Arts and CraftsThe place to talk about stick figure avatars, graphic design, fan art, or any application of the visual arts and creative writing--or just to show off your latest masterwork!
nersxe
Current run: 4 weeks
Longest run: -
Themes: -
It's HeadlessMermaid's turn to choose a theme
Holy [beep], I know I talked big a few weeks ago, but I'm not sure I can do this NaNoWriMo thing. I must have written double the amount I posted, because my mind is so scrambled I can't focus on a story. I think I tried two different "Music and flesh" stories that didn't go anywhere. Hopefully the current idea will. At least I'm exercising my brainstorming skills
Sorry about that. Car accidents, they are not fun.
__________________
Plague Rat in the Playground
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grim ranger
I support the godly magazine idea, and hope that Eld can serve as mix of town crier and incredibly deadpan game show host in some sections. Also, for some odd reason, he will also make appearance when it comes to godly fashion tips, for even if he is grim reaper he will be the most bishounen god there is. Just you wait
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonwolf
Damn you and your comprehensive understanding of synergistic tactics. :|
Since my themes tend to be, on the whole, rather insane, I'd be fine with not being able to do them not counting against someone, since we're now actually giving out prizes and such for that...
__________________
Plague Rat in the Playground
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grim ranger
I support the godly magazine idea, and hope that Eld can serve as mix of town crier and incredibly deadpan game show host in some sections. Also, for some odd reason, he will also make appearance when it comes to godly fashion tips, for even if he is grim reaper he will be the most bishounen god there is. Just you wait
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonwolf
Damn you and your comprehensive understanding of synergistic tactics. :|
Now, how to properly fill this in a medieval setting... hmmm... must plot....
You can always be metaphorical. Two rival kingdoms competing in, say, how to advance magic for the greater good, except their biggest motive is status points and publicity, both with their own subjects and to the outside world.
Magic research takes time and, unlike space exploration, horrible things might happen if something goes wrong. Doubly so when you're sloppy, because your first priority is to to outpace your rival - and be spectacular rather than actually efficient. Will the future hold great achievements for mankind and elvenkind? Or will things go explodey-wodey real fast?
The possibilities are endless. :)
__________________ "We need the excuse of fiction to stage what we truly are." ~ Slavoj Žižek
Hm. I'm tempted to like, write a sci fi song or something.
...I am actually kind of tempted to make the weekly theme be a weekly songwriting inspiration.
...While doing NaNoWriMo.
...And a full college workload.
(and a few smaller things)
__________________ Quote of the [insert timeframe here]: (Week? Perhaps! Year? Also maybe.)
"Those who have learned to walk on the threshold of the unknown worlds...may then with the fair white wings of Imagination hope to soar further into the unexplored amidst which we live."
-Augusta Ada Lovelace
(Kairos avatar by Elrond)
Last edited by Icewalker : 11-06-2012 at 02:11 AM.
You can always be metaphorical. Two rival kingdoms competing in, say, how to advance magic for the greater good, except their biggest motive is status points and publicity, both with their own subjects and to the outside world.
Magic research takes time and, unlike space exploration, horrible things might happen if something goes wrong. Doubly so when you're sloppy, because your first priority is to to outpace your rival - and be spectacular rather than actually efficient. Will the future hold great achievements for mankind and elvenkind? Or will things go explodey-wodey real fast?
The possibilities are endless. :)
That's an idea.
I was also thinking maybe having kingdoms/factions be making grabs for "space", as in, expanding. I may already have something like that in the works. >.>
And now that i have a fresh supply of modelling wax, i'm back to providing /8week prizes for the Challenge. The prize on offer being a wax figurine (or more accurately, pictures of one ). Probably doesn't compare to proper 2D art, but still perfectly serviceable for character portraits or the like.
A few quick examples:
Spoiler
I am also experimenting with a technique for 'converting' figurines to more tradiotional 2D art:
Spoiler
So that's an option too once i get the hang of it.
By the end of last sunday I had written 10232 words for NaNoWriMo.
My total now stands at 23678 words as of writing this- meaning I have done more than 13k words so far this week... time to get down to today's writing.
So my NaNo word count has gone from about 2500 to about 22500 in the last week. I figure that ought to cover it.
__________________ Quote of the [insert timeframe here]: (Week? Perhaps! Year? Also maybe.)
"Those who have learned to walk on the threshold of the unknown worlds...may then with the fair white wings of Imagination hope to soar further into the unexplored amidst which we live."
-Augusta Ada Lovelace
1,543 words of stuff (sorry for not separating it out into its own quotes and such. I only just remembered I needed to post this, so I'm in a bit of a rush):
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by C'nor
Kansheri nodded, smiling, and pulling Ceryna into a gentle embrace, mask splitting to reveal her face as she did."I do, I think. You are to act to restrain him, and keep things from becoming stagnant, for me, and yourself,"she replied, softly kissing her daughter's forehead, a thin tendril of her hair reaching out to once more wipe away her tears. "Thank you, Ceryna. In the future, your gaze will never be deflected from me, or my actions, unless I must do so to protect you, though all others may be blind to me and them," the goddess, who, in this form, one of the few in which her age could be told, seemed little older than her daughter, went on, clearly quite pleased.
"Might I borrow some of your power? I would make more changes to myself, and the world, to further both our goals, but I am still drained from doing so much prior to your coming here..."
"Help? No, unless you wish to give it. Permission to make such things, for they fall within your domains, though I must admit, refused it, I would likely have done so in any case.
As for lacking love, that is impossible. If they view mortals as being chattel, they will never change them, and that is how, most often, they will make more. Think for a moment - in their place, would you choose to elevate a cow to stand with you, even consider that they might be worthy of such an honor?
I doubt it. They will be proud, and not without good reason; if they cannot grow to care for other species, they will try to conquer them all, and fail, dooming themselves to an early death, especially as they will only rarely replenish their numbers, and take many of their fighters out of combat in the process, for even they cannot fight well pregnant, and if they will not change others, that is the only way they would increase their numbers.
As for the alternate features, they are intriguing, but not really what I had in mind, though they could certainly be granted to certain individuals by the Shapers..."
Kansheri sighed behind the twisted mask, and reached out to lay a gloved hand on her daughter's shoulder, moving to gently wipe away her tears with the other as she did.
"I see that you have joined a tyrant, yes. I see that in doing so, you give him the power to implement his goals far better than he might without you. And I see that he will, by his nature, attempt to bind us all.
Had you stayed an ally, or neutral, I would not have blocked your sight from me, for I love you dearly, even now. But as it is, I must to stay free."
"I would have to see it first. But perhaps another time...
In any case, as for the race, they would be blood-takers, draining others to live. Hunters, warriors, changing those they deemed worthy to be as they were. Members of great hives, claiming their prey in packs.
Does the prospect intrigue you?”
Hunterkin -
Habitat:
Hunterkin have thus far been exclusively observed living in natural or extended cave systems, sealed off with moisturelocks so as to conserve water. However, the existence of various technologies intended to make life in the desert more feasible, such as sand compactors which allow the interiors of dunes to be viable shelters, and suits intended to minimize water loss over extended periods of time, would seem to indicate the presence of a sizeable nomadic/desert-dwelling contingent.
Language:
Hunterkin have a complex spoken language, which makes heavy use of compound words, and has somewhat involved grammar; for instance "nisai" is "my", while "nisya" is "I", the "nis" prefix indicating that it belongs to the personal-referent category, and, as such, "nisai-veleen" would be the proper way of indicating that someone was one's sister ("ve" being the prefix for a personal relationship; "my lover" would be "nisai-veka", but "tul vaerka-baeina aen" would be the proper term for "a lover of art" (and literally translates as "a lover art of", due to the requirements for compounding words), as in that case, one is not personally in a relationship with them; similarly, "her sister" would be "teskol-vaeleen" ("tes" being the prefix for a specific-gendered-other-referrential word, while "kol" specifies that the person in question is female), but only if one did not wish to indicate that they were older or younger than said sister, in which case the terms would be, respectively, "nisai'upsel-veleen" (though to refer to someone only as "little sister", one would use the term "liasa-veleen") or "nisai'uptae-veleen" (again, a different term, in this case "lieka-veleen" is used to indicate this relationship if one wishs to refer to them only as "older sister").
[Elfwilds]
"They'll find you, if they wish to. Once word spreads you're looking for them, that is. And if they don't, you don't want to find them, either, unless you have a pressing desire to become a meal for a Geisthound or a Barghest."
[The Divine Houses]
A shard of Kansheri forms in the Divine Houses, this one made of flame and ice, in a form almost human, though the eight arms ruin the mimicry rather spectacularly.
"Volk! I would speak with you. I have a race I would make, but they fall under your purview as well as mine..."
[The Void]
In the Void, Kansheri watched the mortal plane, and so became the first to see the great Eye that her daughter built with Vetasz, and wept that things had come to this, that she must hide from her own daughter, even as she fashioned a mask and a cloak to do so...
Cosmic Decree - Worldright (-5 AP): Planes may not be directly altered by a deity other than their creator without the permission of said creator, unless the creator is dead, the plane abandoned, or they pay a toll of [-1/2 Health until the end of their next combat + (amount of AP to be expended on the change)]. This overrules Osramus's decree.
Create Relic - The Mask of Chaos (-4 AP): The left half of a two-piece mask, this relic renders its wearer immune to the Eye of Acalhatar, by, effectively, making a blind spot in it. (+1d6 Defense)
Create Relic - The Mask of Confusion (-4 AP): The right half of a two piece mask, this relic makes it extraordinarily difficult to concentrate upon the wearer if they do not wish you to. (+1d6 Attack)
Create Relic - The Cloak of False Dreams (-4 AP): A great black cloak, with a pair of gloves at the ends of the sleeves, and a deep hood, the Cloak of False Dreams provides immunity to all scrying effects. (It also, despite the somewhat specific description, adapts to the physiology of the wearer, allowing any deity to use it comfortably.) (+1d6 Defense)
[Outside]
It would! Which is probably fortunate, considering how affectionately Spec chose to greet her. Had it not been Trium waiting there, things would likely have gotten quite awkward, especially as they're both in costume, and thus it's entirely possible that the person waiting would also have been confused as to her identity.
In any case, however, as there was no confusion, it's a bit of a moot point, and Spec is likely quickly pulled into a tight hug, and a delighted kiss, quite possibly followed by being escorted into the building, just before the doors slam shut, and the shadows start to skitter towards them.
As the first one touches Trium, her wards flare, likely sending it back rather painfully, and, through the contact between them, as well as their magical bond, spread to Spec as well, just prior to the archmage slipping into being the One-in-Three, and, correspondingly, strengthening the shields by quite a bit.
After which, presumably, they pop out of deadtime in the present?
[Den of Doom]
"Someone else's turn to die, you mean," Talia corrects quietly, guiding her flame to touch the mask on the dancer's face, if she can. "You don't really believe she was dancing because she was going to die and wished a chance for a last show, do you?"
Regardless of the response, unless something would stop her, she then tries to call on her connection to Lady Yedesai, hopefully enabling her to speak to at least Violetta, and possibly any others who have died here.
Kasai is indeed awake, though judging by how groggy she looks, she hasn't been that way long, likely only enough time to throw on some clothes, her current attire, consisting of a pair of ragged black jeans, and a loose black t-shirt with a phoenix (likely one Kasai made, considering the style) on the front, most definitely not being the outfit she'd worn last night.
In any case, however, she is awake enough to tiredly return the wave, and murmur something that sounds as though it could be 'Morning, Ina-chan*' in response to the greeting, before, if nothing prevents her, heading into the kitchen to dig up something for them to eat.
*Honorifics are not my strong point. If another would be more appropriate, please inform me so that I can change it.
__________________
Plague Rat in the Playground
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grim ranger
I support the godly magazine idea, and hope that Eld can serve as mix of town crier and incredibly deadpan game show host in some sections. Also, for some odd reason, he will also make appearance when it comes to godly fashion tips, for even if he is grim reaper he will be the most bishounen god there is. Just you wait
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonwolf
Damn you and your comprehensive understanding of synergistic tactics. :|
nersxe
Current run: -
Longest run: 4 weeks
Themes: -
It's The Grimmace's turn to choose a theme
You NaNoWriMo guys are amazing, writing so much I can't find the counter button that everyone seems to have? Any tips?
@IncoherentEssay: That's great! Your faces improved a lot, especially the non-manga ones. I like the orc
Good to have you back in the prize game as well! Are our 8/week prizes a choose-between like last time, or can they have both?
@HeadlessMermaid: I'm not sure what you did with the pictures, but as a rule, they should be taken/manipulated in the week they are uploaded. Shoot me a PM if you did heavy editing and I'm just a photo noob who can't see it.
I don't think it's my turn to choose a theme, I did so last week. And sadly, I don't keep track myself, so I have no idea whose turn it is. ah, never mind
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glass Mouse
@HeadlessMermaid: I'm not sure what you did with the pictures, but as a rule, they should be taken/manipulated in the week they are uploaded.
That's... not how I work.
Especially in the post-summer period: I may shoot a thousand pictures during two weeks in August, and then spend the next three months picking and choosing and processing them (as has been the case for quite some time now.) This, in turn, delays the choosing/processing/uploading procedure for more recent photos.
So most of the time, I end up uploading photos I shot many weeks before. In fact, if I still have a batch that I haven't looked into properly, I don't even copy new ones from the camera to the computer until the card is full. And that certainly doesn't happen every week.
Long story short: I wasn't aware of that rule. And if I were, I would ask to change it (I can state my case on the peculiarities of photography very eloquently but not very laconically, so I won't start unless I'm prompted ). Failing that, I'd explain that personally I can't abide by that rule, and that's absolutely fine: the Challenge would still work as a "nudge" for me, and prizes aren't everything.
__________________ "We need the excuse of fiction to stage what we truly are." ~ Slavoj Žižek
On the NaNoWriMo site, check the "Fun Stuff" drop down, and click on "Word count widgets", which will take you to a page with plenty to choose from...
Ahh, thanks! Now I can have a widget to celebrate my non-writingness
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadlessMermaid
I don't think it's my turn to choose a theme, I did so last week. And sadly, I don't keep track myself, so I have no idea whose turn it is. ah, never mind
I saw your post and fixed it immediately. Didn't have time to answer, though, but... thanks
Quote:
Long story short: I wasn't aware of that rule. And if I were, I would ask to change it (I can state my case on the peculiarities of photography very eloquently but not very laconically, so I won't start unless I'm prompted ). Failing that, I'd explain that personally I can't abide by that rule, and that's absolutely fine: the Challenge would still work as a "nudge" for me, and prizes aren't everything.
Thanks for answering and elaborating. If you do edit and work with them, I'm absolutely fine with counting old photos. We just need to prevent people from digging into old snapshot folders in the case of Sunday emergencies
The rule of thumb is that a piece is something that takes minimum 20-30 minutes to complete (in practice, usually more). Does that sound about right for your photography?
If you do edit and work with them, I'm absolutely fine with counting old photos. We just need to prevent people from digging into old snapshot folders in the case of Sunday emergencies
Haha, no, that's not what I meant to do. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glass Mouse
The rule of thumb is that a piece is something that takes minimum 20-30 minutes to complete (in practice, usually more). Does that sound about right for your photography?
That's a very good question. *does some elaborate mental calculations*
Yes, on average, I believe it does. Sometimes it's less and sometimes it's more, but that's where it (roughly) evens out. Are we good then?
__________________ "We need the excuse of fiction to stage what we truly are." ~ Slavoj Žižek
Choose-between imo. Indecision is common enough with just one prize/8weeks, no need to make it worse . I think the rewards program is already quite generous, so its better to spread the workload so prizes get done in a timely manner. It also makes the rewards program less likely to collapse horribly/hilariously in case of a sudden surge in participation.
Now, a quick bit of math puts your prizes missed at 8 (weeks 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104). Up to you how many if any of the missed prizes you would like to claim.
Well, time for me to declare most of my writing for the week- and by NaNo's stats page, I have produced 16,184 words of writing since midnight last sunday... and I still have more to do (just making sure that I declare it before the deadline)
Ohright! I've had an utterly PATHETIC week for writing, taking the whole long weekend off, and then getting sick, and doing extremely minimal writing. But, "extremely minimal writing" by NaNo standards means I still wrote like 2500 words. So, I'm clear for the CHALLENGE, at least.
__________________ Quote of the [insert timeframe here]: (Week? Perhaps! Year? Also maybe.)
"Those who have learned to walk on the threshold of the unknown worlds...may then with the fair white wings of Imagination hope to soar further into the unexplored amidst which we live."
-Augusta Ada Lovelace
Oh CRAP. It's already Monday and I forgot to post all the writings I've done for the past week. I mean, most of them are on a forum that timestamps all the posts and everything, I just forgot. :/.
You can still post stuff until the update, actually.
Speaking of which... 1,778 words of various things:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by C'nor
A black-haired mage, dressed in robes of grey, sat in the air above an intricate design of glowing lines, some a bright, clear, white, others a malevolent-seeming purple, with a few of verdant emerald.
For now, he remains silent, simply watching the soon-to-be-battlefield.
The mage grinned, the veins of white light in the pattern beneath him flaring as he tapped into one of his power sources, though save for cutting through a tendril of mist that had strayed into it, there was little effect save that.
The golden Myr suddenly blazed with light, rays reaching out from the pattern to meld into its corona as it did, though the light quickly focused into an orb, its surface roiling with strange colors, from which sprang another Myr, this one a dull grey, with prismatic bands shifting over it as it moved, as though there was an oil slick covering it.
The prismatic Myr reached out a clawed hand, forefinger extended, and slashed downwards, tearing a rent in the air before it, from which stepped a pale woman with a strange harness on her back, and a cup of blood in one hand, with which she traced a rune onto each of the machines.
As soon as she was done, the golden Myr dashed across the battlefield, swinging a razored arm at the Fey as it went.
Meanwhile, one of the bands of green below the Planeswalker flared to life...
The mage grimaces as the blade sinks into him, though the chaotic maelstrom of energy seething beneath him absorbs enough of the force to prevent it from being a lethal blow.
The Alloy Myr reaches out again, opening another rent, through which a man who could be the woman's twin walks, marking each of his fellow combatants, and receiving her mark in turn.
The ceremony done, the woman laughs, and sets down her cup, summoning a pair of translucent blades from the air, and dances nimbly towards the fog bank.
The Planeswalker hissed in pain as the Champion's blow struck him, though once it had escaped and he could work without having to ward it off, the white lines flared harshly, once more opening a portal to a field of razorgrass, with a Gold Myr waiting on the other side to step through.
Meanwhile, the Alloy Myr swiftly began to grow, sprouting a barbed tail, thick armor plates, and forming an extra pair of arms from its chest as it did, shortly followed by it chittering sharp commands in some odd language to the others.
One of the purple lines twisted and writhed to life, springing out to meld with the Alloy Myr, even as both Gold Myr began to glow, and emerald light flared into the webwork that was forming high above the field of war.
Through nexus of energy that formed above the planeswalker, which opened on a beautiful, but bleak, hall of jet and howlite, hung with faded tapestries, an angel flew, pointing her blade at the strange structure that had formed from the ruins, and speaking a single word, which seemed to cast a pall over the battleground, shortly followed by a column of divine flame lancing down to destroy it...
The Gold Myr leapt into the fray, sacrificing themselves to wound the fairies, and keep their master safe. Though their Alpha, it seemed, had a more important task; that of stopping the Champion, which it did with alacrity, quickly crippling, though not killing, her and hanging the fae from one of the many barbs adorning it.
The Angel also swooped down to fight, easily lopping the head off of one of the faeries, though the battle delayed her enough that the rest got through unhindered.
Lilium is, for anyone, rather tall, coming in at around 6'3", even when their shoes don't boost that by a few inches, and relatively thin, though not unhealthily so, and reasonably muscular. Their eyes, though naturally a silvery-grey, appear dark red most of the time, due to the fact that they normally wear a pair of colored contacts. Their face is pretty, but sharp, and almost feral, with little to lessen its intensity, though something about it tends to draw people in, rather than, perhaps more logically, driving them away. Their hair, which is cut short, barely coming to the middle of their ears, and relatively straight, has been dyed metallic violet.
Lilium is almost never seen without her jacket, which is made of white leather, and has a expertly done phoenix on the back. They also usually tend to wear jeans, primarily in dark colors, often with elaborate designs stitched into them. While comfortable in most types of shirt, so long as they're easy to wear, they tend to prefer ones that are somewhere between loose and form-fitting, and they almost always add some type of decoration, generally a mythological creature of some kind.
At the shout, Yrybelh leapt to her feet, a snarl rumbling up between lips pulled back to reveal her fangs, and a tendril of baelfire writhing hungrily towards Leo's chest, though a moment later, once she had time to see who it was who had awoken her, only having registered that it wasn't Tora in her surprise, it paused, shuddering as though struggling to continue, then snapped back towards her, burrowing into her swiftly, occasioning a howl of pain from her.
Kiran walked slowly through the shop, examining the many mutants caged around him, some healthy, interested, some apathetic and dejected, with no real physical difference, for either could be well-treated, or dirty and starved...
Stopping in front of one of the cages deep in the back of the store, where the ones deemed less-than-desirable were kept, hidden away so that they would never need to be dealt with by those seeking pets, not servants, he smiled gently at the occupant, a wolf-girl in a tattered black dress, and crouched next to her cage to look into her eyes.
"Hello."
[The Void]
Kansheri had, since her birth, watched the world, sensing the changes in it, though, until now, making none of her own, preferring to simply wait. But with the birth of the Elves, she had, at last, found something that sparked her interest enough to draw her into the world. So, laughing softly, she stepped through reality, appearing before a pretty young Elf...
[Elven Lands]
...Understandably enough, the girl was rather startled by this. Nor did she calm at all when she was drawn closer to the goddess, one of Kansheri's claws gently resting on her neck, though that, of course, was to be expected, given the circumstances, and that no-one besides her mother yet knew of Kansheri's existence.
"Calm, little one," the goddess murmured, painlessly slipping a thin tendril of crystal into the mortal's flesh, pumping her quickgold blood into her, and using that as a conduit for the changes she planned as she spoke. "I have a gift for you, of a sort. Nothing to hurt you, I promise."
And, soon enough, that was revealed to be the truth, for as she slipped the crystal from the flesh of her new creation, the only changes to be felt were that she was far more powerful than she had ever been, twisting and leaping fast enough that eye could not follow her, strong enough to shatter bones easily, hearing everything, seeing shade never known before. And, too, a strange thirst, undefined, but everpresent, along with memories that had no place in her mind, but she knew no change, for the 'she' who had been changed no longer existed...
[The Nymphs]
Perhaps a month after Kansheri remade them, the first of the new race were seen once again, this time by the Nymphs, riding a strange craft, though as of yet, they seemed to be unaware of the distant observers...
Take offense? Doubtful. The Dark Eldar have always been willing to enjoy themselves, and, especially having been born of a Goddess of Life, they have little objection to people showing interest in them; indeed, it's only once the Nymph's advances end that they seem to be angered, though that is, to some extent, restrained, and the gifts are still accepted.
"We have done nothing to harm you," Iaelia, the first to have been made, and the leader of the group, points out quietly, frowning somewhat. "Nor have we made threats. So why do you fear us now, so suddenly? It is not as though we had any problem with your conduct earlier... In any case, though, what is it you wish to know of us? And do you wish to know of us, or what we rebuild, from the memories granted us by Kansheri?"
The others, meanwhile, appear to be setting up some sort of bone gate, though why is not entirely clear, seeing as there are no doors in it, and, indeed, no wall that it's attached to, making it rather easy to bypass.
"I'm sure something could be arranged, yes," Iaelia replied, laughing brightly, and starting to spin quickly, but no faster than any dancer the Nymphs had in their number, only to end up behind Pan, with an arm around one of those who had been following him, in the span of time it took to realize she was no longer in front of him. "Especially since you gave us such delightful gifts already. Though sadly, we seem to be dreadfully short of things to trade in return, so we'll have to find some other method of repaying you...
And yes, Kansheri is our goddess, the one who remade us from the Last World. As for a meeting with Sytri, well... You give us very little to go on, save that he warned you against us due to our abilities - which, I admit, was not entirely without reason. What is he like? And why would he come when called, unless he already wishes to, in which case, why would calling him or not doing so matter at all?"
She paused for a moment, mulling over her next words carefully, not wishing to reveal the Dark Eldar's ignorance of the mechanism by which all of their technology worked, or make it obvious she was trying not to show something. Nor, of course, would it do to give them the impression it posed a risk, save in a very controlled way, and that, of course, happened to be the eminently desirable path to take.
"That is a means of transport. It allows us and our craft, of all kinds, to come here with ease, and also grants your people access to our city. Or at least, it does once it is complete."
__________________
Plague Rat in the Playground
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grim ranger
I support the godly magazine idea, and hope that Eld can serve as mix of town crier and incredibly deadpan game show host in some sections. Also, for some odd reason, he will also make appearance when it comes to godly fashion tips, for even if he is grim reaper he will be the most bishounen god there is. Just you wait
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonwolf
Damn you and your comprehensive understanding of synergistic tactics. :|
(I'm doing the status right now, just answering forgotten posts - sorry about that, IE and Headless)
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadlessMermaid
Yes, on average, I believe it does. Sometimes it's less and sometimes it's more, but that's where it (roughly) evens out. Are we good then?
I'm tempted to say that if you're in doubt, it's not enough
What do you say we make a deal? Nine old pictures a week adds up to "passed". Does that sound fair?
Quote:
Originally Posted by IncoherentEssay
Choose-between imo. Indecision is common enough with just one prize/8weeks, no need to make it worse . I think the rewards program is already quite generous, so its better to spread the workload so prizes get done in a timely manner. It also makes the rewards program less likely to collapse horribly/hilariously in case of a sudden surge in participation.
Now, a quick bit of math puts your prizes missed at 8 (weeks 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104). Up to you how many if any of the missed prizes you would like to claim.
Good point about prizes, haha.
I don't think I feel comfortable claiming prizes retroactively. I will, however, gladly return when I pass 112 weeks
Oh, and @nersxe: What C'nor said. You can still sneak a post or a PM in if I haven't uploaded yet, without consequence. You can also, if you want to, produce everything that late, though I reeeeally don't recommend it.
It's posting AFTER the update that gets you in trouble
nersxe
Current run: -
Longest run: 4 weeks
Themes: -
It's Neoriceisgood's turn to choose a theme
@Headlesss: Your case is still a little up in the air, but if you accept my compromise, you passed this week and the last. You can still argue if you find the minimum too high, but you pass the high minimum anyway, so...
@Mercenary: You're on fire (or your keyboard is)! Go, you!
@Grimmace: Good to hear that you're still in. And no worries about the theme. We had a bunch of fail saves ready - so no harm, no foul.
Irrelevant, personal rant:
Spoiler
Hjsghfćashg! I keep thinking that my schedule will get better, and it just keeps. Getting. Worse. Full-time study/job, two written exams and thirty short stories to read and critique almost annihilated me this week. I was so close... I almost can't believe how close I was... to giving up, failing the Challenge, and just going to bed last night.
Right now, I'm so-so-so-so glad I stayed up late to write. But holy hell! This week needs to be better, or I'm dead by Christmas.
Also, I have completely given up on NaNoWriMo right now, barring a miracle. Challenge, I can do. NaNoWriMo, you kill me.
I'm so sorry, everyone I've promised prizes and left hanging. I really should have more time the next few weeks. I'll get to it.
I keep thinking that my schedule will get better, and it just keeps. Getting. Worse. Full-time study/job, two written exams and thirty short stories to read and critique almost annihilated me this week. I was so close... I almost can't believe how close I was... to giving up, failing the Challenge, and just going to bed last night.
Right now, I'm so-so-so-so glad I stayed up late to write. But holy hell! This week needs to be better, or I'm dead by Christmas.
Hang in there! Say, if you need a break from the administrative duties of the Challenge, I offer to help until you find more time. (I mean keeping track of quotas and themes and such, and making the announcements - I'm not sure I can create prizes.) I'll need links for people's work, so let me know.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glass Mouse
I'm tempted to say that if you're in doubt, it's not enough
What do you say we make a deal? Nine old pictures a week adds up to "passed". Does that sound fair?
...Deal.
[rant]
Spoiler
In most creative endeavors, quantity equals practice, and practice means you get better at what you're doing, and that in turn equals quality. So yay for quantity.
But sometimes, quantity isn't all good. The plague of photography nowadays is the same with its blessing: too damn many photographs! Everyone, everywhere, every waking hour, snaps and snaps and snaps - and then posts and posts and posts, on flickr or tumblr or whatevr. (Recent estimation from Fortune Magazine: 10% of all photos ever taken until 2012 were shot in 2011. )
And you'd think that more quantity means by definition more chances to get interesting results, so it's all good, right? Wrong. This is noise. In photography, one of the most important parts of the procedure (and now completely overlooked) is choosing. Taking a good look at your negative/contact sheet/image folder, and thinking, and deciding. Which of these photos are really worth it? Which are representing my vision? And why?
Oh, I can snap 9 photos/week. Heck, I can snap 100 photos/week. Anyone can. But can I make them all interesting? (No.) Do all of them have actually something to say? (Nope.) Are they all showing the world as I see it, and as no other pair of eyes could? (No way.) Once you're past the novice stage, once you've learned your camera and lenses and how to post-process pictures, time spent working on photos that aren't truly worth it is NOT practice: it's time wasted. It adds to the noise, it does more harm than good - and I won't do it.
And that may have sounded a tad aggressive, which wasn't at all my intention, so I'll end the rant with a BIG smile:
...and a clarification: I'm absolutely fine with the 9 photos/week quota for the purpose of this Challenge, regardless of how often I expect to reach it. And I agree it's a good number to be on par - in terms of time spent - with the truly hard-working people here (like painters and writers), which I'm definitely NOT, and will never pretend to be. So it's all good. :)
EDIT / P.S. Just have in mind, if other photographers pop up for the Challenge later on, and they're into photo manipulation rather than (vanilla) candid photography like me, then it would be plain cruel to have them post 9 photos per week, too. This variety means spending hours on Photoshop for each shot, and it's not easier or faster than creating a drawing from scratch.
[/rant]
__________________ "We need the excuse of fiction to stage what we truly are." ~ Slavoj Žižek
Haha, my old specialty back when I was a sad teenager. I wonder if I can pull something interesting off again
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadlessMermaid
Hang in there! Say, if you need a break from the administrative duties of the Challenge, I offer to help until you find more time. (I mean keeping track of quotas and themes and such, and making the announcements - I'm not sure I can create prizes.) I'll need links for people's work, so let me know.
Thanks a lot for the offer. That's really sweet of you
I'm much more okay again now, after taking a few afternoons/evenings completely for myself, and partnering up for the next school project. That'll make everything a lot easier.
Though, I may hold you to the offer next time I'm that close to dropping everything
Quote:
...Deal.
[rant]
Spoiler
In most creative endeavors, quantity equals practice, and practice means you get better at what you're doing, and that in turn equals quality. So yay for quantity.
But sometimes, quantity isn't all good. The plague of photography nowadays is the same with its blessing: too damn many photographs! Everyone, everywhere, every waking hour, snaps and snaps and snaps - and then posts and posts and posts, on flickr or tumblr or whatevr. (Recent estimation from Fortune Magazine: 10% of all photos ever taken until 2012 were shot in 2011. )
And you'd think that more quantity means by definition more chances to get interesting results, so it's all good, right? Wrong. This is noise. In photography, one of the most important parts of the procedure (and now completely overlooked) is choosing. Taking a good look at your negative/contact sheet/image folder, and thinking, and deciding. Which of these photos are really worth it? Which are representing my vision? And why?
Oh, I can snap 9 photos/week. Heck, I can snap 100 photos/week. Anyone can. But can I make them all interesting? (No.) Do all of them have actually something to say? (Nope.) Are they all showing the world as I see it, and as no other pair of eyes could? (No way.) Once you're past the novice stage, once you've learned your camera and lenses and how to post-process pictures, time spent working on photos that aren't truly worth it is NOT practice: it's time wasted. It adds to the noise, it does more harm than good - and I won't do it.
And that may have sounded a tad aggressive, which wasn't at all my intention, so I'll end the rant with a BIG smile:
...and a clarification: I'm absolutely fine with the 9 photos/week quota for the purpose of this Challenge, regardless of how often I expect to reach it. And I agree it's a good number to be on par - in terms of time spent - with the truly hard-working people here (like painters and writers), which I'm definitely NOT, and will never pretend to be. So it's all good. :)
EDIT / P.S. Just have in mind, if other photographers pop up for the Challenge later on, and they're into photo manipulation rather than (vanilla) candid photography like me, then it would be plain cruel to have them post 9 photos per week, too. This variety means spending hours on Photoshop for each shot, and it's not easier or faster than creating a drawing from scratch.
[/rant]
Those are absolutely very good points. The idea is to push the photographer to increase hirs selection of those perfect shots, not to pick six (or nine) suboptimal ones. But of course, we can't control the effect of the rules.
A lot of people have been turned off by the quantity aspect of the Challenge, preferring to focus on fewer, better things (mostly artists). So it's not just a photography issue.
Overall: Thanks a lot for the rant. It was educational, and the selection thing is something worth keeping in mind for ALL media (just see the "second draft = first draft -10%" rule Stephen King lives by).
And I hear you in regards to photo manipulation. That's obviously different, and the six piece rule applies, no problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nersxe
I will remember this for next time.
(I also think I'll just send you the words as soon as I am done with them, until going, "oh, I'll just post everything on Sunday").
Sorry, I wasn't 100 % clear. I'm okay with people forgetting it once in a while (hey, it happens - sometimes I've only remembered to upload my writings because the status time was up... but I'm priviliged like that ). So, send me a link or compilation or anything, and I'll fix the status.
I just put my foot down when people make a habit of it. The rare slip-up or technical problem or unforeseen circumstance is not a problem
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Re: The CHALLENGE continues!
). Probably doesn't compare to proper 2D art, but still perfectly serviceable for character portraits or the like.
