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[lillitheris]

MrStoob wrote...

@ lilltheris: I was looking at your fanfics compilation and your comment about some being under-represented so had a further look. I was truly surprised to see that Legion and Mordin have so few. As two well liked characters, I thought they'd have more. Grunt too. There you go though, eh? While Mordin might be a bit overwhelming to write dialogue for, Legion I would have thought wouldn't be too bad, with plenty of scope for misunderstandings and humour.

I’d maybe have expected more EDI or Aria. And more Kaidan, although there’s already some amount.

…

Legion would definitely be hard to write POV from, maybe even Mordin…but not being a POV doesn’t mean they couldn’t play big roles.

[noxiuniversitas1]

PMC65 wrote...

Writing characters all have their struggles for me because none have my voice ... A character with a hot temper challenges me or a character that has lived their life in a suit challenges me. A male character may sometimes present a challenge because of the T (testosterone) perspective but then I reach out to my brother or a male friend as a sounding board. 
  
When it comes to characters my trick is first to get a handle on their heart ... as well as a few fleshings like what they love to eat, read, listen to, religion, etc. When I looked at Kaidan and Joker here is what worked for me in the initial set-up ...

Kaidan's heart is kind ... He is protective, caring and thoughtful while on the flip side he struggles to keep his anger under wraps, can be indecisive and fails in communication at times. He suffers migraines so he very rarely wears cologne (Victorinox Swiss Army cologne), likes acoustic music, practices both meditation and yoga as well as reads The Art Of Happiness (Dalai Lama). All he wants is to find his Ms. Right, settle down near his parents, have kids and maybe become a teacher ... he loves kids.

Joker's heart is vulnerable ... He is loyal, strong-willed and determined while on the flip side he keeps people at arms length, uses sarcasm as a wall and does not suffer fools (or at least those he considers to be fools). He grew up in and out of hospitals so he has learned to take his mind elsewhere when in pain and he would have also seen others in pain ... He is a St. Jude kid. As a sickling it would have made him feel less than others or at the least jealous of other kids as they played football, got the girl, etc. He loves flying, video games, comic books ... yep, a geek. He also is a CCR fan, pizza freak and his best friend is an IT tech on the Arcturus Station. The boy is a sarcastic jerk who deep down would love to be Superman but would settle on just being Clark Kent. Normal. But he would never admit that ... not even to himself. 

I did this with all of the characters in my stories and as they moved from chapter to chapter they grew, changed, developed even more in my head. But I always start with a snapshot and work from there. I don't know if this helps but it is my process at the start. I have to at least know their hearts to a degree before I begin writing them.

Thanks for the sound advice, PMC (and fluffly, too), it's definitely useful! And yeah, having stuff defined about them and their lives definitely helps for writing them

@Drussius: just curious, mate, have you published anything on FFN? I'd like to take a look since some of the ideas you have on here are quite interesting!

[noxiuniversitas1]

hmmm quick lore question - do asari have biotic amps? I know they make them, but I can't find any reference in the wiki to them actually equipping them (and I can't remember from ME1).

[Terror_K]

noxiuniversitas1 wrote...

hmmm quick lore question - do asari have biotic amps? I know they make them, but I can't find any reference in the wiki to them actually equipping them (and I can't remember from ME1).

They're naturally biotic, but whether they still need amps to channel and manipulate that energy I'm not 100% sure. I didn't think they needed amps like other biotic races do, and there is that line in ME1 about Noveria security keeping weapons off Port Hanshan but not being able to confiscate biotics when Benezia's commandos are mentioned. Keep in mind that Liara must be equipped with an amp in the game, but that could purely be a gameplay factor. Perhaps they don't need amps, but often use them to give them an edge and boost their natural abilities.

[lillitheris]

noxiuniversitas1 wrote...

hmmm quick lore question - do asari have biotic amps? I know they make them, but I can't find any reference in the wiki to them actually equipping them (and I can't remember from ME1).

First, we need to define some terms (this is actual codex info, reiterated because even BW themselves keep confusing the concepts):

1. Internal amplifier is a device embedded directly in the spine, and forms the basis for manipulating the ME fields. Humans must have this to use biotics (these are the L2/L3 things), asari don’t (but probably anyone who doesn’t want to completely ignore their potential will have one).

2. Plugin socket can be integrated into the internal amplifier, enabling external augmentations to be used.

3. External augmentations (usually called ‘amps’, sigh) are modules that are  attached via the plugin socket, and either further amplify the biotic potential, or provide support for specific biotic abilities etc.

So you can either have 1; 1 and 2; or 1, 2, and 3.

Asari do use external augments as well (Liara does in ME). In my personal world, the asari have developed some reconfigurable internal plugins that remove the plugin socket and external augments, and are readjusted via software instead. They’re slightly less powerful than external augments, prohibitively expensive, and may not be completely future-compatible (i.e. you may need to have another surgery to replace it with a new version). Liara has one of those in my personal ME3 interpretation.

[dpMeggers]

noxiuniversitas1 wrote...

hmmm quick lore question - do asari have biotic amps? I know they make them, but I can't find any reference in the wiki to them actually equipping them (and I can't remember from ME1).

From the Mass Effect Wiki here
All asari are naturally biotic to some degree, and though not all choose to develop their abilities, those who do pursue training usually display formidable ability. They do not require implants to use biotics effectively, nor do they need to undergo special training to acquire conscious neural control; their reproductive physiology grants them this ability from birth. Biotic ability is mandatory for asari who want to go into military service. The most powerful train as asari commandos.

And here
The finest quality implants and amps are manufactured by asari artisans, but the Alliance's L3 implants - first deployed in 2170 - are a significant step forward.

So to conclude, asari don't seem to have/need amps just to use biotics but given that they make them, and that biotic ability (in this case I assume it means aptitude) is necessary to serve in the military, they're probably only used by commandos/huntresses.

[fainmaca]

I have come across this issue before when i wrote a scene where Samara performed such a feat of biotics that her amp overheated and began glowing white-hot and had to be ejected. the reasoning I used was threefold:
1. Liara uses amps in ME.
2. Amps don't create the power, they only regulate (or amplify) it. Asari have simply grown to automatically have biotic potential due to thessia being rich in eezo, while Humans etc need to be exposed to the eezo in the womb to develop the mutation to get the powers. So while asari automatically have the power and may be naturally adept at using it, they'd need some kind of booster to get to the levels Jack or Samara or even Liara shows.
3. The Asari lead the amp-manufacturing industry, to the point where anyone of another species trying to break into the market is swiftly crushed. Why would the Asari have this kind of hold on the market if they themselves had no need for the devices, and therefore wouldn't have been proficient in making them before encountering other species, meaning they'd have had no headstart to ascend to this level of control? If they had no need for the devices, then any companies created to make them would be purely to get an edge on other species financially, and therefore surely the more technologically adept Salarians could have beaten them to it.

In short, I would say that any Asari who wants to use her biotic abilities would almost certainly need an amp.

[dpMeggers]

I have a question.

I have an OC in my story who will likely end up enlisting in the Alliance Navy as a marine. Now I've already established that as a young teenager she was short, and I'd like to keep her on the small side for the sake of the story. My question is would it be reasonable to keep her somewhere between 5' and 5'4" tall or would it strain what you're willing to believe?

As a sidenote I had a look at some minimum height requirements for the Military, US Army and Marines accept as short as 4'10", Canadian Armed Forces accept somewhere around 4'11" as long as you pass your physical fitness test.

[Drussius]

noxiuniversitas1 wrote...

PMC65 wrote...

*snip*

*snip*

@Drussius: just curious, mate, have you published anything on FFN? I'd like to take a look since some of the ideas you have on here are quite interesting!

I plan to publish a fanfic on FFN soon and take my chances. When I originally joined this thread I mentioned that I love writing, but I've always been too afraid of criticism to actually post anything for public viewing. I have dozens of original short stories and novellas on the hard drive of my old computer, and a few half-finished Ranma 1/2 fanfics that I was writing like... 8 years ago, but I've always been afraid that my opinions of my own writing wouldn't stand up to criticism from others.

That said, I've already started work on an OC fanfiction set parallel to the events of ME3, and am about 10,000 words in. Struggling with the pacing a bit and still rearranging bits, so it's not ready to be published anywhere yet, but I've resolved to definitely take the risk and put something up for people to see. I've decided that if I'm really going to pursue my lifelong dream of being a published author, I'll just do it and actually ASK for the harsh criticisms. It's not about avoiding judgment for me anymore. Now it's about soaking up all the criticism I can so I can make myself a better writer.

[Drussius]

dpMeggers wrote...

I have a question.

I have an OC in my story who will likely end up enlisting in the Alliance Navy as a marine. Now I've already established that as a young teenager she was short, and I'd like to keep her on the small side for the sake of the story. My question is would it be reasonable to keep her somewhere between 5' and 5'4" tall or would it strain what you're willing to believe?

As a sidenote I had a look at some minimum height requirements for the Military, US Army and Marines accept as short as 4'10", Canadian Armed Forces accept somewhere around 4'11" as long as you pass your physical fitness test.

A girl I knew in high school is 5' even and served in our military as a marine from 2001 to 2011. She wasn't frontline, but believe me, with the physique she developed from all the training and conditioning, she could easily have fit in there. Height is not a barrier to service. I don't think many people would have a problem with that. If you're worried, perhaps putting a slight emphasis on how fit she is could quell any concerns readers might have.

Besides, various parts in the codex mention implants to augment strength and the like. Shepard has them, but they also mentioned them in other places, so that Asari could use the Widow Antimateriel Rifle, and so forth. If strength was an issue, I suppose there's always the option of slight cybernetic augmentation.

Edit: I wouldn't have her using the fireman's carry to pull an injured Wrex off the front line or anything, but just serving and fighting in the military would be fine in my opinion.

Modifié par Drussius, 16 juin 2012 - 04:05 .

[noxiuniversitas1]

Thanks for the input everyone

Drussius wrote...

I plan to publish a fanfic on FFN soon and take my chances. When I originally joined this thread I mentioned that I love writing, but I've always been too afraid of criticism to actually post anything for public viewing. I have dozens of original short stories and novellas on the hard drive of my old computer, and a few half-finished Ranma 1/2 fanfics that I was writing like... 8 years ago, but I've always been afraid that my opinions of my own writing wouldn't stand up to criticism from others.

That said, I've already started work on an OC fanfiction set parallel to the events of ME3, and am about 10,000 words in. Struggling with the pacing a bit and still rearranging bits, so it's not ready to be published anywhere yet, but I've resolved to definitely take the risk and put something up for people to see. I've decided that if I'm really going to pursue my lifelong dream of being a published author, I'll just do it and actually ASK for the harsh criticisms. It's not about avoiding judgment for me anymore. Now it's about soaking up all the criticism I can so I can make myself a better writer.

Oh, take your time, I'm sure it'll be a good read

@dpMeggers: I don't think height would be a massive issue... then again, at 5'4 I'm probably a bit baised

[lillitheris]

dpMeggers wrote...

From the Mass Effect Wiki here
All asari are naturally biotic to some degree, and though not all choose to develop their abilities, those who do pursue training usually display formidable ability. They do not require implants to use biotics effectively, nor do they need to undergo special training to acquire conscious neural control; their reproductive physiology grants them this ability from birth. Biotic ability is mandatory for asari who want to go into military service. The most powerful train as asari commandos.

And here
The finest quality implants and amps are manufactured by asari artisans, but the Alliance's L3 implants - first deployed in 2170 - are a significant step forward.

This is not even the worst example, but like I said, BW keeps mixing up the terms. So it’s best to think of the three I outlined above:

1. ‘Implants’ which are actually internal amplifiers; 2. the plugin socket to go between 1. and 3., basically a hole in your neck or whatever; 3. ‘amps’ or external augments which may not actually be amplifiers. Only some ‘amps’ are amplifiers, others selectively improve or process certain biotic signals only.

Modifié par lillitheris, 16 juin 2012 - 04:28 .

[dpMeggers]

Drussius wrote...

dpMeggers wrote...

I have a question.

I have an OC in my story who will likely end up enlisting in the Alliance Navy as a marine. Now I've already established that as a young teenager she was short, and I'd like to keep her on the small side for the sake of the story. My question is would it be reasonable to keep her somewhere between 5' and 5'4" tall or would it strain what you're willing to believe?

As a sidenote I had a look at some minimum height requirements for the Military, US Army and Marines accept as short as 4'10", Canadian Armed Forces accept somewhere around 4'11" as long as you pass your physical fitness test.

A girl I knew in high school is 5' even and served in our military as a marine from 2001 to 2011. She wasn't frontline, but believe me, with the physique she developed from all the training and conditioning, she could easily have fit in there. Height is not a barrier to service. I don't think many people would have a problem with that. If you're worried, perhaps putting a slight emphasis on how fit she is could quell any concerns readers might have.

Besides, various parts in the codex mention implants to augment strength and the like. Shepard has them, but they also mentioned them in other places, so that Asari could use the Widow Antimateriel Rifle, and so forth. If strength was an issue, I suppose there's always the option of slight cybernetic augmentation
Edit: I wouldn't have her using the fireman's carry to pull an injured Wrex off the front line or anything, but just serving and fighting in the military would be fine in my opinion.

Reagarding the bolded: I genuinely laughed out loud at that idea. As fantastic as it would be, I agree, just no.

I have mentionned offhand on a couple of chapters that she's been enrolled (? - Not sure if that's the right word) in martial arts since she was at least 8 years old, so it's not exactly a huge streach for her to be considered physically fit, combined with standard augmentations that all Alliance marines get, I think she'd be ok.

Thanks for the opinions. (and @nox too)

[MrStoob]

There would be no point in giving Liara the Savant X amp if it had no effect, so they must have the ability to 'attach' them somehow.

[lillitheris]

MrStoob wrote...

There would be no point in giving Liara the Savant X amp if it had no effect, so they must have the ability to 'attach' them somehow.

‘They’ don’t need to have a plugin socket, but Liara would, and anyone else wanting to use an external augment

[MrStoob]

'They'?

[lillitheris]

MrStoob wrote...

'They'?

“They must have the ability to attach them somehow,” if ‘they’ refers to anything but those biotics wishing to use external augments.

[MrStoob]

lillitheris wrote...

MrStoob wrote...

'They'?

“They must have the ability to attach them somehow,” if ‘they’ refers to anything but those biotics wishing to use external augments.

Indeed, I thought that was implied by the conversation, hence querying your quoted version.  Doing so would usually indicate that you had something to say about my usage of the word 'They'.

[lillitheris]

MrStoob wrote...

lillitheris wrote...

MrStoob wrote...

'They'?

“They must have the ability to attach them somehow,” if ‘they’ refers to anything but those biotics wishing to use external augments.

Indeed, I thought that was implied by the conversation, hence querying your quoted version.  Doing so would usually indicate that you had something to say about my usage of the word 'They'.

The topic was asari biotics who, as a rule, need not have them

…

Also, I’m going to bake some brownies for celebrating 1000 messages, but I think I’m gonna have to eat them all myself. And then go bicycle for at least 6 hours.

Modifié par lillitheris, 17 juin 2012 - 09:57 .

[MrStoob]

Aw, I want brownies.

[Drussius]

I've seen Willow. Keep your brownies. Those things seem irritating to have around, what with the tiny arrows and all...

[hot_heart]

Given the character model similarities, has anyone written a fic about Hackett and Zaeed? Separated at birth, twins who went on to lead very different lives!

Modifié par hot_heart, 17 juin 2012 - 03:57 .

[lillitheris]

Drussius wrote...

I've seen Willow. Keep your brownies. Those things seem irritating to have around, what with the tiny arrows and all...

The arrows become soft when you cook them, you won‘t even notice.

[Drussius]

lillitheris wrote...

Drussius wrote...

I've seen Willow. Keep your brownies. Those things seem irritating to have around, what with the tiny arrows and all...

The arrows become soft when you cook them, you won‘t even notice.

Okay.. That made me LOL. Thanks

[Ursakar]

Anyone remembers my post about the length of my chapters and how I said that I will need another 1k words to finish the next chapter? Well forget about that.

I just finished the chapter and it took me 3.7k words to do so.

Just... wtf?