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Hello, fellow writers! Got any question that you can't find answer from Google or Wikipedia, but you don't think it needs a separate thread for? You came to the right place!

Don't be shy, and just ask away. The nice folks here, writers and non-writers, experts and non-experts, will do their best to help you.

The folder below contains links for special interest threads, mostly at OTC, but also from Yack Fest and Troper Coven.

    Special Interest Threads 

Also take a look at Useful Notes on various topics. They can be pretty useful.

Now, bring on the questions, baby!

edited 11th Apr '18 6:31:51 PM by dRoy

Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#27301: Nov 10th 2023 at 10:54:45 AM

[up] @ Septimus Heap:

I'd also ask why the question came up

Do you mean, in-universe the father wondering why the question came up, or asking me why it happened? If the latter, it's because the people who were turned into werewolves are constantly hearing about the horror they caused while they were out of their minds and he overheard his father's (work) partner say something about it and mention his name.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
jawal Since: Sep, 2018
#27302: Nov 10th 2023 at 11:01:11 AM

[up]

What good would telling the kid the truth achieve?

He will just get a guilt complex for life over something that he could not have controlled and can't do anything to fix .

It is not even a situation of "he should learn from his mistakes so that he does not repeat them in the future"

Since the only lesson here is: "don't become an amnesic werewolf,"

A father must protect his children from unnecessary harm, especially the kind that may ruin their whole life.

Edited by jawal on Nov 10th 2023 at 8:04:15 PM

Every Hero has his own way of eating yogurt
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#27303: Nov 10th 2023 at 11:10:14 AM

[up] @ Jawal:

Yes, I see your point. I suppose I was teetering between an answer that basically consisted of I don't know if you did or not or him outright telling his son that he probably did slaughter a lot of people, but it wasn't him doing it, but the villain controlling his transformed body.

But I suppose even telling him that someone else used him to commit mass-murder would risk instilling all sorts of guilt in the boy and making him think he's evil or just weak for "letting" someone else do that to him, which...isn't exactly something I want to explore, especially with a kid.

I just didn't think the outright lie aspect was helpful at first (especially due to the overwhelming evidence around them) but you put it into perspective.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Noaqiyeum we must dissent (it/they) from across the gulf of space (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
we must dissent (it/they)
#27304: Nov 10th 2023 at 2:16:58 PM

Lying to children is not for the child's benefit. It's for the parent's pride. I'd consider the father's reaction both realistic and understandable but still selfish.

This is, after all, a setting where "don't become an amnesic werewolf" is not a Fantastic Aesop.

But I suppose even telling him that someone else used him to commit mass-murder would risk instilling all sorts of guilt in the boy and making him think he's evil or just weak for "letting" someone else do that to him, which...isn't exactly something I want to explore, especially with a kid.

You're the author. Why did you decide to write a child into a situation whose consequences you are unwilling to grapple with?

Edited by Noaqiyeum on Nov 10th 2023 at 10:26:42 AM

ERROR: The current state of the world is unacceptable. Save anyway? YES/NO
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#27305: Nov 10th 2023 at 2:31:24 PM

Prev page @Trainbarrel

Have you considered the idea of giving Freedom Fighter upper body knight-armor in the dark blue color? As contrast to how Lightbringer only have a helmet and still clad in a military uniform for meager protection. Perhaps even in the same material as Lightbringer's sword? To negate the Absurdly Sharp Blade-properties in a close-up fight with each other and turn it into a fight of skill.

Iirc plate armor was kind of impractical (even if weight isn't an issue, it restricts mobility). Also Freedom Fighter has Super-Toughness which The Lightbearer doesn't have though he isn't exactly invulnerable, and The Lightbearer does wear more normal armoring under his uniform.

Also that still wouldn't give that much ideas for the overall design issues i've had with him.

Another idea: Ever thought about giving Freedom Fighter a spear when in battle? As an antithesis to Lightbringer's sword and to get the upper hand in a fight with him without guns involved?

I had thought that maybe Freedom Fighter only has the standard US army weapons, the Allies being less obsessed with the idea of a glorious warrior. Spears are also stabbing weapons and propably as long as the sword (2M, 6'5"), which sounds more inconvenient than the sword. Tbh i also can't really see how a spear is an antithesis to a sword.

Edited by Nukeli on Nov 10th 2023 at 12:31:50 PM

~*bleh*~
Noaqiyeum we must dissent (it/they) from across the gulf of space (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
we must dissent (it/they)
#27306: Nov 10th 2023 at 2:44:17 PM

[up] Historically, swords are the weapons of the upper class, while spears are the weapons of the common soldier.

ERROR: The current state of the world is unacceptable. Save anyway? YES/NO
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#27307: Nov 10th 2023 at 4:03:05 PM

[up] x3 @ Noaqiyeum:

I'm a little confused as to why it is selfish. From what I (and Jawal) were conversing over, the point of the lie is to shield the son from the horror of realizing a monster used him to kill people. But I definitely understand the uneasiness about the lie itself.

Anyway about the latter half of your question—-similar to another question I asked about how to speak to a child about something, it is far more complicated than merely "how to tell a kid adult information in a child friendly way". I didn't exactly think of the magnitude of how it would affect the child until much later, but I wanted to portray it realistically.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Trainbarrel The Story Supporter from The Star Ocean Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
The Story Supporter
#27308: Nov 10th 2023 at 7:41:56 PM

[up][up][up]

Just curious if you actually considered it.

Also, he will be up against a guy with a sword so having something that doesn't require ammo and can keep him away beyond a sword's reach would be a good idea.

Even if it is just a shovel's head attached on a telescopic shaft. Unless he is planning to fight him with his bare hands and get dangerously close to him.

Yeah, a shovel as a weapon might not be a bad idea.

Especially considering how extremely vital shovels were for the soldiers' survival during WW 2.

...

For the "What part of the army does his uniform belong to?" then ask yourself this:

"What does he need to do in order to progress in the story and what does he need to be in order to make it happen?"

This might help determining his place in the armed forces better.

"If there's problems, there's simple solutions."
Noaqiyeum we must dissent (it/they) from across the gulf of space (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
we must dissent (it/they)
#27309: Nov 10th 2023 at 10:34:22 PM

[up][up] A parent's job is to protect their child, yes, but also to help them heal and recover. Pretending that what happened to their child wasn't as bad as it actually was is abdicating that responsibility, just so that the father can avoid doing that extra emotional labour or having to admit even he doesn't know himself how to process such an unprecedented tragedy. It's understandable, because this would be rather more to process even than more mundane traumas, but that doesn't make that response helpful.

(Also, aren't there are going to be thousands of other people also dealing with their involvement in the aftermath of the event? So he won't be alone in trying to figure out how to support loved ones.)

I'm not even sure it would help any. I'm not going to claim any expertise, but I don't think that knowing someone used your body as a mindless weapon of mass murder is actually more traumatising than the rather perverse survivors guilt of believing someone used your body as a mindless weapon and the only difference between you and hundreds or thousands of your peers is that you were lucky. Wondering if that twist of fate means something about you, trying to convince yourself that being mutated into a ravening beast affected you less because at least you didn't hurt anyone, and worrying ironically whether your family would treat you differently, love you less, if you had been a little less fortunate. And feeling, if and when you figure out the truth, that the reason they lied to you was because they did.

You can't protect someone from something that already happened to them. The child is going to be horribly fucked up as it is, and the last thing a parent should want to do is complicate that trauma by earning their child's distrust.

Edited by Noaqiyeum on Nov 11th 2023 at 8:41:41 PM

ERROR: The current state of the world is unacceptable. Save anyway? YES/NO
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#27310: Nov 11th 2023 at 4:06:32 AM

[up] Noaqiyeum:

Thank you very much for taking the time to write that out and explain the nuances of the situation and why a lie wouldn't be the most helpful in the end, even if it provided comfort on a "surface level".

Also, aren't there are going to be thousands of other people also dealing with their involvement in the aftermath of the event? So he won't be alone in trying to figure out how to support loved ones.

Yes, this is a problem that afflicts most, if not all of the many people victimized in this particular way, coming to terms with what they did. Well that, along with the permanent loss of their humanity (they can now change back and forth at will, but they'll never be "pure" humans again). So anyway, I guess the father and son could take advantage of the probably numerous support groups that might spring up in the aftermath of the whole disaster.

On an unrelated note, explanations and conversations like these make me realize just how horrible my main-character-turned-villain's actions were. I mean, obviously it's bad, but it's these "little things" especially viewed from another person's perspective that makes things even darker and chips away at the "understandableness" of his perspective, at least somewhat.

Edited by Swordofknowledge on Nov 11th 2023 at 7:07:05 AM

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#27311: Nov 11th 2023 at 8:31:52 AM

How do you find a human smuggler?

~*bleh*~
Trainbarrel The Story Supporter from The Star Ocean Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
The Story Supporter
#27312: Nov 11th 2023 at 8:36:00 AM

[up] In what context?

For the police to arrest them or for people to hire them?

Edited by Trainbarrel on Nov 11th 2023 at 5:55:01 PM

"If there's problems, there's simple solutions."
jawal Since: Sep, 2018
#27313: Nov 11th 2023 at 10:47:36 AM

[up][up]

If you are in a city with a seaport, hang around the bars near the sea, and open your ears, it is usually an open secret.

Another option is that if your hero ends up inside a police station or jail for whatever reason, he may meet a prisoner who is charged with smuggling.

A third option is to simply have a local friend who "knows the city" point one out to you.

Edited by jawal on Nov 11th 2023 at 7:49:30 PM

Every Hero has his own way of eating yogurt
Noaqiyeum we must dissent (it/they) from across the gulf of space (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
we must dissent (it/they)
#27314: Nov 11th 2023 at 11:59:22 AM

Swordofknowledge: Thank you for reading it, I'm glad I was able to explain well! ^_^

ERROR: The current state of the world is unacceptable. Save anyway? YES/NO
Florien The They who said it from statistically, slightly right behind you. Since: Aug, 2019
The They who said it
#27315: Nov 11th 2023 at 12:17:26 PM

[up]x4 I mean, it depends where you are and what you want the smuggler for.

Or when you are, too.

Edited by Florien on Nov 11th 2023 at 12:17:53 PM

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#27316: Nov 11th 2023 at 12:33:03 PM

@swordofknowedge

Yeah an easy way to Paint the Hero Black is to easily look at things form the perspectives of his victims. The Sympathetic P.O.V. cuts both ways as if it shifts and the Fridge Horror unveiled, the actions of the previous POV character gained a darker but clearer picture.

Deconstructions should use this tactic more ofthen.

Cutegirl920fire Player 222 from the Squid Games (Five Long Years) Relationship Status: Paris holds the key to my heart
Player 222
#27317: Nov 11th 2023 at 9:51:23 PM

EDIT: Nevermind, figured it out.

Edited by Cutegirl920fire on Nov 11th 2023 at 10:20:08 AM

CG for short
Florien The They who said it from statistically, slightly right behind you. Since: Aug, 2019
The They who said it
#27318: Nov 11th 2023 at 10:19:42 PM

[up] Handle it the way Venture Brothers did where a possibly supernatural character who also might be a hallucination claims that specifically human babies don't get souls until they're like 2.

Joking aside, there's no obvious reason to not say that miscarriages have no soul according to the rules you set up and no reason explicitly stating as such if it comes up would be "fucked up for obvious reasons."

Trainbarrel The Story Supporter from The Star Ocean Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
The Story Supporter
#27319: Nov 11th 2023 at 10:20:36 PM

[up][up] Not really?

[nja] That was fast.

Edited by Trainbarrel on Nov 11th 2023 at 7:22:00 PM

"If there's problems, there's simple solutions."
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#27320: Nov 13th 2023 at 5:15:07 AM

I'm curious if it is possible for a certain character to do two things at the same time:

One of the characters in my story (the elder brother of one of the main protagonists) is an extremely powerful vampire. He is physically the strongest vampire in North America, and he holds an extremely high rank within the vampire faction he serves to the point that he is allowed many liberties and perks that are unthinkable to others, even from his own powerful family.

Here is where I wonder if he logically should be able to do the following two things: After the confrontation with the final Big Bad, he decides to retire from both combat and politics and dedicate the remainder of his life to using his resources to help the countless human and supernatural refugees rebuild and learn to live with each other in The Unmasqued World.

However, he also takes the main-character-turned-villain's family under his protection in the sense that no one (human or otherwise) is allowed to harm them, or they will face his wrath in one way or another.

What I wonder is, can he do this if he has withdrawn largely from the political and martial sphere and he just trying to live out the rest of his life in retirement, doing charity work and rebuilding the world?

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#27321: Nov 13th 2023 at 6:02:24 AM

[up]

If he really is that powerful, people would still be scared of him.

~*bleh*~
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#27322: Nov 13th 2023 at 6:43:38 AM

[up] @ Nukeli:

I guess that is true. His legacy would be enough to scare off anyone who wanted to go up against the family, and he'd have a lot of people who could be his "eyes and ears" to keep them safe. I just wondered if, having withdrawn from that life, it could feasibly be done.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#27323: Nov 13th 2023 at 9:54:54 AM

[up]

And he'd propably still have connections and maybe favors to call on.

~*bleh*~
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#27324: Nov 13th 2023 at 10:27:44 AM

What flaws would be extrapolatef from the circumstances of the following character?

The character is a Genius Loci of sorts, previously a earth human in a past life. She is now the consciousness of a video game style dungeon. She has a human avatar body. She also has her past life memories sealed at "birth" and is now knowledgeable of the ways of the world despite having the maturity of a teenager (a vestage of her sealed memories)

I was thinking naivete, something related to loneliness, and an insecurity related to not being quite human anymore. But I want to ask for other ideas.

I also want to ask what circumstances to introduce these flaws since I already published the beginning of the story and therefore can't do rewrites to retcon them in right now.

Edited by MorningStar1337 on Nov 13th 2023 at 10:28:00 AM

Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#27325: Nov 13th 2023 at 12:12:26 PM

[up]

What exactly is going on now? What exactly is she? What can the Genius Loci do?

Edited by Nukeli on Nov 13th 2023 at 10:12:59 PM

~*bleh*~

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