How much does this intrigue you?

Okay, so this is my first time posting in the forums, and I wanted to make this thread to discuss something of an original idea of mine. I've been sitting on it for years now, and I'm finally beginning to write (and draw) about it. My concept, which will be unnamed for now so that the title remains a secret, is basically a Space Opera, and though I intend for it to become a novel, it was originally planned as a video game.

It is set in a massive universe, with life-supporting planets in the far-flung reaches of space, and a three-dimensional plane of travel that one doesn't often see in sci-fi.

So, piqued your interest yet? I want help and opinions, and any input whatsoever is greatly appreciated.

Two things.

1. Execution is everything. Concepts are easy; writing is hard.
2. This doesn't have enough detail even for a concept; I don't see anything here to distinguish from any other Space Opera. It might be the best idea ever, but it's not going to hold my attention unless there's something to recommend it beyond a single short paragraph.

edited 8th Sep '11 6:39:17 PM by alethiophile

Shinigan (Naruto fanfic)

It's got a world and a tone, but since there's no real plot in this concept, I have nothing to comment on. Start writing something and get back to us then.

If you want to grab somebody's interest, tell them about the living, breathing people. The cultures, civilizations, empires, and alliances of the world you're building, and of their citizens, and their struggles.

Oh, I have nothing to add that the others hadn't said, but: Welcome! We hope you stay around and let your writing flourish.

Oh, and you do have to tell more about your concept before we can make a judgement. So far, it sounds like any other Space Opera, except for the "3D space travel" part. What is the conflict?

edited 8th Sep '11 6:46:30 PM by chihuahua0

It's got a nice enough setting, but there's not enough info about the plot to really make a judgement. Keep writing, though; tell us about your ideas once they come.

That describes every Space Opera setting I've ever done, too.

Now, unless you've managed to exactly replicate my ideas (It's certainly possible), I'm going to say that you need to tell us more for us to pass any helpful judgement either way...

I am now known as Flyboy.

I wanted to know if people were interested before I give out too much information. I've been slightly paranoid when it comes to telling people about my original ideas as opposed to fanfiction.

I've come up with several worlds, races, and technologies, but it all started out with the classic, cliched idea of the Alien abduction. The protagonist is the victim of one of these urban legends, but from there, I've taken it in a new direction.

The protagonist, who for now is named Ozias, has been experimented upon by his captors, who are attempting to develop a means for their warriors to become the ultimate soldiers. Ozias, using the abilities they gave him against them, proceeds to surpass their expectations and more....by killing them all. Now having taken the ship for himself, he unwittingly activates the ship's FTL drive-which is currently being pieced together and taken apart in my box of ideas- and is sent into the vast reaches of space to begin his journey.

Now, after this, it gets a bit more complicated, as all Space operas do, and he eventually begins accumulating Nakama of various races in his wanderings. I have about five or so races thought up, and I'm still thinking on more.

There are the Zihim, who are roughly my equivalent of Elves, The Kalak, who are the drow to the Zihim's elf, The Rakshin, a race of horned hunters who base their entire lives upon the killing of a single individual, The Rizara, Gelatinous hive-minded beings who speak in infuriatingly cryptic statements, And the Carthane, who have a dual-staged life cycle and a talent for killing.

More will be revealed on them one by one, as well as their planets.

edited 8th Sep '11 7:51:01 PM by Lordgale119

Sounds interesting, as long as you play up the aspects of the guy being lost in the middle of the galaxy having no idea about anything. (Or at least, only as much idea as you could reasonably get from listening in on the casual conversations of a bunch of aliens who aren't actually trying to exposit at you by repeating the very basics.)

Also, to paraphrase How Not To Write A Novel, don't worry about people stealing your ideas. No one cares about ideas. Execution is everything. (Of course, you need good ideas, but that's not nearly as difficult as it sounds.)

Shinigan (Naruto fanfic)

I'm already doing that. Hell I even looked up star maps to prove this.

"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."

That's actually very reassuring. Thanks a lot.

And I'm not sure what Major Tom is talking about, exactly... One of my ideas does address the fact that he's a human out of his home turf. I thought about giving him an implant, a small computer in his head, that held basic information and could store more information as he learned it. This would eliminate the need for exposition given by characters about things that could be considered trivial, if I manage to make it work out correctly. He would still have to learn about his new surroundings, but he'd have a bit of help is what I'm saying, I guess.

^ The aversion of 2-D Space silly. If you looked at a star map you'd quickly find that most stars are NOT on a flat plane. For example, to go from Epsilon Eridani to Sirius you have to go "down" and left in relation to Earth.

"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."

Ah, yes. That makes more sense now. And yes, that's what I dislike. I've only read a few books where space combat is three-dimensional, and that was Halo and the Lost Fleet. Even Halo has 2-d space battles though, and I always thought it was more than a bit....wrong. So with this in mind, most of the weapons on ships in this project are not stationary, but are turrets so that the ships may adapt to combat from nearly any direction. But maybe a bit more on that later.

Might look at Honorverse if you like 3-d space fights.

Shinigan (Naruto fanfic)

It's not so much I like them as I'm sick of 2-d. Sure, I like both, but I'm looking to the unorthodox for this story.

More will be up tomorrow, but for now, I must leave you.

May the Force be with you all.

So I'm back again, and I'm perfectly willing to answer more questions if you guys are still interested.

So, had you started writing your story down yet? It's good to get started.

I have a bit down, but I'm still planning quite a bit. Not everything is finished in my mind, and I don't want to start writing too much without having all the facts straight first.

concepts aren't really what makes a story interesting.Sure they are a good hook but they aren't wha relly makes a story great.

Talking ponies being fun that's ridiculous!...My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic

Toys coming to life lol that would never work... Toy Story

What makes a story IMO (with few exceptions) are the characters. You can have the lamest concept but with cool characters your story will be very enjoyable.

edited 9th Sep '11 7:00:39 PM by FallenLegend

Make your hearth shine through the darkest night; let it transform hate into kindness, evil into justice, and loneliness into love.

I very much agree with that. Many times I thought something wasn't all the great until a certain character or maybe multiple characters made it worth looking into more.

I'm trying to come up with likable characters, I really am. But so far, I'm not getting anything out of it. I'll keep working on it, I assure you, but right now characters are in short supply.

If you manage to have just one interesting character it will be worth it. When people care for your characters they will automatically care for everything else.It doesn't work the other way around.

I recomend you to read this guide I wrote :) (with help of course) [1]

edited 9th Sep '11 7:15:08 PM by FallenLegend

Make your hearth shine through the darkest night; let it transform hate into kindness, evil into justice, and loneliness into love.

Thanks a lot. I hope to make as many unique and interesting characters as I can, though it will be slow going.

I also want to know if anyone has read a sci-fi novel where the protagonist was involved in a polyamorous relationship. I have many ideas and this would serve to eliminate or strengthen some of them.

It sounds a bit like Star Wars starring Jak. Though maybe calling it Star Wars is a bit too demeaning. After all, this seems to genuinely be an original idea that doesn't seem influenced by Stars Wars at all.

I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong, and I was really wrong.

I'm a massive Star Wars fan, but the original idea came not from SW, but from Prey. And also a bit of Mass Effect, Halo, and perhaps some Bioshock. As I mentioned earlier, this was originally a GAME idea that I turned around into a novel. After that, I began to rethink and recreate many things, since in the first incarnation, the Protagonist had super powers. In this one? Nu-uh, just enhancements. Quite a bit of my armor and ship designs, however, reveal how much I was inspired by video games. My Star Wars ideas and my Original story ideas are separate.

If anyone wants to see what some of the races currently look like, I've put several up on my Deviantart account, along with information about two of them, the Zihim and Kalak. http://lord-gale-119.deviantart.com/

-glances over them- They looked very similar for alien species, but you thought their culture out (not to mention you're a better drawer than me). For some reason, the "mistaken gender" aspect of the Zihim stood out. That could lead to an amusing situation.

If you hadn't already, create some non-humanoid races, ones that possess the capabilities to invent space flight. Or even a bestial race for some non-space traveling species. Variety is important.

edited 10th Sep '11 2:13:20 PM by chihuahua0