55 réponses à ce sujet

[Suron]

Collider wrote...

Humans are only as boring as you make them.

not to mention it's that "boring human" that made up the "not boring" races.

what does that tell you? 

in other words..QFT...humans are only as boring as YOU make them.

[Schroing]

What exactly do you want about Morinth, anyhow? I can't gather anything specific from the thread...

[Jarcander]

Sounds different enough race. There aren't many fur-coated species. As for personalizing a character... Biowares vision of alien races in Mass Effect has always being that they aren't too different from humans... there is a lot of individuality, but races do have some notable traits. I'd automatically imagine cat-species somewhat predatory, confident and cunning.

[Ashira Shepard]

Like I said (edited) when I said "boring" I meant "aesthetically boring"...

And I am trying to make Ali'sha flawed, if she was Mary-Sue then she'd unexplicably survive her war injury to the bitter end. I have no intention of that; she's also supposed to be self-contradicting with her morals and has a fractured outlook.

About Morinth? I guess I just want to know how to write her as a character, I've been through Samara's mission plenty of times, but I still don't know how to make Morinth act, most especially with someone who knows about her. Spelling out her personality for me would be a start.

Edit: Thank you Jarcander!

Modifié par AshiraShepard, 19 mars 2010 - 06:18 .

[Unata]

Is Ali'sha to be an unatainable interest for Morinth? if so her frustraition over it can be the driving force for Morinth to tag the "weaker" persona of Nef either out of spite or anger? even an attempt to make Ali'sha jealous? not really sure where you wish to go with this

[Ashira Shepard]

That was my plan actually. Ali'sha was suposed to be strong enough to "resist" her when she eventually tried. Nef would've been out of spite, or as you said, trying to make Ali'sha jealous in some way.



The ending of this story will be twisted and bloody. For Ali'sha anyway. For Morinth it will hopefully be something of a breaking point.

[Unata]

AshiraShepard wrote...

That was my plan actually. Ali'sha was suposed to be strong enough to "resist" her when she eventually tried. Nef would've been out of spite, or as you said, trying to make Ali'sha jealous in some way.

The ending of this story will be twisted and bloody. For Ali'sha anyway. For Morinth it will hopefully be something of a breaking point.

ACK! your going to kill Ali'sha?

[Schroing]

About Morinth? I guess I just want to know how to write her as a character, I've been through Samara's mission plenty of times, but I still don't know how to make Morinth act, most especially with someone who knows about her. Spelling out her personality for me would be a start.

She's similar to (or pretty much is) a drug addict with a very good composure. Her drug is people of exceptional qualities. If you want to write her well, make it ambiguous; in the game, it's never really revealed how exactly she views her activities. She constantly, throughout her romance, says things that seem to hint towards her believing herself to being benevolent, someone with a great gift that helps people more than it hurts them (through pleasure, despite their dying) but says just as often things that seem to be obvious lies.

She tells Shepard she's sure that because Shepard is so amazing, she could withstand her power and live through the experience. Shepard does not. Had she actually convinced herself of such, or was she just feeding Shepard's ego, knowing full well the consequences and simply not caring? Was her telling Shepard of the great pleasures her victims experience also a lie? It's impossible to know, completely open to interpretation.

You should do something similar with your writing. Never really draw the line between her being a cold-hearted killer or a sympathetic, maybe even well-meaning one. Make it transparent.

Modifié par Schroing, 19 mars 2010 - 06:31 .

[Ashira Shepard]

*evil smile* I should have mentioned I had no intention of ending this happily. Morinth will still die as per Samara's Loyalty Mission requires. Ali'sha already has a shortened life span of six/seven months because of her war injury. If she were around, she might step in to protect Morinth; so she can't be around at that point.

And thank you very much, I'll keep that in mind as I write her.

Modifié par AshiraShepard, 19 mars 2010 - 06:32 .

[greghorvath]

I find it a bit disturbing that the species name has tali in it...

[Ashira Shepard]

I honestly hadn't noticed that before. I made them before I played the original Mass Effect...



It's said "Tah-linth" however. So "Tah-lee" doesn't come into it.

[Collider]

Schroing has great points for making Morinth easier to sympathize with.

[Karstedt]

AshiraShepard wrote...

- Ali'sha is a Talinth (new species like the recent Drell but look more like a feline/human cross. Feline ears and tail. For the love of god, DO NOT think Anime catgirls)

Too late... can't take you seriously now.

[crimzontearz]

good god enough with the fanfic-y material...none of it is never going to be implemented in the game, none of it bears any consequence on the actual universe or has any real purpose but the self gratification of the writers like those god awful mass effect fanfic space elves

[Ashira Shepard]

Crimzontearz, I'll make this crystal clear; I'm not a screaming, rabid fangirl who endlessly dreams that this will be put into the game. I know it's not possible, Morinth is dead by canon standards (I hope).



I started this thread only because I needed help, not because I wanted to shove the idea down other peoples throats. I'm a reclusive, quiet person and normally keep ideas to myself. I just needed aid with this one because I didn't have a good enough grasp of Morinth's character, or how to make her a sympathetic one.



So please, in the future, do not make a sweeping generalization, and try to be considerate, thank you.

[UsagiVindaloo]

Focusing on Morinth for a moment... I think it's a great idea to try and get into her head a little more. I found her to be an interesting (if not screamingly original) character concept who was somewhat underused. More dialog with her would have been interesting.



If you're looking for a way to portray her both as a monster and as a somewhat sympathetic character, there's always my interpretation of her; that she's one of those types of "vampires" or "killers" who truly "loves" her victim in the moment of their death. She doesn't kill them despite "loving" them, she kills them because she "loves" them. Samara mentions about there being a spark that draws her to her victims, such as what Nef had, and what Shepard has. I tend to imagine her as cherishing that spark most in the moment of snuffing it out. In other words, she really does admire and cherish the people she chooses, and she kills them because they are just that "special" to her. Just a thought... I found it very interesting how she does actually remember her suitors, and names Nef specifically. I'm not saying she sits awake at night mourning her dead lovers or anything, but I could see her remembering and "loving" each one of them for the beautiful spark they had, and the wonderful rush they gave her in the moment they died.



Just my two cents on how Morinth might work.

[Arbiter156]

AshiraShepard wrote...

I find myself in need of help, as I set myself the challenge to "humanize" a character. And so I came up with a backstory involving Morinth that takes place on Omega, leading up to the point where Samara and Shepard find and lure her.

Created a new species, so I could pull off the OC I wanted to use. (humans; boring. Turians; too plated. Drell; scaley and rare. Salarian; mostly asexual. Asari; no comment.) Not that I hate the other races, they just didn't fit the character I wanted.

Anyway, gist of the story so far;

- Ali'sha is a Talinth (new species like the recent Drell but look more like a feline/human cross. Feline ears and tail. For the love of god, DO NOT think Anime catgirls)

- Biotic warrior incapacitated from a previous civil war (lung wound that causes her life to shorten if she
over exerts herself) and she is living on Omega. Far from helpless however, she's hardly weak and can kill people in a heartbeat.

- Is a Pariah of her people for reasons yet to be known.

- Because of her unique skills, she's under the employ of Aria; and charged with keeping an eye on Morinth to make sure she doesn't cause trouble. (i.e - kill anyone of particular importance to Aria)

Just to point out - I don't intend for Ali'sha to die because of Morinth; that would be too easy and far too obvious.

I know how it will end, I've got that bit planned out. It's just getting there is the problem, having them interact with each other is difficult to write out. So if anyone has ideas, I'd appreciate it...

me likey, i might add this to my expansion idea, you get da credit though

[Arbiter156]

crimzontearz wrote...

good god enough with the fanfic-y material...none of it is never going to be implemented in the game, none of it bears any consequence on the actual universe or has any real purpose but the self gratification of the writers like those god awful mass effect fanfic space elves

crimzon, shut up HARBINGER COMMANDS YOU!

[Ashira Shepard]

Thank you, both of you. The two cents is very helpful. On chapter two, but will wait until a little further into it to start burrowing into Morinth's head, so right now it's all on the surface.

A small tidbit->

She shifted in her chair, relaxing a little, “close enough. What’s a Talinth doing on Omega? The Majae system is almost on the other side of the galaxy.” Ali’sha tensed briefly, putting her sketch down again now that Morinth seemed to want to talk. “I was curious.” Lie. Morinth gave her a look, clearly unimpressed, “if you were, you wouldn’t have stayed here.” Ali’sha exhaled shortly, leaning back in her chair; her tail flicked irately. “Call it survival then, if I had stayed; I would be dead. I’m not welcome among my people,” she admitted the last part with a heavy tone of bitterness, the briefest look of sadness showing up in her eyes. However the hint of emotion left as quickly as it appeared. “The past isn’t important, if you want something of me, then by all means; ask. Otherwise, don’t expect much.”

Ali’sha fixed her attention back to her sketch, adding more detail to it; and making damn sure to appear as if she were ignoring the other.

A sigh escaped her ‘companion’ and she stood up from the table, moving around to her side. Ali’sha repressed the familiar, instinctual reaction of her tail bristling; alarms were already firing off in her head. “Want something of you? If you’re really intent on sticking to me; then at least be more than a creepy observer. Come dance with me.”

The tone of her velvet poison voice was somewhere between decisive and playful. Ali’sha frowned lightly and looked up, locking eyes with Morinth once more. There was a slight curve to the Asari’s lips, supposedly harmless. Perhaps she had found her preferred target after all. Ali’sha’s tail flicked briefly, and she narrowed her eyes. “I can’t dance.”

Morinth quirked a brow, her smile faded, “can’t or won’t?” now it sounded dangerously close to a challenge, some hidden tone daring her. But it could just be the loud music messing with her hearing.

Ali’sha exhaled shortly, looking down at her sketch. “Find someone else,” she muttered coolly.

And that's me for the night.

[Andrew_Waltfeld]

I like it so far, have to admit, I thought of anime cat girl at first, though I don't like the stereotype they have anyway.





If your looking for an class to put said character in, I think the Infiltrator would be the perfect class style for an cat-girl ish person if your aiming to put traits of cats in.



As for morinth connection or sympathy, you could always go into the past of how morinth was kept apart from everyone etc. A good way to get sympathy and build upon it. Could include it much like thane style of telling except... without the creepiness. Then continue making up ties that could potentially link the two characters together.



You could theoretically run though ME1 and ME2 paragon/renegade decisions, and decide exactly how far she is willingly to go if she was Sheppard position at the time. How eager is she to kill a person etc etc. A good way to build a moral/ethic's background for your character.

[Ashira Shepard]

*ahem* Dragging this topic in back from the dead to inform any who care, that I've re-written how this story will play out.

Changes:

- Ali'sha won't know about Morinth being an AY until much later in the plot.
- Ali'sha doesn't work for Aria, not wanting to be tied to someone elses whims anymore from her days in her people's military.
- I've changed how it starts to Ali'sha and Morinth meeting in Afterlife, the same way she approached Nef; on the dancefloor.
- Changed Ali'sha's personality to what I wanted to write in the first place.

They leave the nightclub to go get a quiet drink somewhere else, then meet again after that (I'm still thinking about where) - During that Morinth will realise she can't subtly influence Ali'sha, (which will startle her considering she's not come across someone she can't influence yet) she wraps it up neatly there and leaves, disappearing.

Ali'sha will wonder why such a nice person (remember she doesn't know her completely at this point) who seemed so interested in her has suddenly just gone, and look for her.
Eventually, she finds Aria has sent people off to try and kill Morinth (simple reason; paranoia. AY + Asari = NO.) Ali'sha jumps in to help her.

Begin earning trust and friendship - turning into something emotional and dramatic by the end.

But Ali'sha is still going to die in the end, and not by Morinth.

Modifié par AshiraShepard, 29 avril 2010 - 09:14 .

[Elnino135]

I'm looking forward to reading this when its done! Ive tried not to read too much into your posts, so I wont know too much about the plot before hand, but from what I have read it sounds interesting!



Good luck with it!

[Ashira Shepard]

Thank you!
And here, it's finally up with first chapter->

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5932238/1/

Modifié par AshiraShepard, 29 avril 2010 - 10:36 .

[Goodwood]

I can just imagine Morinth singing "Sympathy for the Devil" whilst attempting to seduce Shepard...