Help regarding one of my publishing projects
By
Lycantropus,
Posted on: 2012-05-26 05:57 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture
My suggestion and advice. Don't worry about it. The only time that the average reader cares about minutia is when they are reading an analysis of a real life event. What you write is basically superhero fiction. Your super heroes are magic and psi and tech based but basically it comes down to superheroes.
Nobody really cares about what Batman's grappling hook is constructed of, how the pivot points are mounted or what the tensile strength of the line is. The only times those things matter is if he actually gets in a situation where he for instance needs to lower himself and a couple other people down. In which case a simple mention of the weight the line can hold is plenty.
Try not to turn into Robert Jordan. We don't need another writer who obsesses for 20 pages about what type of cloth a minor character's clothing is made of and then spends 2 pages on the main character doing something that may save or destroy the world.
If you want to go into all this detail for some reason then that's cool. I'm just saying it's not something I would bother reading.
Don't count your weasels before they pop dink!
this isn't for the fiction, but for the RP supplement that was the original project, so minutia might be necessary for people wanting to play in the world. Otherwise I would agree.
Heck some of the stuff I'm doing for this RP supplement probably won't appear in the novels save peripherally.
But I want some good examples of organizations for each major nation some of which are plot important to my novels but others of which are just examples of the state of the world for anyone running the setting. Actually, this setting was intended to be an RP supplement only in the first place, but I got convinced to do it as a novel series too (didn't take much...realized the people I was talking too expected it and realized at the same time I'd like to). The main purpose is to give flavor to the world and give ideas for players to create their own organizations.
Once Organizations are finished I'm moving on to powers, than races including some requested minor races, then tech. After that I'm going to use the FATE system to show one way the setting can be put to rules and give some summary on other game systems that would work. Finally, I'm going to have a sample adventure and a sample campaign thread. At which point I will start looking for playtesters. I had hoped to be to that point already, but other writing projects intended to be out this year (including some connected free short stories and continuations to two of my other world settings) and the process of moving to Japan and back to being a full time teacher have slowed me down in places.
However, I'm not expecting this to be out until next year sometime, so I have time.
The series itself is going to focus more around a select number of the things I'm putting into the RP supplement.
Thrythlind's Deviant Art Page
"Notice at the end, there: Arcanaville did the math and KICKED IT INTO EXISTENCE." - Ironik on the power of Arcanaville's math
Ah cool. Yeah, I suppose a RP supplement does need all sorts of extra stuff. Even though the great majority of it gets ignored in any role playing game if you don't pad the book out people are less likely to buy it or even look at it because they feel like so few pages are a rip off and can't possibly be complete.
Looking forward to the release of your short stories. Even though your world is about as chaotic a jumble as an Avengers vs JLA crossover with tie ins to 52 and Secret Wars and a special guest appearance from Force of Buddha's palm, I still really enjoyed the characters of Divine Blood. It will be nice to see them in smaller scenarios.
Don't count your weasels before they pop dink!
Got some help from an ex-marine of my acquaintance...doing them basically modeled on an armored battalion.
The main problem being you can never tell which aspect of the world the reader is going to be most interested in. I do have one person who sounds like he wants to do a US-based game/fanfic involving more Sumerian and Mesopotamian Gods and Demons, based on the questions I'm getting asked.
As to the short stories, the first "Extra Curricular" is out on drivethruRPG, a second is being formatted and a third is started. I would have put it out on Amazon but offering most of these shorts for free as a sort of advertising. I'll compile these at the end along with some unreleased shorts in a for-sale "Club Book". I know the advice is "Don't offer things for free", but I mostly write stories for the simple fact that....I write stories. I write mostly for myself, but I like sharing them. If I start getting a following, $3 for an ebook and $9.99 for a print book should be plenty and still give me room to offer occasional sales at $1 and $7.95. Especially if I get my life necessities from other things.
Currently the story that's out already shows what happened at the volcano Lilitu was taking care of. The one in the formatting is Eowyn Desai's back story and how she met Trolleti. Then I have a story involving what Minaba was up to. After which I plan to write some stories around some of the male characters.
The book that's out: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?cPath=8144_8666
I've already started on one of the compilation only stories as well and am also once again over half-way finished with part 3 of my Greenwater fantasy story with no necessity for re-write appearing like had happened last year. After that, working on a sequel to my Bystander novel. While trying to get stuff put together for the Divine Blood RP so I can have a coherent playtest designed and offered to people so that I can put the game out next year.
Next year planning on a DB novel, part 4 of Greenwater so I can finish that story for a while, and the RP supplement. More short stories, though probably a mix of Bystander and DB, possibly another Bystander book. Granted this is all planning right now, we'll see where I get with it. ^_^;;;
Meanwhile the short stories are happening and I'm back in Asia full time teaching, losing weight, having more energy for my own projects and loving every minute of it so far.
Hopefully, after I've cleared some student loans that have been hanging around me 12 years because I keep putting them off and some credit card stuff from a year of stupidity a few years back, then I'll be able to start to afford a professional editor as well as more frequently purchase art than I currently do.
Life is hopeful.
Thrythlind's Deviant Art Page
"Notice at the end, there: Arcanaville did the math and KICKED IT INTO EXISTENCE." - Ironik on the power of Arcanaville's math
There's a concept from a physics professor going around about "The Miracle Exemption" which allows for any concept with the idea that allows for one thing outside current thinking to be allowed.
It's only one thing that breaks physics and the laws as we know it, but as a product changes everything. However, since it's this one rule, our minds can accept it, and apply it to any storyline. have you looked at that? That may give you the one link you're looking for.
Hope I've helped!
Lyc the 'miracle-link' werewolf.
EDIT: The trick is in what your 'miracle exemption' means between what your world considers between 'human' and 'non-human' in terms of ability, since you can have human psychics within the physics of your universe, for example.
"I play characters. I have to have a very strong visual appearance, backstory, name, etc. to get involved with a character, otherwise I simply won't play it very long. I'm not an RPer by any stretch of the imagination, but character concept is very important for me."- Back Alley Brawler
I couldn't agree more.
hmm, that gives me something to possibly use here and/or in Bystander. So yes, that does help.
Thrythlind's Deviant Art Page
"Notice at the end, there: Arcanaville did the math and KICKED IT INTO EXISTENCE." - Ironik on the power of Arcanaville's math
I've been writing up some example organizations for the setting and decided to do an "upright" (mecha) military unit for the example US unit. But I don't want to just cobble together a structural model for this. I'll include the organizational write up I have so far after a brief summary of standard build philosophy for US military on uprights.
US military philosophy on uprights is to use them as quick response units that alternately support or are supported by infantry that can be deployed in quick fashion (helicopter cavalry, etc). They prefer to have a limited number of models that don't require too many different kinds of facilities to build and can be equipped for different tasks as appropriate. So weapons are usually external and "handheld", with some built in back-ups.
I know that they use battle uprights and scout uprights, but as said, they prefer to limit the number of models to a select few and try to get as much use out of each model as possible.
uprights are 12 to 15 feet tall...so think Zeus titans or Siege in size...Zeus titans might be about right for how clunky the 1960s uprights were...
********************
Establishment: January 3rd, 1961
Type: Military
Influence: US military
Racial Makeup: 100% humans
History:
The 6th US Army Upright Battalion began as an experimental volunteer unit envisioning the use of uprights as infantry support vehicles. The concept was already on the drawing board along with three other units when Burma began its Indian and South East Seas offensive in 1961. When the volunteer call went out for the new program, they found themselves with a large number of citizens from the Asian territories of Shandong and Okinawa. In the end, perhaps as much as forty percent of the new units were drawn from these two territories.
A rumor going around at the time was that the US and the CRCMP would be taking this opportunity to attack the northwestern territories of the Empire of Myanmar. Perhaps even making an effort to liberate those regions that had been under Burmese control for over a decade. However, this was proven false when the US and CRCMP instead only sent a fraction of its ground forces to support India. It was like someone had decided that the Four Pillars and Burma would have a quick sparring match to gauge their respective levels of power.
The earliest American uprights, the Boxers, were awkward and slow by modern standards, but were still more immediately mobile than existing armored vehicles as well as capable of getting in and out of a larger variety of terrain than existing vehicles. They werent able to carry as much firepower as the heaviest tanks of the era, but could match the guns of other armored vehicles and the lighter tanks. The decision to use them as infantry support was made based on these decisions.
The 6th began as a group of soldiers who their attached infantry units looked at rather doubtfully. The common ground pounders ended up calling them the TS guys in reference to a popular US comic book character at the time. Likewise, many people at the time were still doubtful of the Asian territories as embarrassing relics of a past imperialism that should have been shucked off already. Some even wondered if the citizens there could truly be considered American given they had different cultural norms and had only been in the union for a short time.
Initial experiments with the unit were promising, but limited and they began to enjoy a better reputation with those conventional units they worked with. The uprights were able to get into jungles that stymied tracked and wheeled vehicles and significantly harder to target for existing anti-armor weaponry. The result was an mobile attack force that could be used as a harassing flanking or herding force for the bulk of the infantry. They might have stayed a limited curiosity if it werent for the results of the Bihar Breakthrough in early 1962.
The Burmese had previously recalled their own uprights from battle and it was assumed that they had decided the machines werent useful enough to invest in. This was proven false when a large defensive force in the Indian state of Bihar was liberally picked apart by a smaller force of Burmese that made significant use of heavy tanks escorted by and supported by the previously recalled uprights, many of which had been refitted for specialized roles. The battle started the main push of Burmese forces until they occupied a much of eastern India.
The 6th began to see more extensive use as it became clear that Burma had started mass production of their upright designs. Political decisions left the allies fighting a defensive war for the most part, with offensives having to go through several stages to be approved. The plans for any proposed offensive went through so many civilian layers that various commanders were certain that any offensive planned was well known to the Burmese in advance it going into operation. Eventually, these limits were worked around when it came time to plan the defense of Rajasthan at the extreme western border of India.
Similar to what the Burmese themselves had done, the allied forces pulled back their own upright units and decided to take a risk by introducing another experimental tactic in addition: helicopter cavalry. Likewise, the new units were supplied with new advances in squad level anti-armor weaponry. Some thoughts were put into specializing the uprights of the allied forces as the Burmese had done, but for the most part, it was decided that a single all around design capable of being equipped for different circumstances was an overall better bet.
When the Burmese came to Rajasthan, expecting to sweep through then on down the rest of the peninsula south, they found the 6th along with fourteen other upright units from the allied countries. While it started in that one state, the conflict soon spread to the neighboring states growing into what is the now referred to as the Last Line, or the River of Steel and Blood. After three months, the Burmese forces began to pull back to Northeastern India and consolidating their hold on a third of the sub continent.
As the Burmese began to pull out, elements in the Indian populace and government began pushing for the Pillars to step out of affairs and leave it to them. The US similarly had a developing anti-war sentiment that was demanding an end to what they termed imperial interference. Likewise, the trade pipeline between the NAA and CRCMP had by this time been completely moved to other, less vulnerable countries and their own interest in the matter was becoming less.
While the fact that the allied forces stopped the Burmese advance from taking all of India is considered an overwhelming success, most military personnel of the time consider it a massive politically induced failure to put an end to Burma on the spot.
The very prominent activities of the 6th during the whole of the war led to them being something of an icon of heroism. Predominately their reputation existed in the Asian territories of Shandong and Okinawa, with some carry over into various Asian countries that participated. On mainland US, the accomplishments of all US military of the period was stained by the imperialist perception some radical civilian elements had of the entire affair. Several soldiers of the 6th ended up moving to Shandong and Okinawa even if they hadnt been born there. While others continued in the military and a handful of the others simply seemed to vanish from public and official record.
In 1965, Okinawa territorial government used the local reputation of the 6th and their young legend to encourage a campaign that had the local citizens pushing to achieve official statehood. The main strength of the campaign was based on their growing position as a financial hub in partnership with Seoul and Tokyo since Hong Kong and other major Asian trading centers had long since been in Burmese hands, but the Heroes of the Last Line were a recognizable symbol for the local citizenry to relate to.
Okinawa succeeded in their application two years after the campaign started, in 1967. Shandong used similar tactics with the 6th, but did not succeed until 1981. Some people have stated that the US government was reluctant to confirm a full state right on the borders of Burma while others have suggested that the rural nature of the area made it less of a jewel needing securing than Okinawa.
While the US military did not officially participate in the Warsaw invasion of Afghanastan from 1973 to 1979, the 6th is rumored to have engaged in a handful of classified black ops operations against Warsaw uprights of the period. If this is true, they were limited to single squads rather than the full Battalion. US involvement in the situation was largely in terms of intelligence and information gathering through the CIA. Afghanastans primary source of military aid had come from the NAA, again because the Warsaw was now threatening the pipeline of trade that the NAA had with the CRCMP.
From 1979 onward, the 6th was involved piecemeal in small time conflicts here and there around the world, but continued to be the flagship unit in terms of upright development and tactical experimentation. Since its inception, it has continued to be considered by Shandong and Okinawa as their unit and a disproportionate number of Asian-States recruits continue to apply to be a part of either the 6th or one of the helicopter cavalry units they were largely associated with. The main US army discourages this and prefers to keep the active personnel of the unit from a widespread pool of volunteers.
They did not see full action again until late 2001 when US declared war on Czechoslovakia in retaliation for the attempt by agents of that country to set off a nuclear explosion in New York City. Some in NATO and Europe had assumed that after forty years that the original heroism of the 6th had to have faded, but failed to consider that, as had happened in 1961, a flood of enthusiastic volunteers packed the unit with the same sort of aggressive spirit that they had in the Burmese Aggression. Several young pilots of the 6th began to make a local legend for themselves.
The 6th has been in and out of rotation in Eastern Europe since before the German War and the Czech War merged into one conflict which has dragged on for ten years. They are currently pulled out of the action zone in the favor of a younger unit while they themselves are being equipped with and trained in the latest upright advances.
Structure:
<request suggestions and advice>
Relations:
A number of members of the original 6th moved on to join Avalon as a sort of unofficial liaison between the independent organization and the United States. As time moved on, this connection matured to the point that the command staff of the 6th is on the committee involved in dealing with Avalons research division and making decisions on directions for upright development. Some elements of the 6th who know more about the hidden powers in the world suspect that one or more of the other upright units in the US Army have a similar relationship to the Path of the Golden Dawn.
Other than that, the TS Guys remain a dual icon of American and Asian heroism in South and East Asia. The Japanese, CRCMP and Korean film industries tend to default to the 6th and associated infantry divisions when they want to show good American soldiers in contrast to normal American soldiers. Every film industry seems to operate under the belief that the 6th unit is more than 90% ethnic Asian and operating under some bizarre combination of whatever local warrior tradition there is with American individuality and initiative. Media originating in Shandong and Okinawa are usually more accurate, but they are generally overshadowed by the larger entertainment industries in the world.
The medical exams of the US military prevent the majority of non-humans and even many human psychics from enlisting, but units like the 6th exist as an unreachable goal for a large number of American non-humans. Faustians and Heralds alike are prevented by the rules Yomi and Nirvana have about interfering in mortal government and politics even though many of them are still essentially normal mortal humans who could get past the checks. As such, the 6th generally don't have many psychic encounters except with the occasional akira and those are rarely powerful enough to worry the pilot of an upright.
Thrythlind's Deviant Art Page
"Notice at the end, there: Arcanaville did the math and KICKED IT INTO EXISTENCE." - Ironik on the power of Arcanaville's math