Attache

...back when the world was new and everybody was in love and the possibilities seemed endless?

Um, yeah...

Anyway, I found this cut scene from my entry and thought it might amuse anyone who has had trouble getting the name they wanted. I cut it because it was too dark and the humor didn't really fit the tone of the rest of the entry...which is gone now...sniff.

Just for fun: Here's the Paragon Times Mock-Up I did about some M1 victory back in '42. I ended up using just a face shot of M1 since the shoulders didn't match and I started to worry that this might be a little too much photoshop to count as a screenshot. Hey, if I'd known that I wasn't even going to get a honorable mention, I would have ran with it.

Attache

Yeah, those blades don't really have my mouth watering. I have nothing against a sabre-style blade but I was picturing something a little more like a long dagger or short sword. To use a model that is so similar to the katana visually just makes the powerset feel a little like a retread.

I'll give them a try but I don't see them sticking. Maybe I'll be wrong...

Attache

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I was also hoping for an award for Tales of Paragon. That exuded heroism with a capital H, and was a classy, well-told origin story with heart (also capital H).

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Thanks, Bagheera. I appreciate that. As I uploaded mine in the last minutes of the contest and then ended up with a couple funky text boxes, I was pretty sure I wouldn't win. Not that messed up text boxes should instantly disqualify you but I knew there would be some great work that wouldn't have these issues. All three of the winners have better stories than mine and had great production value...I'm just annoyed that I didn't get out a more professional looking product.

I got a heck of a lot of views though and some nice feedback (though I would have liked more) so I'm pretty happy overall. I don't know...maybe I was in the running but it's a little hard to believe considering what was out there. I'm just glad that some people got what I was going for with it. I just wanted to tell a small, simple story and its nice that some people liked it.

I have to agree that The Stuff of Dreams was a darn good read that had to be in the top 4. Everyone should check it out when you get the chance.

Attache

(QR)

/e waits for some red name love...or even just regular love.

Attache

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As much as it would be totally cool for TA to do that... he's living in California now.

Trust me, every CENT he has will be put to use paying the bills. Cali's beautiful, but it will suck you dry if you aren't careful.

And yes, I know this from personal experience.

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/e shrug

I've lived in So Cal for 13 years. Sure, rent and mortgages are higher, car insurance is a nightmare, and gasoline prices make you want to curl up and cry for Mommy but I also earn about twice as much as I would living in most other states. It's not that bad.

Attache

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God help you if you get injured though. Hospital bills here are rediculously high.

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Having experienced semi-significant heathcare costs in four different states, I have to say that is the case in all of them. It's also why I make sure I have good insurance...which is another thing that's just a li'l more expensive here in California. Add that to my list above.

Attache

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Strength - great visual style, although the ending felt a little sudden.. like it should have had on more page or so. still.. a good read!

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You don't know how much I agree with you. I abandoned this story several times because I didn't think I could capture it adequately in 8 pages. There's a reason why it was an 11th-hour submission

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Yeah, my non-winning submission (/e sniff) had to be rushed in places to fit within 8 pages. I certainly would have liked to flesh out things like the WWII flashback, some of M1's background, and my character's grandfather's values. If they do another contest, I would suggest maybe having a full-sized entry category for people who want to do something like a "real" comic as well as the other entry categories. Anyone else feel like that?

Jeez, I'm also still pimping my comic. I'm pathetic.

Attache

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As much as it would be totally cool for TA to do that... he's living in California now.

Trust me, every CENT he has will be put to use paying the bills. Cali's beautiful, but it will suck you dry if you aren't careful.

And yes, I know this from personal experience.

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/e shrug

I've lived in So Cal for 13 years. Sure, rent and mortgages are higher, car insurance is a nightmare, and gasoline prices make you want to curl up and cry for Mommy but I also earn about twice as much as I would living in most other states. It's not that bad.

Attache

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We will see what we can do about showing some love to our top honorable mentions as well as show off the wide display of submissions.

But we want to wait on that so that these submissions can get some of the flash and thunder they deserve.

Ex

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Fair enough. I just want a quick way to get to the cream of the crop. I also hope we see another contest like this in the future. Not only was it fun putting my own together it was quite nice to see what the other folks were putting out there. Very good job everyone.

Attache

Good job, guys. These were all three comics I did have a chance to read and they deserve the accolades. Well done.

Now, I think it would be nice to hear some of the favorites out of the red names. I don't think mine would be among them but it would be nice for the people who were in the running. Any chance of hearing a little on the close but no cigar entries?

Attache

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coming out and showing immense courage and integrity

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I guess I must've missed something. I thought he just said he decided not to buy so much art from now on.

I'm honestly sorry if I inadvertantly pushed one of your hot-topic buttons; I certainly didn't mean to, and I apologize.

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I'd probably allow for the fact that someone's significant other might be privvy to a subtext that isn't evident in the OP. That said, it does seem a little...well...much...considering the topic unless he's planning to do great, grand, and noble things with the money he'll be saving. And that could be the case...since I believe the amount he spent on art was quite significant.

Attache

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Well Sass probably added up how much money he spent on art and gave him a stern talking to! :P

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Fixed for you, Rowrsie.

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It's. Always. A. Woman.



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Wow!

How insulting that you could think someone of TA's calibre, personality and integrity could be so easily manipulated and coerced.

Doesn't say much for your opinion of the man.

I understand that the joke is almost funny, but not ....... as it happens.



Turns out the 21st century is still a hot bed of sexism and immaturity hidden poorly in a convenient haven known as the internet.

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Actually, as a layperson (in this sense, a layperson being someone who isn't TA and isn't you) it's still kind of funny. At least, the first toss-away "blaming" of woman was funny...it just got less so as the point was hammered again and again. It's in that "again in again" where sexism and immaturity may be making its bed.

TA, I hardly knew ye. Well, I knew of...ye...but I never really knew you. I merely admired your obsession and its end result from afar. I'm really only just getting into the art thing but I'm sure my mini-obsession will burn out long before I hit the three digit mark. Character art is a nice luxury that I can afford at present but there are certainly other things that I sh/could be doing with that cash. After I get my fill, I'll be out doing them I would imagine.

And unless history proves false, there will not be a woman to blame. I haven't been able to use that excuse in some time. But if any of you happen to know a nice girl...

Attache

You have some sweet commissions over there. I'm laying off linking to mine until I actually have something to show. I only have one little lonely commission over there (a few more in the works) and as awesome as I think it is, it really doesn't rate a link yet.

Yours, on the other hand, does. Nice work.

Attache

It's nice enough where I instantly put you on my DA watch list. Very nice work. I'll be looking for more.

Attache

(QR)

I always hate necroing my own threads but I was hoping for a little more input on my comic entry before the contest ends and the winners (of which I won't be one) are announced. If any of you have the time, click on the link in my sig and then throw a critique my way. Either here or there, either way is fine.

And forgive this last week pimping of my comic. It will all be over soon enough. Thank you again.

Attache

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You know what's scary, when you're favorite browsing, and you stumble across someone who faved one of your commissions :P

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I have very few of my dA submissions favorited. Those who did, I have no idea who these people are.

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I've favored a few commissions of (unknown to me) CoX characters just because I like the work. It's really only a testment to the artist and how he or she brought the game character to life. As a player, I recognize the costume elements and always like seeing how someone put their twist on them.

I notice that my first commission has been favored a fair number of times. Considering the liberties that Rantz took with the character (with my full support), I know it has like zero to do with the character and everything to do with his talent. Still, I get a kick out of it.

Attache

I have it backwards? Or the OP? QR's are usually more meaningful marked as such.

In any case, I've had trouble LFT on small servers with all ATs so while your advice has some merit, it isn't the whole answer. All I'm saying is that it's unlikely to change so just put your soloists on the smaller servers and embrace the state of the game.

Attache

Can you draw a picture or take a screenshot of you not being able to team? Just so the forum is on topic?

Seriously, I have a pretty full boat on Pinnacle and I can hang out my LFT flag for hours and not be able to find a team. This is even during peak. On Virtue and Freedom, if I have invites turned off, I'll still get someone asking me to team about once every 45-60 minutes. If I do actively look for a team, I usually have one within five minutes of putting out the request.

I'm just pretty settled in with the fact that my Pinnacle crew will spend a lot of time solo. I'm okay with that. When I want to team, I just hop over to Freedom or Virtue.

Attache

I'm glad you like it, Jugg. And she's on Virtue so you know what commission will be coming down the pike eventually, right?

VirtueVerse - Liberta!

Attache

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Looks like you made out pretty well with that commission, the artist has alot of style! And the picture came out very nicely

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My natural pessimism had me fully prepared to be a little disappointed by whatever I got. I mean, it seems like so few things are as awesome as you'd like them to be, right? I generally like to temper my enthusiasm about many, many things.

Randy's art easily surpassed even my pre-tempered expectations. It's absoultely what I wanted. I'm incredibly pleased.

And as commissions go by talented artists, the price is definitely right. I can't recommend Rantz highly enough. Visit his DA page and throw some love his way.

Attache

I'm digging the angle on this sketch. It's still really rough but it already looks very dynamic and conveys a sense of strength. Very nice work.

I'll be following this thread.

Attache

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He didn't draw her breats big enough.

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Here's what I said to him regarding breasts when I ordered the commission:

I like the way you draw cleavage and breasts so please tweak (!) them. I would have made them bigger in game but they look kind of funky when you get too crazy with the slider...you should feel free to go nuts. Well, maybe not Power Girl nuts...but you get the idea.

If you were being sarcastic, he was merely following my instructions. If you weren't and honestly think they're too small, he was only honoring my wishes.

Attache

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One of us! One of us! One of us!

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Yeah, I think I'm already one of you. I'm in Poison's queue at the moment for my main, am waiting for David Nakayama to get back to me with his payment methods so I can get an admittedly goofy semi in-joke marker sketch done that only a few people will probably get, and I'm looking for an artist to draw a scene from a Star Trek sim I wrote on a few years back.

Yup, I'm an art-o-holic.

Attache

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She looks great! I like the liberties he took with her jewelry.

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I did suggest a necklace after I saw the roughs because I thought she would be a little bottom heavy with all the metal low but I can't take credit for any of the design. I just gave him some references and he took off! His work actually has me hyper to get someone else's take on Liberta because I think I'd be interested in seeing how someone else would interpret the character based on the same materials. If I ever do an artist guide for the character, I think I'll just focus on vague ideas and references and let the professionals handle how to pull that off. It worked out very well in this instance.

Attache

I'm Attache and I Like Boobs.

Especially that set on Torgo. Stunning.

Attache

Well, my cherry has finally been busted. I have the final on my first commission in my hot little han...well...hard drive. A big thanks to the mighty Randy Kintz over at Deviant Art.

Liberta a la Rantz.

Liberta in game.

I always figured my first commission would be my main (and male) character Attache but when I saw Randy's work, I was sure he'd be the one to bring Liberta to life. His women manage to maintain a certain innocent quality that's just perfect for this petulant woman-child/goddess. For the special armor pieces and sword, I just showed him a lot of reference pics of Roman hardware and he ran with it. I couldn't be happier.

I highly recommend Rantz for anyone thinking about a commission. He's easy to work with and very responsive to communication. A great guy and a great artist.

And for anyone who has ever run into Liberta, I regret I must inform you that she's not played by an Italian girl with a limited grasp of the English langauge. She's played by a rotund 30-ish male armed with Babblefish and far too much free time.

Attache