Watch the Footage

Ugh, I'm not going to keep this bottled up, even if it sounds like I'm just being an idiot complainer who could totally solve all his problems if he just did something other than sit around like a stupid lump (which is a relatively accurate statement). Also, I blame the people on the chat for talking me into posting this.

The reason that I like stuff like math, and physics, and generally numbers is because they are very binary in achieving them - you either have the problem correct, or you don't. You can't have it partially right, you can't improve on it if you've solved it, once you have the right answer, that's the end. Writing, among other things, is not something like this; even if you write really well, there'll always be the nagging feeling of "this could be better, I could have written this better, this isn't my best work". And I have a rather proud, perfectionist trait - I don't let myself try to accept anything less than the best, and I feel that I have to get everything done by myself, without help.

Now, obviously this seems to conflict with my previously stated like of writing with people, but I never said I was consistent. Instead, this whole complex sorta manifests in my desire to have Fern be a successful character, and for him to do things, to have storylines and interaction and things like that. However, as I said, I don't really have much of an idea of what I could do with that, and because of how I see Fern, and what his personality is, he's very passive, and unlikely to actually initiate things, unless it's either quest-mandated or involves a way to get off the Castle (which won't happen). This essentially means that the burden of initiating anything is NOT on Fern or me, and I don't like that - it makes me feel not only that I'm asking for an unequal trade from the other person - they're doing a lot of the work and I'm piggy-backing off of what they're doing. In general, it doesn't feel right to do this, so I don't try.

Of course, this results in the issue of Fern not really getting much in the way of storylines, and basically free-wheeling. I just sorta do stuff as it comes up without any real plan, and opportunities present themselves not very often. And then I compare it to people like Anji/Kevin, Zi/Tamar (at least when Scarab isn't on hiatus), Marcus/Mirae sorta, people who have either ongoing storylines, or just people that they can write with without needing much if any stretching to allow it to happen. And I get jealous, because there's this whole thing where you can pretty much write as much as you want (obviously not quite that broad, but there's still a lot of potential writing going on), while I, in the set-up I have, can't. It's a bit depressing that if I did things differently, in a way that wasn't really in line without I see myself, I could have stuff like that, but since I don't, I can't really.

I want to write stories that are funny and heartwarming, awesome and tear-jerky. I want to pull off writing like what I see others doing, but I just don't have the set-up, or ability to do so, and I don't want others bending themselves in order to allow something that I should be able to do myself to happen (again, proud and perfectionist). I want to live through writing, and through it maybe feel or do things that I don't think will happen to me in real life, and the fact that it's because of who I am (in all contexts) that keeps that from happening is frustrating because I hold myself back out of sheer....something. I dunno.

Long story short, you're all awesome, don't go out of your way for my sake, I'm severely screwed up. Krika out.

Pixel in.
Let me just say you sound very much like a dude I talk to in the other side of the mirror.

There's not a whole lot I can add here, or that I think I should... But from a rather removed perspective, wouldn't Fern engage in Lorekeeping? For one thing, that's a perfect excuse to go out there and try to learn things. Even if from a meta perspective you realize you won't magically find a doorway to the mainland that solves all of the problems, it doesn't mean that the character himself should refrain from the search.

Pretty much all of the other characters do, or are perfectly reasonably justified and capable of, use the library, as well. Fern being a scribe in there also has ample opportunities to help them find a book or engage in conversation.

Just ideas off the top of my head. I haven't read much of FC since I stepped down, so I don't know if you actually used any of these, but from what I gather things like Kevin/Anji, Marcus/Mirae and so forth happened from a "Hey, we're both stabbing these guys together, wanna hang out later?"

Which is kind of weird when I simplify it like that, but mostly, people building off each other's ideas and spiraling beyond control, rather than following a carefully plotted line.

I don't know if it helps, but hey, you're not alone in here. We're all here to help each other out as we can.

(Prefacing my statement, you're welcome and I'm happy you liked the idea, as this was it's intended result)

When Qara first pitched Kevin to me, she thought that he would be a good friend for Anji, and I waited for about two months before she agreed to write him. We didn't intend on having them be so close, in fact, at the time Ben and Anji despised each other, and that would affect how Kevin reacted.

We merely spoke about our characters and their motivations, seeing where they aligned or separated, and decided to try and let them meet. The rest of the work the characters did on their own.

I only say this in encouragement, because at this point Qara and I are continuously writing, and we do enjoy it. If you find a character plot you like, pursue it. There's nothing to lose here, because this is a game, and less serious than an actual publication. You have the freedom to be inventive and try new projects, because that's what this is about.

SO In commemoration of Valentine's Day, everyone in the Floating Castle is giving their sweethearts chocolates!

...What I mean by this is, on a meta-level, every PC gets to "choose" a significant other/ crush who will be credited, in the inventory of people's items, with a box of chocolates (so in-game, it could be that the person actually gave his/her sweetheart the chocolates and feel free to write that, or it could be that the sweetheart acquired the chocolates some other way in-game, or it could be that they just sort of... turned up? and the owner can still use them at will.)

Also if a PC IS the significant other/ crush of an NPC AND THIS RELATIONSHIP IS CLEARLY ESTABLISHED IN CANON (i.e., Anji and Kevin, who are married in canon), then that PC can likewise be credited with a box of chocolates.

PLEASE notify the GMs and (if your character's sweetheart is written by someone who is not you) the relevant writer of your character's choice and we will update the inventory accordingly. (Or if your character's super shy and doesn't want his/her sweetheart to know, tell the GMs and we can tell someone "A secret admirer sent your character a box of chocolates" or something I guess.)

...ow.

Okay, it isn't quite as kickass as I'd hoped, but the quest is up, and it's sorta kinda a doozy. I'm gonna just fall into oblivion now. *falls into oblivion*

Look, generally, unless there's some reason that my writing partner wants him to have something else, Tamar's reward will ALWAYS be an incremental power boost. I'm building up his power level. Keeping in mind the nature of his powers makes Tamar his OWN elemental attribute, and so he can only cast as much magic energy as he physically has. Like emptying a bottle - there's only so much in there and it's not a lot to begin with. In order to DO anything with that I have to keep increasing it.

Sooo yeah. it's always power with him.

Scarab wrote:
Sooo yeah. it's always power with him.

*insert "Ulihmited Powaah!" joke here*

Guyshane wrote:

Scarab wrote:
Sooo yeah. it's always power with him.

*insert "Ulihmited Powaah!" joke here*

More like "EXTREMELY LIMTIED DEPENDING UPON WHATEVER SPACE HE HAS IN HIS BRAIN FOR MAGIC POWAAAAH!" XD

Scarab wrote:Look, generally, unless there's some reason that my writing partner wants him to have something else, Tamar's reward will ALWAYS be an incremental power boost. I'm building up his power level. Keeping in mind the nature of his powers makes Tamar his OWN elemental attribute, and so he can only cast as much magic energy as he physically has. Like emptying a bottle - there's only so much in there and it's not a lot to begin with. In order to DO anything with that I have to keep increasing it.

Sooo yeah. it's always power with him.

I also want to point out I want most of my rewards to be power boosts too because I rarely can think of a physical object I want, and when I do I usually overthink it and regret it later.

With that said, I thought my last two rewards were already set, but if they weren't what I say here stays. And I also had a reward I regret but I'm trying to work it out into a similar thing (it's a book, I want another book) if the GMs allow. Apologies if I weren't supposed to bring this up here?

Scarab wrote:

Guyshane wrote:

Scarab wrote:
Sooo yeah. it's always power with him.

*insert "Ulihmited Powaah!" joke here*

More like "EXTREMELY LIMTIED DEPENDING UPON WHATEVER SPACE HE HAS IN HIS BRAIN FOR MAGIC POWAAAAH!" XD

Fern could be like that, but the nature of how I plan on him getting "more powerful" is a bit more focused than can be received in just generic quest results, generally. And then we have stuff like Unshelved where I really can't think of anything in particular to get from it.

I almost never have any idea what the hell I want for rewards.

Krika wrote:Fern could be like that, but the nature of how I plan on him getting "more powerful" is a bit more focused than can be received in just generic quest results, generally. And then we have stuff like Unshelved where I really can't think of anything in particular to get from it.

Bibliomancy? (this is one of the few magic types I feel -mancy would work better than -urgy)

narrativedilettante wrote:I almost never have any idea what the hell I want for rewards.

I'm starting to see a pattern in here...

I have no idea. Maybe an old book on wind magic that Pan may or may not be able to use? Maybe a vial of 'holy water'? Maybe 'storm magic' can be a thing and Pan will be the one to discover it (as though Tirry didn't make a storm using just wind magic, but humor me)? Meh.

IslaKariese wrote:I have no idea. Maybe an old book on wind magic that Pan may or may not be able to use? Maybe a vial of 'holy water'? Maybe 'storm magic' can be a thing and Pan will be the one to discover it (as though Tirry didn't make a storm using just wind magic, but humor me)? Meh.

... Is storm magic a storm spell or weather magic?

Victin wrote:

IslaKariese wrote:I have no idea. Maybe an old book on wind magic that Pan may or may not be able to use? Maybe a vial of 'holy water'? Maybe 'storm magic' can be a thing and Pan will be the one to discover it (as though Tirry didn't make a storm using just wind magic, but humor me)? Meh.

... Is storm magic a storm spell or weather magic?

Either? Honestly the rules of magic in this world isn't really concrete, since we're just building it up as we go. You've already introduced magic that's not part the core four our characters start with (lightning, ice, fire, or healing). Depends on the mods, I suppose. Maybe.

IslaKariese wrote:Either? Honestly the rules of magic in this world isn't really concrete, since we're just building it up as we go. You've already introduced magic that's not part the core four our characters start with (lightning, ice, fire, or healing). Depends on the mods, I suppose. Maybe.

To be honest the whole 'not establishing rules for magical use' in this environment still kind of bugs me a little bit, it results in everyone doing something different and I can't come up with something interesting AND that works with everyone else. Rather than making me feel freer to do whatever I want it's actually made me feel MORE restricted since everyone is establishing their own set of rules and they don't necessarily gel well together.

Mages? I know a lot of you are trying for specific goals, and that's exactly what I need. Power boosts are good, but a specific spell or ability is even better and allows qara and I to balance properly. So if you all please, narrow down what you like and qara and I will work with you.

eli_gone_crazy wrote:Mages? I know a lot of you are trying for specific goals, and that's exactly what I need. Power boosts are good, but a specific spell or ability is even better and allows qara and I to balance properly. So if you all please, narrow down what you like and qara and I will work with you.

But I don't want anything in particular :/

Scarab wrote:

eli_gone_crazy wrote:Mages? I know a lot of you are trying for specific goals, and that's exactly what I need. Power boosts are good, but a specific spell or ability is even better and allows qara and I to balance properly. So if you all please, narrow down what you like and qara and I will work with you.

But I don't want anything in particular :/

Me too. I mean, the last specific stuff I wanted was too OP, I think? @_@ I have no idea how Morionem and the rest of the Castle will develop, so I prefer to stay generic? Which bugs me at the same time?

Scarab wrote:

IslaKariese wrote:Either? Honestly the rules of magic in this world isn't really concrete, since we're just building it up as we go. You've already introduced magic that's not part the core four our characters start with (lightning, ice, fire, or healing). Depends on the mods, I suppose. Maybe.

To be honest the whole 'not establishing rules for magical use' in this environment still kind of bugs me a little bit, it results in everyone doing something different and I can't come up with something interesting AND that works with everyone else. Rather than making me feel freer to do whatever I want it's actually made me feel MORE restricted since everyone is establishing their own set of rules and they don't necessarily gel well together.

The fact that we are 'not establishing rules for magical use' is cool with me because we all can do what we want and not worry how it works with the other people because they can just do what they want, provided the GMs are cool with all of it. For example, Morionem never had innate magic, but he learned it, while for other characters magic is obligatorily innate. It works because from Morionem's POV, the other character just were better at it (just like some people are naturally strong or fast) while from the other people's POV it's because he actually had innate magic all along.

I am rather more happy to have an unestablished magic system. I attempted trying to conform to your framework, Scarab, but it's not to my liking. Besides, I'm of the opinion that there can be multiple in-universe theories of magic; let it be. I'd rather do my own thing.

As for quest rewards, I don't do many quests, so I have less issue with knowing what I want, but I must say, I have no idea what can be acquired from the quest I did with Krika. It doesn't look like we actually gained anything from that quest.

Unless you'd like to give me the rather imbalanced ability to transpose Zi onto a two-dimensional plane, of course. >_>

I'd like to point out that while in-quest justifications are useful, they're not compulsory-- your reward doesn't have to relate to what you did if you want something else.

Also, for the people who don't know what they want, don't worry. Once we are less busy, I and/or eli will initiate a conversation with you to work out together what you can get as a reward.

And if you are certain about what you want, please don't hesitate to send me/us a forum PM-- I'm not going to be able to sort through this thread to find people's requests.

sI there an option to opt out of the rewards unless we want something in particular then? I was kind of hoping just for just adding a small trick to some variation on a spell list I have in my head each reward, but that's as specific as I can think of...

I don't think we should necessarily worry too much about rewards if people don't want em, I guess for some the reward is the story in itself *plays dramatic cutesy music*

Any worry about rewards is manufactured. There is no cause to worry about rewards. I did not create a thread so that people would worry about rewards; I created a thread so that I would not worry about rewards, i.e., losing track of them. As I have stated earlier, you do not need to contact us about a reward unless there is something specific you want.

If you don't want something specific for your reward, then you don't need to do anything about it. Eventually, likely right before we give you a quest or when we have a significant amount of free time for clearing up loose ends, eli and/or I will contact those people with unsettled rewards, and initiate a conversation whereby we will together figure out what you can get as a reward.

Welp, spring break is upon me and I don't have a quest this round. Anyone interested in doing an Underground quest with me?

I feel a little giggly about this new quest, Jack. Is that normal?