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[dpMeggers]

jtrook wrote...

So here is a random idea I had. What if you wrote in the ME universe but you made your own characters within it and focused on them? I have this cool story idea but I am a little afraid to write it because it only has two canon characters in the whole story. I know most people read fanfic to expand their characters story but how would you feel if read something where only about 2 characters are mentioned.

My fic Conversation is ostensibly about Damon Shepard's past but is quite heavily focused on the McGowan family (I'd say half him, half them) so I'd say go for it if you can make it work. 

noxuniversitas1 wrote...

Ohh, it's just an old rivalry, really... Dark Blues v. (scummy) Tabs... kinda like Harvard v. Yale or Yankees v. Sox (sorry, don't know any Canadian equivalent).

Universities: McGill vs. Queen's ... Queen's refers to them as Kill McGill games
In professional hockey: We have the Battle of Alberta - Edmonton vs. Calgary, and the Battle of Ontario - Ottawa vs. Toronto

Drussius wrote...
How do you keep yourself focused? Do you set deadlines in stone and publish on the days in question no matter how you feel about what you've written? Do you reward yourself for writing a set amount of words or for a set amount of time? Do you punish yourself if you don't/can't? Lingering doubts about the quality of my writing aside, I want to get my fanfic up and perhaps get some thoughts/criticisms on it before I run out of time. I'd love to hear how other writers keep themselves on track.

I don't try to stay focused. I write for fun. If a chapter's not coming to me, if I'm struggling with it, I let it go. No point in making myself miserable over a hobby (ha ha endings...). I let Conversations sit for almost 3 months between chapters 8 and 9 (I think it was those two) first because I was busy and then because I had no motivation and no desire to write. So ya, it might take me a bit longer to finish a fic this way than if I was like "Deadlines! Must finish chapter/week!" or what have you, but I find that when I do that my motivation suffers, the writing suffers and the whole thing just feels like a chore. Other people here seem to have hard deadlines. More power to them. I just know I can't write like that.

@ Smugglers Luck

Not being able to play ME1 may have had something to do with it. I don't believe that a 15 minute interactive comic to introduce the game is anywhere near as immersive as a full playthrough of the space opera that was the original Mass Effect. The gameplay and graphics may not have been as good, but the first Mass Effect game had, by far, the best story (or so I believe).

Why am I so attached to the characters? Multiple playthroughs helps. I have 5 Shepards, variety of backgrounds, classes and levels of paragon/renegade (Note: mostly between paragon and paragade - I have no pure renegades). I have logged literally hundreds of hours in ME1 and ME2. I'm invested becuase I've chosen to spend so much time not just as these characters, but with these characters. I care if Kara (Colonist/Sole Survivor) and Kaiden finally get to be together because damned if I don't want something to go right for the poor girl for once. I care if Eponine (her dad was a fan of Victor Hugo, Colonist/Ruthless) and Garrus adopt some Krogan babies. I care if John (Spacer/War Hero) gets to take off the textbook soldier mask and actually get to have a life for a bit. I care if Damon (Earthborn/Sole Survivor) and MacKenzie (Earthborn/War Hero)...do things (as I'm writing about them I can't very well give it away). All of my Shepards have a backstory, a motivation and a reason for developing into the soldiers that they did (It's written out). I'm attached to them because in some form or another they are my creations. I'm disappointed because I have no closure. I'm not upset that Shepard (maybe) died. I'm upset that I don't have a damn clue WHAT happened to him/her. Was it all a dream? Did the mass relays actually explode? Is everyone stranded on Earth? Why the hell was Joker fleeing? What the hell-ass-balls is this jungle planet? WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN THAT'S THE END? WHAT JUST HAPPENED? To me it's not about the lack of a happy ending. It's about the lack of a coherent ending. I'm (mostly) ok if Shepard has to die. But for God's sake I want to know what I'm sacrificing myself for. If I'm going to sacrifice a character I've played for a minimum of 60 hours, I bloody well want it to be a meaningful sacrifice. So you're damn right I was upset. I was ****ing pissed that a series whose past two iterations had left me feeling downright proud wound down with a conclusion that simly left me confused and empty. 

I choose games for their stories and for their characters. Played Knights of the Old Republic because hey, Jedi. Replayed many times because of Carth Onasi. Got into Mass Effect and Dragon Age because, hey BioWare save the world epics. Replayed because of choices!origins!LI's! Hell I picked up Gears of War for the story (yes there is one). Replayed because I kinda fell in love with the bromance (also Baird. Chicks totally dig the Baird). A story that doesn't end ... it's like a pastry with no filling, nice but insubstantial and it leaves you wanting something else. Sorry for the rant.

TL;DR version: dpMeggers was less than pleased with the ending.


Edited for formatting.

Modifié par dpMeggers, 23 juin 2012 - 07:55 .

[noxiuniversitas1]

dpMeggers wrote...

Universities: McGill vs. Queen's ... Queen's refers to them as Kill McGill games
In professional hockey: We have the Battle of Alberta - Edmonton vs. Calgary, and the Battle of Ontario - Ottawa vs. Toronto

*snip*

TL;DR version: dpMeggers was less than pleased with the ending.

Ahhh, cheers, will bear in mind for future reference

And yeah, I get where you're coming from on the endings, but, tbh, they're so bad it's not worth getting worked up over. I just resort to poking fun at it every opportunity I get 

[fainmaca]

Dear Bioware, I want to tell you what you have wrought:

After playing ME3 through: I barely write a word for two months.
After going back and just doing the ME2 Suicide Mission once: I write just over a thousand words in a little under 45 minutes. I had to stop because my fingers started aching.

Now, dear Bioware, go sit in a corner and think about what you have done.

Dear everyone else: I found a way around my writing apathy after yesterday's announcement.

[lillitheris]

Drussius wrote...

Okay, I know a similar subject was brought up some number of pages back, but I am curious. How do you all keep focused on writing your fanfics? I set myself a goal of 5k words a day when I started writing. Which was foolish of me because I am one of those people that tanks their goals as a matter of habit.

I’m the same. Internal goals have always been hard…external deadlines a little better. It’s disappointing when I can’t meet my own goals.

(5k is a bit ambitious even if you dedicated the entire day for writing, though, unless you’re one of those truly special people like ravynwriter…)

I think that this is because deep down, when I feel like I HAVE to do something (with the sole exception of when it's something I have to do for my daughters), even if it's something I enjoy normally, it becomes a chore. And unfortunately, due to pressing concerns, if I plan to publish this fanfic, it really must be finished, in its entirety, within the month.

You won’t be entirely ’net-less anyway, so don‘t stress too much about that part or you’ll just wind up in a paralysis. I’d be happy to lend my eyes for story/writing betaing if it looks like you can’t get it to a place where you want to publish chapters, but need feedback.

[dpMeggers]

noxiuniversitas1 wrote...

dpMeggers wrote...

Universities: McGill vs. Queen's ... Queen's refers to them as Kill McGill games
In professional hockey: We have the Battle of Alberta - Edmonton vs. Calgary, and the Battle of Ontario - Ottawa vs. Toronto

*snip*

TL;DR version: dpMeggers was less than pleased with the ending.

Ahhh, cheers, will bear in mind for future reference

And yeah, I get where you're coming from on the endings, but, tbh, they're so bad it's not worth getting worked up over. I just resort to poking fun at it every opportunity I get 

You're welcome.

I've calmed down since I first played the game. There are elements that still provoke my ire (which I will not get into here) but I'm more apathetic now. I also wrote the above comments at 3:30 am so if they seem a bit frantic it's because I wasn't totally coherent while I was writing. 

[lillitheris]

Apathetic is worse than angry!

[dpMeggers]

lillitheris wrote...

Apathetic is worse than angry!

Easier to write if I don't feel like yelling at the game though. When I get angry about the endings I find it difficult to care about the ME universe. And then nothing gets written at all.

[noxiuniversitas1]

dpMeggers wrote...

Easier to write if I don't feel like yelling at the game though. When I get angry about the endings I find it difficult to care about the ME universe. And then nothing gets written at all.

Well said, Meggers!

[hot_heart]

I am just focusing on the tragic element to the ending. For my story anyway.

I kinda just don't care anymore. I'd actually like to see some sort of Mass Effect 'Chronicles' game where you can play as other characters during other interesting periods of their ME history. Jack the Travelling Outlaw, Garrus the Omega Punisher, Wrex the Gun For Hire, Miranda the Cerberus Agent, Liara the...Archaeologist.

[Ursakar]

hot_heart wrote...

I am just focusing on the tragic element to the ending. For my story anyway.

I kinda just don't care anymore. I'd actually like to see some sort of Mass Effect 'Chronicles' game where you can play as other characters during other interesting periods of their ME history. Jack the Travelling Outlaw, Garrus the Omega Punisher, Wrex the Gun For Hire, Miranda the Cerberus Agent, Liara the...Archaeologist.

How about Kasumi the Thief Extraordinaire? Or maybe Legion the Intentional Infiltrator?

[noxiuniversitas1]

hot_heart wrote...
Liara the...Archaeologist.

That made me chuckle, heh.

Liara the... Archaeologist. Her career lies in ruins.

Yeah, terrible... *hides*

Modifié par noxiuniversitas1, 23 juin 2012 - 05:49 .

[MrStoob]

hot_heart wrote...
 Liara the...Archaeologist.

Hey, it worked for Lara Croft!

And she did fall foul of mercs and natives.

[hot_heart]

Ursakar wrote...
How about Kasumi the Thief Extraordinaire? Or maybe Legion the Intentional Infiltrator?

Exactly! Loads of possibilities.

noxiuniversitas1 wrote...
Liara the... Archaeologist. Her career lies in ruins. [smilie]http://social.bioware.com/images/forum/emoticons/w00t.png[/smilie]

Yeah, terrible... *hides*

Haha. Love it.

MrStoob wrote...
Hey, it worked for Lara Croft!
And she did fall foul of mercs and natives.

Come to think of it, Liara did seem pretty combat-ready for someone who was apparently just an archaeologist...

Modifié par hot_heart, 23 juin 2012 - 05:57 .

[lillitheris]

Serrice T’Jones?

…

Seriously, though, Kasumi is by far the most underappreciated character in ME. She totally rocks, which is why I find myself with bunches of Kasumi content already.

<3

[Obsidian Gryphon]

MrStoob wrote...

hot_heart wrote...
 Liara the...Archaeologist.

Hey, it worked for Lara Croft!

And she did fall foul of mercs and natives.

Oy, Lara goes for ancient relics to save the world. Liara researches ancient relics to save the galaxy. ... eh... wait a sec....

[lillitheris]

Apparently Liara has been preparing for archeological escapades, she’s gotten an…ah, armor upgrade:



(Borrowed from the Liara thread.)

…

I actually find it rather easy to write when angry/frustrated… the result might need a little massaging, but it works kind of like a punching bag, getting back at the indignity with a few jabs and left story hooks.

Modifié par lillitheris, 23 juin 2012 - 07:03 .

[noxiuniversitas1]

By the time I saw this in that thread, it was too far along to comment. But.. her breasts are ridiculously big. She looks like an advert for a terrible plastic surgeon.

[Ursakar]

It's just a chestplate that is big, not her boo... breasts, I wanted to say breasts.

Most likely there was no chest piece of appropriate size when she picked the armor. If you look closely you'll notice that the armor is covered in scratches and cracks, which means it was used before by someone else other than Liara.

Of course, this all wishful thinking on my part. We all know that the size of Liara's war assets is a clear and unveiled fanservice by BioWare.

[jtrook]

hot_heart wrote...

I am just focusing on the tragic element to the ending. For my story anyway.

I kinda just don't care anymore. I'd actually like to see some sort of Mass Effect 'Chronicles' game where you can play as other characters during other interesting periods of their ME history. Jack the Travelling Outlaw, Garrus the Omega Punisher, Wrex the Gun For Hire, Miranda the Cerberus Agent, Liara the...Archaeologist.

The moment you said Liara, the Indiana Jones music played in my head. 

[lillitheris]

Ursakar wrote...

Most likely there was no chest piece of appropriate size when she picked the armor. If you look closely you'll notice that the armor is covered in scratches and cracks, which means it was used before by someone else other than Liara.

A repurposed half of a krogan’s…er, piece of armor from, you know…

…

One brain bleach, please!

[Ursakar]

One brain bleach, coming right up!

[lillitheris]

Completely coincidentally, does anyone else think the krogan are way too small in the game?

They’re supposed to be more than 210 cm tall (7'+) and weigh a ton in armor (1000 kg/~2000 lbs). For reference, here’s Shaq, who is right about 7 feet, and weighs something like 150 kg (~310 lbs):



James Vega is probably around 190 cm and weighs slightly less than Shaq. Let’s further assume that the krogan armor makes up half their weight (which is ridiculous). Wrex would weigh three times as much as James.

Volume does increase quicker than area, of course, but that’s a lot of mass right there.

Edit: the closest I can get for comparison is a rhino, but even they only weigh ~700 kg max. Let’s call the missing 300 kg (or 600 lbs) armor.

Edit2: here’s a 1:1 ~700 kg rhino statue (or something):

Modifié par lillitheris, 23 juin 2012 - 08:18 .

[hot_heart]

Just realised that I'm still writing a bit like I'm doing scripts.

Most of my chapters are a single 'scene', I kinda rush into writing them, focusing on dialogue first. Add in the more essential bits of info as I go, then go over later and add in more detail and nuance.

It is a lengthy process.

I'll probably never change my ways but I guess I might as well ask: What way works best for you guys?

Modifié par hot_heart, 23 juin 2012 - 09:24 .

[Drussius]

fluffywalrus wrote...

jtrook wrote...

So here is a random idea I had. What if you wrote in the ME universe but you made your own characters within it and focused on them? I have this cool story idea but I am a little afraid to write it because it only has two canon characters in the whole story. I know most people read fanfic to expand their characters story but how would you feel if read something where only about 2 characters are mentioned.

I wouldn't be opposed to it, conceptually, but the first few chapters would have to be quite good to reel me in if canon characters weren't being used to bridge their development.

But if you pulled that off, I'd be into it just like anything else.

This is my biggest worry about my story, since I am focusing mostly on original characters and have even one less canon character than jtrook's idea. Since I am working on introducing the characters and letting readers learn a bit about them, I am afraid that the first few chapters will be a bit too slow to hold the interest of fans of the series, who would no doubt be more interested in reading about the characters they already know and love.

But worries aside, I'm too invested now in getting this story finished and up for the public to see. So whether people read it or not, it's eventually going up.

And to lill: 5000 words a day might have been too ambitious. I see that now. I just had a skewed perspective about my capabilities due to my one and only "published" work before now, which was a writing contest written for a local RPG group. I put out over 180K words in just over two months. I was writing about 12 pages a day in MS Word (with breaks after each chapter to reread and edit). But I've found that this time is different, since I don't have as much time on my hands as last time, and am not typing nearly as quickly. Last time it was like a steady stream. I couldn't even keep up with the ideas running out of my brain. This time it's my brain that's having trouble keeping up

[hot_heart]

Not to sound condescending, Drussius, but have you considered starting your story 'in medias res'?

Maybe a bit late now, but you can begin with some more gripping stuff/events to create intrigue and then build up to that (and then go past it obviously).