies? I was kind of thinking along the lines that having a representative of the Hegemony on board would be a good idea for the Commander. It also allows for a different flavour of squadmate. You chose to destroy the station in exchange for military resources? Then you get the more militant Bakliss. You chose to save the station, preserving a huge facet of Batarian culture? Then you get the more politically oriented Etarn.

The choice itself has its own rewards and penalties. on the one hand, you preserve a part of batarian culture (the Batarian equivalent to a Citadel and the location of their government pretty much ever since they mastered FTL travel). On the other, you get more resources to fight the Reapers with. One affects the Batarian epilogue, the other affects your overall ending.

The main reason I was courting the idea of letting Etarn die was because I wanted to give the readers the first taste of actual, story-changing consequences to their choices. For about 20 months now I've been offering choices, but the consequences are still off in the future, nebulous until their true extent is revealed. I wanted to be able to provide a little echo of the emotional payoff that the story will deliver later.

I'm really thinking that I won't let Etarn die. He's already integrated into the squad, and the readers are familiar with him. I also feel that he still has a story that can be told.

[TheMarshal]

lillitheris wrote...

@fainmaca

“targetting all non-indoctrinated forces in the vicinity of the station.” This seems kinda iffy. How can it tell?

I don’t have anything particularly useful to offer, except one note: I was never a big fan of the Interchangeable Alien Person motif. Lost your turian? Too bad. No, you can’t just have another one appear.

You didn't like Tully'Zorro or Garuush Vicarnian?

[fainmaca]

MrStoob wrote...
Seriously though... lol.  Liara has had years of combat practice, so I don't think it's unreasonable to assume she's in the ranks of the best.

I don't know... Liara hasn't been trained like Samara or Jack, or even your bogstandard commando. She joins Shepard's team for her knowledge of the Protheans and her keen mind, not for her raw biotic skill. I'd be inclined to put her in the camp of those who didn't have the skill for a biotic bubble. and three years isn't really long enough for her to gain that skill.

[hot_heart]

fainmaca wrote...
The main reason I was courting the idea of letting Etarn die was because I wanted to give the readers the first taste of actual, story-changing consequences to their choices. For about 20 months now I've been offering choices, but the consequences are still off in the future, nebulous until their true extent is revealed. I wanted to be able to provide a little echo of the emotional payoff that the story will deliver later.

Could you not put two squadmembers on the chopping block and make it between them?

[TheMarshal]

fainmaca wrote...

MrStoob wrote...
Seriously though... lol.  Liara has had years of combat practice, so I don't think it's unreasonable to assume she's in the ranks of the best.

I don't know... Liara hasn't been trained like Samara or Jack, or even your bogstandard commando. She joins Shepard's team for her knowledge of the Protheans and her keen mind, not for her raw biotic skill. I'd be inclined to put her in the camp of those who didn't have the skill for a biotic bubble. and three years isn't really long enough for her to gain that skill.

The Singularity is, if I remember correctly, one of the most difficult biotic abilities to master, and yet Liara is capable of it.  That can't even be said about Samara.  Miranda has received training in her biotics but isn't capable of holding the bubble.  Plus, don't forget that Liara is able to quickly erect a bubble to stop the shards of glass that Vasir launches at the crew.

I'm not sure where all of that puts Liara on the biotic skill/power chart, but I gotta imagine she'd be able to hold the bubble at least as well as the others.

[lillitheris]

I’d say there’re vast differences in bionic abilities, not all of them from training — or, we can apply the same rule as for humans: to reach your potential in any field, you need to put in about 10,000 hours of training. How high you rank in the field after that depends on your talent.

Or we could make a sports metaphor: some biotics are sprinters (power > endurance), and some are distance runners (endurance > power). Some may be blazingly fast, but their power might be weaker than someone who’s slower to start.

Some might be really versatile but not particularly good at any one thing, whereas others might only know two things but do them really well. Etc.

Modifié par lillitheris, 11 juillet 2012 - 08:33 .

[dpMeggers]

TheMarshal wrote...

fainmaca wrote...

MrStoob wrote...
Seriously though... lol.  Liara has had years of combat practice, so I don't think it's unreasonable to assume she's in the ranks of the best.

I don't know... Liara hasn't been trained like Samara or Jack, or even your bogstandard commando. She joins Shepard's team for her knowledge of the Protheans and her keen mind, not for her raw biotic skill. I'd be inclined to put her in the camp of those who didn't have the skill for a biotic bubble. and three years isn't really long enough for her to gain that skill.

The Singularity is, if I remember correctly, one of the most difficult biotic abilities to master, and yet Liara is capable of it.  That can't even be said about Samara.  Miranda has received training in her biotics but isn't capable of holding the bubble.  Plus, don't forget that Liara is able to quickly erect a bubble to stop the shards of glass that Vasir launches at the crew.

I'm not sure where all of that puts Liara on the biotic skill/power chart, but I gotta imagine she'd be able to hold the bubble at least as well as the others.

I think Samara's lack of Singularity might be a gameplay/story segregation thing. An Adept Shepard can use singularity and they've trained as a biotic for something like 10 years. Samara is a thousand year old asari warrior monk who's been hunting a vampire for something like 400 years...Actually her lack of singularity might be due to that. In universe (not gameplay) a singularity would suck everything in the vacinity into it's gravity. Including possibly innocent bystanders. Justicar's can't hurt the innocent. Thus Singularity is too much of a risk

While Liara creates a bubble in LotSB when Vasir throws a shattered window at your squad, she doesn't hold it for any length of time, so it's hard to say if she would be able to manage the long walk. Who knows.

[lillitheris]

fainmaca wrote...

lillitheris wrote...

@fainmaca

“targetting all non-indoctrinated forces in the vicinity of the station.” This seems kinda iffy. How can it tell?

I don’t have anything particularly useful to offer, except one note: I was never a big fan of the Interchangeable Alien Person motif. Lost your turian? Too bad. No, you can’t just have another one appear.

Its not that its differentiating, its more that all of the indoctrinated forces have been destroyed, including the two Reapers directing the battle.

Aha, I see! Overinterpreted it.

So would you say that it would be better to not have Bakliss as a potential squad mate if Etarn dies? I was kind of thinking along the lines that having a representative of the Hegemony on board would be a good idea for the Commander. It also allows for a different flavour of squadmate. You chose to destroy the station in exchange for military resources? Then you get the more militant Bakliss. You chose to save the station, preserving a huge facet of Batarian culture? Then you get the more politically oriented Etarn.

In short, yes, I think it would be better to not have him as a squad mate. If I exaggerate slightly, it seems a little…cheap? Like a new puppy.

Aside from the purely emotional aspect, what does Shepard really gain from having a friendly (?) batarian on board — as opposed to somewhere in batarian space, doing stuff? On the other hand, what does the batarian (or the Hegemony) gain from zooming around with Shepard?

Life isn’t always tradeoffs. Sometimes you get something that’s purely good, and sometimes something that just sucks. Occasionally, if you’re (un)lucky, you actually get to weigh the benefits of two options.

This is of course a completely uninvested opinion, and my opinions are sometimes not shared by many, so take it for what it’s worth.

[dpMeggers]

fainmaca wrote...

So would you say that it would be better to not have Bakliss as a potential squad mate if Etarn dies? I was kind of thinking along the lines that having a representative of the Hegemony on board would be a good idea for the Commander. It also allows for a different flavour of squadmate. You chose to destroy the station in exchange for military resources? Then you get the more militant Bakliss. You chose to save the station, preserving a huge facet of Batarian culture? Then you get the more politically oriented Etarn.

To add my two cents. If we (the readers) are being pragmatic about these decisions, and sparing a whole pile of military resources is a pragmatic decision, wouldn't it make more sense to keep Bakliss where he's most useful? If he's a Batarian General, during an all out war, he should be in a position of command in Batarian Naval forces. Sure, he could command things from the Normandy, but that's a risky choice. 

To draw a parallel to ME3, after the Citadel coup, provided they're still alive, you have the option of bringing the VS back on to the Normandy, or letting Hackett assign them elsewhere. The pragmatic option is to have a talented, experienced soldier out in the field leading troops, because they're arguably more useful out there than on the Normandy. 

Modifié par dpMeggers, 11 juillet 2012 - 08:44 .

[dpMeggers]

The rough draft of Elysium, part II is finally finished!!! I've been working on this stupid chapter for what feels like a month. It needs hella polishing, but the whole chapter, dialogue, descriptions, exposition, EVERYTHING is finally typed up! And polishing is never as hard as just getting the chapter written up.

I'm happy because this means that I can finally start updating again soon. And also because I'm getting very close to the end of Conversations. I've never actually completed a story before. This is exciting...and a little sad, the Damon/Robbie/Tess family/friendship may be one of my favourite things I've ever written. Bittersweet.

[MrStoob]

dpMeggers wrote...
While Liara creates a bubble in LotSB when Vasir throws a shattered window at your squad, she doesn't hold it for any length of time, so it's hard to say if she would be able to manage the long walk. Who knows.

She's too busy chasing after Vasir to bother keeping the barrier up.  ^^

Anyway, seems undecided, so I shall call upon the mighty  to decide.

[fluffywalrus]

dpMeggers wrote...

The rough draft of Elysium, part II is finally finished!!! I've been working on this stupid chapter for what feels like a month. It needs hella polishing, but the whole chapter, dialogue, descriptions, exposition, EVERYTHING is finally typed up! And polishing is never as hard as just getting the chapter written up.

I'm happy because this means that I can finally start updating again soon. And also because I'm getting very close to the end of Conversations. I've never actually completed a story before. This is exciting...and a little sad, the Damon/Robbie/Tess family/friendship may be one of my favourite things I've ever written. Bittersweet.

Hurray!
It feels great to get that weight off your shoulders, doesn't it?
Finishing a story is pretty big...I think I've only ever finished one, and it was maybe 20k words, and it was a long time ago. That feeling of anticipation is kind of exciting, and it lets you reflect on your work in a (usually) positive light. Sucks that it has to end, but it's been a good ride, no?

Modifié par fluffywalrus, 11 juillet 2012 - 10:01 .

[InLoveWithTaliZorah]

Just got started writing fanfics and I would love some input.
Here are my Fanfics, enjoy!

This is a long and in detail one.
www.fanfiction.net/s/8247105/1/A_Warriors_Love

This is a shorter one that focuses on the EC ending specifically.
www.fanfiction.net/s/8273553/1/After_Control_Comes_Peace

Quesiton: Is it bad to be a grammar Na*i while writing fanfics? I find that it makes me comb through my works for errors and it sets back my publishing schedule significantly.

I'm eager to learn about this art form that I have enjoyed for a long time but haven't partaken of until recently.

Modifié par InLoveWithTaliZorah, 11 juillet 2012 - 10:05 .

[LanceSolous13]

So, I'm trying to write an outline for Thane's death. I was planning on Thane sacraficing himself to save Shepard. I just can't get a good situation going. I feel like a horrible writer for turning to you guys for ideas every time I can't think of something myself, but....yeah.....

[hot_heart]

InLoveWithTaliZorah wrote...
Quesiton: Is it bad to be a grammar Na*i while writing fanfics? I find that it makes me comb through my works for errors and it sets back my publishing schedule significantly.

I'm eager to learn about this art form that I have enjoyed for a long time but haven't partaken of until recently.

I think it always helps to put a little extra care into your writing.

Though, at a glance, you are missing commas before names.

i.e. There should be a comma after the first 'OK' here:
"It's OK Shepard. It's all going to be OK."

And one after 'anymore' here:
"You're not supposed to call me that anymore James. I'm a civvie now."

[fluffywalrus]

InLoveWithTaliZorah wrote...

Just got started writing fanfics and I would love some input.
Here are my Fanfics, enjoy!

This is a long and in detail one.
www.fanfiction.net/s/8247105/1/A_Warriors_Love

This is a shorter one that focuses on the EC ending specifically.
www.fanfiction.net/s/8273553/1/After_Control_Comes_Peace

Quesiton: Is it bad to be a grammar Na*i while writing fanfics? I find that it makes me comb through my works for errors and it sets back my publishing schedule significantly.

I'm eager to learn about this art form that I have enjoyed for a long time but haven't partaken of until recently.

I shall check them out

LanceSolous13 wrote...

So, I'm trying to write an outline
for Thane's death. I was planning on Thane sacrificing himself to save
Shepard. I just can't get a good situation going. I feel like a horrible
writer for turning to you guys for ideas every time I can't think of
something myself, but....yeah.....

Wish I could think of somethng decent. I actually (As someone who didn't romance Thane) thought he was handled pretty decently, what with him beating up Kai Leng a bit and keeping him from assassinating the councilor. Though I will say that those who had him as a LI in ME2 should have gotten a bit more content, all things considered(even if I felt his death scene in the hospital was one of the stronger scenes in ME3).

I'm not sure whether you plan on Thane being healthy and healed up or anything, so...it's hard to give any possible advice

Modifié par fluffywalrus, 11 juillet 2012 - 10:19 .

[lillitheris]

I’ll crosspost here just in case… I mentioned earlier that I’m copyediting the early chapters…I got through 1 & 2, doing 3 now. I think they could indeed use some more extensive work, still, but that requires more time. I think they’re mostly OK now.

Anyway, if someone wants to take a look — especially if you read the early early versions back in May — I’d appreciate notes on the general flow of the text. I think it’s somewhat improved now. Anything else too, of course, but removing jumpiness etc. was the main goal this pass.

[LanceSolous13]

His death was...Good in concept, bad in exicution. Thane is an assassin; An artist with a weapon. TIM hired him for the Suicide Mission because of his skill. Its hard to see Thane jumping down for close-quarter combat and missing so many times with his gun, and then run TOWARDS the Assassin who fights purely with a melee weapon... : / Also, Shepard and crew don't do anything to try and stop it. Thane may not have been able to see Kai cloak, but no reason Shepard and crew weren't paying attention...

His death scene itself, in the hospital, is good, though it could have used some more talking with Kolyat or something, and more emotion for an LI or friend to Thane. I don't plan on changing the Hosiptal scene much. Just his battle will change...

Thane is going to be cured, ready to join Shepard on the Normandy in fact, but killed by Kai Leng during the Citadel coup. I really just can't get a good situation for Thane to sacrafice himself for Shepard and how to get Shepard's crew out of the way during the fight.

Kalahera, Guide this one...