Character Development Thread--Discussion

...question: how long has it been 8:00 AM? I feel like at least some time has passed over the last few pages.

Edited by Chortleous on Oct 19th 2022 at 7:19:25 AM

Right, sorry about that. I keep meaning to bring it up but then I forget. Busy times and all. I can certainly advance the time now, and if we want to have it automatically advance every certain number of posts or so, I'll try to be on top of that. I know not every post has the same amount of action, and not everyone gets as many posts in as others (meaning their characters may do what seems like considerably less in the same span of time), but there's not really a way to do this with full temporal consistency. We can consider it a general guideline, and if far separated groups feel the need to have time pass at slightly different rates, that should be fine.

Open to other ideas, of course.

Edited by Ryuhza on Oct 19th 2022 at 5:53:18 AM

I'd say it's probably 9 a.m.

I hate size scales. I have no sense of scale...

Edited by WillDeRegio on Oct 20th 2022 at 3:24:41 AM

No worries, just thought it was funny that it's still very much the early morning despite everything going on. Not much time has logically passed, so an hour seems about right.

I couldn't rightfully begin to come up with a coherent system for moving time forward, though, beyond just moving it up incrementally whenever it seems like time has passed, whenever it 'feels' right? Like when people are doing something that would take time, someone takes a nap, walks someplace, does laundry, etc. Maybe... 10-30 minute increments whenever a specific number of people have posted and their characters have all done their thing?

also funny to me is that, while it gets into lore spoilers for her universe, Qeyari's initial assessment about Ultra being (the extension of) a 'god' was... half-right, though for the wrong reasons, and she herself isn't going to know anything about it.

Edited by Chortleous on Oct 20th 2022 at 1:32:23 PM

Feel free to go ahead of me in the lobby if you'd like, Chortleous. I get the feeling I'm going to be pretty burnt out after tonight. Probably won't get to posting for a few days.

Post made! Ultra identifying herself as a detective was probably a grave mistake, but she's also very 'ride or die' when there's a mystery afoot, so she'll never admit to that nor back down.

also here's the specific iteration of the Backrooms that Toni is referring to, for the curious.

Edited by Chortleous on Oct 20th 2022 at 6:31:43 AM

I'm trying to get a bead on how well I'm doing with Sigmund.

At the end of the day, Sigmund is heavily inspired by many real-world wealthy philanthropists. He's compassionate, sincere, generous, and truly well-intentioned, but ultimately ends up opposed to the story's protagonists because the system that made him wealthy and powerful requires it. And he's afraid of giving up the power he's known all his life; he's simply too accustomed to it.

I am worried that's not coming across properly, and trying to think of how to better make it work.

Edited by KillerClowns on Oct 20th 2022 at 7:06:48 AM

Full disclosure, I think that comes through pretty well. Admittedly doesn't help that the character he's currently interacting with has implicitly been around the block and had bad experiences with super-wealthy industrialist types... but she still doesn't see him as irredeemably evil, I don't think? Not who she is. Hence her engaging with him on his level and trying to subtly steer him away from doing potentially questionable shit insofar as Ultra and dimension-hopping tech goes.

Edited by Chortleous on Oct 20th 2022 at 8:07:41 AM

There's the elevator for now. Hoping to get the lobby by tonight or tomorrow.

Sorry for the wait, had a real blow out last week. Torpedoed some confidence or at least joy I get from writing, at least in the short term. I figured it was coming, but still.

Word of advice: don't get attached to a short story idea if there's a slim chance you'll have to rush to finish half of it in one night on 4 hours of sleep and also take a midterm in AI. Also, don't write 20 pages if the assignment only requires 10. But I don't know what 'short' or 'editing' mean.

edit:

Both areas covered. 'Til next time, hopefully in better spirits.

Edited by Ryuhza on Oct 25th 2022 at 4:48:01 AM

Hey, I'll try to make a post tomorrow! Sorry about that, I've been filing paperwork for my new job (I start Monday) so I got busy.

Well, hopefully this lights a creative fire under my butt— I'm thinking of having Lulu enter the conversation via the description of Dead Gods, since one faction in my setting meets the description.

Note that I did slightly adjust Qeyari's post on reflection.

Still trying to get the voice down. Given that she's a high-ranking military officer in a culture that places a high value on formality and etiquette, a certain level of formality is to be expected... but I don't want it to be too overwhelming. There's a level where it can come across as "socially awkward", which can be intentional in some cases (e.g. the Token Good Teammate Dead God Thuexatiqome), but Qeyari should be socially competent enough to adjust herself to others and "mirror" to some extent.

Sorry. I did say I would post yesterday but I completely forgot and got caught up with other things. You may bully me as punishment.

'ey poindexter something something knuckle sandwich something something and next time I won't go so easy on you

Edit:

Upon reflection, I fear I got caught up in the mild simmer of the moment and went too far. I apologize, and you may bully me as punishment.

Edited by Ryuhza on Oct 27th 2022 at 6:27:02 AM

sdfjdlkfdsjkafs

Pardon the interruption, I'm just very excited. I got a very good grade on the short story I thought I had butchered (rushing the back half on four hours of sleep will do that). We had to write strictly realistic fiction, but I wanted to write using some of my existing characters, so I wrote about a time in Joseph's life several months before the salamander incident.

Here it is, if anyone wants to read it. Content warnings for some mild homophobia and language.

Hey everyone, it's me again. Sorry for not being around, I know I said I would be back past Wednesday, but things have been a little more complicated than I expected. I should be able to post by this Wednesday, this time for real.

Sounds good. With any luck, I should have an opening on Thursday

Hilbert Inn - waiting for Pyxo to have a chance to post and also seeing if KillerClowns has anything to add for Caroline.

Thought I was caught up. Will handle.

where are we in the story right now?

Welcome, Wild-Starfish

Which story are you referring to? Hilbert Inn or Adventure II?

Edited by Ryuhza on Nov 4th 2022 at 8:24:29 AM

Adventure crew sound off -squawk-

Present, waiting on Pyxo and WillDeRegio. Got some free writing time at the moment, but that's going to change big time deeper into November.

for the thread's consideration◊

I'm now certain I'm caught up. Anyone else around and just suffering writer's block? If so, and they're near my characters, anything I can do to help?

This is part of why I had Koyel and Mort move out of the main inn room; somewhere alternative where things are happening. Plus, there's something to be said for the characterization to be found in a friendly sparring match, and I already have an idea how each one of them does with a staff.^note Koyel has been practicing in staff combat — the national sport of Qorisa — for most of his life. He's not especially talented, but the fundamentals are second nature to him, he has excellent endurance from years of farm work and hunting, and he is not easily goaded into making mistakes. Mort is quite skilled and has an innate talent for violence, but age has taken its toll on his strength and endurance. He relies on dirty tricks, feints, and mind games to seek a decisive finish, and does not expend energy without purpose.

Edited by KillerClowns on Nov 7th 2022 at 10:07:34 AM