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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

ArsThaumaturgis Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
#22551: Feb 6th 2022 at 12:14:13 PM

So, what would burn better: The crop plants, or the already reaped left-over straw?

I stand to be corrected—I'm not expert in this—but I would think that the straw would burn better: I would imagine that it would be dryer, and thus more flammable.

Edited by ArsThaumaturgis on Feb 6th 2022 at 10:14:38 PM

My Games and Asset Packs
ECD Since: Nov, 2021
#22552: Feb 6th 2022 at 12:21:50 PM

[up][up]So I think the answer is, once again, it depends. Generally harvested plants will be more flammable as they're no longer sucking up water. However, unlike the field, which the peasants basically can't secure or do much too under these circumstances, the harvested plants can be moved to more secure locations, or made more difficult to find/destroy.

If they had no warning at all, harvested plants are more flammable, if they had warning, they're probably less accessible.

More generally, this will also probably be controlled by time of year. Though peasants usually would be growing multiple types of plan dependent on soil conditions and seed, harvest time is somewhat overlapping. It would be relatively rare to have fields full of plants and large amounts of harvested plants. One or the other and time of year will control which is a more likely scenario.

Edited by ECD on Feb 6th 2022 at 12:21:59 PM

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
#22553: Feb 7th 2022 at 5:45:28 AM

I first want to thank those who responded to my earlier question about family dynamics; I know it was sort of vague so I apologize.


Once again for the historically minded, does anyone have an idea as to whether or not Dracula—-yes. that Dracula's—-castle would be intact after the ravages of World War I? If I recall correctly, in the novel the location of the place is left relatively ambiguous apart from some broad strokes, but was that area of Europe ravaged by war? The reason I ask is because there is a scene in a Whole Episode Flashback in which a character journeys to Dracula's lair for an audience with the infamous Count, and this is in the years just after the armistice is declared.

If the place is bombed out, I'd just have the famous vampire move his base of operations elsewhere, but I liked to think it was relatively untouched by humanity's infighting.

Edited by Swordofknowledge on Feb 7th 2022 at 8:45:54 AM

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#22554: Feb 7th 2022 at 7:51:36 AM

Plenty of castles survived WWI.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
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
#22555: Feb 7th 2022 at 7:57:10 AM

[up] @ De Marquis:

That's good. There's literally only one book I've ever read regarding Dracula and the aftermath of WWI and the castle survived in that book too. But I was wondering just how plausible something like that really was. The devastated state of Europe post-war is something that has definitely been impressed upon me, so it made me wonder just how likely something like that was [lol].

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#22556: Feb 7th 2022 at 9:16:41 AM

[up]

I just finished reading Dracula.

Dracula's castle was in the Carpathian mountains near the Borgo Pass in Transylvania.

Wikipedia says that on the basis of Bram Stoker's notes, it's specific location was supposed to be on an empty mountaintop near the former border with Moldavia.

My understanding of WWI from school was that the worst took place on the Western front in France and the Benelux countries, and there were more bombings in WWII that could've destroyed castles, and less so in WWI.

Dracula's castle was in the middle of the wilderness anyway, so it wouldn't get hit by bombs unless the castle was specifically the target for some reason.

~*bleh*~
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#22557: Feb 7th 2022 at 9:24:19 AM

[up][up]

Doesn't that depend if there were two Draculas or whatnot?

One the Vampire and the other the human warlord that the former got named after?

That would be two separate castles on two different locations after all...

Edited by TitanJump on Feb 7th 2022 at 6:24:24 PM

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
#22558: Feb 7th 2022 at 9:33:43 AM

[up][up] @ Nukeli:

Thanks for the specifics!

Dracula's castle was in the middle of the wilderness anyway, so it wouldn't get hit by bombs unless the castle was specifically the target for some reason.

No it's definitely not supposed to be a target; the idea is that the place is somewhere that is largely forgotten and left alone by humans, and even most vampires outside of Dracula's inner circle don't really know where his actual lair is.


[up]@ Titan Jump

One the Vampire and the other the human warlord that the former got named after?

Yes there are definitely "two" Dracualas in this (the actual vampire and the human warlord who made a deal with him) but in this case the person visiting the castle knows about the bloodsucking one and is trying to enter his service, so...I just figured it would be case of him determining the exact location via some offscreen method.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#22559: Feb 7th 2022 at 9:36:11 AM

[up] I can totally see this person finally find the castle and then discover way too late that he found the wrong one after all that searching...

Would make for a funny moment, no doubt.

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
#22560: Feb 7th 2022 at 9:43:38 AM

[up] @ Titan Jump:

Would make for a funny moment, no doubt.

That it would no doubt about it. It would sort of lighten up an extremely dark situation since the guy in question is betraying a massive number of people in his bid to become The Renfield and I guess making a mistake or two could be humorous and show how dedicated he is to his goal and how he is (or was, since it's a Whole Episode Flashback) too far gone to have any hope of being saved at that point.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#22561: Feb 7th 2022 at 12:30:50 PM

One thing that confused me about Dracula was how he, early on when Harker was in the castle, called the people who fought Austrian and Hungarian invaders "patriots" and spoke highly of them. And shortly he says he's ethnically Hungarian (whose interests were opposed to those of the Romanians/Wallachians). Was it supposed to be Worthy Opponent, or could it have been intended to be interpreted that he could've been lying about being Hungarian?note 

~*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
#22562: Feb 7th 2022 at 5:03:22 PM

[up] @ Nukeli:

It's possible that this was a mistake on Stoker's part, considering that he was—most likely—not going for pure accuracy as much as broad-strokes references in terms of Dracula's origins and thus the mindset he would have. On the other hand, considering how I've seen other portrayals of the Count (*cough*, Hellsing, *cough*) congratulating those invaders to his territory as worthy enemies who challenged him immensely isn't out of the question either...

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
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
#22563: Feb 8th 2022 at 6:20:31 AM

So I hate to ask one question on top of another but...eh.

There's no nice way to "dress it up" so...how does one portray the mindset of people who are preparing to die? I don't mean that they are preparing for the possibility of dying in battle (although it is that too) but the abject guarantee that they will die.

The Final Battle of my story involves the strong possibility that the thing which keeps number of characters alive will be destroyed in order to win, and due to No Ontological Inertia they will cease to live.

This isn't a split-second thing but something these people have to live with for some time, so I'm trying to portray just how they will react to this hanging over their heads. At least in a realistic fashion. I know I say that a lot but I try to go for realism in this story when it comes to emotional/psychological reactions of the people involved.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#22564: Feb 8th 2022 at 6:26:30 AM

[up] Ever seen the series "Midnight Mass"(2021)?

Watch it and you might find clues to your answer there...

Just as a suggestion.

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
#22565: Feb 8th 2022 at 6:33:52 AM

[up] @ Titan Jump:

Thanks for the suggestion. I've never heard of it at all, so I'll try to track it down and see what it's about. I'm guessing its about some sort of looming extinction-level event?

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#22566: Feb 8th 2022 at 6:36:58 AM

[up] No, it is on a much smaller scale than that.

But that is enough for the clues to your answer to be found.

Edited by TitanJump on Feb 8th 2022 at 3:37:20 PM

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
#22567: Feb 8th 2022 at 6:42:11 AM

[up] @ Titan Jump:

Okay I see. Thanks again for the suggestion.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#22568: Feb 8th 2022 at 6:43:40 AM

[up] You need to watch the whole thing through though.

Just an advice.

C105 Too old for this from France Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Too old for this
#22569: Feb 8th 2022 at 6:53:05 AM

[up][up] In addition to the above advice (have not seen the movie either btw), I'd say the characters would mainly avoid thinking about it for some time and concentrate on the task at hand (denial is one of the first coping mechanisms after all). Then they might spend some time remembering their lives and convincing themselves that they have lived a full life and that their sacrifice is worth it. They could also (if they have the time) try to complete some unfinished businesses of theirs, like simply saying goodbye to old acquaintances or getting a long-delayed revenge. And some might crack at some point and decide that they don't want to die, and desperately try to find another option, or another way to extend their lives, or sabotage the whole thing...

Edited by C105 on Feb 8th 2022 at 3:53:17 PM

Whatever your favourite work is, there is a Vocal Minority that considers it the Worst. Whatever. Ever!.
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#22570: Feb 8th 2022 at 6:55:06 AM

It is a mini-TV series on Netflix.

Just to clarify.

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
#22571: Feb 8th 2022 at 7:10:23 AM

[up] @ C105:

Those certainly sound like realistic reactions. To be perfectly honest, having a "ticking clock" set on my lifespan (apart from our normal ambiguous you're going to die someday) is one of my deep fears. I was trying to work out how these people would go past the outright panic stage, but not stray too deep into being so stoic that it came off as no big deal for them. In this situation they don't really have any time for seeing to old wrongs or even addressing past regrets apart from some verbal discussion of things. I do have one interaction where a wife who has lied a great deal to her husband throughout their long marriage tells him that she's most likely going to die (as well as their child) as part of a newfound desire to be honest with him at all times.

But yes I can see the reactions being all over the place especially since it's not just a few of the heroes but thousands of people under this gun. I don't intend to show their reactions but it's certainly sobering tearjerker fuel.


[up][up] @ Titan Jump:

You need to watch the whole thing through though.

Oh no...tongue I all seriousness though, I have a terrible track-record with actually completing series that I start watching for some reason; there are some I've left unfinished for over a year. But it sounds interesting and I'll try.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#22572: Feb 8th 2022 at 7:55:27 AM

[up] It's not that long, seven episodes in total, really.

Do give it a chance.

Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#22573: Feb 8th 2022 at 8:28:03 AM

I had these ideas for familiars I might include in my stories one of these days (probably not all of them tongue But it was fun to brainstorm smile). I had the idea of familiars being small and cute critters in times of peace and turning into big and fearsome creatures in times of battle. What do you think of all these?

Egyptian Mau Cat → American Lion
Shetland Pony → Hagerman Horse
Panamanian White-faced Capuchin → Gigantopithecus
Spiny-tailed Monitor → Utahraptor
Common Flying Dragon → Pteranodon
Ring-tailed Lemur → Archaeoindris
American Bullfrog or Fire Salamander → Prionosuchus
Common Toad → Koolasuchus
Karakul Sheep → Pelorovis
Arapawa Goat → Megalotragus
Least Weasel → Ekorus
Tuatara → Dimetrodon
Siamese Cat → Dinofelis
Little Penguin → Pelagornis
Red-eared Slider → Ankylosaurus
Spiny Turtle → Triceratops
Koala → Diprotodon
Virginia Opossum → Marsupial Lion
Either a German Shepherd or a Golden Retriever Puppy → Dire Wolf
Rottweiler Puppy → Amphicyon major
Alaskan Malamute Puppy (T.B.D.) → Borophagus orc
Either a Wild Boar or Feral Hog Piglet → Andrewsarchus
American Robin → Woodward’s Eagle
Thorny Devil → Spinosaurus

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!
TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#22574: Feb 8th 2022 at 8:29:05 AM

[up]What is the context where these exist in again?

Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Lucky Seven
#22575: Feb 8th 2022 at 8:39:20 AM

The familiars are offering a helping hand in fighting the forces of evil by bonding with the heroes, especially those that practice magic. They can be summoned and bonded with by casting the appropriate ritual and spell, though some of them will actively look for the person they want to be bonded with.

Come on! Let's bless them all until we get fershnickered!

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