50s: Silent Spy - MA/Regen Scrapper | Tinkerhell - SS/Inv Brute | Extrasensory - Psi/Men Blaster | Ana Cruz - DP/PD Corruptor | Sara Thunderbird - Elec/Elec Scrapper | Pinstrike - Spines/SR Scrapper | Cold Feet - Cold/Cold Blaster
@Silent Spy, Champion Server
Gawd I never thought it would be so nerve-wracking to hit the SEND button.
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Style? For example, writing a story for a novel I'd handle differently than writing one for a comic format.
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Style -- think short story. I don't want comic scripts, but prose fiction. Usual "rules of good writing apply."
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Oops! Now I feel ashamed of the simple character information piece that I sent in on Tigerstar, it certainly was not done as a story or in proper writing style, more like a much lengthier version of what you might find crammed into the in-game character bio field. 
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Oy... It's the word limit that constantly keeps me from submitting anything. Every time I think "I'll just make this a short peice." It takes on a life of it's own...
*Shrugs* Oh well...
[/ QUOTE ]I know that one. I've got a background story for a character in a one-shot DnD campaign that is 2 pages on college bound looseleaf.
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Originally Posted by Back Alley Brawler
Did you just use "casual gamer" and "purpled-out warshade" in the same sentence?
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* Suggested length 1000 - 2000 words.
NOTE: If your writing is very good, I will consider longer pieces (or breaking them up). But long pieces will still likely be published in 1000 - 2000 word parts, so some sense of rhythm and dynamic pacing is very important. Likewise, the longer the piece is, honestly, the less chance I'll have to read it thoroughly.
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Yikes. Well, I just blew through that limit with my Icy Peach origin story I just sent in. It starts slow, but it picks up once Jenny gets to Paragon and meets her first Winter Lord.
If you see mine (it starts with "Winter, 2004" and Jenny not wanting to take her brother to the mall on Christmas Eve), skip down to the first secion break and start reading there. Yeah, it could lose a lot of the stuff in that first section, but there's some foreshadowing that pays off later in the story.
(If anyone else is interested in reading the whole thing, click on the link in my sig, and look for the Hero Origins topic in our forums, and then look for "Becoming Icy" in the list of post threads.)
Dumb question probably. My "main" is a character I've played for over a year ((Since halloween of 04 actually)). He's the one I put the most thought into as far as origin and such, however, he was recently "generic'd" after over a year of play.
Point blank, an origin for Rebound would actually be a Statesboy story, but Im assuming writing up the Statesboy origin would just be a waste of time, right?
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I'd really like to see Origin Stories.
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Can we be presumptuous enough to write Origin Stories of in-game characters instead of ourselves? I mean, I suppose that Statesman and the like are off-limits since some guy named Robert Weinberg recently published a 358-page novel about that. But, for example, a while back I wrote what I thought was an interesting origin of the Clockwork King. I even included a plug from the in-game clue gathered on a very early Clockwork mission. This particular one was for an online article called the Hero Beat, and the diary format of the article probably isn't very conducive to fan fiction now, but I could easily tweak it into a more narrative format instead.
Or are you all keeping all pre-created characters strictly under control?
We've been saving Paragon City for eight and a half years. It's time to do it one more time.
(If you love this game as much as I do, please read that post.)
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Or are you all keeping all pre-created characters strictly under control?
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I stayed off the DEVS characters and trademarked names. I think they get enough publicity already and the players (in my case the uber members of my SG) deserve more attention. Must be why I never get attention from the them! 
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Can we be presumptuous enough to write Origin Stories of in-game characters instead of ourselves? I even included a plug from the in-game clue gathered on a very early Clockwork mission. This particular one was for an online article called the Hero Beat, and the diary format of the article probably isn't very conducive to fan fiction now, but I could easily tweak it into a more narrative format instead.
Or are you all keeping all pre-created characters strictly under control?
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Well ... I almost never say never ... but I would much rather see your own character's story, although cameos by the signature characters are certainly cool to include (as are fragments like the in game clue you mentioned).
I'm leery of suggesting you write an Origins piece for a signature villain or hero, because it may just muddle the community's view of the CoH history (yes, it's true that all archetypical comic universes have a plethora of contradictions, retcons, and revisionist pieces, but... 
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The approval process involves lots of eyes, and my guess is that a good story that takes a character in an unintended direction might be nixed.
cheers,
Arctic Sun
The 1500 word limit is tough. When I sent in the story that got put in Issue #6 of the comic, I had to focus on the fact that the readers would be familiar with the setting, because you really can't build a big backstory or flush anything out in 1.5 pages.
http://www.onamistrikeforce.com/origins_title.html
Is the link to the Origins of 3 characters: PhoenixHawk (mine), Tropic (Joe Koelbll's), and Solanum (Mike Valcarcel's). We've all sent in parts of it over time, but even the separate chapters are simply too long to be used in the comic. Put together they are a full length book, made up of 3 novellas. 85,000 words. 245 pages. Please check it out, but expect more than a short story to download
Arctic, maybe you could use some of the plethora of submissions you are getting on the fan fiction webpage? Even those that are too long could get used...or maybe have links added to the page to stories that are posted on other sites that fit in with the current theme?
There's a lot of good fan fic out there built on this universe. I have sincere hopes that the prose project will grow beyond the current 3 book contract with CDS Books. Someday I hope there will be openings for submissions for books rather than just going through contracted, specific authors.
D
I just sent in an origin story for Scrapper Jack, my Brute. I rather like it -- if it gets passed on, I'll post it in the RP forum.
I found writing in first person actually cut down on the length, though it still chewed through more than 1800 words.
Scrapper Jack (SJ/WP Brute), Sky Commando (WP/SJ Tanker), Curveball (Rad/DP Defender), and a bunch more.
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The 1500 word limit is tough. When I sent in the story that got put in Issue #6 of the comic, I had to focus on the fact that the readers would be familiar with the setting, because you really can't build a big backstory or flush anything out in 1.5 pages.
http://www.onamistrikeforce.com/origins_title.html
Is the link to the Origins of 3 characters: PhoenixHawk (mine), Tropic (Joe Koelbll's), and Solanum (Mike Valcarcel's). We've all sent in parts of it over time, but even the separate chapters are simply too long to be used in the comic. Put together they are a full length book, made up of 3 novellas. 85,000 words. 245 pages. Please check it out, but expect more than a short story to download
Arctic, maybe you could use some of the plethora of submissions you are getting on the fan fiction webpage? Even those that are too long could get used...or maybe have links added to the page to stories that are posted on other sites that fit in with the current theme?
There's a lot of good fan fic out there built on this universe. I have sincere hopes that the prose project will grow beyond the current 3 book contract with CDS Books. Someday I hope there will be openings for submissions for books rather than just going through contracted, specific authors.
D
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Very impressive, I'm downloading it now to take a look.
It's nice to see that other people share my madness... I have a work-in-perpetual-progress that ties 3 primary characters together (and has background elements of at least 3 others) (mine, my wife's, & my friends...) in a tale that explores their origins and the event where they first come together as a team (the evacuation of Paragon U at the start of the Rikti war)...
It's turning into quite an epic...
I've gone back a few times to re-introduce elements as the world is fleshed out in-game. I had exchanges where my main, for example, an adjunct professor at the U, was warned against going into arcane lore or "heroic studies" or risk academic backlash... it seemed a bit unlikely after encountering the university's occult annex in Croatoa.
Good luck with it!
I promise you are not alone in this madness. It's one of the reasons I am so resolute in my belief that this universe can be explored and expanded well beyond in-game.
Look at BattleTech. What was once a pen and paper game, grew into a very successful series of books and video games. CoH has much to offer those who enjoy the genre even if they aren't gamers. I only hope the powers that be realize this and open their doors for us.
As for others who join in your "madness", I've had a couple of chats/emails with Mercedes Lackey, and she shares in it. Obviously from her story published in an isse of the comic, as well as the stuff on her SG's website. Another author who's stuff has been in the comic, Steve Libbey, heads up that SG and has written more and expressed interest in creating a full prose project.
When you get your stuff done, if you want it posted, send it to the editor at www.cohwritersguild.com and he'll put it up. There's some fun stuff there...most of Voyager's stories are there, along with several of mine, Joe's and Mike's. The site is growing and getting constant hits from fans. There's a review board set up as well for discussion about the stories, which has turned into a bit of a writers group for the regulars (but this has been down a little over a week for server maint.).
Please let me know what you think of the stories as well. We'd love some feedback.
D
My origin is right at 800 words...I wonder if it's enough.
Exaulted -
Willow the Wisp - kinetic meleeSR brute
Aurablade - DBRegen Scrapper
Nichole Tesla - ElecKin controller
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My origin is right at 800 words...I wonder if it's enough.
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I just sent in one for one of my alts that is about 700 words. It would be nice to get it in the comic, but with so many good writers here, and I'm jsut starting and have yet to get much feedback from outside of my circle of friends, I don't expect too much.
Speaking of which, If it gets selected, will we be told what Issue and if we are getting a copy mailed to us, or if we still have to purchase (Never say never but if It does get published, I want to know where to get myself a hard copy)
Defcon 0 - (D4 lvl 50),DJ Shecky Cape Radio
@Shecky
Twitter: @DJ_Shecky, @siliconshecky, @thecaperadio
When you air your dirty laundry out on a clothesline above the street, everyone is allowed to snicker at the skid marks in your underoos. - Lemur_Lad
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Speaking of which, If it gets selected, will we be told what Issue and if we are getting a copy mailed to us, or if we still have to purchase (Never say never but if It does get published, I want to know where to get myself a hard copy)
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If it gets selected you will be notified in advance which issue it is slated for. I am looking into the possibility of a comp copy for contributors, but no promises at this stage.
cheers,
Arctic Sun
I just wanted to drop you an oppinion on your presents scattered around the city for the Holiday thing. In short, it royally sucks.
First of all, something for the holiday should promote people working together. The presents promote people getting pissed at each other for present stealing. You get masses of people running around an area trying to get them and cussing each other out for getting there first.
Another problem is the mobs of snow monsters. People get the monsters, which can often be overwhelming if you're in an area appropriate for your level. Then they run off and leave them. Anyone who would normally be playing in the area can't get near the presents that are generated later without being attacked, so excessively high level people come in without being bothered and grab them with impunity. If someone tries to fight them off so they can grab the present, someone else pops in and grabs it out from under them during the fight. See present stealing above.
Oh, and it seems that Kings Row doesn't generate monsters of appropriate levels. All I can seem to get there are level 3 or less.
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I just wanted to drop you an oppinion on your presents scattered around the city for the Holiday thing. In short, it royally sucks.
First of all, something for the holiday should promote people working together. The presents promote people getting pissed at each other for present stealing.
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I just wanted drop you an opinion on your post scattered in the wrong forum for no particular reason. In short, it royally sucks.
First of all, this thread should be promoting people working on their hero's background. Your response just pisses me off.
If you want leave feedback on something in the game, then find an existing topic or even make a new forum topic. If you want to be sure a red name sees your opinion then send it a PM to one of the red names. You might even consider sending it to someone responsible for events, Arctic Sun is responsible for webpage content (like his wonderful background articles); even, if you suddenly made him realize how far the event had missed the mark (and it really hasn't IMHO) he isn't in a position to do much about it.
Oh, and it seems that sometimes these forums don't generate responses at a reasonable maturity level. All YOU seem to be able to post is at a maturity level somewhere around age 3 (or less).
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That's probably enough on this. If you have anything else to add here take it to PMs, I'm sure I'm looking forward to your reply.
Same here ,I sent in the story of my main TeslaMan.
Nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rock'n chairs!
Here is the story as posted on the CreyIndustries.com site.
Good Luck to everyone!
When you say origin stories, do you mean how a hero got his or her powers, how they arrived at Paragon City, or some combination of the two?
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
Well the way I understand origin is it would be the events that led up to your character being a super powered vigilante, which would include gaining powers and possibly events that led them to the mindset to do what they do and/or the area in which they currently reside.
In short, both if appropriate, though I'm sure that power gaining would be enough.
My poor origin is at 3900 words... I really care a lot about my story and couldn't trim it down much less. I really am a sucker for words. It encompasses the life she lived, the circumstances leading to heroism, tragedy, comedy... the works. Breaking it up into mangeable sections was the tough part.
I hope something comes of it.
The Story of a Petless MM with a dream
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Originally Posted by Deus_Otiosus
This entire post should receive some kind of award for being both hysterical and fantastic.
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is there a particular format you prefer? i.e. word or wordperfect etc
i don't have either, and don't really have a good word processor program, well i had one, but it's lost
but i have story ideas for my character and once i finish would like some criticism/feedback
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is there a particular format you prefer? i.e. word or wordperfect etc
i don't have either, and don't really have a good word processor program, well i had one, but it's lost
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Please send stories in RTF (Rich Text Format), DOC (Word), or TXT format. RTF is preferred.
Use usual good sense - proofread, spell-check, and proofread. And proofread your *cover letter* also! Nothing turns me off faster than obvious mistakes.
Do not embed text in email (yes, lots of people do this, and it won't disqualify you, but it's more of a hassle for me).
Do *not* send in stories in all caps, or with heavy formatting. Stuff like that.
General submission guidelines can be found here.
cheers,
Arctic Sun
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Oy... It's the word limit that constantly keeps me from submitting anything. Every time I think "I'll just make this a short peice." It takes on a life of it's own...
*Shrugs* Oh well...
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Yup... Then at some point I gave up on the idea nd just went on writing for my own sake... I wouldV'e been glad to see one chapter or part of it ending up selected, but what can you do...
I'm just glad people read it on the froums, that in itself is its own reward.