Feb 2016 Archive, part c - PPC Posting Board

Newbie says hi by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-21 04:43:00 UTC Link to this

Hello!

I recently discovered the PPC (I'm not sure how; I think TV Tropes was involved), and I couldn't help but notice that you actually adhere to your Constitution. I would very much like to get to know such unusual people.

You can call me Key -- unless someone thinks of something better; my naming skills currently leave a lot to be desired. I'm a girl, probably. I'm 15 years old and live in the Pacific Time Zone (it's about 8:15 PM right now). A few of my main fandoms are Shakespeare, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and, to a lesser extent, Hetalia. I've read everything the wiki recommended me to: the original series, and most of the FAQs (haven't gotten to the slash guide yet, but I figured it wasn't urgent). Please ask me questions if I've missed any important introductory information.

Halloa! by JulyFlame on 2016-02-22 17:00:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome to the PPC! (Sorry for the delay on getting to you, been a mite busy.)

Key is a fantastic name, so don't worry about your naming skills.

Excellent job on reading TOS, and even the FAQs!

Stick around, participate about the board, and feel free to ask questions if you've got any- my email's clickable out of my name. It might take me some time to reply to that one, because I'm currently out to sea, but go for it if you want to ask anything or just to chat. (This also goes to everyone else, for that matter.)

And as far as gifts go, once a long time ago I used to give bitemarks out, but people objected to being bitten, and after that, it was links to the wiki and such, but you covered that yourself.

So instead, this time you get a currently regionally appropriate camel!

-July

Nice to meet you! by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-23 06:09:00 UTC Link to this

I can't wait to get to know you! I don't particularly object to being bitten (I have a sister, so I got used to it long ago), but a camel is better. I think I'll name it Wendy (with my theoretically competent naming skills)(Up until I found the PPC Wiki entry for Cat-on-the-Keyboard names, I thought that mashing the keyboard until I got something I liked was the only way to name characters, hence my hesitance).

I actually do have a question: when Agents take Bleeprin and derived products, do they actually forget potentially scarring aspects of badfic, or does it just dull the pain? Do different Bleeprin derivatives behave differently as regards this? Do different authors write it differently?

Well. by JulyFlame on 2016-02-23 10:57:00 UTC Link to this

Camels bite. And also spit. Unfortunately.

(It's not necessasrily a bad way to get names.)

Ooh, that is a good question. There's a lot of leeway that can be taken in plenty of elements the PPC uses; I can't remember off the top of my head, which implies to me that it could be taken either way by the writer. I've personally gone with the second.

Different bleep-derivatives all work the same way, generally, unless they're something extreme. What changes is method of consumption.

And yes, different authors write things differently; the main thing all spin-offs have to adhere to is TOS. After that, plenty of things can vary. My view of the PPC (and thus how I write it) doesn't line up entirely with, say, Neshomeh's or hS's or Scapegrace's, even though we can all draw connections between our works in some way or another.

. . . Good point by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-26 06:35:00 UTC Link to this

Well, I have people I want bitten and spat upon. . . maybe I can just turn the camel -- nope, doesn't work. Ow.

Thanks for clearing that up (or revealing its true, beautifully muddy state). I can see why people would go with the second; the agents take so much Bleeprin that it would be hard to keep track of which past events they actually remember. Plus, memory-wiping can be ethically sketchy. . . there's a lot of potential for abuse. It gives agents the ability to do horrible things to each other, provided they can figure out a way to get into the victim's food to spike it with a bleep-derivative. Under that interpretation, the cafeteria workers would basically be all-powerful. . . and no one would ever know.

It is my opinion... by Desdendelle on 2016-02-26 12:22:00 UTC Link to this

That if the PPC wasn't a comedic setting, it'd have been at least as grim as Warhammer 40,000, the grandaddy of grimderp everywhere.

To compensate for that: have a fluffy camel.

All these gifts! Eek! by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-22 02:31:00 UTC Link to this

*I am buried under a pile of gifts.* Thank you all so much!

It's not mentioned in the wiki; what's the usual thing to do with these gifts? Is the normal thing to not refer to them outside of this thread? Or will people talk about various objects they've obtained (for whatever reason) in roleplay scenarios (such as a Board party)? (I think the wiki mentioned roleplaying on the Board somewhere. . .) Also, if I were to eventually get permission and write an agent who was my avatar, would it make sense/be okay for them to have some of the things I was given (say, the Black Cloak of Swirly Awesomeness)? These gifts got me thinking; I'm tempted to write a story about every single one. Especially the Cloak. (I like cloaks. Writing about them, drawing them, wearing them. . .)

There's no hard rule. by Desdendelle on 2016-02-22 02:46:00 UTC Link to this

I remember people writing their newbie gifts into their spinoffs, so that's definitely possible. I don't think it's too common, though — you're not an Agent; you're a Boarder.

As to roleplaying, well. Aside from stuff that happens (or is supposed to happen) with some sort of regularity, like Plort threads or the Agent Mailbox game, RPs pop up every once in a while. Sometime someone wants a wider cast in an interlude, somtimes it's just for fun. Unless otherwise noted, you don't need Permission to participate in an RP, and in fact it's a good way to get a grasp on a character.

Okay, got it by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-22 05:56:00 UTC Link to this

I'll keep that in mind. . . oh, look, I just wasted two hours reading about Plort. Thanks for the link.

Welcome to the PPC, fellow life form. (nm) by Dark Brother 16 on 2016-02-22 00:34:00 UTC Link to this

Hi there! Have a Black Cloak of Swirly Awesomeness! by Silenthunder on 2016-02-21 23:06:00 UTC Link to this

So you'll always look cool without trying! ;)

Hey there, newbie! by eatpraylove on 2016-02-21 19:31:00 UTC Link to this

Here's some popcorn and a box of pencils! I'm sure they'll both come in handy someday.

Welcome! by DCCCV on 2016-02-21 17:45:00 UTC Link to this

Have some strawberry scones! No, I don't make them myself. It's better if you don't try to find out.

Welcome to Creation, here's your shovel. by Voyd on 2016-02-21 14:54:00 UTC Link to this

This magical shovel digs up...

Oh. Er. This one digs up flames.

Another who fears the pineapple! by Scapegrace on 2016-02-21 12:59:00 UTC Link to this

~~ALL FEAR THE PINEAPPLE~~

Anyway, please accept this starter Pokémon:-

Iiiiiiit's Oddish!

And your starting item is:-

Iron Ratchet Crossbow from Dungeons of Dredmor!

Crossbows are excellent items for mons like Oddish: they increase the damage of non-contact moves by up to 50% (the Iron Ratchet Crossbow, alas, is a meagre 30%). On one of the best Chlorophyll sweepers in Little Cup? It's a godsend. Try a Modest one with EVs in Special Attack and Speed using Giga Drain, Sludge Bomb, Hidden Power Fire, and Sleep Powder to make the most of your item. Just make sure to give it Sun support, and to have fun. =]

Thank you. I understood maybe two words of that, but thanks (nm) by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-22 02:08:00 UTC Link to this

Overcomplicated gifts are the best kind! =] (nm) by Scapegrace on 2016-02-22 10:52:00 UTC Link to this

Hi there! by domirossi on 2016-02-21 12:37:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome aBoard! Have this pocket portal to the Plane of Unsalted Shelled Peanuts. You could need it at some point, who knows.

Portal to food by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-21 21:59:00 UTC Link to this

That actually strikes me as incredibly useful, but that might just be because I haven't eaten lunch yet. And now I really want to eat some peanuts. They'd go well with Desdendelle's Earl Grey tea (I mean this sincerely. That actually sounds really good. . .).

Bye for now. *portals*

Hello, fellow JS&MN fan! by Desdendelle on 2016-02-21 10:52:00 UTC Link to this

Here, have this cup of tea. It's just plain old Earl Grey. No predatory tea, no confused smoky tea, no rodents in the teacup. Just tea.

Hello newbie. by Hardric on 2016-02-21 08:00:00 UTC Link to this

Have this pot of black-hole coffee, pleaase. Now, every question was asked, so I'll wish you the best in this madhouse.

Black-hole coffee! by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-21 21:50:00 UTC Link to this

Thank you for your well-wishes, and for providing me with an extremely dangerous substance! I will put it to good use! *I set it down carefully and knock the handle of the pot with my elbow. It spills on my desk and swallows the Valentine's Day card my math teacher gave me, as well as half a chair. I rub my elbow, which nearly crossed the coffee's event horizon.* Does anyone know a cure for spaghettified and redshifted flesh?

Thank you! All of you! At once! (An Attempt) by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-21 06:05:00 UTC Link to this

*pokes Iximaz back*

*feeds Iximaz's SPaGhetti to SkarmorySilver's Italy mochi, as instructed*

Thank you to both of you! I'm fond of the mochis, since they're the only characters I can draw. And the drama is kind of what made me decide to introduce myself -- everything is tense, yes, and zero punches are being pulled, but people are still being polite, constructive, and empathetic. Which is cool. I am excited.

I've read a lot of PPC spinoffs in a short period of time, and I can't remember which author goes with which story goes with which agent. . . . I really liked the one where canon!Spock helped the agents kill his replacement and the Sue. Two of the agents were in a romantic relationship? One of them was ace? One had a name beginning with C? Ugh.

*bandages ears, wincing perhaps slightly more than it actually hurt*
*puts on earmuffs. Winces again from the pressure*
*pulls Larfen J. Stocke, esq. aside, out of earshot of the others*
THANK YOU IN ALL CAPS
*slowly saunters back, badly covering a smug grin by munching on a Schrodinger's cookie, collapsing its wavefunction to "chocolate chip."*

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is a really good book (yes, it's only one book. One feels-like-five, don't-drop-it-on-your-toe book. Plus shadowy rumors about a sequel-in-progress). I watched the BBC adaptation, and I thought it did a good job of keeping the spirit of the book, but I'm not as attached to the fandom jokes as a lot of people are. I think it's kind of like The Princess Bride: the screen version is amazing and inspires love everywhere it goes, but the book is STILL so much better because it has a snarky narrator who goes off on tangents which are impossible to include in the screen version. (Here's hoping Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events fits this pattern *fingers crossed*.)

Carry On is, in its simplest form, a love letter to Harry Potter fanon. . . but it's so much more than that. For one thing, one of the main characters is basically Edward Cullen rewritten as a sympathetic, well-developed, lovable character. And the World of Mages is comparable to the wizarding world, but it's also comparable to France in the late 18th century, if you take my meaning. Also, the main characters are boys, but the book passes any test of feminism you'd care to give it. And I'm not going to gush about it here. But you really should read it. You all should read it. *smiles sheepishly and backs away, almost tripping over what I could've sworn was a kitten. I turn around and am convinced that I scoop it up and pet it.*

i promise to never use uppercase again. (nm) by larfen j. stocke, esq on 2016-02-21 07:11:00 UTC Link to this

Your promise is noted and recorded (nm) (nm) by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-21 07:19:00 UTC Link to this

Heya! by TheShyIon on 2016-02-21 05:25:00 UTC Link to this

Have an illusionary kitten! :D

Welcome! by firemagic on 2016-02-21 05:22:00 UTC Link to this

Have some Schrodinger's Cookies - may or may not contain chocolate chips!

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell? I've heard that was a good book series. How do you think the adaptation is doing? I heard a lot of people were disappointed because of pineapples and their not appearing in the show.

Also, isn't Carry On that book which is basically a massive love letter to Harry Potter fanon? I've been meaning to check it out, it sounds really cool.

WELCOME IN ALL CAPS by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-02-21 05:09:00 UTC Link to this

Oh, God, I'm so sorry. That was a bad idea.
I hope you stuffed red cordial up your ears last night, or something like that.
Have earmuffs. My gift is earmuffs. And bandages.
Er. Asprin.

Welcome.
In lower-case.

Welcome aBoard! by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-21 04:54:00 UTC Link to this

Ooooh, and did someone say Hetalia? Here, aside from one of my own shed feathers, have an Italy mochi! Don't forget to feed it SPaGhetti daily~ :D

Newbie! *glomp* *poke* by Iximaz on 2016-02-21 04:53:00 UTC Link to this

Heya, and welcome aBoard! Take this plate of fresh SPaGhetti as a gift.

I just want to say that the drama going on down the Board isn't a normal thing here, so please don't let that scare you off.

Hmm, questions, questions. I think you already covered everything I ask, so I'll just ask if you've read any PPC spinoffs.

And interesting perspective on fanfiction by Data Junkie on 2016-02-22 04:37:00 UTC Link to this

I recently saw this posted on Scott Lynch's Tumblr: "Also, I believe it’s important to cut me out of the fanfic approval loop. When you write fanfic about my worlds or characters, you should be completely ignoring the questions of what I’d want or what I’d do. Fanfic is your chance to go happily nuts with the elements of my stuff that you like, seasoned with elements that serve your own fascinations and pleasures. I’m flattered that you might like to run your fanfic by me, but really, I am immaterial to it. Embrace the freedom to make it for yourself and your fellow readers in a canon-free environment." (Scott Lynch, some of you may know, is the author responsible for the Gentleman Bastard sequence and the Queen of the Iron Sands online novel.)

I found it interesting because it basically runs contrary to the PPC's view on canon and its importance in fanfiction, because it basically says "Fanfiction is about having fun, don't worry about canon, do what you want."

This isn't necessarily contradictory to the PPC's views by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-23 03:51:00 UTC Link to this

Okay, I’ve been thinking about this a lot since you posted it, particularly your note at the bottom. From what I’ve seen of the PPC, our philosophy does not run counter to Lynch’s statement. If the PPC believed that deviation from canon was intrinsically bad, we would have no concept of goodfic. No fanfic will perfectly fit the canon, since fanfic is, by definition, not canon. From the missions and wiki articles I’ve read, the PPC seems to primarily target bad writing. Going “happily nuts with the elements [. . .] that you like” does not mean it’s acceptable to put zero effort into writing good characters or be too lazy to use comprehensible grammar and expect praise for your writing skills. Nor does it make it ethical to spread dangerous misconceptions about what makes a healthy relationship, how women “should” behave, or basic anatomy. Nor does it make it okay to write a completely unrelated story and name your OCs after characters from whatever canon they most resemble in an attempt to attract more people to your story (I swear people do this).

Notably, Lynch does not say there should be no fanfiction approval loop; he just wants to be left out of it. “Completely ignoring the questions of what [the creator would] want” does not mean completely ignoring the questions of what your audience wants. Readers generally want stories which are legible, don’t reinforce thought patterns which can endanger them, and aren’t cynical and manipulative (I do, anyway. This opinion is seconded by my sister). And if you’re claiming that something is fanfiction, your readers are probably expecting it to bear at least a passing resemblance to the canon, or at least to be related to it in an interesting way. If you promise the reader (for example) that a character is in the story, you are breaking that promise if none of the characters in the story bear a resemblance to that character. The PPC deals with the relationship between fanfiction authors and their readers. The relationship between canon creators and their fanfiction authors is dealt with by the creators’ lawyers.

(Also, the more I reread this quote, the more it seems like the author just wants people to stop sending him their fanfiction and is trying to be polite about it.)

Aaaaaand I just wrote this instead of working on my history project. I wonder if my teacher will let me turn it in for partial credit?

Yeah, but what about the in-universe PPC? (nm) by domirossi on 2016-02-24 19:14:00 UTC Link to this

I think they'd be in broad agreement. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-25 15:47:00 UTC Link to this

Remember that the departments have names like Bad Slash, Implausible Crossovers, and Improbable AUs. The PPC as an organisation has never had a problem with fanfic that deviates from the canon plot - just with fanfic that breaks the canon/plot continuum.

A story in which [Rolls canon-selection dice] Rey, Finn, and Poe are street urchins in Ankh-Morpork can be a good story, and be ignored by the PPC - provided those characters act the way they would if they'd been born into that situation. It's only when that story starts with Rey murdering Leia to steal her stuff, and Poe using BB-8 (who's a swamp dragon in this) as a football, that the PPC's attention is drawn - not because of the story being AU, but because the AU doesn't make sense.

The canon plot is not sacred; fanfic can change it. Even characterisation can be altered and still leave a good story. But whatever you do, you need to be able to explain and justify it, in terms of what we know about the canon.

Otherwise, it's not fanfiction. It's just a story using someone else's ideas.

hS

This is a great analysis. by PoorCynic on 2016-02-24 15:22:00 UTC Link to this

Nothing lose to add on my part, really. You've pretty much nailed on my thoughts on the subject. Well done!

Thank you! (nm) by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-26 06:57:00 UTC Link to this

Seconded, with a slight expansion. by Scapegrace on 2016-02-23 08:18:00 UTC Link to this

Key's points are good, but there's one other thing to bear in mind: the fact that fanon can only become canon if you don't send the author your work. Let's say that for the sake of argument you send Rick Riordan a fanfic detailing... Iunno, a Yoruba pantheon and its characters interacting with the existing demigods, Legacies, &c. Now say, quite by chance, Riordan is writing a new series based around the Yoruba pantheon. If he publishes then it's theoretically possible, depending on how good of a lawyer you have, that the fanfic author could wrest the rights of the series away from Riordan.

And this is a Not Good Very Bad Thing.

Yes, that is Very Very Bad, Potentially Catastrophic by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-26 06:57:00 UTC Link to this

Yes! Excellent point. Does anyone know of an incident similar to this actually happening? It seems to me like it would plunge the world of literature into chaos and ultimately have to result in a complete restructuring of copyright law.

Marion Zimmer Bradley. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-26 13:00:00 UTC Link to this

(I'm pretty sure this is what Scapegrace is thinking of.)

Marion Zimmer Bradley was super supportive of fanfic, and would read any that was sent to her - up until she got into a legal fight over whether she could use ideas which had appeared in a fanfic she read. The details are apparently a bit murky - accounts range from 'she had to cancel a novel she'd already written because a fan sent her a story with similar ideas' to 'she was inspired by the fanfic and refused to give [sufficient] credit, so the novel was cancelled' - but the upshot was that MZB came down hard against fanfic.

It didn't result in a restructuring of copyright law. ;)

hS

Then again, you may be wrecking an author's.entire work. by DCCCV on 2016-02-22 05:50:00 UTC Link to this

I always thought about that whenever my friend decides to cross everything together. How do things go back to normal? Your stories should be in spirit, and things should generally return to status quo. How else can everyone else write a story in the same universe? Their point may be just as valid, but still...

Because it doesn't all happen in the same universe. *shrug* by TheShyIon on 2016-02-22 15:43:00 UTC Link to this

Except in the PPC, but that's because, if it didn't, there would be no reason for the PPC to go killing Sues and exorcising canons.

And I highly disagree with the status quo bit. Things don't need to go back to normal -- and things going back to normal risks being bad character development, too. People are changed by their experiences, and having characters be unaffected by a plot is taking a good deal of interest out of the plot.

Going back to normal... by Anonymous on 2016-02-22 22:46:00 UTC Link to this

There was a book that I pulled off of the Library's 'new books' shelf in the 90's. I didn't know about fanfiction at the time, save for Star Trek novellas.

Star Trek had a rule that the books didn't influence the series and the characters snapped back afterwards. I still have a head-canon that Diane Duane got Spock's birth right and that the movie version was some twisted illusion.

Back to the book I found, I wasn't familiar with the series. At the end, it had some deus ex machina erasing their memories and one of the characters complaining that it wasn't fair to have an adventure that they couldn't remember. The other character got a new sword and callously renamed it because he never used a sword that wasn't named {Blah.}

My favorite scene was when the fencer had to use the {two-handed heavy sword} and the other character complained about wielding a sewing needle.

I don't think it's worth going onto the tropes media identification page.

--Brandi is still thinking.

See... by Data Junkie on 2016-02-22 06:02:00 UTC Link to this

That's the thing though, what you write has no effect on what someone else writes unless they decide it does. The existence of My Immortal does not diminish the works of your favorite author in the HP-verse.

That is, until the bad fanon takes over by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-23 04:00:00 UTC Link to this

Widespread bad fanon can actually damage -- not the canon itself, but the way people view the canon. For example, characters in Hetalia are usually very well developed, but many have aggressive bad fanon versions (e.g. ZoophilicWorkaholic!Germany, StereotypicalDragQueen!Poland, InterchangeableRapists!France and Prussia, to name only a few of my least favorite), which many in the fandom see as their true personalities. This is why I’ve been withdrawing from the fandom: the badfic was warping my personal enjoyment of the continuum (what if Germany does have sex with his dogs?). The PPC’s depiction of the nature of fanfic is silly and not how it works in reality, but it's not completely unfounded.

Plus... by Anonymous on 2016-02-23 04:42:00 UTC Link to this

I've heard that some people just read fanfiction instead of watching the show.

Very true. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-22 09:43:00 UTC Link to this

But on the flip side: if you're not going to try and stick reasonably close to canon, why're you writing fanfiction at all? I can write a story where Harry Potter is an aggressive reporter whose cleaner is a shy, slender man named Legolas (and then, one assumes, they do the sex)... but since those characters bear no resemblence to Harry Potter and Legolas, I might as well name them Herbert Rankine and Alfredo and make it original fiction.

hS

Oh, hS, don't be silly. That's not what fanfiction is for! by Scapegrace on 2016-02-22 09:52:00 UTC Link to this

As we all know, fanfiction is strictly for the purpose of having Legolas run a coffee shop in New York attended by BBC!Sherlock and Draco Malfoy and whoever else the author thinks would look cute being disgustingly sickly with their boyfriend while wearing matching hideous jumpers.

=]

50 shades? by Anonymous on 2016-02-22 22:30:00 UTC Link to this

Fanfiction does draw more casual traffic than original fiction.

When I first began writing fiction, I tended to steal characters and change their names before getting them wrong anyway. Then there was X-men and the Pegasus series crossed with a story about a house on the underground railroad.

As a side note... I once saw a fanfiction where Legolas was going to make pancakes. I got distracted before actually reading it, so I don't know if it was believable or shenanigans.

Oh, it is most certainly shenanigans. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-23 08:48:00 UTC Link to this

Though the shenanigans are written to a theme, and the characters are all gently parodied in the same kind of way as OFUM did.

Yeah, Pancakes! was quite the hit back in its day. Fifty chapters and over a thousand reviews? Mm-hmm.

hS

Ah, yes. Pancakes. Or should I say, 'Pancakes!'? by JulyFlame on 2016-02-23 07:35:00 UTC Link to this

The fic in question was written by the board's very own Huinesoron.

July, who worked at an IHOP once upon a time

So is there any rel point to sporking badfic in the end? (nm) by Silenthunder on 2016-02-22 22:46:00 UTC Link to this

Re: So is there any rel point to sporking badfic in the end? by Data Junkie on 2016-02-23 03:55:00 UTC Link to this

Depending on who you ask, no. I know a lot of writers, very good ones even, who get very upset with people who make fun of fanfiction that isn't very obviously troll-fic.

"Make a bad ting good." -- Rastamouse by Scapegrace on 2016-02-23 03:48:00 UTC Link to this

(For future reference, Rastamouse is a real children's television programme. And it's AWESOME. =] )

The reason I send my agents (and occasionally Ix's) off to badfic worlds is simple; I am firmly of the belief that I could do a better job of entertaining people than they could. Not, I hasten to add, necessarily in a canonicity sense (my memory has too many holes in it for that), but rather that I feel I am more adept at making people laugh because I can make them laugh on purpose.

If that makes any sense at all.

Which, this being nearly four in the morning, it may not. =]

For fun. Isn't that point enough? (nm) by Iximaz on 2016-02-22 22:53:00 UTC Link to this

It seems like a respect thing, to me. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-02-22 09:41:00 UTC Link to this

Fans see a rubbish, poorly-written Mary Sue story as somebody essentially exclaiming to the Heavens 'I think that the themes and characterisation in this work are dumb and not as good as what I can do with it!'
But, obviously, with more spelling errors and 'quirky' 'humour'.

From that perspective, it's understandable that people wouldn't be too happy about badfic.
People respect their works, and they don't like it when other people slag said works off, whether through being a genuine nobhead or through ignorance.
I know I'm not fond of things I like being insulted. (I, personally, don't find badfic all that insulting. Maybe I'm just naive, though.)

If I called Harry Potter a pillock, it wouldn't change anything about the series, but I doubt the fans would be overly happy with me.

Also, in my opinion, My Immortal makes the series better.
It's a work of art.

Shouldn't be too hard to get people to comply to that. (nm) by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-02-22 04:50:00 UTC Link to this

New mission! by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-22 22:55:00 UTC Link to this

How long has it been since anybody's posted a mission? How long has it been since I've posted a mission? Here, lemme fix that...

I have JUST purchased Undertale, after seeing and hearing so many good things about it, so I thought I'd put this here while I start playing the game proper. Although I can say from personal experience that badfic of this game exists, I've wondered for a while as to whether there have been Mary Sues written into it as well. Turns out, I actually found a most exemplary specimen a while ago... and needless to say, two hapless game-hopping agents were not pleased.

Warning: This mission contains MAJOR SPOILERS for anyone who hasn't played or seen Let's Plays of Undertale, and the fic sporked therein is NSFW. Read at your own risk!

ADDENDUM: by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-25 01:30:00 UTC Link to this

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

I've re-written the ending to this mission - the agents now kill the Suvians separately, and I've also revised the execution of Not!Sans so that it's less of a direct fight and more of a diversion + sneak attack, which hopefully works much better. I've also gotten rid of any mention of Flowey aside from his one appearance in the original fic, because as fun as it is to imagine Terri having to nerualyze him, his appearance in the original ending pretty much hinged on helping the agents out of a tight spot. The Suvians being killed the way they are in the new ending pretty much eliminates any excuse for him to show up.

So... yeah. Sorry that I accidentally caused you to have a bad time, Terri! ^^;

Nice by Ozzielot on 2016-02-26 01:28:00 UTC Link to this

Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers

The ending is definitely an improvement. The way the assassination went now definitely works better than before. I like it.

About when I made my second comment in this thread, I didn't realize that the agents actually did try to kill the Suvians one by one. I actually missed that Carol left the room before she got hit in the head with Whitney's soccer ball. Sorry about that, that was my mistake.

Terri has her own response to that. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-25 09:47:00 UTC Link to this

"I think I've just been retconned."

Well done for being able to listen to criticism; that's a valuable skill to learn.

hS

Okay, so I read this. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-24 12:18:00 UTC Link to this

And then I let Terri Ryan review it.

She, uh. Got rather heated, I'm afraid.

Terri Reviews: Dundertale

hS

Oh, dear... by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-24 12:52:00 UTC Link to this

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

I'm guessing I did indeed take the utterly wrong approach to handling Flowey. I will address that as soon as I get back from work today.

And as for the fight with the Suvians, I framed it as though the agents had little choice on the matter. The entire point of the climax was to separate the Suvians as has been stated before - it's just that the replacement wouldn't have any of it. I could change it up too if such is not to people's liking, though.

The Suvians by Ozzielot on 2016-02-24 21:38:00 UTC Link to this

Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers
Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers

The closest conversation I could find on separating the Suvians was this:
“* Why not just drop the Sue into the Hotland lava? Problem solved!”
“* Not!Sans will kill us. We have to take both of them out at once or I doubt we’ll survive.”

Both of them at once? Why not focus on finding an opportunity to get Not!Sans far away from the Sue (like getting them in different locations), charging and killing Not!Sans, then killing the Sue after? In the chapter in which the agents decided to kill her, the Suvians later meet at Grillby's and decided they needed some space from each other, so Not!Sans went home while the Sue went to Alphys' house. You should explain why they couldn't wait for them to do that.

You should also explain what's so dangerous about killing the Sue later, because the thing about having to "take both of them out at once" implies that somehow the Sue will successfully kill them by herself. As far as I read in the badfic, she "was in cheerleading for a year". Can a human with a year of cheerleading compare to a monster who can manipulate gravity and summon bones and laser-firing skulls? Or was it something else?

After a bit more thought (and lunch): by Huinesoron on 2016-02-24 13:38:00 UTC Link to this

In the middle of the post/In the land of Board/Lived some brave little comments/Who we all ignored/It's spoilers (spoilers)!/Spoiler warning/It's only a few lines long!/It's spoilers (spoilers)!/Spoiler warning/To ignore it would just be wrong!

Terri gets very het up about the Flowey thing, but I actually don't think it's all that bad. I think your author's note is wrong in saying that Flowey should know about the PPC, but what's in the mission is that he knows about them because, well, he was there when they arrived, and he noticed they're not normally there, and he's probably been following them. Then he blindsided them and vanished before they could do anything. Agents do muck up on their missions sometimes, and I'm happy for Terri to be sent in to try and neuralyse him afterwards. (Whether she succeeds or not is up to the next person to write the continuum).

Where I think she massively understated things is the fight. Skarmory: Undertale is an entire game built around giving you the option to not fight people. Would it not have been far more interesting - and fun! - to showcase that mechanic and find a clever solution, rather than just going 'and then Backslash hit him some more'?

I'm going to sum up my philosophy on this, just so you know where I'm coming from:

If a PPC agent gets into a stand-up fight while on a mission, they are doing their job wrong.

Some (lots of?) people disagree with me on that. That is their right. But I still think they're wrong.

hS

So... by Ozzielot on 2016-02-24 07:39:00 UTC Link to this

Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers

1. I get that it would be difficult to find a good opportunity to try and kill the Sue and Not!Sans, but I'm finding it odd that the agents didn't at least talk about a way to split them up, charge and kill Not!Sans without giving him the chance to fight back. I might have missed the conversation but I didn't find any conversation like that.

2. Flowey's status as a deity-like being in this mission is my main issue.

To address a point:

"However, Flowey knows about how to SAVE and RESET and, for the longest time, he’s used everyone else as playthings until he got bored of doing so. I’m guessing he’s probably one of the closest things that Undertale has to an actual deity, and at the very least his meta skills have rendered him practically omniscient."

Why would that justify Flowey knowing about the PPC? So he knows how to SAVE and RESET like in a videogame. Is that supposed to mean he can't be dealt with by way of neuralyzation? Would his SAVE and RESET abilities or any of his meta skills erase any neuralyzation done to him?

On practical omniscience, I'll quote Huinesoron here: "Practical omniscience =/= true omniscience. Any method of omniscience that isn't simply They Just Know By Magic is spoofable by the PPC." Unless you consider Flowey's meta skills Knowing By Magic.

3. A nitpicky one: Not!Sans' dialogue format resembling more like Canon!Sans than the badfic's Sans.
Not!Sans was not Sans, so why go through the trouble of changing the font for an impostor?

I agree with that Huinesoron chap. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-24 11:24:00 UTC Link to this

Spoiler-man, Spoiler-man/Blocks off spoilers wherever he can/Friends with River, friends with Bill/Spoiler-man.

Don't know who Bill is/Because it's spoilers/Spoiler-man.

In this case... isn't what you're designating 'practical omniscience' exactly the same abilities you as a game-player have? Does that mean everyone who's ever played a game must know about the PPC?

hS

It should be noted... by domirossi on 2016-02-22 23:11:00 UTC Link to this

... That this is the first time I actually listened to the linked music while reading a mission.
Anyway, I'm seconding that warning: If you haven't played Undertale yet and you plan to, do NOT read this mission. Undertale is truly an awesome experience, and while spoilers don't ruin it, it can get pretty close sometimes.

(Also, the sporked fic is even worse than the mission makes it look like, IMO. It's just that it's so beige it gets boring after a while.)

How good is the game exactly? Anything bad I should know of? (nm by Silenthunder on 2016-02-23 23:01:00 UTC Link to this

UnderTale's quality by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-02-24 03:11:00 UTC Link to this

I avoided the game for a bit, because everybody on the internet was going crazy about it.
The kind of crazy where they make awful fangames and put them on Gamejolt, every single half-rate LPer goes full throttle with a million episodes, and all the fan-artists have to buy new tablets because the sheer, constant force of their pens on the screens actually cracks them.

That was a bad idea.
I don't want to drown you in calls about how perfect it is, and how it'll cure you of cancer and give you super-strength, or any of that bollocks.

UnderTale is a work of art and you should play it.

I approve this message. by Matt Cipher on 2016-02-24 11:32:00 UTC Link to this

No, Sil, there is nothing I can think of that may be of any danger to you.

Can somebody please create an article about Personality? by N. Harmonik on 2016-02-23 06:52:00 UTC Link to this

On the wiki, that is.

Why do you ask? (nm) by eatpraylove on 2016-02-23 11:57:00 UTC Link to this

Re: Why do you ask? by N. Harmonik on 2016-02-23 17:48:00 UTC Link to this

It might come in handy for those who don't quite know what a personality is. Besides, there are already articles on basic story stuff like spelling and logic.

... Does anyone actually not know that? by Neshomeh on 2016-02-23 18:33:00 UTC Link to this

Apologies if I'm simply exposing my ignorance here, but it seems like a pretty basic thing that people should know.

That said, I'm not averse to creating an article for it, since we stress the importance of the concept pretty heavily. However, we already have an article about characterization, and I'm not sure there's a useful distinction between the two. Can anyone make one, or should I just build a section on personality within the characterization article?

~Neshomeh

Well, by Bramandin on 2016-02-29 17:00:00 UTC Link to this

Describing a personality is differently from conceptually knowing what it is.

Then again, there are people who think superficial traits make them interesting.

True. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-29 17:31:00 UTC Link to this

And "personality" is such a huge, multifaceted concept that putting it into satisfying words is turning out to be more difficult than I'd thought it would be.

~Neshomeh

Well, maybe an article about what makes... by N. Harmonik on 2016-02-23 18:42:00 UTC Link to this

...1, 2 and 3-dimensional characters?

Hmm... by Neshomeh on 2016-02-23 21:14:00 UTC Link to this

The more I think about it, the more I'm finding distinctions to make. Maybe I'll retool the Characterization article to be about the process of creating/writing a character (i.e. an out-of-universe perspective) and write a Personality article to be about the traits that make up an individual's character from an in-universe perspective.

I'd say a personality is assumed to be complex whereas characterization doesn't have to be. You can have 1, 2, and 3-dimensional characters, but you don't generally hear about 1, 2, or 3-dimensional personalities, right?

~Neshomeh

If I can make a suggestion... by N. Harmonik on 2016-02-26 03:47:00 UTC Link to this

...how about giving examples of 1, 2 and 3-dimensional characters within the articles themselves?

Perhaps. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-26 17:16:00 UTC Link to this

I'm not sure how I'd give an example of a one-dimensional character, though, since by definition they don't have distinguishing features.

I'm a little worried that any examples I'd choose for two- and three-dimensional characters would just wind up causing debates. I dunno, maybe if I pick them from the Potterverse... there are certainly enough there to choose from.

~Neshomeh

Are redshirts one-dimensional? (nm) by Anonymous on 2016-02-29 16:58:00 UTC Link to this

Yes indeed. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-29 17:27:00 UTC Link to this

I've already put in a reference to them, in fact. I may make it more explicit. I'm almost happy with the Characterization article at this point, but I'm sure it still needs work.

~Neshomeh

I say go for it. by N. Harmonik on 2016-02-27 03:19:00 UTC Link to this

There are examples in other articles.

Cardboard cutout characters by Calista on 2016-02-24 22:31:00 UTC Link to this

That's what I call it when a writer creates a character with so much less characterization than their role in the plot that you could put a cardboard cutout in their place and nobody would notice the difference.

I'm not sure what the charge itself is called--perhaps an agent would call it "Forcing Generics into main-character roles", or just "bad characterization".

A notable example of a cardboard cutout from a Legendary is, of course, laura. She has no personality whatsoever, but is the main character in the story.

laura's amount of characterization would be appropriate in a well-written story only for a Generic--those characters in crowd scenes who never get speaking parts. She wouldn't even make a good bit character!

The Bad Psychology article touches on this: People have to act in consistent ways. Not necessarily rational ways, but your characters have to do the things they do because they are who they are. And if you don't know enough about who they are to figure out what they will do, then that's not enough characterization. The more they'll do in your story, the better you have to define their personality.

In the PPCverse, people who have bit parts in goodfic or canon are full-blown people. You only see small parts of their personality in the story, but it's all there. That's because good writing gives you the idea that whatever part of their personality you can see, it's part of a coherent whole. These characters are sentient in the sci-fi sense--full people whatever their species.

However, poorly-described badfic characters don't have a coherent personality or don't have enough of a personality to begin with, so they are more like cardboard cutouts than people. That's why most Assassins don't consider themselves murderers; they're not killing people, only crude facsimiles of people or distorted eldritch abominations that try to pretend to be people, but fail at it.

Many badfic characters try to shore up the rickety structure of their personalities by patching it with details. Instead of motive and identity, these characters have flowery physical descriptions, powers and abilities, or even trajeck backstories. But beneath it all, there's no actual person to be found.

Hit the nail on the head by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-26 07:07:00 UTC Link to this

I suggest turning this post into an article on Personality for the wiki.

I've already begun working on the article. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-26 17:07:00 UTC Link to this

I'm not happy with it yet, but at least it exists now.

~Neshomeh

Thank you very much! (nm) by N. Harmonik on 2016-02-24 03:52:00 UTC Link to this

I'd say... by Desdendelle on 2016-02-23 22:40:00 UTC Link to this

That personality is a part of characterisation, but not the whole deal. I mean, take iconic weapons, for example. Off the top of my head, Cloud Strife's Buster Sword is a part of his characterisation, but isn't a part of his personality, per se. Ditto for Sherlock's deerstalker and opium pipe.

New mission. by Hardric on 2016-02-23 16:50:00 UTC Link to this

A free visit to Inaba for two agents? It sounds (not) like a dream come true.

(This mission takes place between Wrong Start and the 3rd PPC HG.)

What, itÂ’s up already? by Hieronymus Graubart on 2016-02-25 18:23:00 UTC Link to this

So, answering to your e-mail didn’t work again. What is wrong with this address? Next time, don’t ask first, just send the link.

Oh, precious Richard! "Well, this thing doesn’t waste any time. Charges for run-on sentences and SpaG so dubious the non-native reader can see it." His experience is quite different from mine. (Apparently, many native readers see only the most blatant errors, mostly they just imagine seeing what they know should be there.)

Provided you keep them away from you friend ...
Should be "your".

Isn't the Clover dead? The current head of Finance is apparently unknown.

Maria frowned at this answer.
Isn’t her name “Marina“?

As soon I finish filling up my backpack
Richard omitted a second "as" here.

She know she will be charged ...
Doesn’t Richard know that third person singular present tense should be "knows"?

Something that you seems to understand.
Doesn’t Igor know that second person plural present tense should be "seem"?

That was then he saw that it was emitting some smoke and sparks.
I think this should be either "That was when he saw ..." or just "Then he saw ...".

... this thing was revised just before we had it ...
"... just before we got it ..." may be a better choice of word.

"... No. just no," Marina said watching, the Dojimas’ house.
The second comma is misplaced; it should be between "said" and "watching".

We can just kill her like this right now.
Actually, Richard meant "We cannot just kill her like this right now."

Richard as he was searching through his pockets.
Missing word, probably "said".

Hey, miss, did you see the commotion back there?
"Miss" should be capitalized.

... being sent to the the Persona-verse after the most bland death scene ever ...

Well, that was a fun read, although I’m quite lost in unknown games’ worlds.

HG

I cannot understand what's wrong with it. by Hardric on 2016-02-26 14:48:00 UTC Link to this

Your address is the only one with which I keep getting this problem. Guess I'll follow your advice and include the link the next time I'm asking for your help.

Glad you enjoyed it, though. If you have a PS2/3 lying around, or a PS Vita, akes sure to grab a copy of this game, or the precedent one, for that matter. Totally worth it. Just make sure you have got soe guides for the Social Links or the fusions around.

Speculative Evolution Badfic? by GlarnBoudin on 2016-02-23 18:02:00 UTC Link to this

As you guys know, I'm a big fan of speculative evolution. However, I recently found something that I think deserves our attention. Behold, the worst speculative evolution project imaginable!

http://speculativeevolution.wikia.com/wiki/Category:New_Pleistocene

Don't be fooled by the name-the writer for this has dumped in any species he could think of, fictional or otherwise, from dinosaurs to vampires to Godzilla to Megaman robots. Basically, this is Rise of The Galeforces-level crossover shenanigans right here. None of the species are given good reason for why they evolved, the spelling is awful, and Mary Sue species are EVERYWHERE.

Seeing as speculative evolution is essentially fanfiction for life itself, and this project features a ton of crossovers, I figured that if this doesn't fit the bill for a speculative evolution badfic, nothing will. As such, I would like to claim this... thing for use as a first mission. I'm almost done with my writing samples, and I should be done with the Permission prerequisites sometime this week.

I don't think this is even evolution anymore. by DCCCV on 2016-02-24 01:15:00 UTC Link to this

Erm, Bass.EXE? That is a species of creature now? This is like reading a D&D creature manual, with all it's supernatural beasts and making you feel kinda insignificant. I also think .EXE is lowercase, isn't it? I could see agents coming into this world when An RA malfunctions while they're trying to get to world one. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have ourselves a new multiverse.

IMO, the main problem with a mission into this... by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-24 03:16:00 UTC Link to this

...is that I don't know if there's a story to go with it. If we have only the information about the world and creatures to go on, I have doubts that it would make an interesting mission because it may be just the agents going around and free-roaming the place like a sandbox game. It'd be weird as hell, sure, but probably not quite the same as following an actual plot.

That being said, this sounds like the kind of thing the DOGA would tackle. I mean, if it's an uncanon world we're talking here...

Probably not DOGA. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-24 11:29:00 UTC Link to this

From what I can see the issue isn't with the geography, but with the animals. That puts it firmly in the purview of the Department of Misplaced Flora and Fauna.

Assuming it falls under the competence of the Protectors of the Plot Continuum at all, which I'm... open to being convinced on.

hS

I have some serious doubts about that. by Scapegrace on 2016-02-24 11:40:00 UTC Link to this

The PPC is meant to deal with fanfiction, yes? Speculative evolution is, by definition, original work. Unless the author is bunging in monsters from other media, I don't really see how it's any of our business, and even if that's what they're doing the link is rather tenuous. =/

Depends. by GlarnBoudin on 2016-02-24 14:47:00 UTC Link to this

If you think about it, speculative evolution is basically going 'what if' with the history of life on Earth-essentially, creating EUs of World One. It's literally fanfiction of life on Earth (And sometimes beyond) itself.

Plus, most of the monsters from other media are definitely Suefluenced.

Isn't that the definition of original fiction, though? by Huinesoron on 2016-02-24 14:52:00 UTC Link to this

Harry Potter is just fanfiction of life on Earth - it's the speculative what-if scenario 'what if British schoolkids were magic?'.

hS

Just so. (Large image in post) by Scapegrace on 2016-02-24 16:35:00 UTC Link to this

There's also the idea of fanfics of runs and/or campaigns in roguelikes and RTS things and the like not being under our purview, but there I disagree - I recently found a fanfic involving Civ 5 that is wall-to-wall (lumpen, badly written) sex scenes and has a Mini Death Robot in the summary, but were it to be a simple campaign retelling I'd probably shy away from it.

I'm missioning it, btw, and one of the agents doing it is the following pair of fine and upstanding gentlemen:-

Two open questions. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-23 18:29:00 UTC Link to this

1/ What's the canon?

2/ When writing a mission, what text will your agents be sent into?

hS

Hmm... by GlarnBoudin on 2016-02-23 19:59:00 UTC Link to this

1) I'd say World One, with a ton of other continua thrown in.
2) They'd enter the world of the project itself, with the text of the species descriptions dragging them about. I suppose that it would be ordered by going counterclockwise around the world, starting in Europe and ending in Eurasia.

Another question. by PoorCynic on 2016-02-24 01:56:00 UTC Link to this

I have some thoughts on what you've said so far, but I'm on the clock right now and time is limited. I'll write those down later. Instead, I'll ask this:

What would your agents do to fix the non-canon nature of this situation?

Still working on that. by GlarnBoudin on 2016-02-24 14:46:00 UTC Link to this

The creatures that were basically yanked out of their own continua would be returned home, while the species that aren't that bad could be brought into the DMFF. The badly written ones? They get some good ol' fashioned extinction.

Humanity's probably stuffed in a plothole of gargantuan proportions, so they'll need to be brought back out, but the main Sues are things called dylanuses-extremely overpowered Sue species that the author basically pulled out of his rear end.

Yeah, I have some qualms. by PoorCynic on 2016-02-24 15:19:00 UTC Link to this

First off, having two or three agents enact extinction events across the entire planet? That raises too many logical conundrums in my mind. What if they miss something? Where would the PPC put an entire noncanonical species? Why wouldn't the agents do the sensible thing and just have this obviously AU Earth destroyed?

That brings me to my second point. Having this be "fanfiction" of World One makes me a bit uncomfortable. World One really should not be involved in the doings of the PPC (beyond the various agent-delivering plot holes). It has no plot to be protected. Also, like Huinesoron said, "fanfic" of World One is typically considered original fiction. As much as it might gall us, we don't touch original fiction.

Finally, I should note that there is no story to mock. You're essentially asking to spork Wiki pages. I'm not saying it couldn't be done, but I do question both why it should be done and if the end result would be any good.

Cosplay Build: Time Lord Collar by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 03:35:00 UTC Link to this

In which Iximaz and mom decide they're going to ~~try to~~ finish this thing in a week or less.

After ripping a pattern off the internet, we got to work. First things first was deciding how large I wanted the collar to be, and we settled on twenty inches across the shoulder so I would have enough excess space even while wearing my bulky robes ~~which have not been made yet but that'll be soon, shush, proper fabric is hard to find~~.

For whatever godforsaken reason, we decided to print the pattern off on regular printer paper and try to use teh mathz to scale it appropriately.

Funnily enough?

It worked.

(Also, the collar is a lot smaller than you'd expect a Big Stupid Collar to be. Weird. But when you look at it for a size comparison... yeah. Big Stupid Collars are still Big and Stupid, just not as big as I thought.)

We got a bit cleverer when making the front pattern; we blew up the pattern and printed it off on several different sheets, cut them out, and taped them together to get the needed shape. Much easier than eyeballing!

Mom had some leftover foam from her Iron Man build, so we dug that out of storage and traced the pattern on. Since the foam's got a funky textured side (and it's a bit floppy on its own anyway), we'll be double layering it.

Size check!

Aww yeah, looking good.

The aforementioned double layering.

For the front pieces, we used thinner foam to cover the textured bit because we need it to be flexible enough to fit together with the back. While hot gluing it together, we molded the pieces so they were nice and curved.

Like so.

There's the collar so far! Tomorrow we'll be attaching the pieces and smoothing down rough edges. I can't wait!

*scurries off to finish some more homework dear lord she doesn't have enough time for all this*

Mrawh. by Iximaz on 2016-02-28 00:01:00 UTC Link to this

Decided I wanted the collar to be bigger, so the first two days are going to be restarted tonight. Mrrp.

Current collar is probably going to end up getting painted white and get some nice stylized gears on it, since it'd be a waste of time and effort otherwise.

:( That's rotten. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-29 10:50:00 UTC Link to this

Though on the plus side, I 100% approve of your revised design for the small one. What a very clever idea. ;)

hS

Day, uh, two of the build: by Iximaz on 2016-02-26 19:58:00 UTC Link to this

Both mom and I came down with a stomach bug the last two days, preventing us from working on the collar. :/ But we're both feeling better now, and have spent most of the day working on the costume!

Our first task of the day was getting out the dremel to smooth down the rough edges of the foam. The dremel caused our hands to turn grey and red from the fine dust it was leaving in its wake—good thing we wore respirators.

(Obligatory "Are you my mummy?" joke goes here.)

We also needed to shave down the inner edge of the collar so it would fit together in a nicer seam.

I... did my best to get a picture of what we did there.

Anyway, after lots and lots of sanding, it was at long last time to get the pieces put together!

There was no way I could've done this by myself; forcing the foam to cooperate was definitely a two-person job. But we kept pushing on and at long last, prevailed!

I couldn't wait to try it on.

Needless to say, it didn't quite fit. So it was back out to the garage, where we got the heat gun and molded the pieces. Again.

Much better. :D

And now it's time to put on a thin layer of glue to seal the foam before painting! Without the glue, the collar would be riddled with tiny pockmarks courtesy of the heat gun. This will make it nice and smooth for painting ~~hopefully~~ tomorrow.

I used a regular brush to slap the glue on and a sponge brush to make sure there weren't any massive brush lines left behind when it dried.

And that's the exterior done!

Very nice! by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-26 21:48:00 UTC Link to this

And dremels are smart little tools indeed. Got a cheap sub-brand one for 30 euros - and it came with all I need for grinding, cutting, sanding or drilling for scale models.

Can't wait to see the costume finished!

Gotta love dremels. by Iximaz on 2016-02-26 22:10:00 UTC Link to this

My dad showed me how to use them when my brother was in Cub Scouts and the Pinecar Derby rolled around. Fun times.

Mom won't let me use the power tools because she thinks I'll get hurt. >.> So far, I have received:

1 accidental ruler bop on the nose, courtesy of her turning around and walloping me with it
3 minor finger burns from the heat gun, courtesy of her not looking where she was aiming
Too many more minor hot glue finger burns to count, again courtesy of her

I think I can handle power tools fine. :P

The remaining fabric for my robes should be coming in sometime this week, so once the collar is finished the robes will be next!

Awesome! (nm) by eatpraylove on 2016-02-25 00:44:00 UTC Link to this

That is one awesome Big Stupid Collar. (nm) by Matt Cipher on 2016-02-24 10:32:00 UTC Link to this

That's awesome. by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-24 09:27:00 UTC Link to this

And kudos for actually goign through cosplay stuff.

Closest thing I did was sort-of-prepare stuff for a Shinichi Kudo cosplay (it involved letting my hair grow a bit more than usual to allow for the proper hairdo, I have pretty much the same hair color so why use a wig?), and I already had the right clothes, but the friend with which I wass supposed to go to the con with had family issues and we ended up not going.

SHame, as I can't do that in the future as I no longer have a green tie. My father might, though.

Sucks about the con. by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 13:56:00 UTC Link to this

Hopefully you can go sometime in the future!

That's likely. by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-24 21:56:00 UTC Link to this

After all, that con is done every year, and smaller ones are more frequent.

Howere, lately I'm more into scale models, and races take a lot of my free time.

Whaaaaaaat. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-24 09:21:00 UTC Link to this

[Searches pictures for signs of photoshop]

Whaaaaaaat. That is incredibly awesome.

(Morgan's response, naturally, is to sniff and say 'mine's better'.)

hS

After the Iron Man suit... by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 13:13:00 UTC Link to this

...I think mom's up for trying just about anything.

More pics will be coming later today!

If you're looking for fabric... by Cyba Zero on 2016-02-24 08:54:00 UTC Link to this

...try searching for 'Minerva Crafts'. They do loads of fabric and other sewing bits.

Also yes, I am still lurking round here. :)

Returnbie! by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-25 02:46:00 UTC Link to this

I haven't seen you in AGES! How's Real Life been treating you? Any plans on getting Eagrus and Agent!Cyba out of mothballs?

Re: Returnbie! by Cyba Zero on 2016-02-25 09:26:00 UTC Link to this

Real life has been up and down. Meanwhile, Cyba and Eagrus have been on hiatus because I have been diverting all creative power to an original project. The duo were originally missioning during a period of writer's block, which got ironed out. It would be nice to wake them up again in the future, though.

Also, I recently discovered some very good music. There's a group called "Two Steps from Hell" who do music for film trailers and the like. If anybody here likes epic orchestral hybrid music, I recommend them thoroughly. Also, it is very good for the creative juices.

So how have you been?

Cursed keyboard shortcuts (ignore previous post) by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-26 01:05:00 UTC Link to this

Let's try to make this post comprehensible before posting, eh? *ahem*

Funnily enough, I first heard their music via a Civilization V mod. The mod, if you're interested, is called the "Sky March".

(CIV V AND MLP:FiM JARGON INBOUND. FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS SECTION.)

The Sky March is a domination-focused civ that is led by an alicorn OC. (I just figured out that it's based on a fanfiction by gatesmccloud on DeviantArt.) The OC's backstory in-game doesn't seem Sueish, but the Civilopedia entries for this civ would be served well by some major SPaG editing.

The civ itself has a good UA, reducing the gold cost for land acquisition and unit maintenance. However, its UU leaves the civ underpowered in naval combat for an era.

JARGON-FILLED SECTION COMPLETE)

Here's where the mod ties into 2SFH. The Sky March's peacetime theme is "Spirit of Champions" and its war theme is "Interceptors Duel."

P.S.: Does anybody else think that "Duel of the Fates"?

Really?! Another error?! Argh... by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-26 01:07:00 UTC Link to this

The PS was supposed to be asking if anyone else thinks that "Interceptors Duel" sounds like it was inspired by "Duel of the Fates".

I've heard their music before! by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-26 01:02:00 UTC Link to this

Funnily enough, I first heard their music via a Civilization V mod. The mod, if you're interested, is called the "Sky March".

(CIV V AND MLP:FiM JARGON INBOUND. FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS SECTION.)
The Sky March is a domination-focused civ that is led by an alicorn OC. (I just figured out that it's based on a fanfiction by gatesmccloud on DeviantArt.) The OC's backstory is not Sueish, but the Civilopedia entries for this civ would be served well by some major SPaG editing.
The civ itself has a good UA, reducing the gold cost for land acquisition and military upgrades though its UU leaves the civ underpowered in naval combat for an era. (Forgive me if all that Civ V jargon went over your head.)

Here's where it ties into 2SFH, the Sky March's peacetime theme is "Spirit of Champions" and its war theme is "Interceptors Duel."

P.S.: Does anybody else think that "Duel of the Fates"?

Oh yes I know those guys! by Desdendelle on 2016-02-25 14:07:00 UTC Link to this

I've been listening to their stuff for a while; they have some very good pieces and some very generic pieces.

Funnily enough, I already found some. by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 13:12:00 UTC Link to this

For the cloth bit of the costume I'm making a heavy outer robe and a (relatively) lighter inner robe. Outer needs to have three layers: red stretch velvet (which I've sent away for samples), a muslin inner layer to add stiffness (those sleeve pleats won't hold themselves in place, after all) and a gold inner layer.

The under robe is going to be a lot simpler and just made out of this brocade and a thin lining.

Wednesday Pluggage: Ardolindi! by Huinesoron on 2016-02-24 21:10:00 UTC Link to this

Ardolindi, Episode 4 - The Pugilist

Plz R&R? ;)

hS

The mark of a true music afficando. by JulyFlame on 2016-02-25 10:20:00 UTC Link to this

Complaints about the audio quality.

I also wonder how well his own playing will turn out, down a hand.

-July

Probably... by Huinesoron on 2016-02-25 10:45:00 UTC Link to this

... still better than mine, and I've got two of the blighters.

I'm imagining something on the level of Menolly's playing when she arrived at the Harper Hall. She was restricted in what she could do by the badly-healed injury to her hand, so had to work around stretches that she couldn't manage. Obviously Dafydd's injury is a lot more serious than hers - but he's also much older, and has had a lot of time to practice playing. He should've be able to adapt much faster (and it's been nearly a twelveyear anyway!).

hS

Ahah. by JulyFlame on 2016-02-25 15:59:00 UTC Link to this

Well, you could always work your way up past that level, given the advantage in handedness. :)

But yeah, that sounds... relatively plausible, especially where smaller harps are involved.

String instruments are tricksy, though.

Though, now this has me wondering, out of the characters belonging to still-active boarders, how many are musical? Do we know?

-July, who only ever fiddled around with recorders and the piano a very little bit

Let's see... by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-27 11:26:00 UTC Link to this

Sergio? Canonically stated to be a bad singer, and he never bothered to try to learn to play something.

Nikki I think still remembers how to play the recorder, but that was school-related stuff that she isn't following up. Probably a decent enough singer, but that isn't anything she practices either.

Corolla would be actually pretty good with an electronic keyboard... it helps when it would be an holographic electronic keyboard that's actually a subprogram of... well, herself. Not so good with signing - her singing voice feels "artificial" like a badly set up Hatsune Miku.

I think it's just my elves. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-26 15:25:00 UTC Link to this

Dafydd is Dafydd, and Huinesoron has written his own ~~theme tune~~ song (as revealed in... a mission that's not out yet).

Oh, and Kaitlyn says that the Canon Librarian plays piano, 'of course'. (And that she can totally picture Steve Dimond with a tuba...)

hS

I'm surprised. by JulyFlame on 2016-02-27 18:12:00 UTC Link to this

Mortic hasn't picked up anything whatosever over the years?

Oh, probably. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-28 09:30:00 UTC Link to this

But he hasn't told me what. I mean, it's entirely possible that Salamander is a virtuoso on the sitar and Catherine Hust used to play stylophone for a very strange orchestra. But I don't know anything about it if they are.

hS

Steve vs. Dok oompah-off. You know it makes sense. =] (nm) by Scapegrace on 2016-02-26 16:21:00 UTC Link to this

Since I based Richard off me... by Hardric on 2016-02-26 15:13:00 UTC Link to this

He only played the flute (bad), and only in middle school. However, he does like songs, provided the lyrics and/or music appeal to him, and soundtracks for some video games or animes. And ridicule be damned, wouldn't mind singing some of them at a karaoke. ~~Or finding a way to replace te Beeep of his console with music linked to the continuum missionned~~(nope, too much speshul and kewl).

Marina is slightly out of touch with music for the moment, and she (for a time) played guitar. She can still enjoy it, though.

Michael plays the ocarina. by Alleb on 2016-02-26 01:22:00 UTC Link to this

He's still learning, but he can do it. Alleb favors the flute, and Jesse can sing all the old cowboy songs. Mia bangs on the drums every so often. I should start a mini-band. ^_^

-Alleb

Wobbles is a goddess on the xylophone. by Scapegrace on 2016-02-25 23:18:00 UTC Link to this

And of course, Doktor Trollenfisch ist amazink on zer sousaphone. Echt klasse! =]

The rest of my agents all sing a bit. Lola when she's drunk, Algie when he's really drunk, the upcoming Abiathar and Cold Compress when they're really, really drunk. The Notary, on the other hand, only sings when there's nobody else around, which is a good deal for all concerned. =]

If you hum a few bars... by PoorCynic on 2016-02-25 21:21:00 UTC Link to this

I've never envisioned my agents as being particularly musical, apart from a partially-written interlude where Xericka and Gremlin get plastered and sing karaoke. Hang on a sec…

* * * a bit of skimming later… * * *

Wow, that needs some rewriting. Not quite sure what I was thinking when I came up with that particular idea.

Xericka, James, and Danny would probably have the most patience when it comes to actually learning music. Gremlin likely sings, but not in any sort of professional manner (see the "drunk karaoke" thing I mentioned before.) Laura might be willing to have a go at a few rounds of Guitar Hero at a party, but her musical career would pretty much end there.

Hmm, I dunno. by Iximaz on 2016-02-25 18:38:00 UTC Link to this

Rina, since she was based on me, would've been able to play piano and French horn and wasn't a half-bad singer, but I don't know how many of those skills she retained as the Aviator. ~~though considering how high her glitter levels are...~~

Zeb isn't very musical, but I think that's only because he's not tried it before. Aaand now I'm imagining him learning how to play the cello or something. Halp.

Alex, being based on my brother, also plays piano and French horn, though with all the gadgets he repairs on a daily basis I don't think staying in practice would be his top priority.

Farilan doesn't have time for music, end of story. :P

Well, they'd be rather rusty by this point, wouldn't they? by JulyFlame on 2016-02-25 21:03:00 UTC Link to this

Assuming she didn't bother to practice at all in the intermin period.

Also oh lord. Cello would definitely suit Zeb. All the cellists I've known have been pretty much the chillest people.

Maybe, maybe not. by Iximaz on 2016-02-25 22:10:00 UTC Link to this

I don't know what the deal is with "new regeneration=acquiring random skills", but it's possible she got some musical talent. Doubtful, though, especially since yeah, she didn't bother to practice in the middle of a war.

And haha, I know, right? It's funny how different instruments draw certain personalities to them.

Out of my lot... by Neshomeh on 2016-02-25 17:27:00 UTC Link to this

Derik and Jenni are explicitly musical. They both sing, and Derik can play just about any simple percussion, wind, or string instrument if he decides to. Brass instruments are probably beyond him, not being common on Pern.

Gall likes music, particularly the kind you can belt at the top of your lungs with a bunch of other drunk people. She's also partial to sung epics. I don't know if she's a particularly good singer, but she's probably better than she usually bothers to perform.

Nume has nary a musical bone in his body, but he's not a music-hater. His taste runs toward Led Zeppelin and the like. He thinks disco is evil (but then, who doesn't?).

Ilraen simply wouldn't know where to begin. He probably likes classical music, especially the pastoral sort.

~Neshomeh is a music-lover and thus thinks about these things.

...I would honestly would not have pegged Nume... by JulyFlame on 2016-02-25 21:01:00 UTC Link to this

As a Led Zeppelin sort of guy. Huh. Certainly not at first thought.

-July, pondering

Well, they're nerds. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-25 21:54:00 UTC Link to this

With all the references to Tolkien and stuff that they throw in, they're hard to resist. {= )

Also, I based his taste on the songs I picked for him for the fanmix, which tended toward the classic rock-ish.

~Neshomeh

Dunno about other people's characters... by Desdendelle on 2016-02-25 16:36:00 UTC Link to this

But Des, being a self-insert, probably knows to play the piano. Badly. The rest probably never touched a musical instrument.

Re: Wednesday Pluggage: Ardolindi! by Iximaz on 2016-02-24 21:47:00 UTC Link to this

"Die die-die! Die die-die die die die-die,
Die die-die! Die die-die die die die die die-die-die-die die!

"... as I was saying. This is a very… light-hearted retelling of the Fall of the Noldor.""

I feel like I shouldn't have laughed as hard as I did here. *wipes away tears*

Loved the bait-and-switch of the ending and the complaint about sound quality being Dafydd's biggest gripe. All in all, a very amusing read.

*offers Dafydd tentative hugs because it looks like he needs it*

Thanks! by Huinesoron on 2016-02-25 11:16:00 UTC Link to this

I've long since given up on trying to write laugh-out-loud lines - they tend to fall flat - so I just let them fall naturally where they will. I'm glad that one did the trick for you. ^_^

Whereas I was very deliberately trying to pull off that bait-and-switch. I'm glad you liked it!

((Oh Yavanna that takes me back...))

hS

Soundman needed for a Doctor Who radio drama by Silenthunder on 2016-02-24 23:29:00 UTC Link to this

If you are good at editing and mixing sounds with a computer, and you are a Whovian who wants to work on a better version of the awful DW Movie, this is your chance to have some fun!

Requirements, information, and instructions:

The full script for this project, called "Doctor Who: New Millennium," will be sent to you so you know what sounds to pick

You must be good at recording, editing, and mixing sound effects and voice recordings

You will be required to search for sound effects yourself, though the lines of characters will be sent to you by the actors

There is currently no deadline for line submission, as most of us actors are battling for time against work and/or school, but we will submit lines as soon as possible

This project will be posted on YouTube, and then eventually on Wordpress

If this job interests you, please post your email below

Seeking advice by Voyd on 2016-02-25 19:12:00 UTC Link to this

So I’ve been trying to write MSTs. I’m encountering some problems, though.

First: I don’t have enough agents who’d work for it.

Valon and Kala are the only agents I can really see as being good for MST. Chakkik’s too serious, Stephanie’s supply of jokes is limited, Adéle would have traumatic flashbacks in some fics, and the rest of my characters (Gabby, Zeke, Publica) aren’t developed enough.

Second: I don’t have enough time for cowrites.

For those not in the know, I have only two hours of access time a day when I’m at home. With other people dealing with time zones, work, school, and just plain having other things to do, cowrites are hard now. Just ask Silenthunder; we’ve been trying to cowrite a mission, but I never have enough time to write when she gets out of school. There’s a library in walking distance, but then I have to worry about their operating hours.

Third: I don’t know how to keep canons in-character.

This is the only thing I feel that anyone can help with. I know that some MSTers drag canon characters along for the ride (Laburnum, Sergio Turbo, PoorCynic), but when I try to write them… I dunno, they don’t feel right to me. This is actually the main reason I don’t write fanfic at all: I can’t trust myself to not let my personality infect canonical characters. I’m not sure if I just don’t know the characters well enough, or if I have a different problem.

Does anyone have any advice?

I don't really have advices... by Hardric on 2016-02-27 19:05:00 UTC Link to this

But I can always point you out to Das Sporking. I especially recommend you the Fifty and Twilight sporkings, since they also include canon characters being... drafted for the sporking. It should give you a pretty good idea of how this is done.

I'd like to try MSTing, but... by Silenthunder on 2016-02-27 18:55:00 UTC Link to this

...I don't know how to find MSTs that aren't already MSTing themselves, as one person put it.

The nice thing about MSTs (point 2)... by Huinesoron on 2016-02-26 13:08:00 UTC Link to this

... is that they're really easy to cowrite.

They consist of every line of a story, split up for comments where the writers want to split them. So open up a Google Doc, copy the text of the story in, and then... start commenting on any lines that you think deserve a comment.

You don't need to be on at the same time. If you want to reply to something your coauthor said - reply to it! And then reply to their other comment three paragraphs down, and then make several of your own on uncommented lines, and then go back and add another reply somewhere earlier.

MST writing is - or can be - amazingly non-linear. It is tailor-made for timezone difficulties.

hS

Maybe this will help by ratbrainbasher on 2016-02-26 05:45:00 UTC Link to this

1: Make some new characters. An MST is not exactly a PPC exclusive thing, so you have some additional choice here, too.

2: Get someone to write sections of it without you, and leave notes for them at the end. Repeat for you. If you have phone access, you could send them Skype messages or something as well. Don't really know your timezone, so I'm not sure if the last one could work.

3: Yeah, that's a more common problem than some people think. I never stop tweaking any canons I write, since they never seem quite right. Fortunately, having a bunch of collaborative editors around can help you here. I find that canons end up feeling a lot more well done once you have other people tweak them. It gives you free advertising, as well, since the people you have editing will likely spread word of the MST, getting you more readers quickly.

Hope this helps.

Some answers? by Desdendelle on 2016-02-25 19:36:00 UTC Link to this

1) You don't necessarily have to MST with PPC-related characters. If you want to, you can always use it as a method to develop your less-developed ones. If not, well, you can do anything from just snarking at the fic like Astral Void did when she sporked 50 Shades of Grey (sporking of NSFW squicky material) to writing completely new characters for the task.
2) Well, what seemed to work for me and SeaTurtle for "Grey Area" was that I'd write a line (paragraph, whatnot), say "tag" in a comment or whatever, then he'd do the same. Rinse, repeat.
3) Can't help you there; I don't think I ever wrote a canon character (in an RP — didn't make any attempt at a fic) in a way that felt OK to me.

Goodfic recommendation thread by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-26 00:50:00 UTC Link to this

To all my fellow bronies in the PPC: Have you ever wondered why we never figured out who Cadence's parents are? Why we don't see anything about Twilight Sparkle's parents outside that flashback from Twilight's entrance exam? Or how Pinkie Pie is able to seemingly break the laws of physics?

If you did, did you ever imagine that it would take a Mass Effect crossover to explain it all?

Behold: Mass Effect 2: DLC - The Equestrian Equation.

It is an excellently-written MLP/Mass Effect crossover that I haven't even finished yet (so that should tell you how good it is) that even a non-brony can follow without much difficulty. (One may argue that I should mention a third canon, but that would be MASSIVE spoilers.)

When it was originally written, the author would leave choices every now and again, just like in normal Mass Effect games; the readers could then "vote" on which alternative to choose via the comments. The story has long been completed and the choices set in stone, but I believe that that was a good touch.

So if you are interested, give it a read!

Re: Goodfic recommendation thread by Bramandin on 2016-02-29 16:38:00 UTC Link to this

I found a cute little slice-of-life piece for Night at the Museum. Warnings for PG-rated slash, I don't know if one character should be gay. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11505302/1/Wingin-It

That is adorable. by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-03-02 01:44:00 UTC Link to this

Love it. It's sweet, and the characterizations were good. I And they definitely should be gay. I don't remember anything in the movie which ruled it out, and I think this author gave them a great dynamic as a couple.

RE: Goodfic recommendation thread by eatpraylove on 2016-02-26 15:19:00 UTC Link to this

That sounds pretty cool! I have a slightly strange pair that's good for a laugh. Both take place in the CATS fandom, of all things, and both involve a certain pelvic-thrusting tomcat's antics annoying some of the other Jellicles.

Those Awful Pipes, the main story, in which three Jellicles work together (sort of) to steal the titular bagpipes. (If I remember right, they appear in the "Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" scene.)

The Turkey Incident, a side story/prequel explaining the titular incident from the main story. It's quite something.

Funny you should mention Mass Effect... by Hardric on 2016-02-26 14:56:00 UTC Link to this

Tv Tropes recently led me to this author, Random Equinox, and his 'Accidental Hero of the Galaxy' series, basically a novelization of Mass Effect written like Ciaphas Cain novels, and it's just as interesting that it sounds. For info, Ciaphas Cain is a 40k Commissar 'Hero of the Imperium'... And if you know about this guy, then you know funny this will be. If not, then that's something more for you to discover.

Find a bit weird to post it again... by Hardric on 2016-02-27 18:59:00 UTC Link to this

But since Des, and potentially other peoples, missed it the first time I pointed it out, why not?

Twist of Fate, a Madoka x Nanoha crossover following the same line that Sergio's own crossover of a fusion of the Nanoha and the Madokaverse. It's a bit darker than Sergio's work, but it's a quality work, in my opinion at least.

Got an author recommendation! by Iximaz on 2016-02-26 04:59:00 UTC Link to this

DawnFire linked me to a particular story—what if Harry had turned out a Squib?—and after plowing through this story ~~and not crying why would you say I was crying~~, I went and read the rest of dirgewithoutmusic's Harry Potter AUs and pretty much all of them gave me feels.

Highly recommend the Squib AU as well as the one where Voldemort rises to power (warning: it gets pretty dark) because he wasn't defeated that fateful night in Godric's Hollow. Not to say they're the only ones worth reading; those two are just my favorites of the bunch.

Highly recommend this. by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-03-02 06:47:00 UTC Link to this

So I was just going to take a quick look at this, right. I was going to send it on to my sister, because she's the one who cares deeply about Harry Potter. But then I found myself reading the entire Squib AU, and . . . I loved it. It's really beautiful. I plan to read the rest when I have time and it's not the middle of the night.

Draft scrapping. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-02-26 06:34:00 UTC Link to this

I'm curious. How many drafts do you people go through when you write stuff?
I scrap a lot of drafts.
Heaps.
There's always... something about them that makes me feel that if I tried again, I could do it BETTER.
The only times I don't scrap a million drafts is when I'm forced to write something, for schoolwork, or as part of a very obtuse criminal scheme, that kind of stuff.

As many as it takes by Bramandin on 2016-02-29 16:43:00 UTC Link to this

I tend to just write a bunch of isolated scenes in the middle, and then go back to the beginning without really checking my first scribbles unless I'm stuck. If something gets cut, I put it inside a box so that it's still there. I'll sometimes make a copy and then clean out old notes from the file.

It depends on what I'm writing by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2016-02-26 18:33:00 UTC Link to this

If it my original work I typically use 2-3 main drafts before constant minor alterations. If it is piece of fanfiction typically I do a draft then alterations.

It comes down to the fact that my drafts are completely different. It is not uncommon for my writing to change genre draft to draft. When I do a new draft I metaphorically blow it up and only salvage the very best. Sometimes all that remains is a title and a character name.

It's funny. by JulyFlame on 2016-02-26 17:53:00 UTC Link to this

To be honest, up until recently having a straight draft and not just something that I repeatedly tweaked was a pretty recent thing for me; it's much harder to keep on tweaking when you're writing on paper. You just have to keep going. (Which might explain the relative amount of productiveness I've squeezed out lately.)

But truly, that's the point of drafts- to have something to rework and tweak into a better story with the next version.

With Stormbreak, for example, I wrote the vast majority in a tiny notebook that could fit into my pocket, whenever I thought I had the time or could sneak in a few sentences. Sometimes this was in the dark (protip: Avoid doing that when you can).

Afterwards, I'd retype what I had into my tablet, generally in large chunks so I'd get a page or three typed up at a time.

Between the amount of time it took, progression in the story in the notebook itself, and being unable to read some of my handwriting (each section would usually get a small label that'd tell me a quick summary), I'd change things to suit later details and keep the pace how I wanted it to go once it hit the actual point of being typed.

Whenever we hit a port and I got wifi, I'd sync it so it could get read and have discrepencies and other errors pointed out, at which point I'd change the things that caused those issues.

So the published version is closer to about... two and a half drafts of work.

I'm also finding out that working with an outline- even the most limited of ones- actually helps make it go a lot faster when it comes to not writing myself into a knot and keeping things going apace.

The madness of my method: by doctorlit on 2016-02-26 13:22:00 UTC Link to this

Once I've written out a story, I force myself to wait at least a week without actually touching it. Then, I reread the entire thing in one go, correcting errors as I go and making notes about anything that needs to change. Then I look at all the things in my notes, and rework those sections of the story as best I can.

Then, I wait another week and reread the whole story again, then repeat the revision process. The week-long waits are to make me lose familiarity with my story, so I don't tend to skim as much, and am forced to examine each sentence more closely.

After this revision is usually when I start seeking out betas, assuming I'm happy with the product at this point.

Depending on whether the particular story is something I can work on easily from work (which isn't often; my workplace is a zoo, after all), I may write out an earlier draft on paper there and transfer it to computer at home later. I've found this is also useful for catching mistakes and fixing issues, since I have to copy literally every word over again.

—doctorlit is made of anal-retention and precision

I don't use drafts per se. by Desdendelle on 2016-02-26 08:45:00 UTC Link to this

I'm more of a serial tweaker; I write something, then tweak it until I'm satisfied. If I discard something, I probably won't write it. The only exception is when schoolwork forces me to use drafts, in which case I do.

Same here. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-26 17:20:00 UTC Link to this

I do occasionally go through a process of "pulling out the seams" and reworking large passages for better overall flow and cohesion, but I never rewrite an entire piece from a blank page.

~Neshomeh

[sounds the beta call!] by DawnFire on 2016-02-26 17:52:00 UTC Link to this

Hullo! Are you a beta? Do you have a little free time? Would you like to read over a short mission?

This 'job' might be for you!

Join Agents Dawn and Kozar in a past mission to the Torchwood canon! Canon knowledge not essential; SPaG and, primarily, story flow a plus!

Interested? Sign up below!

1-2 betas wanted, 3 at most. I'm hoping to get this out soon, but 'soon' can mean next week or the week after quite easily (especially considering it's Friday already!)

Thanks in advance,

~DF

And that should be enough betas. Thanks! (nm) by DawnFire on 2016-02-26 20:21:00 UTC Link to this

You know I'm always up for it. by Scapegrace on 2016-02-26 18:33:00 UTC Link to this

Angry letters to the usual address - harry heath 99 at the place where the mail is hot. =]

And you're in too! by DawnFire on 2016-02-26 20:21:00 UTC Link to this

(of course). We've been out of touch for far too long. How're you? :)

And, of course, thanks for volunteering :) It's good to have you on board.

~DF

Put me out, coach! by Matt Cipher on 2016-02-26 18:16:00 UTC Link to this

I may not be the best at SPaG, but I can help with the flow.

Also added! by DawnFire on 2016-02-26 20:19:00 UTC Link to this

And thanks for volunteering!

~DF

Ah, right, you should have my mail already. (nm) by Matt Cipher on 2016-02-26 18:37:00 UTC Link to this

*Raises hand* by EileenAlphabet on 2016-02-26 18:12:00 UTC Link to this

I've seen Torchwood and I can check for story flow and some SPaG. Although you'll want to get someone else to fix commas, because I can't set those to save my own life.
And best of all, I've got some days off next week. :)

Added! by DawnFire on 2016-02-26 20:18:00 UTC Link to this

Also, wonderful :) And hi! Don't think we've talked before, but I'm excited (and have read and enjoyed your missions, hence the excitement). Thanks for volunteering!

~DF

Also, email by EileenAlphabet on 2016-02-26 18:21:00 UTC Link to this

Don't know why there's not a link in my username, but anywho it's eileenalphabet@gmail.com

PokÃ©mon Sun and Moon! EEEEE! by The Skarmory who Says Squee on 2016-02-26 22:38:00 UTC Link to this

http://www.polygon.com/2016/2/26/11119466/pokemon-sun-and-moon-release-date-nintendo-direct-announcement

Nintendo announced this morning that Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are the next new games in the franchise. The games will launch worldwide on Nintendo 3DS this holiday season[...]

The news came from the company's special Pokémon-centric Nintendo Direct, held today in advance of the series' 20th anniversary tomorrow, Feb. 27. Fans discovered Pokémon Sun and Moon ahead of the official reveal, however, when the logos and trademark applications turned up yesterday in a European trademark database.

Pokémon Sun and Moon are the first mainline Pokémon games since Pokémon X and Y, which launched on Nintendo 3DS in 2013. These were followed by Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, which were 3DS remakes of 2003's Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire on Game Boy Advance.

Although little else is known yet about the two games comprising Pokémon's next generation of role-playing games, a new legendary Pokémon was recently unveiled. It's expected that Magearna, who will premiere in this summer's newest Pokémon movie, is the first of generation seven's new collectible monsters.

Say it with me, everyone: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

A bit less excited. by Hardric on 2016-02-27 15:35:00 UTC Link to this

Since I lack a 3DS, but I'll look for the new Pokemons. Hope the Fire type starter will be nice. (And they won't take inspiration from these 'seventh generations'...)

I understood absolutely nothing said in that video. by Fasoula on 2016-02-28 01:24:00 UTC Link to this

And yet I still somehow got a number of hearty giggles out of it. I think that is an testament to the awesome powers of community these games posses.

Pokemon! Shattering language barriers since 1996!

I AM EXCITE!!! by Scapegrace on 2016-02-27 14:46:00 UTC Link to this

*flailing*

Also, have an interesting video:-

POTENTIAL SPOILERS

Oh my gosh... by Fasoula on 2016-02-27 00:16:00 UTC Link to this

At first, I thought that a new generation seemed a bit premature, but X & Y were released three years ago. I had to do a double take when I heard that. What in the world happened to all that time?

I am more than pumped for the new generation, but I haven't even gotten to play the old one yet! I really need to step up my Pokemon game.

OH MY GOODNESS! by DCCCV on 2016-02-27 00:11:00 UTC Link to this

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A FANGAME! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

so i guess there's no pokemon z?
9ive used too many caps, broke my shift key0

My pleasure. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-02-27 00:06:00 UTC Link to this

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I saw the news about the TM filings on Serebii by son_of_heaven176 on 2016-02-26 23:34:00 UTC Link to this

and JWIttz confirmed it today! So:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

AAAAAAAAAAA by Iximaz on 2016-02-26 23:08:00 UTC Link to this

Heard about this yesterday, but it's great to have it officially confirmed!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

What if Elsa and Anna aren't sisters? Theory video below. by Silenthunder on 2016-02-26 22:56:00 UTC Link to this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhf9dekzyq4

And now for something completely different... by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-27 01:18:00 UTC Link to this

...an Intelligence report, courtesy of some blocky green thing. Warning: Original fic is NSFW/NSFB.

Special thanks to S.M.F. and domirossi for beta-reading!

*nopes on outta here* (nm) by eatpraylove on 2016-02-29 13:28:00 UTC Link to this

A wise choice. (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-29 17:40:00 UTC Link to this

*Whimpering sounds* by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-28 08:08:00 UTC Link to this

Poor agent

Salvo's a spy, technically, but I can't agree more. D'8 (nm) by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-29 00:40:00 UTC Link to this

I feel so sorry for Salvo. by DCCCV on 2016-02-27 02:32:00 UTC Link to this

I'm assuming that the fic is less about Silent Hill and Dora, and more on the Bleep-ish side? I hope this isn't what Silent Hill is really like. (This does not paint me a good picture of what my cousin did on my Wii.)

As disturbing as Silent Hill is in canon... by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-27 04:05:00 UTC Link to this

...I don't think pedophilia is one of the things it deals with; even if sexuality is a pretty common theme in the games, including a lot of the monsters looking like naked people, almost everyone involved was probably legal or older. Which is why to me, the way this fic tried to sexualize a SEVEN-YEAR-OLD-GIRL (or whatever age Dora is in canon) was so, SO much worse. D:

Oh, I've got a brilliant idea for this... by GlarnBoudin on 2016-03-01 17:37:00 UTC Link to this

OK, I never thought I would ever hear the phrase 'Sex God Pyramid Head' in my lifetime, but there you go.

*Ahem*

This is almost definitely a replacement of Pyramid Head. The canonical character is honestly more of a manifestation of the player character's psyche than anything else, and is specific to that one character in particular. Since Silent Hill is a manifestation of that character's mind, the very fact that Dora is even [i]in[/i] the town, a world created by the shattered mind of a broken man, is a massive charge.

But we can use this to our advantage: Pyramid Head also seems to act as an executioner of wicked humans (At least, according to the wiki). My idea for getting rid of the replacement? Just portal the real Pyramid Head in front of the replacement and let the canon character disembowel him. And for the love of canon, get it on film.

Also, those 'seamen' that Sex God Pyramid Head was covered by will need to be neuralyzed and sent somewhere, too-World One will do fine.

All good points, but... (NSFW) by SkarmorySilver on 2016-03-01 23:50:00 UTC Link to this

...I get the feeling I probably shouldn't spork this fic myself, for two reasons. The first is that the fic itself is pretty short, only four chapters and not much in the way of subject matter despite all that prose. (A matter of personal taste, of course - I did spork a 2-chapter fic once, and also one with chapters that were literally just short paragraphs.)

Secondly, and more importantly, I point-blank refuse to touch ANYTHING involving straight-up pedophilia. Even if I COULD get a story out of something this short, I've already seen the back end of a couple of nasty fics and I've had to scrounge a bit for mission-worthy content for some of them. Sadly, for my taste, a monstrous character replacement intending to bang a freaking seven-year-old offers absolutely no humor-worthy material at all, and worse yet, there's not much else besides exactly that in this fic. If anyone else is courageous enough to try their luck with it, I'd be happy to see the outcome, but I just don't think I can make an interesting mission out of it.

Besides, I don't have or plan to have a WhatThe team, and my DIC team would probably want my head on a pole if I sent them something this traumatizing. XD

(Also, for future reference, please tag posts mentioning NSFW content as such in the subject line. We're trying to keep this a family-friendly place and in all honesty our underage peers could do without any unpleasant surprises. ^^;)

You're missing the important part here. by Scapegrace on 2016-03-02 02:17:00 UTC Link to this

The way the town works in Silent Hill is that it punishes you with the contents of your mind, all your past sins, the things you're still beating yourself up for day after day, deep down. The effect I can see this having on Dora the Explorer is, to quote Men In Black, precisely dick. So the mission in this is, well, Dora having an adventure in a happy little seaside town in New England somewhere.

Finally, a new mission! by Iximaz on 2016-02-27 03:07:00 UTC Link to this

Somehow I managed to get this done typing out a sentence here and there between homework. Yay me.

The Aviator and Zeb head back into Doctor Who where they run into a most annoying Sue.

Next stop, Neverland!

That was very satisfying by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-28 08:15:00 UTC Link to this

. . . Neverland? I'm afraid.

Wat canon and logic ever did to her? by Hardric on 2016-02-27 11:16:00 UTC Link to this

Also, first time I see a SUEDIS. Kudos for the kill.

The mission is just as fun as usual. Hope the next one we'll be as much interesting.

Very good, as usual. by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-27 10:11:00 UTC Link to this

I loved the ruckus in the end, but I would've loved to actually see the SUEDIS being hurled into the sun, too.

Also, that Sue made me facepalm. Really?

OT: Minecraft Horses by DCCCV on 2016-02-27 04:16:00 UTC Link to this

I was messing around on the Protectorate of Plort map, and I decided to test one of the most powerful horses known in minecraft, with a command block. This command was originally devised by a guy named Direranger50 on a LOtR server, in which he was trying to create a steed faster than Edward_Blum's horse, which was appropriately named "Sanic". I have adapted it to work in 1.8, and I dare you to try tame this thing. I believe this thing can be truly named "Shadowfax"; it ran across Plort in less than 20 seconds. Here is the command:
/summon EntityHorse ~0 ~1 ~0 {Attributes:[{Name:generic.maxHealth,Base:1000.000},{Name:generic.movementSpeed,Base:2.0},{Name:horse.jumpStrength,Base:99.0}],Type:0,Tame:1,SaddleItem:{id:329}}

Note: Even with a movement speed of 2, this horse will still run at absurd speeds, i.e., faster than my framerate. This horse must be spawned in tame, or else it will be impossible to catch, much less ride.

What do you think?

It's entirely inappropriate... by Huinesoron on 2016-02-27 08:42:00 UTC Link to this

... to spawn him in as tame. Shadowfax has no master. ;)

(Was he the right colour?)

hS

Request by Anonymous on 2016-02-27 04:34:00 UTC Link to this

Hi...I'm just wondering...Can I join the PPC? Just curious...

Re: Request by Slothgirl on 2016-02-28 22:07:00 UTC Link to this

I may be a little late here, but welcome!

Welcome! by Cat-on-the-Keyboard on 2016-02-28 07:40:00 UTC Link to this

Hi! I'm Key, and welcome to the Board, fellow newbie. We can be confused together.

Have a Carry On-verse sour cherry scone. They're much better than Britain's. (Universe hopping is possibly my favorite part of the PPC.)

And, please, Prussia may THINK he's awesome, but it's so obvious he's trying vainly to surpass Hungary -- I mean, you look great in that cloak.

Hi there! Have a Black Cloak of Swirly Awesomeness! by Silenthunder on 2016-02-28 01:26:00 UTC Link to this

So you'll always look awesome! Of course you can join us!

Thanks by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-28 02:30:00 UTC Link to this

So basically as awesome as Prussia?

Welcome to Creation, here's your shovel. by Voyd on 2016-02-27 15:30:00 UTC Link to this

This magic shovel digs up feels!

... ow my heart.

Reply by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-28 02:33:00 UTC Link to this

Are you okay? A magic shovel that does that is kind of dangerous...You better get to a medic or something...

Hello newbie. by Hardric on 2016-02-27 12:55:00 UTC Link to this

Have some black-hole chocolates, please. It's normal they suck up light, don't worry about it.

Thanks by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-27 14:01:00 UTC Link to this

...Is it bad I'm probably not going to eat those? Don't worry, I'm still going to have a bite or two, just not going to eat all of them.

Hello, newbie! by Desdendelle on 2016-02-27 12:50:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome on-Board! Here, have this cup of Lapsang Souchong tea. It's not quite sure whether it smells like a campfire or not, so be gentle with it, aright?
What, you also want a cute rodent?
*grumps*
Fine, fine. You can have this gerbil, too.

Thanks by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-27 13:54:00 UTC Link to this

Thank you for the tea, I'll take good care of it...

The gerbil is adorable, I'll call it Bohol, thanks!

If you think you can handle it. (nm) by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-02-27 06:09:00 UTC Link to this

Reply by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-27 14:11:00 UTC Link to this

I'm sure I can handle it, what's the (nm) part mean?

I'm glad, Soldier. by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-02-28 02:02:00 UTC Link to this

Welcome to the bloodbath.
Soap's that way.

Reply by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-28 02:35:00 UTC Link to this

I see...Is the soap running out or something There seems to be a lot of blood.

(nm) means 'no message'. by Iximaz on 2016-02-27 14:57:00 UTC Link to this

Sometimes people forget it automatically fills in, and that's when you get NM&NMs. :) Have some!

(nm) (nm)

Reply by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-27 15:14:00 UTC Link to this

Thank you for the clarification...And the (nm)s...I think

Welcome! by DCCCV on 2016-02-27 05:43:00 UTC Link to this

Why not? Have some scones, they may or may not be darkness-infused. (Yes, I'm just going to slowly give more and more info about how I get these scones.) Look around, get to know people. I think you'll enjoy it here.

Reply by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-27 14:45:00 UTC Link to this

Sco-scones?! Are you familiar with the Hetalia - Axis Powers fandom? Because most fans (Unless they're Anglophiles) are NEVER going to eat scones, all because of one character's horrible cooking...Which nearly killed all of the ones that bit a small part...

But thanks I guess...

Welcome aBoard! by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-27 04:38:00 UTC Link to this

You can choose a username if you like. We've all got one of those, actually, so I'd highly recommend that option. Especially since it's free of charge. ;)

Anyway, have one of my own shed feathers and a complimentary kit of Spikes!

Thanks by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-27 06:33:00 UTC Link to this

Err...Thank you? I really have no idea what exactly the feather and Spikes for but they look pretty...Shiny...

According to the Pokedex in Emerald... by eatpraylove on 2016-02-27 23:58:00 UTC Link to this

People used shed Skarmory feathers to make swords or knives in the past. (source: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Skarmory_%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29) If you're not a sword or knife person, I'm sure the feather will make a lovely wall decoration. :)

And by the way, welcome! Here's a pack of sticky notes and a box of popcorn to eat while you read the Original Series and Constitution! Enjoy your stay!

Absolutely! by Iximaz on 2016-02-27 04:36:00 UTC Link to this

Hey there, Anonymous! Got a name? Have a plate of welcome SPaGhetti!

If you haven't yet read them, may I point you towards the Original Series and the Constitution? They're pretty much the only required reading around these parts. Another useful resource you might use is the Wiki; if you have any questions, just look here before asking. We like it when newbies do the research. ;)

So tell us a little about yourself! Besides the name, what PPC stories have you read? What fandoms do you belong to?

Oh yes, one more thing: *glomp* *poke*

Answers by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-27 05:21:00 UTC Link to this

I honestly haven't read any yet...But does OFUs count? I mean, in the wiki those stories were there so...

As for my fandoms? Hetalia - Axis Powers is my favorite, mostly because to make an OC for that particular fandom you have to research lots or risk offending the masses of history nerds AKA Hetalia fans. But I also like Katekyo Hitman Reborn, all Rick Riordan books, Harry Potter, Bleach (Or at least the fanfiction), Naruto, One Piece and many more~!

...Ha-hands off please!

God, I remember being part of that fandom. by Scapegrace on 2016-02-27 14:38:00 UTC Link to this

Designing a Kent OC who looked not dissimilar to Goldberry and whose defining character trait was a crisis of faith was, well, slightly odd. =]

Also please accept this starter Pokémon:-

Iiiiiit's Spoink!

And your starting item is:-

Blessing of Tlaloc (Body) from Ascendant!

So, the Blessing of Tlaloc (Body) is a fantastic item for setup sweepers, since it heals the holder for 25% of the target's health if you KO them. This gives you less to worry about if you are setting up with a decently powerful 'mon, which Spoink can be if you play them right. Try a Modest one and give it EVs in Special Attack and Speed, with a couple in HP, then give it Calm Mind, Psyshock, Signal Beam, and Power Gem - the last works really well at dealing with things like Murkrow. Just remember to have fun! =]

Thanks by Amara Kaltherzeig on 2016-02-27 14:52:00 UTC Link to this

Yeah that is slightly odd...

Ah! A Spoink! It's adorable! Thank you for the advice, I'll put it to good use.

Character heights by JulyFlame on 2016-02-27 10:59:00 UTC Link to this

Earlier today- by which I mean late in the night- I was doing some preliminary stuff for both doodles and other things, and realized that I hadn't really thought about all my PPC characters' heights, outside of how they immediately relate to a few of the others on a one on one basis.

What I noticed actually kinda surprised me, since it turns out more than a few of my active/planned characters are on the tall side.

So here's where I wonder, how's everyone else's add up?

-July, who'll post her lot in a reply to this.

My lot by Phobos on 2016-02-28 05:56:00 UTC Link to this

Barid: 7'1" if he is standing up. He usually slouches, though, so he comes down to 6'4".

Brightbeard: 4'4", a respectable height for a Dwarf.

Decima: "Tall enough to kick your ass!" She's short. It's a touchy subject. I estimate (from a safe distance) that she's just shy of 5'.

Durotar and Kur'nak: Durotar, being a mini, is about 2'6". Kur'nak is a little taller, at 6'7".

Agent!Phobos: He's me, which makes him 6'1".

Oopart: He's a bit on the short side for a guy, 5'6"

-Phobos

Bucking the trend... by SeaTurtle on 2016-02-28 02:34:00 UTC Link to this

It's metric time!

Gaspard: around 1.78m, but slouches all the time. People are always very surprised when he straightens up and turns out to be slightly taller than them.

Harris: 1.83m, and likes to brag about it. It's insufferable.

The Guardsman: about 2m tall, not counting his tricorn.

Naya: 1.72m, but her environmental suit is adding a couple of centimetres to her height.

Terabyte: its combat platform stands at a flat 1.82m. The software part of it, however... That's gonna be a bit hard to measure with a ruler.

My own characters. by PoorCynic on 2016-02-27 23:17:00 UTC Link to this

Laura — 5'6"
Danny — 6'1"
James — 6'
Rachel — 5'5"
Gremlin — between 5'2" and 5'3", leaning more closely towards the latter
Xericka — 6'
Cornelius — height varies due to holographic nature; typically is about 5'10" when in human disguise
Teyala — 5'6"

Xericka's height wasn't specified in her fic of origin. Because of her lack of characterization in that story, I envisioned her as being almost like a human-looking Dusk; stretched out, pale, and a bit alien. Obviously she's not a Dusk, but it inspired her design.

I didn't really notice before now that two of my three male characters are on the tall side. That might be because I'm very tall myself (6'3") and come from a family with a lot of tall men in it. I will admit that's sometime has skewed how I see height in general.

William's 6'3" and VJ's 5'7" (nm) by Matt Cipher on 2016-02-27 20:51:00 UTC Link to this

Za'kiir is five nine, Natalie is five three. (nm) by Silenthunder on 2016-02-27 18:47:00 UTC Link to this

Re: Character heights by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-27 17:00:00 UTC Link to this

AGENTS:

Falchion: Skarmory is 5'7", so Falc is that height as well. Last I checked, I'm around 5'8", so that means Falc's human disguise is also of that height... not much height difference, really.

Rashida: Rashida's lion parts are the exact same size as those of a lioness; female Masai lions are around 3.6 feet at the shoulder. In human disguise, Rashida is just barely shorter than Falc, at 5'5".

Sarah: 5'2" according to the Wiki, but I'm thinking of making her 5'4" now because of her stay in the PPC.

Rayner: The Wiki states that he's 4'8", but that was when I first wrote him. I'm thinking of bumping him up to 5' now that he's been around for a year or two.

E.V.L.: 6'3", the tallest among my agents.

Ripper: In an obvious homage to the infamous "six-foot-turkey" line in the first Jurassic Park movie, Ripper is exactly 6 feet tall in human disguise. As a dinosaur, he's huge even for his species, more similar in scale to the Jurassic Park "raptors" than the real Deinonychus, which is 2.9 feet at the shoulder and 11.2 feet long. Ripper is almost twice that size, at around 18 feet long and again, 6 feet tall from head to toe.

Cupid: Same as canon Pit, who has been confirmed by the game devs for KI:U to be 5'3".

Lapis: One of my missions specifically cited her as being 4'9", so I'm sticking with that. Though maybe bump that up to 4'10"? Still, Lapis is the shortest of my agents by far.

Backslash: According to Palutena's Guidance in SSB4, Shulk is 5'6" (yes, shorter than Little Mac, who's 5'7"). Since Backslash was a former Shulk replacement, well...

Whitney: It's never stated how tall the Wii Fit Trainer is, so I'll kinda wing it for this one. Since Whitney is said to tower over Backslash, I'll just pull 6'1" out of my butt and call it an answer.

OTHER CHARACTERS:

Salvo: Going by Minecraft dimensions, about 5'4", both mob and human.

Brenda: Rapidash is 5'7" in height, so Brenda is that as both horse-on-fire and human.

Feratu: Richard Grayson's New Earth portrayal (as Nightwing) cites him as being 5'10". Sure, let's go with that.

Tianlong: Hm, tricky. His dragon form can only really be measured by length; he's 30 feet long in this form. Disguised as a human, I'd say he's 6'2".

Suta: Surprisingly small for a T. rex - around 30 feet long and 10 feet tall at the hip. Also quite short as a human, only 5'.

-----

So, height-wise, the order of my characters from shortest to tallest (human forms for simplicity) is as follows: Lapis, Rayner, Suta, Cupid, Sarah, Salvo, Rashida, Backslash, Falchion, Brenda, Feratu, Ripper, Whitney, Tianlong, and E.V.L.

Mine. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-27 16:05:00 UTC Link to this

In Action:

Nume - 6'1"

Ilraen - also 6'1", not including stalk-eyes. His human form is shorter, but still a decent 5'8".

Derik - 6'2", same as Gerard Butler. He's the tallest of all my agents.

Gall - at 5'4", she's a genuine short person, but she doesn't let that stop her.

The FicPsych crew run the gamut:

Immac - at 5'1", she's quite tiny.

Suzine - 5'5"

Mirrad - 5'5.5", with the crest. Minbari are a short people.

Elms - 5'6"

Jenni - 5'7"

Alex B. - 5'8"

Parwill - 5'9"

Dr. Freedenberg - 5'10", like Alec Guinness (though for some reason my site says 5'9"; will fix).

Nathonea - I dunno, but I picture her being on the taller side.

Frédéric De Grasse - isn't mine, but is 5'11".

Others:

Henry - tall for his age, whatever that means when you're six. He'll probably end up around 5'10"; not as tall as Severus, but rather taller than Harry thanks to not growing up half-starved in a cupboard.

Agent Neshomeh - being me, she's 5'5" and can't really complain about being short even though she still has trouble reaching high places.

Cameo - 5'3". She has to reach up to put that neuralyzer in your face.

~Neshomeh, who pretty much figures that anyone taller than her is tall and anyone shorter than her is short.

I'm fond of height extremes... by Voyd on 2016-02-27 15:40:00 UTC Link to this

Valon: Six-foot-six. That's seven taller than I am, but then he's an exaggeration.

Kala: Four-seven, both in disguise and natural form.

Chakkik: Six-four in disguise. He's still way bigger than Valon from sheer muscle mass.

Adéle: Four-four. She's a Touhou character; being itty-bitty is kinda necessary.

Gabby: Four-nine, or five-two if you count her horns.

Stephanie: Hard to measure, thanks to how her legs work. Normally she seems about eleven or twelve feet tall, but that's with her legs coiled. If stretched out, her full length is either twenty-five feet (from her head to the ends of her legs) or forty (from her head to the ends of her tentacles).

Zeke: Hard to measure, since I can never decide if the guy has legs or not. No more than six feet, but no less than five.

Publica: However tall Kimihito Kurusu is.

Leyuu: A foot and a half. He's a baby, after all.

RE: Character heights by eatpraylove on 2016-02-27 15:28:00 UTC Link to this

Interesting question. I put Chris as 5'9" back when Neshomeh made people loads of agent IDs, which is taller than the average Japanese guy but average for a South Korean guy. (Assuming guys reach their adult height at twenty.)

Ami is a bit short for a pony, so I did a little research and ended up with five and a half hands high. One "hand" = 4 inches, so Ami is twenty-two inches tall. It says 5.5hh on her ID, but after doing a little more research, I've learned that a) X.2 is the proper way to notate "X and a half hands high" and b) 5.5hh would correctly be written as 6.1hh, or twenty-five inches tall.
TL;DR - I messed up the math and Ami might be three inches taller than I said she was. She's got plenty of room to grow, so I'm not that concerned.

I haven't figured out much about Miguel at all yet, including his height. Hopefully writing more stuff featuring him in the future will help me flesh out his character.

Violet is exactly my height: 4'11.5". I know this because her author put that right at the beginning of the story she used to feature in.

My guys by Iximaz on 2016-02-27 14:52:00 UTC Link to this

Rina, being me, was 5'7". She regenerated before she reached her full height, mwaha.
Second Rina/Aviator was ridiculously tall at an even six feet.
Third Aviator is 5'10".
The Fourth Aviator who's been showing up in those TYHs is 6'4", like the adult Alex.

Alex came into the PPC at 6'2", is currently 6"3", and will reach his final height within the year.

Zeb as a Pokémon is actually a little bit short for a Luxray—4'5" at the shoulder. (Normal height is 4'7".) As a human, he's 6'1".

Farilan is dainty and stands at 5'6", including the stalk-eyes.

I have trouble conceptualizing people/character height. by doctorlit on 2016-02-27 13:39:00 UTC Link to this

I guess it's the same problem behind my facial recognition difficulty, and not noticing what people are wearing? Which all combines into the reason describing characters in general is my biggest weakness; I really don't file away those details for people the way I do for places and things.

As a result, I don't generally assign heights to my characters, because I don't have a great understanding of how that affects their other physical . . . interactions? With the world.

Doc must be 5'8" since he's me (I haven't grown in years), and Vania's wiki page says she is 5'3", though I have no memory of putting that there. I imagine Séverine and Yoof to be a bit taller than Doc, with Séverine being the taller of the two.

I'm not even bothering with the class of Nursery kids I'm cooking up in my head. I don't know what heights would be correct for the age range, and also one is a centaur and the other a teeny robot.

—doctorlit spends too much time in his head to be aware of things like physical proportions

Hrm. by Desdendelle on 2016-02-27 12:46:00 UTC Link to this

Since Des is a self insert, he's roughly 175 cm (5'9").
The Librarian is noticeably taller — 185 cm (6'1").
Anebrin is noted (in "Of Course I Still Love You") as being 5'10", or 178 cm.
Navare, I imagine, is roughly of height with Des, give or take a few centimetres.
Amris is roughly the size of a melon, so it's got a circumference of roughly 30 cm (1').

Here are mine. by Hardric on 2016-02-27 11:19:00 UTC Link to this

Richard is about 180 cm with 5'11'', and Marina is pretty much 163cm tall, or 5'4''.

My lot by JulyFlame on 2016-02-27 11:18:00 UTC Link to this

Jason, being a whole 12 years old is about 5 foot even. ~~...He doesn't really count but it makes me feel better about myself.~~
Agents July and JF, being mostly the same person physically both top out at a whopping 5'1.
Next is Ibis of BM, who is the second(ish) shortest adult at 5'3.
Colt, also of BM, is also on the shorter side, due to being a half-elf- he's only 5'4.
Cody (DoSAT), Sally (DMS), and Day (Improbable AUs) all hit the mark of 5'6.
Shauna, Sally's friend (and partner) stands a bit taller at 5'7.
At first, I was really only thinking that Gerry was my only tall girl, except I was thinking only in terms of BM at the time- Library's pretty willowy herself, and both women stand at 5'8.
Denny's still got some growing in him and is currently at 5'9.
Rosedale's on the tall side at 6'2, but doesn't beat...
Sax (Improbable), who's at a ridiculous 6'6 and still growing.

Also it occurs to me... by JulyFlame on 2016-02-27 18:13:00 UTC Link to this

I had placed Library's height wrong elseplace earlier, because being the short thing I am I had entirely pegged someone else's height wrong (who I'd been using as a mental measure of how tall Library is supposed to be). Whoops.

Let's see... by Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-27 11:10:00 UTC Link to this

Both Sergio and Nikki are on the tall-tallish side, being 180 and 170 cm respectively. (about 5' 11" and 5" 7")

Corolla, on the other side, is really short. Her "usual size" is just a fairy-like 15 centimeters (6") (usual height for her species, though, is about twice that.) though she can morph into an human-sized form that is a still pretty short 140 cm tall ( about 4' 7")

Betas needed! by Desdendelle & Sergio Turbo on 2016-02-27 18:21:00 UTC Link to this

Betas are needed for a Ten Years Hence mission. Canon knowledge (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha) is not required as the fic we sporked is one of those "in name only" AUs. We are looking for SPaG, flow and story betas.

This mission contains:
a) mentions of domestic abuse, so TW for that;
and b) spoilers for Des' latest mission.

Any interested parties should post their email so we'll be able to share the GDoc with them.

Ok, I'll give it a whirl. (nm) by DCCCV on 2016-02-28 16:27:00 UTC Link to this

Forgot to show Email. (nm) by DCCCV on 2016-02-28 16:28:00 UTC Link to this

Shared. by Desdendelle on 2016-02-28 16:32:00 UTC Link to this

That'd be it, everybody.

Addendum by Desdendelle on 2016-02-27 18:41:00 UTC Link to this

By "latest" I mean "the one I didn't publish yet".

Tag Yourself: Limited PPC Agent Edition by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-28 03:34:00 UTC Link to this

So, I just posted the above on my Tumblr art blog, based on the "tag yourself" meme that's been circulating there as of late. I thought I'd do it with my PPC agents, and then I realized that as tongue-in-cheek as it is, doing this was also a pretty neat way for me to summarize my agents' personalities. I'm obviously Knife Birb, by the way, and also Thesaurus and Kid Bacchus.

So, quiz question: If you made a "tag yourself" meme using your agents, what sort of quirks and other traits would you list for each of them? And to fit the intent of the meme, which of your agents would you most relate to aside from your self-inserts and why?

Let's see if I've figured out how this works. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-29 19:01:00 UTC Link to this

I avoid Tumblr as a rule, but this sounded like fun. {= )

Number Guy
* Lovable jerkass, or maybe just jerkass
* Remembers all the things
* Drinks to forget; it actually works
* Sixties Kid
* No touchy
* Citrus - DO NOT WANT

Blue ~~Dear~~ Deer
* Is blue, da ba dee da ba dai
* Nice, not stupid
* Adopted kid issues
* Somebody please give him The Talk already

Scarface
* Also scarred on the inside (symbolism!)
* Drinks to forget; it doesn't work at all
* Lives for the Duty
* May or may not know the Music of the Night
* Do not f*** with dragons
* Do not f*** with music

Viking Girl
* Badass
* Better than you
* Fear me, fear my dragon
* Actually pretty smart

Psy-chick
* Pro: Florence Nightingale
* Con: Florence Nightingale Syndrome
* In your head
* Old soul, literally
* All you need is love
* And maybe tea

And stopping there. Maybe I'll do the FicPsych crew later.

As for who I'm most like besides my usual avatar... I guess that would have to be Ilraen. I often fool people into thinking I'm all sweetness and innocence until they get to know me better and I let my guard down. It's fun when they find out I actually swear and stuff. ^_^

~Neshomeh

Oh, speaking of... by Scapegrace on 2016-02-29 21:18:00 UTC Link to this

I should get off my lazy backside and do some more work on that crackfic collab we were doing once upon a time. There is no way it can end poorly. =]

On top of that... by SkarmorySilver on 2016-02-29 22:06:00 UTC Link to this

...I'm also wondering if we could continue our co-write as well. I've noticed it's been going a little too slowly, and I'd still like to see our agents give the fic in question the old one-two, so to speak. ^^;

Yup. I've been shamefully lax in that regard. by Scapegrace on 2016-02-29 23:16:00 UTC Link to this

Writing has... not been coming easily for me of late. Sorry.

Har, yes. by Neshomeh on 2016-02-29 21:50:00 UTC Link to this

I can't promise I'll be able to devote a whole lot of time to it myself, between my job and the too-many other things I'm working on, but I do want to get it written eventually. {= )

~Neshomeh

I'll throw in some quick doodles. by Iximaz on 2016-02-29 03:51:00 UTC Link to this

Aside from my old SI, I relate to Zeb the most because although crap keeps happening to him, he just keeps powering through.

My folks... by SeaTurtle on 2016-02-29 03:15:00 UTC Link to this

...on paper. I can't draw for squat-- even it that's the entire point of the meme.

Tricorn Man
+Can shoot the fleas off a dog's back at 500 yards
+Over 4100 years old
+No creaky knees yet
+Has a garden
+Has a pet rock
+Rocky is totally not a good-luck pebble he found in his boot one day
-Is over 4100 years old
-Does not like the smell of napalm in the morning

Bubble Girl
+Neeeeeeeeerd
+Solves practical problems
+Sorry not sorry
+Cool suit
-Has to live in the suit
-Can't eat chocolate
-Can't eat anything that humans eat
-Loud

Windows Vista
+Beep boop, son
+Carried by Wi-Fi
+Beep boop
+Made of math
-Battery powered
-Always broken
-Deleted system 32
-Vista

Fluffy spy
+Is a spy
+Fluffy grey fox
+Knows his ABCs
+Good handwriting
-Hates you
-Hates the PPC
-Hates everyone
-Hates himself
-Hates you
-Is sustained by a diet of (your) delicious tears

[Missing Data]
-Who?
-Maybe a spy
-Can't remember him
-Looks tired and skinny
-Acne
-Crooked nose
-Get a haircut already
-Dead inside
+Will be free one day
-But not today
-Who is this guy again?

Scanner's not working, so have some text. by doctorlit on 2016-02-28 16:40:00 UTC Link to this

Need For Read
-looks better with the glasses on
-ironically, bad at reading people
-can self-entertain for hours
-actually pretty selfish, but decent at hiding it
-snorts new book smell

Pain of Memories
-the actual main character
-hiding the fear
-pretty much made of plot spoiler right now
-bisexual? still won't tell me for sure
-determined optimism

Captain Cook
-not sure if crap chef or competent chef with crap ingredients
-has no fandoms
-#whiteguywritingnativeNewCaledonianwomanlikeheknows
-honestly, would probably make for a decent action agent, but DOES NOT WANT
-actually working on cafeteria story right now—one more draft until beta time!

Mawg, Best Friend
-definitely crap chef
-completely pointless Spaceballs fan character just because
-stomach is garbage truck/trash compactor/Charybdis OT3
-probably one of the nicest people in HQ, actually
-R.I.P. John Candy

Aaaaand ugh, I dunno. After Doc, I guess I relate to Vania the most? Séverine and Yoof don't really have much of me in them; I just sort of discovered them.

Out of Skarm's agents, Rashida's description sounds the closest to me.
. . .
What? You assumed I was a nice person?

—doctorlit is sometimes a nice person

Glitches In The Matrix by Slothgirl on 2016-02-28 22:08:00 UTC Link to this

Have any of you experienced one? It's something that fascinates me.

I have it the odd way... by Silenthunder on 2016-03-01 03:26:00 UTC Link to this

Sometimes I experience it, but then I remember having dreamed about that situation but not having done it before the dream. And sometimes I dream about checking my email, as if I'm doing it at that moment. So weird...

I both hate and love that feeling by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2016-03-01 19:26:00 UTC Link to this

Although for me when I feel like I have dreamed the situation before, it usually occurs during the entire situation. It is weird when you feel like you know exactly what is going to happen, i.e., you know what you are going to say before you think about saying it, or you know what another person is saying as they say it. It is almost in a sense like precognition, but I don't believe in that kind of stuff at all, so I suspect it is a metaphoric glitch in my metaphoric computer of a brain. Where I just feel like I know what is going to happen, not that I actually do.

Re: I have it the odd way... by Slothgirl on 2016-03-01 06:48:00 UTC Link to this

That is kinda weird!
Do your dreams ever feature you remembering a certain fact, and when you wake up you can't remember if it's a true thing that made it into the dream or if it's just something your brain made up? That happens to me a lot.

It happens. by Hardric on 2016-02-29 16:17:00 UTC Link to this

I always find it a bit weird. At least there is no green filtre.

If you are referring to Deja Vu... by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2016-02-29 03:38:00 UTC Link to this

It happens to me all the time. It gets really weird sometimes where I am convinced I know exactly what will happen. Because for me sometimes I realize it is an instance of Deja Vu. It almost works like lucid dreaming. It is just a really odd feeling.

Hmmmm.... by DCCCV on 2016-02-28 23:45:00 UTC Link to this

Maybe the fact that we are self-aware.

That's an interesting question. by Desdendelle on 2016-02-28 22:41:00 UTC Link to this

You can answer it in two ways.
1) A literal glitch in the Matrix. In this case... Um, unanswerable question, I guess?
Either a) we live in the base reality, in which case there is no Matrix for glitches to happen in, or b) we live in a simulation so good we can't "see the pixels", so to speak, in which case it's irrelevant whether it's a simulation or not.
Option c), "we live in a bad enough (from a quality PoV, not a moral one) simulation and we can see that", gets shot down by a combination of Occam's Razor and plain simple observation.
2) Metaphorically; that is, déjà vu. In this case... yeah, definitely happened to me, but nothing interesting or noticeable.

My philosophy professor once said... by Iximaz on 2016-02-28 23:39:00 UTC Link to this

"Plato is The Matrix and Descartes is Inception. Just was reminded by your point one.

If I have seen any Matrix glitches, it was probably the time I went to a pet store for guinea pig food and saw a baby cavvy that looked identical to one of mine. I took a picture for comparison (which I have sadly since deleted :( ) and their fur patterns/colors matched perfectly. Bit of a weird moment for me, but I dismissed it as pet stores getting their stock from the same breeders.

Re: My philosophy professor once said... by Slothgirl on 2016-02-29 06:55:00 UTC Link to this

Recently we had a Biology lesson where we mentioned orchids, and on the way home from school the bus takes us past a bar/restaurant/place called The Orchid. As we passed, I remembered thinking it was a coincidence when I passed it earlier in the day. Problem is, I hadn't passed it earlier in the day; I hadn't even left school premises until the bell rang. There is no way that that memory could have been real, and I know I might have just been associating it with the font on a library book (my mind plays tricks like that sometimes), but it felt really vivid.

False memories... by Desdendelle on 2016-02-29 15:22:00 UTC Link to this

Are very much a thing. One guy told me that that's a good way to tell a convincing lie, even; you internalise it to the point you think it's the truth.

I wanted to make a subject-line Blade Runner joke. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-29 15:59:00 UTC Link to this

But I couldn't compress it down short enough.

The tortoise lays on its back, its belly baking in the hot sun, beating its legs trying to turn itself over. But it can't. Not with out your help. But you're not helping. Why is that?

hS

That feeling... by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2016-02-29 08:04:00 UTC Link to this

It gets real odd when you feel like you've experienced entire conversations before.

Re: That feeling... by Slothgirl on 2016-02-29 14:54:00 UTC Link to this

I know!

Grandma Cipher and the Chamber of Secrets by Matt Cipher on 2016-02-29 14:59:00 UTC Link to this

I'm just reserving this space to let you know that it's happening today. To anyone who's actually interested, look forward to it. I know I am! :D

Change of plans: We're doing The Two Towers by Matt Cipher on 2016-02-29 18:01:00 UTC Link to this

Unfortunately, CoS wouldn't play due to some sort of error, and the Internet here is not the greatest. We've decided to change to LotR for now.

This is good, too. {= ) (nm) by Neshomeh on 2016-02-29 18:07:00 UTC Link to this

Re: Grandma Cipher and the Chamber of Secrets by Slothgirl on 2016-02-29 15:41:00 UTC Link to this

Can't wait to hear about it!

Beta Confusion by Slothgirl on 2016-02-29 15:39:00 UTC Link to this

There are a couple of things about beta readers that I haven't been able to figure out from the wiki.
1) Do you put out a request before or after asking for Permission?
2) Do you have to have your samples beta read?
3) Is having a beta mandatory or just strongly recommended?
Sorry if these are stupid questions.

I would recommend by Bramandin on 2016-03-04 16:13:00 UTC Link to this

I think that if you do get a beta, get a boarder. My beta didn't know anything about the PPC or what you look for. Still, he was better than nothing.

Re: Beta Confusion by ratbrainbasher on 2016-03-02 01:43:00 UTC Link to this

1): Betas are not necessarily related to permission, though in the case of permission you would want to have your stuff looked over first, posted second.

2): No, you don't have to. It's still one of the better ideas, though. There's a reason editors exist.

3): See number two. Very, very little here is considered mandatory, however, there are some things that are so common sense that you'd have to be crazy not to do them. Having a beta or two look over your stuff is the same way.

Some answers. by Huinesoron on 2016-02-29 15:56:00 UTC Link to this

1/ You ask for a beta before you make your story publically available. If that story is a Permission piece, you'll need to ask for a beta before you use it to ask for Permission. If the story is a mission that you plan on posting after you get Permission, then you'll probably get some very funny looks asking for a beta before you do have Permission.

2/ & 3/ No, beta-readers are not mandatory, though I know a few people who would love to make them so. ^_~ But they are strongly recommended. (Me personally, I think that if you get your samples beta'd without intending to have betas for your missions/other PPC writings, you're misrepresenting the finished product. But that's pure hS-is-weird.)

hS (is weird)

Thanks! by Slothgirl on 2016-02-29 18:45:00 UTC Link to this

Thank you for helping!
Would a person be able to submit unbetaed samples with their Permission request but have a beta for their actual writings?

Of course. by Huinesoron on 2016-03-01 12:36:00 UTC Link to this

My concern - and, in order not to mislead you, I should note that it's been specifically rejected in the past by... either Neshomeh or Araeph, I forget - is that if you have a beta for your samples but not for your stories, you're getting Permission based on more polished work than you actually intend to publish. You know how sometimes you see a movie and it turns out the trailer was much better than the whole thing? That.

Doing it the other way round, though, just means people will be pleasantly surprised at the improvement after you get Permission. ;)

hS

Re: Of course. by Slothgirl on 2016-03-01 13:09:00 UTC Link to this

Makes sense.

Yeah. by Desdendelle on 2016-02-29 18:51:00 UTC Link to this

As hS said, betas aren't mandatory, just strongly recommended.

Drama stuff by Bramandin on 2016-02-29 16:12:00 UTC Link to this

The dogpiling did not help. That thread is now a mess that is beyond my ability to go through it in an orderly fashion.

I'm sorry for the backwards apologies I made.

Most of this mask came from interacting with a group that probably wasn't good to interact with, and I apologize for gauging that you were like them. They would say hurtful things and then get offended that I didn't respond. Then they would demand apologies when I pointed out that it was hurtful. Apologizing for being wrong when I was right seemed to appease them.

You were really starting to seem like the type that would rather have that than me disagreeing with you. I apologize for hurting you with that criticism. I am seeing a lot of my attempts to explain myself being shut-down and ignored, and people reading sub-texts that aren't there.

I think that you are attributing my problems with understanding to malice when it is not. What you seem to be attributing to argumentativeness is that I'm prodding you to say things another way or clarifying things to make sure that we're both on similar pages. I need to know that the other person knows where I'm coming from and to really understand where they're coming from. I'd like tips on how to get things clarified without making it seem like I'm rejecting advice.

At this point I would like to apologize properly, but I'm going to need people who want apologies to step forward and say what the problem is instead of me having to guess.

Iximaz, I'm sorry that it took more effort to try and help me than just pointing out the first obvious problem and call it a day. I did not mean to get “snippy” when I pointed out what was causing the problem that I already knew about. Is it “snippy” if you point out some water on the floor and I say there's a burst pipe that we gotta stop instead of grabbing a mop?

Unless you can remind me of a good piece of advice I didn't understand, missed, or forgot about, stop screaming that I'm not following any of it. I had forgotten about the not taking it literally part, so I ran a prompt through a couple rounds of translate so I couldn't read it. That didn't help, but translating it back to English changed it enough that I can work with it. For Desdendelle's advice that I should find a way to make her do something she doesn't want to do, I'm still deciding if mind-puppeting or just threatening to kill her is funnier even though I don't want to take either route.

The only ableism I'm complaining about is Desdendelle constantly saying that I'm not trying hard enough. It's not the amount of effort, it's the approach that I'm using, and Kelly might still be a bad character.

However, I think that Desdendelle made a bad assumption. “I didn't know a single person who likes being told that exactly what they're doing wrong.” “Unless I'm missing something here, you're basically going "since you didn't praise what I wrote, you're meen and you're picking on me because I have a learning disability!"” What I'm mad about is that I got yelled at and made to feel stupid for needing too much help. And I'm a little peeved that he thinks I was looking for praise when I hate how that file turned out. The only time praise is constructive is if there is an element that should be used more. I enjoy when the criticism has something that I should honestly correct.

On the Navy point, I do not wear my spouse's rank. Unless we have kids, my importance is less than that of a therapy dog. Also, I think his rank is immaterial to yours unless you're actually working together. I didn't have any intention of actually telling him, so I'm sorry for saying so just because I thought it would appease you. He did clarify the UCMJ, which does put the contractor's use of old pants into a gray area. I've decided that it's fair that JulyFlame and other military people can bring up the subject, but I can't. I have seen the stress of the job do strange things, and I think that speculating about what the stress is, beyond too many “that's what she said” jokes, is not safe.

I have autistic traits, and had to start with a self-diagnosis. I am not formally diagnosed, and won't be until they address the depression, so I'm not saying it is positively austism, but they have ruled out dyspraxia, and I've always “flunked” ADHD tests so they can't tell if I have it or not. I also thought I had PTSD at one point, but after a few years it went away on its own, so the real PTSD must suck.

I say this as justification about why I'm having trouble figuring out the right thing to say, and why you're having so much trouble figuring out why I'm doing certain things. Having an inability to naturally understand social interaction is much different than being depressed.

7. Everyone deserves an honest second chance - which means, initially, a chance to stop, explain, and/or apologise. This means that, if you believe that someone is engaged in any violation of the Constitution, but particularly Articles 1-3, it is critical to make sure they understand what they are doing wrong, so that they can make amends. Explain it to them yourself, or ask a third party to do so - but the key word is explain. Telling someone to shut up because their opinion is unwanted does not constitute a chance.

From the beta page: “or at least giving it some very careful thought before deciding not to take it.” I apologize again for not properly acknowledging that I was thinking about the advice they were giving me.

If not an apology, I think that I'm at least owed knowledge of what they said to JulyFlame other than “giving others a difficult time.” Did they share anything about what I said in the email messages? I was trying to explain myself.

Constantly shouting me down when I'm trying to explain feels a lot like shutting me up because you don't want to hear it.

This sounds so familiar to me... by Calista on 2016-03-01 17:32:00 UTC Link to this

I do this. I rub people the wrong way and then they get angry and I feel like I'm being attacked, and I metaphorically huddle in the corner and apologize reflexively and try to figure out what I did wrong and never quite understand it.

I'm autistic. And I do not like to hurt people. But people have gotten the impression that I was trying to hurt them, when I wasn't.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, please go easy on this person. When they write, just look at what they're actually saying and dump any subtext you think might be there, because chances are there is no subtext. That unintentional social clumsiness, saying the wrong thing, sending the wrong subtext, is just that: Unintentional. It happens despite my best efforts and I think this person may be having the same trouble.

Sleeping dogs oughta be left to sleep... (nm) by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-03-01 04:32:00 UTC Link to this

BTW, delays by Bramandin on 2016-02-29 16:21:00 UTC Link to this

I now don't have internet at my house, so it might take a while for me to respond to anything.

Concrit responses by Bramandin on 2016-02-29 16:19:00 UTC Link to this

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=199610;article=290919;title=PPC%20Posting%20Board

Most of my work history has been things that I wasn't interested in. It happens.

Kelly isn't passionate about the fandoms, but working for the PPC has its perks. She enjoys the part where she gets to actively look for the flaws in a work and complain about them. She doesn't mind the part of the job where she's told to do the equivalent of High School required reading. Half of the time, she'd be relying on her partner for the canon knowledge part. I like stories where one member of the team doesn't really know the canon, it gives opportunities to really explain the canon breaks to the audience.

I did have a character concept that I ran by Desdendelle. The character wanted to be an agent, but the symptoms of his disorder made him into a ticking time-bomb that could potentially get both him and his partner killed. I didn't get to explain the specifics before Desdendelle said something like 'If they want to work in the field, they get to work in the field. The only reason for not making them agents is if they're under 13.' Is that right, or would the Marquis de Sod steer someone away from the field if they're unsuitable?

I'm not sure about whether or not bears can sneak, but I can drop the concept.

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=199610;article=290884;title=PPC%20Posting%20Board

Pointing out that they're robotic and giving pointers to avoid that is very constructive.

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=199610;article=290763;title=PPC%20Posting%20Board

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=199610;article=290776;title=PPC%20Posting%20Board

I did get things clarified, I think. I still think that the non-canonical technology could be blamed on Kelly's boss being a Sue, but I'm still working on removing it. I'm also reworking the recruiting agents so that they're not lazy, incompetent, or too overworked to do it properly.

I did ask for what you are looking for in her bio... I keep seeing what you aren't.

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=199610;article=290819;title=PPC%20Posting%20Board

I did clarify that TBD was supposed to be “someone's idea of a perfect agent” and that it includes flaws and things that can go horribly wrong. I thought that she would be Sueish if I abused the technology to have her suddenly know Kung-Fu like in The Matrix. Now that I know that at it's base, the Dollhouse technology would be against the ethics of the PPC even when used with good intentions, I know not to go in that direction.

For Team Phoenix, I did not actually read the page. I probably got to that story originally through the list of PPC characters, and wouldn't have read it if I had seen the crossed-off links. I just read the first line there to make sure it was what I was thinking of.