Tenzhi
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Posts
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Joined
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Quote:I would call those central characters symbiotic plot devices - they often drive the plot forward, but the plot also typically exists for their sake. And sometimes, of course, the plot itself becomes a character device - largely there just to serve as a backdrop/fuel for character development/dialogue.Originally Posted by Captain-Electric
It is a common "What the--?" for beginning writers, but think of plot devices as stepping stones, and primary characters as those leaping forward (through the story) across the stones. In City of Heroes, a defeated enemy mob who drops a tip is a kind of clunky plot device: much like the reluctant tipster caught by Your Friendly Neighborhood Batman at the dead end of a dark alley in a comic book, his only real purpose is easy purchase to the next leg of the story. Your Friendly Neighborhood Batman (and any friends who figure prominently in the story) are not plot devices. While it may be tempting to lob any literary whatsit into that category, it would be no help to dorks who like to sit around and discuss literature, and because they tend to be the ones grading the papers, it's a no-no!
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Quote:Have I ever *not* disappointed?Originally Posted by Captain-Electric
Your lack of differentiating differentiation disappoints me, grasshopper!
Even the few textbook definitions I've seen over the years define plot devices as an object or character that moves the plot forward. The difference between the two is moot, though, because literary characters are objects. They are imaginary puppets dancing at the whim of the writer. Any semblance of life they have is manufactured by the puppeteer. -
Quote:If so, then every instance in stories of characters driving a plot forward proves every single one of them wrong.Originally Posted by Captain-Electric
I have shelves and stacks of writers references, English textbooks, Writer's Markets and a box of Writer's Digests issues that would disagree with you.
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Quote:The Statesman doesn't *have* anything because he's just a figment that doesn't have free will - the story belongs to the writers and is theirs to do with as they please. Characters *are* ultimately plot devices, perhaps even the best plot devices when used properly. But here we get into semantics that I sense will be a permanent division of opinion.Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
And therein lies the crucial difference that you're just glossing over - the Statesman had his own story, but lost it when he became a plot device. He is no longer a character in his own right. Why NOT kill him, at this point?
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I must have the Imperial Dynasty/Chinese New Year pack.
However, the lack of a Guan Dao for Titan Weapons means that Guan Yu will now have to haunt you. You may try to appease him with bean curd, I hear. Good luck with that.
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Quote:Either way you take it, all of Statesman's actions in-game are "scripted". Whether it be that a programmer decides what his actions are, or a writer is using those actions to advance a particular plot. There's always an agenda/program there.Originally Posted by SlickRiptide
Tenzhi - I think your programmer is showing. "Scripted" in the post you replied to meant scripted as in "action to advance a story plot" not scripted as in "a list of computer language process commands".
In the context of the SSA, Statesman making a jerk of himself didn't really seem to advance anything other than the idea that Statesman is a jerk.
I wasn't even going that deep with it. I was just thinking about being offended by the concept of monarchy itself.Quote:Originally Posted by Party_Kake
I just figured I'd mention here that your comment has enlightened me.
It didn't even occur to me that the depictions of the monarchy characters in a deck of cards could ever be compared to current world leaders because it just skipped my mind completely that there actually is a queen and she might be offended by the depiction of a queen in a deck of cards. that's shockingly immature of myself to never even have considered that. how backwards am I that I think of a queen as something completely different from the queen?
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Quote:I imagine he was captured sometime between the last episode and this one, or else that was actually a flashback sequence.Originally Posted by Arnabas
Ok, so when did Moriarty get captured and why was he being let go?
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Quote:Indeed. My thoughts are that any costumes tied exclusively to the Super Lottery may as well not exist.Originally Posted by Necrotron_RO
That should be very exciting, but...the introduction of super packs and some costume packs having exclusive release through them means I'll hold my breath.
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And I said to myself a couple of days ago: "Self, you magnificent bastitch," I said, "you can go ahead and spend those three tokens on the Celestial pieces because it will probably be a month or two before that Fire & Ice set actually goes live." I should've noticed that I was wearing the red devil costume at the time rather than the wings and halo.
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Quote:Hrm, I suppose they couldn't, at that...Originally Posted by NuclearToast
Yeah, because then they couldn't run, and the devs wouldn't give them the power to walk.
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Quote:At least Paper went Live. Scissor got dropped in beta because people complained it was inappropriate.Originally Posted by Android_5Point9
So, why does Rock keep getting all these updates when the only thing Paper's gotten was the Cut update. And that was, what, 3 years ago?!
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Quote:Everything else from the past eight years not being scripted at all, but rather the genuine emotional responses of an advanced A.I. secretly created for this video game?Originally Posted by SlickRiptide
Ignoring that it's scripting specifically to lead into the next chapter, as opposed to anything from the past eight years
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Seems kinda silly that they only did Robotic Arm 3. Robotic Arm 2 would have been better, IMO, but I tend towards symmetry.
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PBAoE version of that Warshade power which rips the soul out of a dead enemy and uses it as a pet.
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Quote:You have to spend reward tokens to advance Tiers. You can get a token for every 1200 points you purchase and/or a token for every month you are subscribed.Originally Posted by Xieveral
Its been a while since I played, so I don't understand this VIP tier system. You have to pay to advance a tier or will it work like veteran rewards and you can advance a tier every couple of months?
I saw that I gained veteran tokens when I bought $15 in points, but I also noticed that the tokens required increase by tier, so this will be very expensive to go for (only on third tier). What is the ratio of tokens to amount paid?
Even then I'm hesitant to give that much because when I let my subscription expire, I was treated poorly as a customer. Even though I purchase points equal to what I would spend in a subscription. -
Man, I thought they wouldn't show up until at least next month.
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Quote:There's a story there?Originally Posted by Golden Girl
The Incarnate storyline seems to suggest that there's another way
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Quote:If you corrupt everyone you loved you can be a happy family of ravenous monsters.Originally Posted by GuyPerfect
Well, Hamidon won't necessarily kill you. He'll just turn you into a ravenous monster bent on destroying and/or corrupting everyone you ever loved.
But hey, if it means sticking it to that mean old dictator guy, it's worth it, isn't it!?
Of course, your scenario assumes that the only way to defend against Hamidon is to go along with the tyranny of Emperor Cole.
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Quote:I'd love to see such settings, myself. But if they made them chances are something in the setting would be taken as stereotyping or mockery of some sort because...Originally Posted by AzureSkyCiel
This reminds me how much I'd love to see more places in game set OUTSIDE of Paragon and the Rogue Isles.
My Japanese heroes are getting homesick, my French Wizard wants decent wine and not "California crap", my Arab Alchemist wants to visit would like to visit- Okay, so his home country hasn't existed since the Crusades, my Midnighter wants to visit the slums of Rio where he grew up and flip the police the middle finger and turn them into frogs
...people (not you, ED, people in general, this just happens to lead into my answer to you as well) get upset over the most ridiculous things. There's about as much political charge in a frivolous badge in a video game awarded by a flag as there is in a deck of cards with its cheeky monarchy. You admitted that it's appropriate to the setting, and I wager had the standard been fictional rather than the American flag no one would've gotten upset, ergo the only agenda clearly lies with the people who were upset by it. People who were exhibiting a form of bigotry, whether it be against nationalism in general or specifically against American nationalism.Quote:Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
The thing is, the other silly badges in the game aren't potentially politically charged. -
Quote:It happened to me recently on a new character, although I was, in fact, trying to right-click said power to remove it from my tray at the time. So I self-destructed before I'd even moved right after character creation.Originally Posted by Lulipop
I did this for the first time today. I will never again put that in my tray, ever. Zomg. I almost had a heart attack
On the plus side, this reminded me to claim Return From Battle and put it in my tray at a relaxed moment rather than later in the middle of a team combat situation.
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Quote:No sillier than a number of other badges in the game. "Usurper", for instance, when you don't actually usurp Lord Recluse's position.Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
The game is set in the US, but that doesn't mean all of our heroes have to be American. If I were to make a Canadian-themed hero it would be silly to get the Patriot badge from standing next to an American flag.
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Quote:Honestly, I couldn't tell you how the impression was initially formed. I don't have a mental catalogue of everything I've read in the game. But even his recent actions in the SSA struck me as having the same aloofness that Superman showed in Kingdom Come.Originally Posted by SlickRiptide
Is there a particular reason why? I can't think of any dialog in the game that is written like that.
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My original "main" ceased to be my main character right around the time of ED. He couldn't stand up to enemies as well as he used to and it put me off playing him regularly. If not for sentimentality, I might've deleted him early on.
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Quote:I find that kind of ill will rather silly, myself. As I understand it, Paragon City is on the east coast of the U.S. - if it were set in France, I certainly wouldn't get upset over a 'Patriot' badge set next to France's flag.Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
I remember back in the day when the developers introduced the "Patriot" badge, where you had to stand next to the American flag on the roof of City Hall. That... Didn't go over well, and to be fair, I wasn't a big fan of it, myself. I generally have a problem with American heroes and leadership automatically being expanded as being heroes and leaders "of the free world."
The badge in question was changed to say that the flag at the top of City Hall wasn't just an American flag, but the Statesman's old cape, and by standing next to it, we are honouring his good deeds. To be fair, the man has indeed done a lot of good, and I personally don't have a problem with the badge. The old "Patriot" badge was moved indoors, next to the statue of some heroine who was made a citizen of every nation in the world, therefore by being a patriot, you're being a patriot for the entire world. It's a very obvious compromise, but it's well-handled. -
Quote:The episode didn't drag at all for me. Indeed, I watched it twice in a row and found it quite interesting both times.Originally Posted by Magus_Prime
This episode of Sherlock dragged on for me. Gatiss has a tendency to make his stories overly elaborate (if you've ever seen Jekyll, you might know what I mean.) The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of my favorite stories but this one had sort of a weak reveal. On the other hand, it was interesting to see Sherlock unhinged and doubt-stricken. Still enjoying the series as a whole so I'll be here next week.
Of course, I rather liked Jekyll as well.