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General Scenario Design Contest in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Sunday, January 8 2006 06:27 Profile Homepage #10
Needless to say. I'm participating. Provided you lot help me if I get stuck!

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Custom graphics - graphics prog for win in Blades of Avernum Editor
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Sunday, January 8 2006 06:21 Profile Homepage #9
Paintshop Pro v5 is freeware. I tend to use that and MS Paint. It should be on some website somewhere - mine was off a freeware disk.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Custom graphics - graphics prog for win in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Sunday, January 8 2006 06:21 Profile Homepage #9
Paintshop Pro v5 is freeware. I tend to use that and MS Paint. It should be on some website somewhere - mine was off a freeware disk.

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I Want to Crush Your Dreams. in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Sunday, January 8 2006 05:46 Profile Homepage #41
Just to let everyone know, I sorted my problems. The party are a group of apprentices in the army. This is their last mission before their induction into the army.

The bad guy - I chose a demon, exiled to another dimension by his brethren for taking part in a power struggle. He wasn't killed because of his high rank and status - the others didn't want to make him a martyr of sorts, and risk more demons doing the same as him.

And if I neglected to mention before... I'm on GMT.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Blades Chat in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Saturday, January 7 2006 08:06 Profile Homepage #3
For me, 3pm EST is much much better. My internet time is limited to about 12pm GMT to 9pm GMT. After that I can't guarantee anything.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Martial Arts? in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Friday, January 6 2006 10:22 Profile Homepage #4
quote:
Originally written by Viseroth:

Hmm, I probably didn't notice or recall due to its uselessness. I want it to be good, dammit!
I imagine lots of strength will help. Maybe Pole and Melee Weapons skills?

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I Want to Crush Your Dreams. in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Friday, January 6 2006 09:59 Profile Homepage #14
quote:
Originally written by *i:

Make sure you do a decent job of setting the mood for the island with appropriate terrain and what have you whatever type of climate you choose. A good atmosphere goes a long way.
Cool. But you're preaching to the converted! I've directed films, written short stories (published twice!!) and absorb every film I can get hold of. I know how atmosphere can make or break a story.

As far as an enemy goes... Does anybody have ideas. I like the idea of an indiginous (sp?) creature, but is that too close too *i's thing... I do want to tell my own story, even if it is augmented by others...

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
I Want to Crush Your Dreams. in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Friday, January 6 2006 09:12 Profile Homepage #12
Stareye, thanks for the ideas... I had originally planned on setting it before portal technology became widespread... i.e before Avernum was discovered etc... but this sounds better!

quote:

1) What is the climate of the island? Rocky, arctic, tropical, etc.
I had planned on it being tropical - rain storms for atmosphere etc. The story wasn't great, so I was gonna flesh it out with cool things I picked up from films etc. Tropical I imagine.

quote:

2) Does anyone/anything live on this island before the Empire came? If so, who are they?

3) Are there any settlements previous to the Empire? Are they still inhabited or are the inhabitants extinct? If the latter, what is the backstory on that?

4) Why did the Empire select this island? Being remote is probably good enough but if you have anything to add such as a high density of magical crystals it would add.
Well it was a remote, uninhabited island, with rare crystal formations. It was magically scryed to check for life, and selected because of the unknown nature of the technology they were testing... This WAS the first magical teleportation ever. Although, with your advice/suggestions...

quote:

5) Why is this teleporter there? Seems teleportation is pretty standard these days. Although having an experimental teleporter would be good. If you choose this, you might want to detail some of the experiments done.
Already answered.

quote:

6) Why does the bad guy take over the teleporter? Motivation may depend on who you select as the bad guy.

7) How does the take over ensue. Is it violent, or is it very subtle?
My first thought was that this demon just saw a huge portal appear (Grah-Hoth??) and went through it, and killed people. This sucked. Does suck.

quote:

8) Why does the party arrive? To deal with the problems directly or for some other purpose and must deal with them after the fact?
They were sent to oversee it all. Poor story-wise, but they are level 1... Perhaps it's part of an apprentice, maybe a training op?

quote:

9) How does it end? Do you end up killing the "bad guy" or is the "bad guy" not so bad after all and you let him/her/it achieve its goals. Do you have a choice in the matter?
Kill him, close portal. That's all I've got.

quote:

A possible storyline:

1) The island is rocky, desolate, with areas of swamps and gnarled trees.

2) The island is home to several twisted wild creatures that inhabit the swamps. Also, it is home to a powerful shape shifter skilled in trickery and mind magic. There is also the ruins of a mysterious temple.

3) The shape shifter has a few lairs throughout the island. The temple was built by some race long extinct, although they were sufficiently skilled in magic.

4) The island was selected for its remote nature and for the high magical potential of the island. This is part due to the ancient inhabitants and also the shape shifter (although the Empire should not know of the shape shifter).

5) The teleporter is an experimental one. It is not used for transportation, but to study the magical theory behind teleportation. It is often used to probe the void and search for the possibilities of parallel dimensions. Arrival to the island is by ship.

6) The shape shifter (who originally lived on the mainland, was marooned here), although powerful, cannot escape the island. It feeds off of the magical potential here and the journey to anywhere through the ocean is too far to go by itself. It takes over the teleporter in hopes of using it to escape. However, it is not geared for traditional transport, so it must be modifed.

7) The shape shifter, skilled at mind magic, is slowly working on the mages turning them against each other. The process is slow, but mages are mysteriously murdering each other.

8) The party was sent here as a garrison to protect the mages from the wild creatures. The Empire does not know of the shape shifter. Not long after you arrive, the mages get very edgy. At the start of the scenario is the murder of the head mage by one of his apprentices.

9) The player discovers the identity of the shape shifter, but not before the mages get violent toward you and each other. The shape shifter wants to return to the mainland so it can find its family. You have the choice of helping it, or fighting it, pushing it into the teleporter and into the void.
I like it. Lots. I may steal some (supposing that's okay). I especially liked the idea of the shapeshifter - a "nice" bad guy... and the murders. Obviously I won't steal all of it - that would be bad. But I'm gonna think about it.

The scenario was only ever gonna be one outdoor section, and at the very most 10 towns.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Martial Arts? in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Friday, January 6 2006 08:34 Profile Homepage #1
Couldn't you do that in Exile 3?

And in the Avernum Trilogy, although it was really useless there...

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
I Want to Crush Your Dreams. in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Friday, January 6 2006 07:56 Profile Homepage #10
I'm up for that. One of the big factors putting me off design was the threat of getting totally stuck without anyone to talk to...

My paragraph then...

The party are sent by the Empire to a remote island where some portal experiments are taking place. The portal gets hijacked on the trial run and is taken over by demons/slithzerikai/bad guy. Party kills big bad guy, closes portal, saves day.

It's not much, sure, but it's small and do-able. Which is the whole point. I have setting, context and a fair amount of experience with the editor and scripting language.

I need to find a decent bad guy - demons are too... cliche. And they have no real reason for taking the portal. Apart from that though...

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Knowledge Brew Alchemist in Avernum 4
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Thursday, January 5 2006 09:13 Profile Homepage #4
I know this is slightly off-topic, but is Silverlocke still around?

I'm a Windows user, so I don't know, and can't check.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Best musician or composer in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Thursday, January 5 2006 08:13 Profile Homepage #62
quote:
Originally written by Infernal666hate:

!!!!!!BLASPHEME!!!!!!
Although I would have to agree with you if the only album of theirs I heard was Octavarius, If you could get either When Dream And Day Unite or Images And Words you would hear real musical genius and perfection.
Hmmm... I'd rather stick with The Smiths and Meat is Murder by The Smiths for my musical genius and perfection.

Still, thanks for the heads up. I'll look at Amazon now.

Oh....and who was Christian Rock/Pop singer The Creator/Ash got to meet on the radio that time. Yes, that is vague... erm, she was hot. And talented. He made a thread about her, but I did a quick search and it turned up nothing. She's good, although not the best musician ever.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Postaroni, Pizzabella! in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Thursday, January 5 2006 08:00 Profile Homepage #64
quote:
Originally written by Archmage Alex:

It should be "temperament".
*jedi hand wave*

Sssshhh! Nobody will ever know... If Aran can be a jedi, I can too...

Alorael, if your account was ever deleted, I'd personally have a week of mourning for you. There'd be silent ticker tape parades, wailing widows, and cheap snacks.

Where exactly all these things would come from are, as of yet, still a mystery.

quote:
That'd technically be true... if we didn't have TM, Alec and Djur flying around. Sure, they're good kids on the whole, but eh.
:) (I'd use the term "LMAO", if it wan't AOL-speak. Which it is.)

EDIT: OH! I just saw Aran's sig... Neat.

[ Thursday, January 05, 2006 08:01: Message edited by: SupaNik ]

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Exodus Progress in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Wednesday, January 4 2006 09:58 Profile Homepage #14
quote:
Originally written by Dept. of Homeland Security:


Also, TM and Kel, please stop the mudslinging already. You're both masters, and all this fighting isn't going to change that. :P
Fun to watch though, eh?

Exodus sounds good. Better than Bahs, and I liked that bunches. Bunches and bunches.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Postaroni, Pizzabella! in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Wednesday, January 4 2006 09:33 Profile Homepage #45
quote:
Originally written by Thuryl:

Conclusion: UBB is messed up.
UBB sure has been taking a real hammering lately...

It's not that bad, is it?

Oh, and I'm covering my ass against any attacks from you Aran, or anyone else with even a smidgen of knowledge about forums - I have none. I single Aran out due to his nasty temperment, and his superior intellect. ( :) ) That is all.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Question for Administrators and Moderators in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Wednesday, January 4 2006 09:27 Profile Homepage #58
quote:
Originally written by *i:

Rumor has it there is a way to view moderator board topics, if one dares to listen to such dark discussions of the quazy quilting quarner. :P
Really? How much is that info worth?

Alorael - Groan. Good to see your earning your $2.65 an hour here though.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
36x36, my graphics editor in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Wednesday, January 4 2006 09:12 Profile Homepage #5
quote:
Originally written by no chicken for sale here:

As for the topic problem, i don't understand it either... :confused:
There is no problem...

Zell has made a graphics editor that saves natively in the format Spiderweb asks for graphics to be sent to them in...

It's basically an MS Paint that isn't by Micro$oft, and which... erm... that's it.

And he's kindly posted it for us on SpiderWeb.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Best musician or composer in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Wednesday, January 4 2006 09:09 Profile Homepage #50
quote:
Originally written by Infernal666hate:


...
Favorite Bands: Dream Theater
...
I like Dream Theater too, although my experience is limited to the album "Octovarium" and the song "The Spirit Carries On" from the album "Scenes from a Memory".

From what I've heard of them, they are excellent, although not nearly as "progressive" as some people make out.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Best musician or composer in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Tuesday, January 3 2006 06:22 Profile Homepage #38
quote:
Originally written by Lady Davida:

quote:
Originally written by SupaNik:

Various Other Bands/Artists I Like:
...
* Elliott Smith
Have you heard Ben Folds' Late? It's a great song inspired, apparently, by a great musician.
No I haven't... I'll level with ya, I'm pretty new to Elliott - I was browsing HMV when I saw Either Or. I fainlty remembered Elliott did some of the stuff for the soundtrack to Good Will Hunting, so I bought it.

Then I borrowed some tracks from friends. So I have no idea what or who he influenced...

"Morning After" and "The Biggest Lie" are my favourite Elliott Smith songs.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Active Designers? in Blades of Avernum Editor
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Monday, January 2 2006 07:29 Profile Homepage #20
I have three scenarios in progress, each at varying stages of completion. One has everything except dialogue. Another has several towns missing. Plot-essential ones. The third was started last night after a long walk inspired me. I have all outdoors done, and am starting on the town after I get back from a party tonight. Drink-induced dungeons. Yay.

And, this year, my resolution was to finish what I start, so all three WILL be around sometime soon - whilst I do have revision for exams and other pieces of college-orientated work cropping up, I can spare two to three hours a night easily. Provided I'm in a good enough mood. I estimate mid-feb for my first piece.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Active Designers? in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Monday, January 2 2006 07:29 Profile Homepage #20
I have three scenarios in progress, each at varying stages of completion. One has everything except dialogue. Another has several towns missing. Plot-essential ones. The third was started last night after a long walk inspired me. I have all outdoors done, and am starting on the town after I get back from a party tonight. Drink-induced dungeons. Yay.

And, this year, my resolution was to finish what I start, so all three WILL be around sometime soon - whilst I do have revision for exams and other pieces of college-orientated work cropping up, I can spare two to three hours a night easily. Provided I'm in a good enough mood. I estimate mid-feb for my first piece.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Best musician or composer in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Monday, January 2 2006 07:13 Profile Homepage #10
Stealing Kel's idea, but changing it so nobody notices is a fun thing to do!

Ahem.

My favourites are:

Favorite Genre: Alternative/Experimental/Rock

Favorite Recent Band: Radiohead/Sigur Ros

Favorite Song: "Hand in Glove" by The Smiths or "Untitled 5" by Sigur Ros

Various Other Songs I Like:
* "True Love Waits" by Radiohead
* "Gretchen Ross" by Michael Andrews (from the Donnie Darko soundtrack)
* "Untitled 1" by Sigur Ros

Various Other Bands/Artists I Like:
* Joy Division
* The Smiths
* Pink Floyd
* Elliott Smith

As for best musician... too hard to say. Clapton is up there, as is Morrissey, but I couldn't speculate any further.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Postaroni, Pizzabella! in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Monday, January 2 2006 07:06 Profile Homepage #13
quote:
Originally written by Spring:

White Rabbit, IIRC.
That's the ticket. To be fair, it wasn't that bad...

And didn't Alorael threaten terrible things before he reached 10k? Or another number around that ballpark?

Idle threats. Idle threats.

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
Active Players? in Blades of Avernum
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Sunday, January 1 2006 08:38 Profile Homepage #41
I still occasionally play BoA, and am also hammering away at a scenario still.

I don't think I have a major gripe with any scenarios that exist at the minute - anything that works is an achievement. That said, sometimes the bugs and poor typing does annoy me...

And, I may be in a the minority here, but I prefer shorter scenarios. The longer ones tend to lose focus, whilst because the smaller ones don't require so much drawing, more time can be spent on plot and innovations.

I'm eagerly waiting for the next scenario...

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00
In the making..... in General
Nikki.
Shaper
Member # 3442
 written Sunday, January 1 2006 08:21 Profile Homepage #18
quote:
Originally written by harf'er'melora:

quote:
Originally written by Tyranicus:

I find it rather annoying peronally, but that's just me.
You and every person on the internet above the age of twelve.
I know an 18 year old who still uses l337 to talk to me via email. Although whether or not he's doing that to be annoying is unknown...

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Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00

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