Blackdove_EU

Very good writing Coile. It was quite dark and had kind of oppressive / anxious feeling to it, and still avoided the melodramatic angst. More like a clean, cold, sharp pain layed out piece by piece. I also like how it shows that Coile's breakdown isn't rooted in Nadia's death but Azure Sting ripping his mind up. (Although I assume that the subtle hints and connections are all utterly lost if you don't know the character / read the earlier stories).

Pyranha

Great initiative guys, the place looks very good!

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finally! we aint homeless no more! Is there going to be a CTOOC and perhaps time schedual or is it just hang there when you have sod all else to do?

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Personal opinion: There would be many of the same people on the channel as are in GGOOC so might not be much additional value / use to create yet another channel. But if the villain players think it's good idea, you could always set up one and see how it goes.

Starting up a new venue is big job, and it needs many good first impressions. If someone goes there and five times in a row there is no one there, they'll stop going. Hence I think a set time would be very good. Possibly have couple of set nights/times at first and see how it goes, or if it's everynight, it would be good idea to make sure there is someone there every night.

Pyranha

(Emphasis added)
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And a massive gratz to Sister Kinetics!

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Very nice picture, I like the coloring a lot, a bit of paint-like and adds depth to the picture. Good work. (Yes, chest is OTT, but it's obviously what you were aiming for.)

Pyranha

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Duuuude! She called ya sexy! High five!

[/ QUOTE ] I know!


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You ASKED me to call you that, Sexy Jesty :P

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I think its one of them things Rose, If sumin you love becomes a job it simply is a job?

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I'd love to be professional artist, but ... also want to do my "professional" job. But hey, you're welcome to pay me any time you want

Thanks a lot for the comments guys, yay You've made my day! I'm liking the pencil work and need the practice so... expect more pics coming up. *happy dance*

Pyranha

Heya!

I've been doing some more pencil sketches lately and even got access to working to scanner. Yay!

Here's Inago

and Jester and Inago

Thanks Sexy for putting the pics up for me (I was being lazy :P) though I don't know why Jester and Inago pic is so small, it was four times as big when I sent it.

Feedback very welcome!

Pyranha

Very nice pictures, I particularly like the #2. I'm just sucker for the back pose

I took a look at the other pictures too, loved the wow ones

I look forward seeing more of your work!

Pyranha

Good questions, here we go. (Mind you, it's late and I'm tired.) (I added numbers for clarity ) I have taken that by MMO-Fanfiction we mostly mean fan fiction with original characters set in CoX universe, not for example Statesman/War Witch fic.

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1. What do you like to see in a piece of fan fiction?
2. What puts you off reading the stories published on the boards?
3. What types of story do you like and is there a specific genre that you feel fits well within the COH/COV universe?
4. What mistakes do you think have been made in the past (no names please, unless it's your own )?
5. If the story was provided as a PDF (so that formatting could be maintained like a proper book) would you see that as a benefit or would it put you off reading the story?
6. Do you prefer serialisations or one self-contained story, no matter the length?
7. Given that we are concerned with writing for the COH/COV universe, how close to the action in game do you expect a story to be?
8. How much artistic leeway do you, as a reader, allow the writer to have before you give up on a story?
For example: A story has Statesman in and reveals something about him that is not mentioned anywhere else, nor is likely to be again.

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1. Same as in any fiction - good story, good writing, sense of wonder, good ideas. In general fanfiction I like seeing characters doing things outside the official canon, alternative realities and the works. But that doesn't apply so much in MMO-fan fiction. In MMO-fan fiction, I like the stories that make the world seem more alive. How is the everyday life? What does the city smell, feel and taste like? How is the life of a hero there? For example there was story posted of a reporter doing some kind of tv-show. That was great.

2. Bad grammar / formatting. It might sound petty, but if the writer doesn't bother to go through the trouble of presenting his story in readable form, why should I bother to read it? Although I think that is quite rare problem on these forums. Second pet-peeve is Mary Sues (basically idealized characters that are perfect in almost anyway, and quite darn good at the rest of it.) I like my fiction flawed and edgy.

3. I like all kinds of stories. For CoX, I think light humor mixed with drama works best for me. Long and detailed Salvatoresque fight-scenes bore me to tears (but apparently have wide audience still). Superherogenre for me has been lot about personal drama, ethical and moral dilemmas presented with/through action.

4. I guess most of the usual mistakes. Bad grammar, typos, repetition and so on (And I do them all )

5. I would most likely not read PDF story, unless it has been recommended to me, or by writer I know is good. (My browser doesn't like pdf's that much, and it's a slight annoyance to open them.)

6. Whatever fits the story better. If it's on shorter bits, it's easier to start to read. If I do start reading a longer story and it's good, I'm likely to read all of it at once, where seriealized I might just read one chapter.

7. Not close at all. It can be describing ingame events or totally out of game mechanics.

8. It depends how the story is done, but generally I don't like meddling with the big lore figures in more than superficially. Statesman revealed to like brownies with raisins is fine, Statesman revealed to like leather-wearing japanese men not so. But it can add a lot to the story / immersion of the world through the story to have some of the lore characters make appearance in the story.

Also to note: Background stories often are quite different creatures from more "short story" like fan fiction stories. They serve specific purpose, to tell the hero's origin in short but informative form. More like infodump or reference guide. Of course background story can be made into more proper short story and that's nice but not IMO required. So, when reading background stories I take that into consideration.

That's that. Hope it was a bit helpful.

Pyranha

Welcome from me as well

I'll join the choir of praises, great work! I think it's cool you are posting here, I love to see the pictures and whatever you share about the process (as wanna-be artist myself).

Are you playing on Union or Defiant?

Pyranha

My nominations:

March: Fire Guardian sings: Collected Songs

April: Swizzy's Art: CoX Fan Art

May: Coile's story: Summertime Sonata

Pyranha

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Player Mission: Time for the Teenagers to Turn the Tables

Mission Goal: Prevent the escape of the Council Operative
Mission Contact: Pyranha
Mission Type: Timed Instance
OOC Mission Time: To Be Determined
OOC Notes: Level restricted to 17-20 (exemplars / SKs can be provided). Teenage Heroes preferred, pre-request invitation.


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Time: Tonight (monday 26th) around 8.30pm BST. Meeting at the statue, but please send me PM or tell if you're coming. (Global handle Blackdove). I have 2 SK / exempler slots currently.

Pyranha

((Another Diary entry. Note - Inago came by later evening and they talked, but I haven't written that yet.))

The Council Earth
Posted on 21.06.2006 at 23:43
Current Location: Steel Canyon, home all alone
Current Mood: In shock
Current Music: Gwen Stefani - Bubble Pop Electric

Dear Diary,

Tonight I was on another earth! Oh my God! ANOTHER. EARTH.

Of course I've heard all that blabbing about alternative realities and dimensional portals, and it's not that I didn't believe it, it just didn't feel Real. Like, you know, you might know that Johnny Depp is a real person, he doesn't just float in his own little bubble and divinely appear only to make movies. But I still can't really imagine him doing the usual mundane things real people do. It's the same with alternative realities. I couldn't really believe them until I was really there.

So what happened? I had been doing a background checks all day and was bored out of my mind. I went down at the statue to say hello to people - I admit, I wanted to see Kyo. I missed him.

He was there with bunch of people, them all getting ready for some mission. Then he asked if I wanted to come along! Of course I did! Then Doctor Temporis appeared, and he approved me to come. Yay! I was so excited and nervous! My first dimension hopping. I was very very VERY happy Kyo was coming along!

It was to some other Earth where Council had gotten the power and they (Doctor Temporis and co) were worried our Requiem would ally with these guys. First we had to go to the Portal Corp. The travel went fast with teleportation (and it made me itch again and I had to concentrate through the whole briefing not to scratch myself all over. Grrr.) The portal was HUGE and made everything around it vibrate, air and ground and us. Scary! By then, I was getting more nervous than excited. Kyo was your regular cucumber, bouncing and stretching like he was just going to run to the store to get some milk. As were the others. Sigh.

When it came time to go through the portal, I could barely make my legs move. Kyo almost dragged me through it, finally. It was... strange... There was a moment of disorientation, like I had turn to liquid for a fraction of a second and then realigned into human again. At the other side, it was quite confusing! If I hadn't known, I would've thought it was our Paragon City. Just with lot of Council, different posters and the whole city looking like Iraq. There were tanks and wires and I think there was some roadblocks too. There was no civilians out there. I think it was night, or then the sky was just really heavily overclouded. We were told to do as much damage as we can so I did my best. Too bad Kyo wasn't there to see it!

I couldn't help but think if there was another me in there somewhere. What was she doing? Was she alright? But of course there was no time to think much, let alone to go see the apartment. I just concentrated doing my job, and before I knew it, it was over.

Kyo had introduced me to some stoneguy called Gilad, who I thought was interesting. He reminded me of New Moon (I wonder how he's doing?). We got divided into two teams and Kyo was in different than me. At least Gilad was there so there was someone familiar there with me. In the end, he mashed the ambassador guy we were supposed to arrest. That was ugly. I don't think I have ever seen anyone die like that. Makes me qualmish just to think of it.

After that we went home. I was supposed to meet Kyo at the statue, but he was talking with Doctor Temporis and he asked me to give them some privacy.

I think he is angry at me. I wanted to bring something back home with me and had picked up a pretty rock. He was saying how it is disgusting to take trophies and then he came to slap my rock out of my hand. Honestly... it was just a rock...

Claire wasn't home when I got here. I hope she comes back soon, I rather not be alone tonight. Everything that has happened keeps spinning in my head and it would be nice to be able to talk to someone.

Pyr

(( This is Pyr's diary entry about the meeting last week. It's late, I have been too busy to concentrate on writing Better late than never, eh? Link to her diary in my sig. ))

Hunt for Requiem Starts
Posted on 13.06.2006 at 22:53
Current Location: Galaxy City, skyscraper roof.
Current Mood: Tired sack of bones
Current Music: No Doubt - I'm Just A Girl
Dear Diary,

My head is buzzing and I'm exhausted. I just spend ages sitting on a meeting. It was important, but geez. I could only understand half of what was said if that. Ghost Tiger received invitation, "Doctor Sebastian Macallister requests the pleasure of your company at a strategy and planning meeting to plot the downfall of the villain known as Requiem." and since Zan was busy, I had to go.

To start things off properly, I was late. The meeting was on some station somewhere where I was teleported to (Does teleporting make else's skin awfully dry? I have to ask.) It was very high-tech place, lot of big, impressive looking machinery and holo-displays. Quite different from our little office!

People were gathered around a big table (I have seen basketball fields smaller than that table), the Doctor himself was standing in the middle of it. There was lot of people I recognized but none I could really call a friend. I sneaked to stand behind Bluestrike's chair, she would at least be a friendly face. I felt so small. But I tried to think, at least I am here! Listening to all these famous heroes discuss the latest threat to our world. I have never before been part of saving the world!

There was lot of talk of alternative dimensions and portals and such. Alternative versions of me? What a silly thought! But maybe I get to meet myself sometime! How weird would that be? ...Anyway, back to the meeting. The way I understood it, is that OUR Requiem from THIS Paragon City (a quite crazy but powerful guy) has somehow concluded that if he destroyes all the worlds in all the dimensions (using some "riptear" machine) he somehow becomes God. All-powerful, All-knowing, all the jazz. Why does he think that, never really came clear to me. It's not a thought that any normal person would come up with. It reminds me of one Southpark episode, with little gnomes stealing underpants. His plan makes as much sense as theirs. But even if his plan wouldn't work, our world would still be destroyed. Why can't he wrap his head in tinfoil and be worried of gaygas like any other nutjob?

To prevent Requiem's plans, we need to go to several other dimensions and also clear some of his bases here in Paragon City. The alternative realities confuse me. Scare me too. But Kyo promised he'll come with me so it'll be alright. I want to help the best I can, but honestly, I'm just a girl and I don't know what I can offer when others have army of satellites, or army of clockworks, or can blow up small planets, or is the most powerful telepath on the planet, or is gandalf with fangs, or whatever. I can set a guy's pants on fire, whoopidoo.

Is this how Claire feels all the time? Maybe she could get someone to teach her? Martial arts, magic, or some weird-[censored] tech? I'll ask her if she'd like that.

Pyr

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I am sort of anxious to start playing CoX again ...

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Promises, promises!

I think I have seen some chatacters and players from RG still around, good luck with it.

Pyranha

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Tomorrow or Thursday then?

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Better decide fast

I'm cool with either day. Maybe Thursday is better since if it's today people might not hear about it in time if they don't check forum everyday.

Besides, then I might get Pyr to 20 and have a new casual wear look to her

Pyranha

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And am I the only one who read the thread title as Kemble Mix and thought of cat food?

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>.> I did! I only realized it wasn't Mix until I saw the picture and had just wondered idly how you had misread "Kemble". Doh.

Cool picture! I like it a lot!

I didn't so much think Eastern style, I was thinking "Italian-style". I've been seeing too much Winx

Pyranha

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I'd like to arrange something strictly OOC, to meet up. No IC reason whatsoever, just an apparently random moment etc. And take it as it comes, might fall on its face might not.

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I'll try be there When and where?

Pyranha

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Frankly, you don't know what I'm talking about.

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I was merely going by what you had written in your post, and what I had quoted. Beyond that, you're right, I don't have a clue what you are talking about .

Pyranha

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One of the attitudes I got fed up with was the "we should go roleplay somewhere private where we can be ourselves" attitude. I thought it was highly in character back when the RG did it, and I also thought it was devisive and uncaring of other people's feelings.

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I can understand that point of view, but I don't agree personally. If characters need or want to talk in private, I see nothing wrong with it. Not everyone plays with everyone and neither should they. So whether the char I am not playing with stands two feets from me, or is in another zone doing their own thing it matters little to me.

I prefer to roleplay somewhere a little quieter, solely because I find it extremely hard to concentrate when there is 5+ conversations happening all around me. It's nice to stop by Galaxy Girl and see people, but it wears me out very fast. But even if I am somewhere in "private" it doesn't mean people couldn't approach me if they wanted to. (Please do )

To get back on topic, I like Pocket-D as place for "accidental" meet up some night. GG would be fine as well, but personally I don't think I could get that much out of it due to the aforementioned local-spam-overload.

How about next Thursday?

Pyranha

Hey, looking nice

I'm curious, how do you make these pictures? (For me, painting has usually ment oil/acryl etc painting on canvas).

Pyranha

It is quite long story, so I fear not many will read it. Their loss, I'll say!

I enjoyed the story, especially the glimpse into rikti war which I don't know too much about. Thanks for sharing.

Pyranha

Looking at today's society, usa especially, I have hard time believing there ISNT an anti-mutant movement. Possibly not that big, but probably loud. My hunch would be that such movement would not diffferentiate so much between mutants and other superpowered beings though.

Why be against mutants? They're dangerous, different, they aren't natural and are un-godly. Just see X-men for details

Pyranha

(( Subaiku's entry to Tempest grid, IC to members, OOC to others ))

Case report: Skorpanok Part Two.
Date of Events: June 2nd.

I Returned to Skorpanok with Coile and his friend Rakila. He was as Incoherent and Raving as always. He made threats to Kill us all if he were released from his bonds. I wished to find a Telepath who could hear why he had come to Me. Coile headed to the statue, but had no luck. In the meantime, I decided to remove his Helmet, to prepare for the Listening.

At once when the helmet was removed I could Sense him more vividly. There was sharp Spikes in the inside of the helmet, penetrating his scarred skin. I believe the helmet to be Cause of his earlier silence. Now when he was able to talk again, he urged for our Help.

This is his Story: There is two beings in the lizard's body. The raving, dangerous one is in Control of the body, and the other one only able to Silent communication. He believes them to be a Creation. He was inserted into the body and together they would be the first of their Race. There was a disturbance, possibly a malfuntion, and the experiment Escaped.

They were made by Saturn Corps, a secret group aspiring for War. He believes they are Threatening Paragon City but doesn't know what they are about to do, or how to Stop them. However, the Other part of him does. I do not know how to get the other to Break from his raving and fear, he suggested to track down his Past. If we would find out Secret's of his other, we found find Saturn Corp and reveal their Plans.

He pleads for our help. The Saturn Corp will be trying to Locate their experiment and doesn't Care what they must do to achieve it's goals. Neither of them wishes to be Captured again, but the other half believes we are working for Saturn Corp already and it will be difficult to convince him Otherwise. If Saturn Corp is plotting to Destroy Paragon City, we are at best position to Stop this threat.

I hid Skorpanok in the underground tunnels that night. I later met with mr Steel Guard and gave him the helmet for investigation. He also offered to modify our detainment field to hold a prisoner.

Update June 4rd. Skorpanok Transported from underground to the base and placed inside the field. It will be more comfortable holding for him.

Subaiku

Artpad is fun I love to see how people draw

I used to make pictures with artpad to illustrate Pyr's diary, but lately(=last three weeks or so) it has been bugging out on me and not saved the picture. I don't suppose anyone knows what's up with that?

Here's couple from there
New Moon
Zania
Tonnerre
Chiaroscuro

Pyranha

I like!

There is something in the Iron Skin picture that I can't really put my finger on. Maybe the white background? Or maybe could use more room in the up and right? I dont know.

But the second one, very cool! Great use of colors, and I love the "fade" effect, and also the skull.

Pyranha

(( This entry is made to Tempest grid, available to Tempest members IC, OOC to others. ))

Case report: Skorpanok.

History: I got contacted voicelessly and asked for Help. Following the feeling,I found Skorpanok in very weak condition so I took him to Hospital. From his ravings it seemed someone had Captured him and done something to him, but he had Escaped.

I got letter later from the Hospital stating Skorpanok had left and asking me to locate him again. I have been catching vague remnants of his scent in Galaxy City in the past days, but never anything solid enough to follow him. There was taste of Blood mixed with with scent, I believe he had been Hunting in the area.

Recent Event: On Wednesday I finally crossed his Trail. I located him and Unarmed him. I was uncertain what to Do with him. Then I received Help request from Sword and decided to leave Skorpanok waiting until I could find Solution what to do with him. He remains Secured in the warehouse area in southern Galaxy City.

Plan: I will try to locate a Mindlistener who can tell me more about Skorpanok. I shall inquire about it at the Statue.

Subaiku