9962 réponses à ce sujet

[MrStoob]

Seracen wrote...

Haha, just saw this amusing piece over at deviant art, it's a random name generator for various ME races...

http://lordess-alici...rator-367877785

This is from a little while back but I had a look then moved onto the 'Scenario Generator', hehe.  That'd be perfect for a 'one-shot challenge' kind of thing, like what I do with music.  I think I've mentioned before about doing something like that, monthly 'challenge' to come up with a shorty based on a theme/scenario, just for fun like.  But I'm aware that people are busy and whatnot.  Still...

One time, an unspeakable act happened between Liara and Garrus in the Presidium lake.

'Friends' jellyfish episode anyone? lol

Edit:
Top post eh...?  For relative newcomers, there is no top post ruling on the Writers' thread, I just like to pop some fluffy crap on  (apologies to anyone who has already read it, it's an excerpt this time as I've nothing lying around at the mo).


Liara pushes Verity back onto the bed and smiles coyly for a moment.

“Shepard...?”

“Yes..?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, what?”

“Will you grow your hair for me?”

“You want to see me with long hair? I like it short like this.” Verity says, tugging at her tufts.

“Oh. Maybe I am not being specific. Not many species have hair.”

“Oh... Oh! I see... to be honest, Liara, it's not a pretty sight.”

Modifié par MrStoob, 18 août 2013 - 07:29 .

[MrStoob]

In other news...

That was annoying. I'd been intending to make a 'FemShep/Liara' vid using my own music (a track I'd written in tribute to Liara many moons ago), the usual fluff and whatnot. I was checking what footage I already have as I usually have fraps running for quick capture moments, and it was all going great:
First Liara encounter? check
Embracing Eternity? check
Near kiss on the Normandy? check
Re-union on Illium? check
Some 'do fighting' footage? check

Until I got to the ME3 footage I've accumulated... FFS, I'd forgotten how fecking awful my Shep looks, I couldn't continue the vid with 'that'. Liara being all romantic with this abomination next to her. Stupid BioWare... as someone once wisely said: *pouts*

[Fatiguesdualism]

Idle question for anyone about.

What do you do with your edits?  You know those paragraphs that had to be re-worked so many times to fit.  Or those lost sections that you cut from the story thinking 'It'll work better if I use it later instead' but never did.  Maybe even those weird 'maybe if' chunks that you then decided not to use at all.
What do you do with them?  Do you keep them saved (in a single file of -well- ravings in my case) or just let them disappear into the ether?

I only ask because I was having a bit of a block and ended up reading through my (ravings) clipboard file.  Only now I'm ever so slightly disturbed and frankly could do with some reassurance that keeping such a file ain't crazy; or if it is crazy that I'm not alone in doing so.  Which would also mean that it isn't crazy - just ever so slightly odd!

PS:  This is not a shameless 'bump' post just because the thread is nearing the bottom of page one.  That would be wrong (mods can't read PS text, can they? )

Modifié par Fatiguesdualism, 19 août 2013 - 01:52 .

[ftkerns]

Efvie wrote...

Though the term ‘omni’ makes it a little silly, I imagine there are several varieties of OTs (and possibly various plugins), ones for more specialized purposes too…

The basic OT can well be as simple as a bracelet (or implant), only for accessing the ‘net, communications and so on.

I like that. :happy: There's probably considerable variety, depending on the manufacturer and the specific functions. I can see some versions being intergrated into clothing to make them nearly invisible, while others are much more conspicuous for users who want to show off their newest gadgets.

Seracen wrote...

I always figured the tech was a combination. For instance, you could have an "AMP" plugged into whatever "IMPLANT" was surgically installed in your body.

For example, biotic L2 IMPLANTS needed to be surgically upgraded to L3 or beyond, but AMPs were upgradeable from any kiosk or loot drop in ME1.

Similarly, I consider tech to follow the same protocol, at least in my canon and stories. The implants needed to be surgically installed in bodies that are in sympathy (ie don't reject) the apparatus.

This, followed by some folks simply choosing not to install it for personal reasons, would explain why not everyone is rolling with at least some for of Engineering Amp (eg: why Soldiers don't have as many Tech skills).

The omnitool, therefore, could be a simple subcutaneous construct, or a bracelet, that feeds off of impulses sent to it from whatever is already implanted in the body. I use that as an explanation as to why Shep and Co don't actually have earpieces, yet keep tapping their ears as if they did.

This is future tech, after all. I imagine all sorts of variations on it are possible. Theoretically, some old fogy could still be running around with some super version of the Google Glasses, lol.

Or, for those who want biotics without the implants, I suppose someone could be rolling with the harness from the movie Elysium.

Of course, compared to how much more efficient and powerful the implants are, I imagine we wouldn't see this except for those extremists infatuated with keeping one's body "pristine."

That makes perfect sense, too.  There would likely be all sorts of options and styles. And I love the idea of a few old farts here and there using antiquated devices. Or even brand-new gadgets that are designed to look like old, outdated tech, for people who develop a fondness for "retro" stuff.

MrStoob wrote...

Seracen wrote...

Haha, just saw this amusing piece over at deviant art, it's a random name generator for various ME races...

http://lordess-alici...rator-367877785

This is from a little while back but I had a look then moved onto the 'Scenario Generator', hehe.  That'd be perfect for a 'one-shot challenge' kind of thing, like what I do with music.  I think I've mentioned before about doing something like that, monthly 'challenge' to come up with a shorty based on a theme/scenario, just for fun like.  But I'm aware that people are busy and whatnot.  Still...

One time, an unspeakable act happened between Liara and Garrus in the Presidium lake.

'Friends' jellyfish episode anyone? lol

I have got to try that sometime. Just thinking of the possibilities...heheh...hehehehahahahaha! 

MrStoob wrote...

Edit:
Top post eh...?  For relative newcomers, there is no top post ruling on the Writers' thread, I just like to pop some fluffy crap on [smilie]http://social.bioware.com/images/forum/emoticons/wink.png[/smilie] (apologies to anyone who has already read it, it's an excerpt this time as I've nothing lying around at the mo).


Liara pushes Verity back onto the bed and smiles coyly for a moment.

“Shepard...?”

“Yes..?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, what?”

“Will you grow your hair for me?”

“You want to see me with long hair? I like it short like this.” Verity says, tugging at her tufts.

“Oh. Maybe I am not being specific. Not many species have hair.”

“Oh... Oh! I see... to be honest, Liara, it's not a pretty sight.”

Heheheh.  I've always liked the idea that humans were the only species that has hair. Well, I read somewhere that batarians have hair, but it's really hard to see. Anyway, I suspect many humans who date aliens would end up having to tolerate their alien partner wanting to play with their hair for hours on end just because it's so fascinating. 

Now I'm picturing Tali getting drunk again and just rubbing her hands over Shepard's head. "Tee hee hee... ffffffffffuzzy! :lol:"

MrStoob wrote...

In other news...

That was annoying. I'd been intending to make a 'FemShep/Liara' vid using my own music (a track I'd written in tribute to Liara many moons ago), the usual fluff and whatnot. I was checking what footage I already have as I usually have fraps running for quick capture moments, and it was all going great:
First Liara encounter? check
Embracing Eternity? check
Near kiss on the Normandy? check
Re-union on Illium? check
Some 'do fighting' footage? check

Until I got to the ME3 footage I've accumulated... FFS, I'd forgotten how fecking awful my Shep looks, I couldn't continue the vid with 'that'. Liara being all romantic with this abomination next to her. Stupid BioWare... as someone once wisely said: *pouts*

I know the feeling. That's just scratching the surface of the various ways ME3 infuriated me. Like so many other players, I created my own Shep for ME1 and he looked exactly the same after I imported him into ME2...then, after importing him into ME3, I couldn't even recognize him. Found myself staring at someone else in my Shep's place, some dude with a nose big enough to be used as a ramscoop and a face that looked like the bottom half of a stop sign. Goddamn it. 

Fatiguesdualism wrote...

Idle question for anyone about.

What do you do with your edits?  You know those paragraphs that had to be re-worked so many times to fit.  Or those lost sections that you cut from the story thinking 'It'll work better if I use it later instead' but never did.  Maybe even those weird 'maybe if' chunks that you then decided not to use at all.
What do you do with them?  Do you keep them saved (in a single file of -well- ravings in my case) or just let them disappear into the ether?

I only ask because I was having a bit of a block and ended up reading through my (ravings) clipboard file.  Only now I'm ever so slightly disturbed and frankly could do with some reassurance that keeping such a file ain't crazy; or if it is crazy that I'm not alone in doing so.  Which would also mean that it isn't crazy - just ever so slightly odd! 

PS:  This is not a shameless 'bump' post just because the thread is nearing the bottom of page one.  That would be wrong (mods can't read PS text, can they? )

Nah, it's not crazy at all. At least, I don't think it is.  For small edits, I don't bother keeping the old versions, but if it's something major I'm cutting out for whatever reason, I have a file of notes, scraps, lists of potential character names and story titles, etc., which I copy it into. Or when I come up with an idea for something that has to wait until much later in the story before I can use it, I write it out and keep it in the notes/scraps/etc. file until I can use it. Said file is currently 42 pages long. 

And while I'm here, why not finish with a quick laugh?  Brief excerpt from Chapter 17 of Freelancers....

Everyone in the waiting area reacted predictably as she streaked from one end of the huge room to the other. Gasps, a few startled cries, and nervous murmuring. Dakka weaved between them, trying not to knock anyone out of her way.

"'Scuse me, pardon me, look out--naked krogan coming through!"

She squeezed into the elevator and tapped the control panel to select the C-Sec level. The doors closed and she glanced to the left and found a human and two salarians staring at her.

"What?"

The others exchanged a wide-eyed glance.

"Uh," the salarian on the right said.

"What? Seriously, what're you staring at?"

"Uh."

"Come on, spit it out." Dakka had to suppress a grin.

"Uh. Y--you're...um..." The salarian glanced at the other two again. "Naked."

"What?" Dakka looked down at herself and pretended to be horrified. "**** me! Why didn't someone tell me this sooner?"

After a long pause, the salarian finally said, "Uh."

Dakka snickered. "Sorry, I'm just ****in' with ya. Sometimes I can't help myself."

The doors parted. Dakka glanced at the panel to be sure this was the floor she wanted, then bolted into the corridor.

"Even for a krogan," the human mumbled, "she's nuts."

Modifié par ftkerns, 19 août 2013 - 02:07 .

[AustereLemur799]

Fatiguesdualism wrote...

Idle question for anyone about.

What do you do with your edits?  You know those paragraphs that had to be re-worked so many times to fit.  Or those lost sections that you cut from the story thinking 'It'll work better if I use it later instead' but never did.  Maybe even those weird 'maybe if' chunks that you then decided not to use at all.
What do you do with them?  Do you keep them saved (in a single file of -well- ravings in my case) or just let them disappear into the ether?

I only ask because I was having a bit of a block and ended up reading through my (ravings) clipboard file.  Only now I'm ever so slightly disturbed and frankly could do with some reassurance that keeping such a file ain't crazy; or if it is crazy that I'm not alone in doing so.  Which would also mean that it isn't crazy - just ever so slightly odd!

PS:  This is not a shameless 'bump' post just because the thread is nearing the bottom of page one.  That would be wrong (mods can't read PS text, can they? )

Well you know what they say: 'writing is rewriting'.

I know what you mean though . Sometimes it's cruel when you devise masterpieces that just don't fit with the current program. If they're really good as they stand, then perhaps you should try to build another chaper around them. Compromising them to fit into your story can sometimes feel like a kick in the teeth.

At the end of the day, I suppose it's all about how desperate you are to move ahead.

I recommend always keeping copies of things. You can write something fit for publishing but keep the orginal back as a personal record for yourself.

It's really up to you. How strongly do you feel about this particular passage? How willing are you to compromise it? - Do you feel strongly enough that you want to preserve its integrity?

[MrStoob]

Fatiguesdualism wrote...

Idle question for anyone about.

What do you do with your edits?  You know those paragraphs that had to be re-worked so many times to fit.  Or those lost sections that you cut from the story thinking 'It'll work better if I use it later instead' but never did.  Maybe even those weird 'maybe if' chunks that you then decided not to use at all.
What do you do with them?  Do you keep them saved (in a single file of -well- ravings in my case) or just let them disappear into the ether?

I only ask because I was having a bit of a block and ended up reading through my (ravings) clipboard file.  Only now I'm ever so slightly disturbed and frankly could do with some reassurance that keeping such a file ain't crazy; or if it is crazy that I'm not alone in doing so.  Which would also mean that it isn't crazy - just ever so slightly odd!
 

For anything that I don't think will work in the book I'm working on, I write it out anyway, then post them in my oneshots thing 'Out of the Blue', so that it's done and gone.  Individual paragraphs, not so much.  I can understand though that if there is value in a paragraph that you don't think is working for the current flow but you want to keep it, then yea, why delete it?  Never know when you might want/need it for some other scenario.

Modifié par MrStoob, 19 août 2013 - 07:54 .

[hot_heart]

Fatiguesdualism wrote...

Idle question for anyone about.

What do you do with your edits?  You know those paragraphs that had to be re-worked so many times to fit.  Or those lost sections that you cut from the story thinking 'It'll work better if I use it later instead' but never did.

If we're talking stuff that I never reused, it will have been deleted. I have a separate file of 'Notes', which is excerpts, chapter plans, future pieces of dialogue, transcripts of in-game dialogue/actions, etc. but some stuff I just completely ditch. Either it didn't work at all or if it's an idea worth a damn I'd probably remember it anyway. For example, one chapter's events had a similar conclusion but I felt the actions taken would've made the character too unsympathetic in the long run

Most of the time it's just monologue stuff that doesn't fit the flow or isn't pertinent at the time. I try to 'get into character' but then ramble too much, which is definitely out of character.

I wouldn't say you're crazy though, since it's generally nice to have notes or have some inspiration written down. It's just in my experience of writing scripts and music, if it's not memorable in any way then it's probably not so great.

[Efvie]

hot_heart wrote...

I wouldn't say you're crazy though, since it's generally nice to have notes or have some inspiration written down. It's just in my experience of writing scripts and music, if it's not memorable in any way then it's probably not so great.

This sounds like a really good maxim. On the other hand, my memory is absolutely terrible, so I would have to—and do—write things down.

That said, I don’t think I have ever written entire bits beforehand, or snipped them from somewhere to use later beyond moving a scene to the next chapter or something like that. I do jot down notes about events, motivations, ideas, and so on, but I always write sequentially, chapter by chapter and even within chapters. Of course I’m not that great of a writer, so here’s a giant helping of salt for you… *hands*

[hot_heart]

I should also add that, I am personally very conscious of being too 'samey', and since the stuff you're writing should (theoretically) be specific to that piece, I don't like to reuse it elsewhere. It feels like drawing from the same well all the time (though, obviously you can adapt certain things), whereas I'd prefer to push myself, regardless of the mental anguish that brings.

It is important to state that I tend to take my writing a little more/too seriously than many probably do (not saying that makes me any good, however!) so it depends on what you're looking to do with, or get out of, your writing.

[Seracen]

AustereLemur799 wrote...

Fatiguesdualism wrote...

Idle question for anyone about.

What do you do with your edits?  You know those paragraphs that had to be re-worked so many times to fit.  Or those lost sections that you cut from the story thinking 'It'll work better if I use it later instead' but never did.  Maybe even those weird 'maybe if' chunks that you then decided not to use at all.
What do you do with them?  Do you keep them saved (in a single file of -well- ravings in my case) or just let them disappear into the ether?

I only ask because I was having a bit of a block and ended up reading through my (ravings) clipboard file.  Only now I'm ever so slightly disturbed and frankly could do with some reassurance that keeping such a file ain't crazy; or if it is crazy that I'm not alone in doing so.  Which would also mean that it isn't crazy - just ever so slightly odd!

PS:  This is not a shameless 'bump' post just because the thread is nearing the bottom of page one.  That would be wrong (mods can't read PS text, can they? )

Well you know what they say: 'writing is rewriting'.

I know what you mean though . Sometimes it's cruel when you devise masterpieces that just don't fit with the current program. If they're really good as they stand, then perhaps you should try to build another chaper around them. Compromising them to fit into your story can sometimes feel like a kick in the teeth.

At the end of the day, I suppose it's all about how desperate you are to move ahead.

I recommend always keeping copies of things. You can write something fit for publishing but keep the orginal back as a personal record for yourself.

It's really up to you. How strongly do you feel about this particular passage? How willing are you to compromise it? - Do you feel strongly enough that you want to preserve its integrity?

I generally keep these scenes on a separate notes page.  For instance, I knew I would have to rewrite a chapter that I disliked, but had no passion for it until I was nearly 20 chapters beyond it.

Afterwards, I went back to the chapter, reworked it, and kept the original lying around somewhere.  There wasn't a whole lot to work with, considering most of the dialogue made it in (albeit, in a different manner), but I still have that blurb elsewhere, should I need it.

As far as what will come of it, likely nothing.  Perhaps I can co-opt it for another scene at another time, or in another story.  However, I had no qualms about redoing the scene.

Furthermore, as for scenes I was in love with, but axed anyway...I think that's a personal hurdle each writer has to adjust to in their own way.  Sometimes, things just need to happen for the betterment of the story.

For example (and I've mentioned this before), the really awesome character/scene that never made it into the story.  I was in love with this idea, and it was supposed to be really poignant.  However, I realized that the character existed solely for this one scene, and had nothing to do outside of it.

Therefore, it went, and I redistributed the scenes and objectives amongst other characters (rendering them more important).

However, I fully intend to use both character and scenes in an upcoming project, if I ever finish the current one...

Modifié par Seracen, 19 août 2013 - 06:23 .

[YurigirlzCrush]

MrStoob wrote...

as someone once wisely said: *pouts*

that was me, wasn't it? i'm certainly wise enough to have said it! *grins*

don't really have anything else to say. that just made me laugh. *waves* write on!

[Efvie]

hot_heart wrote...

I should also add that, I am personally very conscious of being too 'samey', and since the stuff you're writing should (theoretically) be specific to that piece, I don't like to reuse it elsewhere.

Another maxim! You should write a book

[hot_heart]

Efvie wrote...
Another maxim! You should write a book

Haha, thank you, but I don't think the world deserves that sort of punishment.

[Fatiguesdualism]

Well glad to know I'm not 'seriously' crazy!    To be honest it was a bunch of Anderson scenes that I had either ditched or seriously re-worked (topics changed, etc) but for one reason or another had kept a copy of them.  Then there was the stuff about Tali's injuries (not a fun topic ) which is 'on file' until I can't dodge it anymore!

I suppose I could try justifying it as 'in-universe' as opposed to 'in-character' material - with the acceptance that I may have to end up explaining it to readers should it become pertinent!  

Modifié par Fatiguesdualism, 19 août 2013 - 09:56 .

[Seracen]

In all fairness, a writer's cutting room floor should probably be filled with enough material to create a short story, depending on how large the story is.

It's just a sign that you have a vested interest in crafting a proper, well thought out story.

Arguably, the best thing that could happen to an artist is a good editor. My two favorite examples are Joss Whedon and Goerge Lucas.

[Efvie]

Seracen wrote...

In all fairness, a writer's cutting room floor should probably be filled with enough material to create a short story, depending on how large the story is.

Ah, true, but I think the point was what to do with the edits. Whether you do glue them into the short story, if you will.

[Seracen]

Efvie wrote...

Seracen wrote...

In all fairness, a writer's cutting room floor should probably be filled with enough material to create a short story, depending on how large the story is.

Ah, true, but I think the point was what to do with the edits. Whether you do glue them into the short story, if you will.

Aha!  Well, it's all writing fodder, isn't it?  I don't see why one couldn't.

Heck, I have an entire document of nothing but random story ideas, another of random scene ideas, and another of random stock characters.

Also yes, another document contains my "cutting room floor," if you will, though this is usually added to the "outline and notes" document for whatever story.

So yeah, there are plenty of scenes which never made it into the story.  I just consider it alternate lore and background.  If I can use it elsewhere, awesome, but I'm not of a mind to shoe-horn things if they don't fit.

On the other hand, there's a whole bunch of lore that I set up in my story, which the readers will never read/see.  For me, it's just more background stuff that helps me craft the story, even if it isn't something for public consumption.

Now, should I decide to incorporate this backstory into another plot, or add it in an author's note, so much the better; but I'm not exactly bending over backwards to do so.

[Efvie]

Seracen wrote...

Aha!  Well, it's all writing fodder, isn't it?  I don't see why one couldn't.

I think I subscribe to hot_heart’s paradigm (?) in this: I write so in the moment that there’s little produced that isn’t highly specific to that scene (in my mind, at least). If it doesn’t fit right there and then, it won’t fit elsewhere—and certainly not with different characters. But it’s really just a personal hang-up.

[MrStoob]

That's what AUs are for!

By that I mean, I've done AU oneshots for Shep alive, Shep dead, Liara & Shep take over Omega, Samara & Shep discuss taking over Omega (as Justicars, not LI), Javik alive/dead, Shepard when she's old, Leviathan symbiosis (a bit abstract those ones...), and all kinds of stupid stuff in between lol.  Purely because I have an idea for something and am compelled to get it down somehow, they're generally only short compact scenes but mostly I wouldn't have really used them anywhere else.

Modifié par MrStoob, 20 août 2013 - 11:20 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Something back a few pages. I'm still futzing around with some story about Shepard, and it's all a matter of how you spin things. See "Butcher of Torfan" is the Batarian title, whereas "Liberator of Torfan" would be the name on the Shepard Memorial on Torfan, and that incident would be taught in Council space. It all depends upon who won. On Khar'shan? well the Hegemony would call her the "Butcher". That's how it works.

[Seracen]

I had a lot of fun with Shep being called the Butcher of Bahak, when he was visiting the Hegemony.

Eventually, he used his silver tongue to turn the insult into a term that demeaned other batarians as well. As such, about half the clans still call him a butcher, while the other half deplore the term, haha.

[MrStoob]

Did I just pick a bad day to start post onto AO3 or something? It's being a right bugger.

Edit: and now it's down for maintenance.  Not sure what state it's all been left in now...

Re-Edit: back up and yea, annoying state of book.  It seemed to be half saving what I was doing so now I've been frantically fixing live work.  D'oh!

Modifié par MrStoob, 22 août 2013 - 03:20 .

[Fatiguesdualism]

@MrStoob - do you still need an invite before posting on there? Only I though about posting there a while ago but the whole 'cap in hand' schtick (irrationally) annoys me. Yes, yes I am slightly odd! 

@sH0tgUn Julia - true enough, how things are 'spun' is something that's always fun. For example Fortunate Sole Survivor of Akuze, later works with Cerberus and becomes...well probably something unpleasant and involving the words Traitor, Liar and Murderer (I'm not really good with titles/names/being creative) I mean maybe he did lead his unit into that trap?

Quick Lore Check - Don't know why, but I have the idea in my head that the Quarian Flotilla can sometimes take days to fully pass through a Mass Relay. Does anyone know if this is something mentioned 'In Game' or by the Codex? Or should I just go lie down somewhere dark?

Modifié par Fatiguesdualism, 22 août 2013 - 04:22 .

[Seracen]

I checked last month, and it seems you till need an invite for AO3. As I've already send in a (fruitless) request twice, I didn't bother.

As for the Flotilla, I can see arguments for or against, though I don't remember any specific anecdotes.

I mean, I can certainly see how it could take so long for them to jump. However, I can also see how other races might take issue with Quarians tying up the lanes by doing this.

So either:
a) they have a more efficient way of ordering the jumps, so they don't take so long, or
they take this long, and it is yet another sore point for the galactic community.

more likely:

c) nobody ever thought to address this point, so it's up to you

It is easy to lose track of some of the details when crafting such a large scope of work, after all.

Modifié par Seracen, 22 août 2013 - 04:58 .

[Fatiguesdualism]

Seracen wrote...

*snip*
they take this long, and it is yet another sore point for the galactic community.

Oh well, if it's up to me then...!  Although the above does strike a chord.  Something about small systems giving 'gifts' to the quarians to stay away?

Anyway thanks Seracen!