10369 réponses à ce sujet

[LupusYondergirl]

I've been lucky enough to get a decent bit of fanart (Anders fans are a creative bunch!) and I swear, it's like drugs. I got fanart twice from Galagraphia, which made me want a commission later on. Cave Fatuam has done a ton of sketches, vectors and little comics of Maggie, and I ended up getting three commissions from her. (last nsfw)

The first taste is free, evidently.



I've had a few other bits of fanart done by people who don't generally do commissions, and I've commissioned a piece from aimo and one from payroo (which isn't done yet).



I'll probably get another aimo sketchcard eventually for my f!brosca/jowan fic...

[LupusYondergirl]

Oh, and Bioware fan club on deviantart recently compiled this list of artists who do commissions.

[Gilgamesh1138]

cool art and thanks Lupus! *HUGS* you are the awesome sauce!

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Ok, some of you asked for it, so here it is: Characterisation in Fanfiction. It's a BSN blog entry, since I didn't want to clutter the thread with a long post.

Hoping it helps (or proves at least mildly interesting)

[Raonar]

Nice guide Shadow! Now then, a question for you all. I notice there is no sort of explanation as to how the abilities in the 'Guardian' specialization work. Is it magic, some spirit assistance, sheer overriding of physics through willpower? I'm asking because I want to give someone the spec in that *cough* little *cough* tale of mine.



Any ideas?

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Hmm...a number of those specs and skill descriptions are hard to rationalise, and I find it hard to like them from a writer's perspective (even if the skills, for game purposes, are cool).



I'm not going to rule out spirit assistance, but this would make the Spirit Warrior spec a little less special if Guardian is just the same thing, only for defense only. Plus Templar skills are a discipline that apparently don't need lyrium or Fade support. If there is some power behind Templar and Guardian skills, then the specialisations don't say...it all seems to come 'from within' (or possibly the Maker ).



Not very helpful, I guess...but Spirit Warrior is at least specific on where its abilities come from. For Guardian and Templar I'd have to say 'sheer willpower' and possibly unknown divine intervention. :/

[Raonar]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

Hmm...a number of those specs and skill descriptions are hard to rationalise, and I find it hard to like them from a writer's perspective (even if the skills, for game purposes, are cool).

I'm not going to rule out spirit assistance, but this would make the Spirit Warrior spec a little less special if Guardian is just the same thing, only for defense only. Plus Templar skills are a discipline that apparently don't need lyrium or Fade support. If there is some power behind Templar and Guardian skills, then the specialisations don't say...it all seems to come 'from within' (or possibly the Maker ).

Not very helpful, I guess...but Spirit Warrior is at least specific on where its abilities come from. For Guardian and Templar I'd have to say 'sheer willpower' and possibly unknown divine intervention. :/

I agree with you on the Spirit Warrior thing (which is why the protagonist is one, and it's a MAJOR plot point too). I even went as far as to make the abilities problematic because, beign a dwarf, he's supposed to be unable to link to the Fade.... so I integrated his backstory into the plot and gave him a relationship with one of the stronger Spirits of the Fade (i took a whole chapter to explain it). The downside is that magic works... eratically around him, meaning that healing spells almost never work on him, so he has to heal on his own, AFTER battles, through meditation he developed (which takes between minutes and hours, depending on how serious it is, and he has to be CONSCIOUS... meaning that serious wounds can really suck if he;s knocked out). He's aslo susceptible to... other factors, so he went berserk a couple of times, harming his companions quite a bit in the process.

Templar... i'd say they somehow use the raw magic in the air.

I was actually intent on making Alistair a guardian, since all the other six wardens will have their own badass skills by then, but I am really stretching my brain here. I know there's mention of 'mystical' in a skill description somewhere, but...

Modifié par Raonar, 05 février 2011 - 08:09 .

[LupusYondergirl]

@SoLD: Nice guideline! I agree strongly on following the existing speech patterns. Some characters have enough in common personality-wise that the only strong way to differentiate them in conversation is by speech. A discussion involving both Anders and Zevran, for instance, would be nothing but a wall of flirting with occasional sarcastic quips at the expense of someone else if you weren't careful to keep them true to voice.

As for actual characterization, I like seeing what I can do to stretch and evolve them from where they are in-game. Figuring out what events could change how they look at the world or how they respond to another person is great fun to me. Sometimes to the point that I'll decide how I want them to change in the end, and work backwards figuring out what would need to happen to them for their worldview to shift that dramatically.



@Raonar: The only way I could really figure it working was to relate it back to Justice himself- he was a spirit, after all, and spirits and demons all possess some form of magic or another. It seems like the skill literally involves casting shield spells on allies, or even something that acts almost like the reverse of drain life or blood sacrifice- trading off his own life force to heal an ally. Going by the general cannon guidelines it basically IS a magical specialization, despite being for warriors. It doesn't involve jumping in the line of fire, so to speak; it involves using force of will to create a barrier around someone, and healing them without the aid of poultices or potions of any kind. I really think 9 out of 10 templars would start reaching for their apostate-stabbin' sword if they encountered it.

I know it's a warrior specialization, but in terms of RP I just can't see it as anything but a form of magic. It's description is basically of shield spells and healing spells.

[Raonar]

LupusYondergirl wrote...

@SoLD: Nice guideline! I agree strongly on following the existing speech patterns. Some characters have enough in common personality-wise that the only strong way to differentiate them in conversation is by speech. A discussion involving both Anders and Zevran, for instance, would be nothing but a wall of flirting with occasional sarcastic quips at the expense of someone else if you weren't careful to keep them true to voice.
As for actual characterization, I like seeing what I can do to stretch and evolve them from where they are in-game. Figuring out what events could change how they look at the world or how they respond to another person is great fun to me. Sometimes to the point that I'll decide how I want them to change in the end, and work backwards figuring out what would need to happen to them for their worldview to shift that dramatically.

@Raonar: The only way I could really figure it working was to relate it back to Justice himself- he was a spirit, after all, and spirits and demons all possess some form of magic or another. It seems like the skill literally involves casting shield spells on allies, or even something that acts almost like the reverse of drain life or blood sacrifice- trading off his own life force to heal an ally. Going by the general cannon guidelines it basically IS a magical specialization, despite being for warriors. It doesn't involve jumping in the line of fire, so to speak; it involves using force of will to create a barrier around someone, and healing them without the aid of poultices or potions of any kind. I really think 9 out of 10 templars would start reaching for their apostate-stabbin' sword if they encountered it.
I know it's a warrior specialization, but in terms of RP I just can't see it as anything but a form of magic. It's description is basically of shield spells and healing spells.

Justice is a Spirit Warrior though... and i already got THAT spec perfectly rationalized (and it has and will be responsible for a lot of major plot twists).

I suppose i could explain the Guardian thing as the templar taken to the extreme. Templar Smite, for instance, involves a burst of power that knocks everyone back, so Guardian Shield COULD, maybe, be that same effect, only concentrated in a sphere and preserved over time.... sort of knoking any attacking force back from the recipient... or something.

Sigh, maybe i should just invent a whole new spec

Another thing, any ideas on how to make someone stay a werewolf (transforms at will) after the Curse is broken? And I mean besides mages who could just handwave it as an extra shapeshifting form.

Modifié par Raonar, 05 février 2011 - 08:17 .

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

@Raonar: Those are some awesome ideas you have there If you're going to make Alistair a Guardian, then I'd say you could probably reason it by making it an *extension* of his Templar discipline. If it's magical (or mystical, as the skills say) then surely Templars would understand the theory better on how to access those abilities. (As for apostate-stabbing swords, save it for the blood-using Reavers XD)

Now, try to rationalise how a non-dwarf could get the Legionaire Scout spec, when some of the skills require being around large amounts of raw lyrium for an extended period of time without dying or going mad

@Lupus: I agree, it's fun to think on what can help to make a character evolve. And it can be so different for each individual.

Edit: crossing Templar/Guardian specs ninja'd XD

Edit #2: Can it be unrelated to the Dalish curse?

Codex entry on Werewolves:
Fereldan lore is full of instances where these creatures have plagued the countryside: wolves possessed by rage demons and transformed into humanoid monsters with incredible speed and strength, able to spread a curse to those they bit that would drive them mad with unthinking fury. When in this enraged state, a human host can likewise become possessed and be transformed into a feral, wolf-like beast. Tales differ on these werewolves of human origin, some claiming that their transformation into a bestial form happens uncontrollably. Some claim the transformation is  irreversible. As is often the case with demonic tales, both versions were most likely true at some point.

Modifié par Shadow of Light Dragon, 05 février 2011 - 08:33 .

[Raonar]

Well, the ORIGINAL idea was for the Elf mage Warden to get bitten in the brecilian woods but retain the feel of what it was like to turn (after the curse is broken) and gain it as an extra shapeshifting form. But then I figured Surana already had a lot of badass skills (including shapeshifting, blood magic and arcane warrior by that point) and Mahariel, so far, only has blind fighting and the ability to predict where arrows are going by hearing what the bowstring sounds like (and where it is) from a fair distance.



Legionnaire scout I wont even BOTHER giving to non-dwarves. I have my DC who is immune to almost all hostile magic already, and that's enough of a lightning bruiser.



*ponders*

[ZerbanDaGreat1]

You want weird specializations? My OC becomes a Blood Mage/Templar. Yeah, wrap your head around that. Though in all honesty, magic and templar skills aren't all that different. They both rely on the willpower of the user.



Speaking of special skills - in one chapter Majorlaine repeated a rumour she heard that Grey Wardens are so good they can parry an arrow in flight. My F!Cousland heard about it from Leliana and decided she was going to learn it.



Anyway, in my Nature of the Beast, with the Warden out of the picture Alistair decides to take the lead to save her. Any ideas as to how he would act given the situation?

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

He'd probably turn to those in the party he trusts most and ask for advice first. Others might chip in if they are interested in helping out (depending on their relationship with the PC), and Alistair would decide what the best course of action would be.



(I'm considering it in terms of Fort Drakon: Alistair seems to be reasonably calm about the rescue even if he's rescuing his love.)

[Raonar]

The weirdest spec is the one I gave to the F! City Elf. Since she had a problem at the joining (and then with the demon in the Circle Tower) she went through her calling early, though it was a sort of constant psychic attack on the Archdemon's part. She was saved by Avernus' research and eventually got some weird abilities.

One is battle precognition when fighting darkspawn (she can sense how they'll attack, provided they're at a resonably close distance to her, or sense large groups from miles away, like the protagonist, who's growing into a sort of psychic). The other ability is that her blood is now poisonous to darkspawn.

She even got Mikhael Dryden to make her a sword (Like the one Saya from Blood+ has) with a sort of retractable spike on the handle's hand grip. When she wants, it'll come out, stab her hand and let the blood trickle across the sword's edge, through a special indentation.

Darkspawn go through their individual blood wound spell when her blood enters their veins. How's THAT for weird?

And to answer Zerban: He's a templar, so he should be able to sense whatever weird magic is going on, which should give him an edge. The rest, i agree with Shadow.

EDIT

Another wierd thing is that I am shipping the DC and the CE...

Modifié par Raonar, 05 février 2011 - 09:22 .

[ZerbanDaGreat1]

Thanks for the advice. Would it make a difference that A) he's hardened and he and the Warden are pretty far on in their romance?

[Raonar]

I'd say they would cancel each other out. That they're far in their romance would push Alistair to act rashly, while being hardened would give him self-control. Or something.

Modifié par Raonar, 05 février 2011 - 10:23 .

[ZerbanDaGreat1]

I'd say they'd stack, considering his big revelation is standing by what he believes in more.

[Raonar]

Ok, so question about Flemeth. There seems to be a lot of implied evidence towards the idea she is a bad guy, but in the prologue, just after she rescues the PC, through certain dialogue options, one can get her to say that "After what this world has done to me, I have already done more than it deserves."



So what, exactly, do you think is her deal? Going by the books, she may seem like she has some sort of foresight (she tells Maric Loghain will betray him, each time worse than the last, and will even tell him a Blight will befall Ferelden after his death), but the other possibility may be she is maneuvering things from behind the scenes. She may or may no be involved in the Architect's existence and she obviously has magic that can do whatever with Old God souls (!).



So, is she a good guy or bad guy, do you think...? And it seems the Dalish.or some of them, are on more or less good terms with her, or something.

[Sialater]

Gilgamesh1138 wrote...

Sia gratz to you!!! Got a link? I love ME too.

The fic is here:  www.fanfiction.net/s/5978328/1/A_Paragon_of_Virtue

The art is this:

social.bioware.com/uploads_user/480000/479086/77945.jpg

Modifié par Sialater, 05 février 2011 - 03:40 .

[DreGregoire]

Did somebody say Alistair and act rashly in the same sentence? I don't know... I've been thinking more about Alistair's character lately since I'm going to be writing him more and it seems like even when he's screaming like a girl inside he still manages to act in a relatively calm manner. I'm not saying he is unmovable in his emotions, but he seems able to maintain despite them. The only noticeable difference I've come across in this is when he is angry, but even then he seems more capable of forming arguments than many people are. Heh, I was rereading the Alistair intro on the official dragon age wiki and I was giggling to think of what a trouble maker he was considered. Replaying ostagar in a different manner than I usually did opened up a new dialogue option that clearly showed a bit of a snobbish manner from Alistair, "You asked in general, I'm asking in particular." I find it important when I'm writing to keep reviewing conversations with the persons I'm writing about. The only thing about being in constant contact with an individual is that you tend to pick up their patterns too. hehe. How far does a person have to push Alistair for him to lose all control? I haven't seen it in game, sure I saw his anger and his demand to be heard out, but nothing that has shown me total loss of control or inability to act in a rational manner. Maybe I've missed something or maybe your pc has just that much ability to influence. Er... anyways, I might have to change some ideas I have, but hey an inflexible writer is a poor one, eh?

Edit: I hope somebody can come up with one rash action by Alistair in game so I can go with it. LOL

Modifié par DreGregoire, 05 février 2011 - 04:06 .

[Creature 1]

DreGregoire wrote...
How far does a person have to push Alistair for him to lose all control? I haven't seen it in game, sure I saw his anger and his demand to be heard out, but nothing that has shown me total loss of control or inability to act in a rational manner. Maybe I've missed something or maybe your pc has just that much ability to influence.

His trigger is Loghain.  But I'm not sure you get to see his head explode onscreen if you spare Loghain, I always kill him. 

[DreGregoire]

Granted leaving the warden's is a rash thing to do in some people's minds but I don't see it as him making a rash decision because he shares his reasoning with you and loudly. "I will not stand by Loghain as a brother." and he tells you clearly why he won't. But that goes back to what I said about him only even coming close to being rash when he's angry. I'm looking for useful dialogue that will help me see how he can be rash so I can use it to explain him acting rashly in my fanfiction.

[Creature 1]

I was thinking more about abandoning the fight against the Archdemon and becoming an alcoholic, but that doesn't happen if he's hardened.



Alistair's main problem is that he gives you the impression that he thinks certain actions are the right route to take, and then freaks out when you follow his apparent suggestions (killing Connor). I don't think he's so much rash as idealistic and vacillating. He's self-contradictory in a lot of ways.

[Merilsell]

Creature 1 wrote...
His trigger is Loghain.  But I'm not sure you get to see his head explode onscreen if you spare Loghain, I always kill him. 

Yep. He will regret this action of storming out and quitting the Warden's later as the Maker has said it. Everything involving Loghain will let his blood bubble and sputtering incoherently. Or something to that account.

I can also imagine that he can go very ballistic when others are hurting people he loves. In a prompt response of mine for example I have described his reaction to seeing soldiers hurting the woman he loves in Fort Drakon. Didn't end pretty for them.

[maxernst]

DreGregoire wrote...

Granted leaving the warden's is a rash thing to do in some people's minds but I don't see it as him making a rash decision because he shares his reasoning with you and loudly. "I will not stand by Loghain as a brother." and he tells you clearly why he won't. But that goes back to what I said about him only even coming close to being rash when he's angry. I'm looking for useful dialogue that will help me see how he can be rash so I can use it to explain him acting rashly in my fanfiction.

Well, I guess it depends in part by what you mean by rash.  To me, it's rash to make a major decision that will influence the rest of your life on the spur of the moment.  His decisions to not only leave the wardens but to leave Ferelden immediately (or possibly get himself executed by claiming the throne) are made very quickly and I'm not convinced that he'd make the same decisions if he had time to think about them.

I don't think he's rash n general, however--he's actually fairly cautious when he's not reacting emotionally.