31
Role-Playing Games / d20 Future
« on: September 10, 2004, 06:03:07 PM »
If you don't have it yet, you can check out the rules in the SRDs at the WotC site. There is some interesting stuff.
News:
"Magic is what makes fantasy fantastic," someone says, "you can't apply rules to them or else it loses wonder!" I respond, "Sure, but if you want to write them you will certainly want to know how they work." Writing is all about execution, and I find applying some basic laws of physics to magic systems make them more understandable and realistic. Here, I'm going to outline my basic method for developing a magic system.
Column by Chaos2651
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32
Writing Group / Naming characters
« on: September 07, 2004, 10:14:46 PM »
I first considered putting this in the roleplaying boards, but then I remembered the writing group board and people probably put more thought into a character for a story than for a game. So I was just kind of wondering how much time people put into naming characters and how important they find character names.
I am mostly wondering, because naming characters is sort of a big deal for me. I have a hard time getting a name I am comfortable with. I reuse names I make for stories for PCs a lot, mainly as it will take me sometimes weeks to find a name I like. I love it when there is already a name out there that matches a character, because it would take me so long to invent one I like. Its not even so much if the name is cool (stylish). That is something I always put a lot of merit in, but for names the whole etymology and meaning of the name is usually more important. I've actually looked into name etymology so much, and invented so many of my own names, I now can invent names from other names I've invented (with those invented names coming from real-world etymology).
In a few cases, I have actually invented a character due to a name I came up with, instead of the other way around. For example, while trying to find some names for these 5 devil characters, I came up with the name Ashtarot. I really like this name, and I've invented a character based on the name (rather than making a name to match the character as would be normal). I would actually say I am still developing this character, as I am currently RPing a character of the same name (I find myself doing this quite a bit, RPing a character that I would like to develop for stories).
For a very in-brief of the Ashtarot name, this is sort of how it went. While I was looking up various deities, demons, etc in my attempt to name the aforementioned devils, I was looking at the name of a goddess named Astarte. I found out that this name was also linked to several other characters, such as Astaroth and Ashtoreth. I wanted the new name to evolve from these, and came up with Ashtarot. But there should be a reason for it to evolve from the previous names to the new name, and so I had to look up the etymology for its new composite words as well (ash and tarot). This takes longer then it might sounds, because one word can lead to two words, etc and soon you are looking and dozens of words instead of just two. So after studying the previous names and the etymology of the composite words, I finally settled on a definition: "Lord Of The Immortal Undead", although Lady would probably be more appropriate, but I wanted a male character so its Lord. Also while making a character to match my new name, I've tried to tie his background into some of the other words that came up in the etymology (making the character almost a living example of how his name evolved in etymology).
Yeah, anyway, just wondering of anyone else has similar experiences while making up names.
I am mostly wondering, because naming characters is sort of a big deal for me. I have a hard time getting a name I am comfortable with. I reuse names I make for stories for PCs a lot, mainly as it will take me sometimes weeks to find a name I like. I love it when there is already a name out there that matches a character, because it would take me so long to invent one I like. Its not even so much if the name is cool (stylish). That is something I always put a lot of merit in, but for names the whole etymology and meaning of the name is usually more important. I've actually looked into name etymology so much, and invented so many of my own names, I now can invent names from other names I've invented (with those invented names coming from real-world etymology).
In a few cases, I have actually invented a character due to a name I came up with, instead of the other way around. For example, while trying to find some names for these 5 devil characters, I came up with the name Ashtarot. I really like this name, and I've invented a character based on the name (rather than making a name to match the character as would be normal). I would actually say I am still developing this character, as I am currently RPing a character of the same name (I find myself doing this quite a bit, RPing a character that I would like to develop for stories).
For a very in-brief of the Ashtarot name, this is sort of how it went. While I was looking up various deities, demons, etc in my attempt to name the aforementioned devils, I was looking at the name of a goddess named Astarte. I found out that this name was also linked to several other characters, such as Astaroth and Ashtoreth. I wanted the new name to evolve from these, and came up with Ashtarot. But there should be a reason for it to evolve from the previous names to the new name, and so I had to look up the etymology for its new composite words as well (ash and tarot). This takes longer then it might sounds, because one word can lead to two words, etc and soon you are looking and dozens of words instead of just two. So after studying the previous names and the etymology of the composite words, I finally settled on a definition: "Lord Of The Immortal Undead", although Lady would probably be more appropriate, but I wanted a male character so its Lord. Also while making a character to match my new name, I've tried to tie his background into some of the other words that came up in the etymology (making the character almost a living example of how his name evolved in etymology).
Yeah, anyway, just wondering of anyone else has similar experiences while making up names.
33
Has anyone read the original Conan stories by R.E. Howard? I had been trying to get them forever. After awhile I start to give up, then I'm walking through Media Play and found them! Del Rey republished all of them in one book called 'The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian".
They are pretty short. The only short stories I've really read many of is mostly just Lovecraft, so its still kind of a new thing for me. I was expected more like Elric-sized short stories, and while some of the later Conan stories get a bit longer, the earlier ones are sometimes only 4 pages. A lot of them I could see becoming a full-length novel, but then it just ends and you just kind of sit there for awhile as your mind wanders. Its kind of interesting, because you suddenly imagine him on all sorts of adventures that were never even written. Which I think lends itself to his character, so doing most of his tales as short stories was probably a smart idea and one reason why he got so popular. Well, he's also just a good writer, but that goes without saying.
They are pretty short. The only short stories I've really read many of is mostly just Lovecraft, so its still kind of a new thing for me. I was expected more like Elric-sized short stories, and while some of the later Conan stories get a bit longer, the earlier ones are sometimes only 4 pages. A lot of them I could see becoming a full-length novel, but then it just ends and you just kind of sit there for awhile as your mind wanders. Its kind of interesting, because you suddenly imagine him on all sorts of adventures that were never even written. Which I think lends itself to his character, so doing most of his tales as short stories was probably a smart idea and one reason why he got so popular. Well, he's also just a good writer, but that goes without saying.
34
Movies and TV / Hellsing
« on: August 13, 2004, 04:13:02 AM »
I heard this series was about Dracula, and being a sucker for the character I had to get it. Well the complete season 1 costs 120$... it sort of ends with the idea that there would be a season 2 but I doubt there ever will be.
The series is an anime about the Hellsing organization, which is basically a group of monster hunters. Their most powerful weapon is a vampire by the name of Arucard. He was tamed by the Hellsing organization long ago and forced to work for them. He is also insanely powerful and arrogant, but his powers are limited somehow (probably by a magic spell). He says something like 'lifting power restriction to level 4, level 6,' etc. He also doesn't pack a stake, he just slams his pointed hand through the vampire's chest to dust them, but he does pack a handgun with special explosive bullets. The silver in the bullets is from a silver cross that was melted down along with some other details that I forget.
Anyway, its basically about Arucard killing vampires, although he does get into a few scraps with a vampire slayer from another monster hunter organization Iscariot. In the first episode he also makes this young girl cop into a vampire, and she fights the urge to drink blood during the story. Arucard also claims to be the last pure-blood vampire. The vamps he hunts were artifically created with some type of microchip... wierd.
I would say you are better off spending 120$ for two seasons of Angel. Its a better vampire show, and you get 44 episodes compared to 13 episodes of Hellsing.
The series is an anime about the Hellsing organization, which is basically a group of monster hunters. Their most powerful weapon is a vampire by the name of Arucard. He was tamed by the Hellsing organization long ago and forced to work for them. He is also insanely powerful and arrogant, but his powers are limited somehow (probably by a magic spell). He says something like 'lifting power restriction to level 4, level 6,' etc. He also doesn't pack a stake, he just slams his pointed hand through the vampire's chest to dust them, but he does pack a handgun with special explosive bullets. The silver in the bullets is from a silver cross that was melted down along with some other details that I forget.
Anyway, its basically about Arucard killing vampires, although he does get into a few scraps with a vampire slayer from another monster hunter organization Iscariot. In the first episode he also makes this young girl cop into a vampire, and she fights the urge to drink blood during the story. Arucard also claims to be the last pure-blood vampire. The vamps he hunts were artifically created with some type of microchip... wierd.
I would say you are better off spending 120$ for two seasons of Angel. Its a better vampire show, and you get 44 episodes compared to 13 episodes of Hellsing.
35
Movies and TV / Gungrave
« on: July 16, 2004, 10:11:26 PM »
I saw a commercial for this on TV, and while I had never played the video game I always thought it looked cool so I decided to pick it up.
Well firstly, orginally I was under the impression that it was a movie, but actually it is the first 4 episodes of a series. There is a paper in the box that says the next 4 episodes will come out on DVD in two months, and then the next four two months after that, and so on until they are all released.
Alright, the main character is called "Beyond The Grave" (Grave for short) and he is sort of this flesh golem/zombie guy made from the corpse of a dead man. He seems to have all the classic ghoulish powers, ie superstrength, fast healing, etc. However I never played the game, so I don't know too much about his abilities, and only the first episode is about Grave. The next three are about this punk kid named Brandon Heat who grows up on the streets. Brandon is the guy who ends up being turned into Grave.
The first four episodes were pretty good, sort of a modern-time western. However, only the very first episode is about Grave, and judging off episodes 2-4, a good chunk more will be about Brandon Heat and his life rather than Grave. So it hasn't been anything that I was expecting, but I wouldn't mind getting the rest to see how it turns out. Grave's character is cool and a lot like what I was expecting, but like I said it doesn't seem like he will really get into the story until the end. It says there will be 7 volumes, and if each of them have 4 episodes, well that is a lot of episodes.
Well firstly, orginally I was under the impression that it was a movie, but actually it is the first 4 episodes of a series. There is a paper in the box that says the next 4 episodes will come out on DVD in two months, and then the next four two months after that, and so on until they are all released.
Alright, the main character is called "Beyond The Grave" (Grave for short) and he is sort of this flesh golem/zombie guy made from the corpse of a dead man. He seems to have all the classic ghoulish powers, ie superstrength, fast healing, etc. However I never played the game, so I don't know too much about his abilities, and only the first episode is about Grave. The next three are about this punk kid named Brandon Heat who grows up on the streets. Brandon is the guy who ends up being turned into Grave.
The first four episodes were pretty good, sort of a modern-time western. However, only the very first episode is about Grave, and judging off episodes 2-4, a good chunk more will be about Brandon Heat and his life rather than Grave. So it hasn't been anything that I was expecting, but I wouldn't mind getting the rest to see how it turns out. Grave's character is cool and a lot like what I was expecting, but like I said it doesn't seem like he will really get into the story until the end. It says there will be 7 volumes, and if each of them have 4 episodes, well that is a lot of episodes.
36
Everything Else / Profile levels
« on: December 29, 2003, 01:24:09 AM »
I'm not sure I understand the leveling thing on the profile. It seems interesting, but I tried a few duels and everyone is using rocks and sticks and wierd stuff and my guy is just using 4s and 0s and such.
37
Anyone read the Elric novels? How would you compare the two new ones (dreamthief's daughter and skrayling tree) to the older ones? I really like dreamthief's daughter but skrayling tree was a little lacking, although I really liked White Crow with his spear version of Stormbringer and his pet mammoth.
38
Video Games / Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
« on: November 13, 2003, 05:22:02 AM »
Anyone played this game yet? I have yet had the chance to rent it at the video store, and I don't exactly want to drop 50$ on it until I know its worth the money.
39
Movies and TV / Twilight Zone
« on: November 12, 2003, 04:40:45 PM »
There's a new Twilight Zone series on TV that I've saw twice. I was wondering if anyone knew something about it, because I can never seem to find it. Sci-fi usually shows the old ones, but I think the new series was playing on the WB, but not sure. So does anyone know if this series is still going, or did they already cancel it or something like that?