Profile for Master Xan
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Master Xan |
| Member number | 4423 |
| Title | Apprentice |
| Postcount | 44 |
| Homepage | |
| Registered | Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
Recent posts
Pages
| Author | Recent posts |
|---|---|
| Development in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Sunday, December 4 2005 15:06
Profile
This project has been scrapped, in favor of writing a book. That is, I'm writing a book with the time I would have spent making this scenario. It was simply too difficult for me to do what I wanted to do with the constraints of the system, and writing a book is something I've always wanted to do anyway. Sorry folks. -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Sunday, December 4 2005 15:06
Profile
This project has been scrapped, in favor of writing a book. That is, I'm writing a book with the time I would have spent making this scenario. It was simply too difficult for me to do what I wanted to do with the constraints of the system, and writing a book is something I've always wanted to do anyway. Sorry folks. -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Sunday, November 20 2005 17:27
Profile
After some two months of inactivity, I've finally gotten around to reviving this project. Normally I get lazy and don't finish things, but at least this time I had a good excuse (car accident, family death, don't ask and please, no sympathy). Anywho, um... yeah. Time to relearn everything I've forgotten, and finally get some scripting done. [ Sunday, November 20, 2005 17:29: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Sunday, November 20 2005 17:27
Profile
After some two months of inactivity, I've finally gotten around to reviving this project. Normally I get lazy and don't finish things, but at least this time I had a good excuse (car accident, family death, don't ask and please, no sympathy). Anywho, um... yeah. Time to relearn everything I've forgotten, and finally get some scripting done. [ Sunday, November 20, 2005 17:29: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Script ProofReader in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Monday, September 19 2005 06:20
Profile
You might also be able to run it with a DOS emulator, something like DOSBox... but that probably gets more complicated than it's worth. Also, you don't need some of the commands you listed. Assuming Blades is on your c: drive, then once you start cmd just type cd\ cd\whatever\ (whatever being the path to where you put alint) I bet you'd find it easier to put Alint in c: but not in any folders. Then move your script there to test, meaning that once you start the cmd you just type cd\ alint script.txt After you complete the check, move the script back to your folder. -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Script ProofReader in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Monday, September 19 2005 06:20
Profile
You might also be able to run it with a DOS emulator, something like DOSBox... but that probably gets more complicated than it's worth. Also, you don't need some of the commands you listed. Assuming Blades is on your c: drive, then once you start cmd just type cd\ cd\whatever\ (whatever being the path to where you put alint) I bet you'd find it easier to put Alint in c: but not in any folders. Then move your script there to test, meaning that once you start the cmd you just type cd\ alint script.txt After you complete the check, move the script back to your folder. -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| It's the A2Template! in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Thursday, September 15 2005 07:24
Profile
It's a beta group because you're reconstructing someone elses work in a new form, which it may/may not have been originally designed to have done to it, and because you are changing a few things here and there, so it's not identical to the original. If I remember correctly, the Tower of Magi was copied by somebody for BoE... I've never tried a conversion to BoA, but I'd think the basic terrain should transfer over without too much trouble, so you'd just have to check it all for accuracy. Much quicker than doing the whole thing yourself. There may also be other towns copied for BoE, but I'm unaware of any others that were not included inside a scenario, but merely the town. If you upload it to a website, you can merely provide the link and anybody coming out of the woodwork can get it, without you needing to continually upload it. If you lack a website, I'm sure somebody around here would be willing to offer you some space on theirs. (I'd do it, except my host went down several months back and I haven't gotten around to finding a suitible replacement yet. Poor AloofHosting...) [ Thursday, September 15, 2005 07:29: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| It's the A2Template! in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Thursday, September 15 2005 07:24
Profile
It's a beta group because you're reconstructing someone elses work in a new form, which it may/may not have been originally designed to have done to it, and because you are changing a few things here and there, so it's not identical to the original. If I remember correctly, the Tower of Magi was copied by somebody for BoE... I've never tried a conversion to BoA, but I'd think the basic terrain should transfer over without too much trouble, so you'd just have to check it all for accuracy. Much quicker than doing the whole thing yourself. There may also be other towns copied for BoE, but I'm unaware of any others that were not included inside a scenario, but merely the town. If you upload it to a website, you can merely provide the link and anybody coming out of the woodwork can get it, without you needing to continually upload it. If you lack a website, I'm sure somebody around here would be willing to offer you some space on theirs. (I'd do it, except my host went down several months back and I haven't gotten around to finding a suitible replacement yet. Poor AloofHosting...) [ Thursday, September 15, 2005 07:29: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| NPC release to talk to an other NPC in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Thursday, September 15 2005 07:16
Profile
You could make dialog between NPCs... kinda like your character is an observer, watching the other two converse. If your character isn't in the same area, just have the NPC "report back" on the conversation when he sees your character again. Although the cutscene certainly would be flashier... -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| NPC release to talk to an other NPC in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Thursday, September 15 2005 07:16
Profile
You could make dialog between NPCs... kinda like your character is an observer, watching the other two converse. If your character isn't in the same area, just have the NPC "report back" on the conversation when he sees your character again. Although the cutscene certainly would be flashier... -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Thralni and the orb in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Wednesday, September 14 2005 12:17
Profile
They also left notes, clues as to what happened. It is fairly obvious for other parts as well, like when you find the hilt of a legendary demon-killing sword sent down with the first expedition, you'd probably guess that it was broken and the pieces scattered. You're also forgetting the magical abilities of the group. Several powerful mages would have gone with them, and surely they could send messages to the surface. Otherwise, magical scrying could have been used to track the explorers. Due to the extreme depth of the caves, I'd think it more unlikely that the mages sent word up rather then the Empire mages having to try and find the location of the travelers through scrying, but its still possible. -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Thralni and the orb in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Wednesday, September 14 2005 12:17
Profile
They also left notes, clues as to what happened. It is fairly obvious for other parts as well, like when you find the hilt of a legendary demon-killing sword sent down with the first expedition, you'd probably guess that it was broken and the pieces scattered. You're also forgetting the magical abilities of the group. Several powerful mages would have gone with them, and surely they could send messages to the surface. Otherwise, magical scrying could have been used to track the explorers. Due to the extreme depth of the caves, I'd think it more unlikely that the mages sent word up rather then the Empire mages having to try and find the location of the travelers through scrying, but its still possible. -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Checking coding out in new scenario in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Tuesday, September 13 2005 16:37
Profile
I find a combination of Set Starting Location and Debugging Mode to be most effective. Alternatively, you could place the code (or import the town) into a small, testing scenario. But that seems like more work than is required. I suppose you could also just add an entrance to the town near where the party normally starts, like in a bunch of trees or something. In fact, that way you could test all your towns with a forest of town entrances... -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Checking coding out in new scenario in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Tuesday, September 13 2005 16:37
Profile
I find a combination of Set Starting Location and Debugging Mode to be most effective. Alternatively, you could place the code (or import the town) into a small, testing scenario. But that seems like more work than is required. I suppose you could also just add an entrance to the town near where the party normally starts, like in a bunch of trees or something. In fact, that way you could test all your towns with a forest of town entrances... -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:59
Profile
haha, what makes you think I'll steal your work? Well, hmmm... I suppose there are people who would. But I'm not one of them, so no worries. Like I said, probably just me being dumb, not able to figure out something simple. I'll make a guess that it IS in the tutorials, but not in the custom creatures sections I looked at (and me being me, I skipped large swaths of the rest, only focussing on creatures and items for now). Thanks for the suggestion, I'll go attempt it right now... Edit: Yep, works like a charm. Thanks for the assistance. Hopefully this will teach me to be more thorough in my tutorial searching... [ Tuesday, September 13, 2005 11:19: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Tuesday, September 13 2005 10:59
Profile
haha, what makes you think I'll steal your work? Well, hmmm... I suppose there are people who would. But I'm not one of them, so no worries. Like I said, probably just me being dumb, not able to figure out something simple. I'll make a guess that it IS in the tutorials, but not in the custom creatures sections I looked at (and me being me, I skipped large swaths of the rest, only focussing on creatures and items for now). Thanks for the suggestion, I'll go attempt it right now... Edit: Yep, works like a charm. Thanks for the assistance. Hopefully this will teach me to be more thorough in my tutorial searching... [ Tuesday, September 13, 2005 11:19: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Monday, September 12 2005 14:45
Profile
Sweet. Now all I have to do is figure out why my monsters won't show up... And so my first scripting question: How do I create custom monsters? Now before you go all wack, it isn't really as dumb a question as it sounds. Well, ok, maybe it is. But I made the script for it, I just can't get it to show up in the editors creature list. I don't see much in the tutorials about this problem, which tells me I'm probably the only guy too stupid to figure it out. For the time being, it's just a little test guy. Armed Townsfolk. No behavioral anything, just his level, equipment, and what-have-you. Is there an import process I need to follow? Or is the script itself flawed? Here we go... beginscendatascript; begindefinecreature 240; clear; cr_name = "Armed Townsfolk"; cr_level = 10; cr_hp_bonus = 25; cr_species = 0; cr_which_sheet = 1501; cr_default_attitude = 2; cr_natural_armor = 1; cr_default_strategy = 10; cr_start_item 0 = 17; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 75; cr_start_item 0 = 19; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; cr_start_item 0 = 51; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; cr_start_item 0 = 26; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; cr_start_item 0 = 114; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; cr_start_item 0 = 126; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Monday, September 12 2005 14:45
Profile
Sweet. Now all I have to do is figure out why my monsters won't show up... And so my first scripting question: How do I create custom monsters? Now before you go all wack, it isn't really as dumb a question as it sounds. Well, ok, maybe it is. But I made the script for it, I just can't get it to show up in the editors creature list. I don't see much in the tutorials about this problem, which tells me I'm probably the only guy too stupid to figure it out. For the time being, it's just a little test guy. Armed Townsfolk. No behavioral anything, just his level, equipment, and what-have-you. Is there an import process I need to follow? Or is the script itself flawed? Here we go... beginscendatascript; begindefinecreature 240; clear; cr_name = "Armed Townsfolk"; cr_level = 10; cr_hp_bonus = 25; cr_species = 0; cr_which_sheet = 1501; cr_default_attitude = 2; cr_natural_armor = 1; cr_default_strategy = 10; cr_start_item 0 = 17; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 75; cr_start_item 0 = 19; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; cr_start_item 0 = 51; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; cr_start_item 0 = 26; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; cr_start_item 0 = 114; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; cr_start_item 0 = 126; cr_start_item_chance 0 = 100; -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Monday, September 12 2005 11:10
Profile
Shadows "Some farmers are apparently afraid of their own shadows." Rated Everyone, levels 15-20 Designed to be a challenging scenario for the recommended levels. Small, only two outdoor squares, with two small towns planned and (currently) two hostile towns. Well, I finally broke down and am following advice. I'm making me a nice little scenario, nothing special, before attempting to create a more complicated one based in the Wheel of Time universe. I'll occasionally drop by and update these numbers. Storyline/Planning: 75% Outdoors: 60% Towns: 50% Specials: 10% Dialog: 10% Scripting: 20% Graphics: 30% Overall: ~35% Estimated Alpha: On Hold, Permanently Beta: Public Release: I'll need some basic scripting help, but hopefully I can figure out most of it with the various tutorials floating around (and there are quite a few, I see). But knowing me, I'll come up with some more random, extremely stupid things I can't find in the tutorials. That is, beyond the random stupid thing I already managed to come up with (see below). Mostly just wanted to get responses, and ask for graphic help. Need someone to do some creature graphics for me, as I completely suck with it. If you're willing to help email me at masterxan at burntmail dot com. (Note: I kept this seperate from the "Scenarios in Development" thread for a reason; mostly I just want to ask questions pertaining to this scenario right here, rather than starting various threads. As I have waaaaay too much free time right now and it's a small scenario, I also anticipate needing testers fairly soon, and those efforts will be launched from here as well.) [ Sunday, December 04, 2005 15:08: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Development in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Monday, September 12 2005 11:10
Profile
Shadows "Some farmers are apparently afraid of their own shadows." Rated Everyone, levels 15-20 Designed to be a challenging scenario for the recommended levels. Small, only two outdoor squares, with two small towns planned and (currently) two hostile towns. Well, I finally broke down and am following advice. I'm making me a nice little scenario, nothing special, before attempting to create a more complicated one based in the Wheel of Time universe. I'll occasionally drop by and update these numbers. Storyline/Planning: 75% Outdoors: 60% Towns: 50% Specials: 10% Dialog: 10% Scripting: 20% Graphics: 30% Overall: ~35% Estimated Alpha: On Hold, Permanently Beta: Public Release: I'll need some basic scripting help, but hopefully I can figure out most of it with the various tutorials floating around (and there are quite a few, I see). But knowing me, I'll come up with some more random, extremely stupid things I can't find in the tutorials. That is, beyond the random stupid thing I already managed to come up with (see below). Mostly just wanted to get responses, and ask for graphic help. Need someone to do some creature graphics for me, as I completely suck with it. If you're willing to help email me at masterxan at burntmail dot com. (Note: I kept this seperate from the "Scenarios in Development" thread for a reason; mostly I just want to ask questions pertaining to this scenario right here, rather than starting various threads. As I have waaaaay too much free time right now and it's a small scenario, I also anticipate needing testers fairly soon, and those efforts will be launched from here as well.) [ Sunday, December 04, 2005 15:08: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Script ProofReader in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Monday, September 12 2005 10:37
Profile
http://overwhelming.squarespace.com/tools/ He's already got it up. Alint, Mac and PC version. Also some other interesting tools. And as far as I can tell, the PC version does work (from cmd, of course). -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Script ProofReader in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
|
written Monday, September 12 2005 10:37
Profile
http://overwhelming.squarespace.com/tools/ He's already got it up. Alint, Mac and PC version. Also some other interesting tools. And as far as I can tell, the PC version does work (from cmd, of course). -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Wheel of Time in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Thursday, August 11 2005 11:19
Profile
I dunno... it seems like such a bother. And it doesn't help that right now, I'm loosing the battle. Maybe if I just avoid women for awhile, I might come out with something resembling sanity left. I'll base it before the taint is removed, so if I get around to making a second scenario, I could do cool stuff with that (having more experience, and perhaps using the same party to make a sort of part 1, part 2 thing). [ Thursday, August 11, 2005 11:20: Message edited by: Master Xan ] -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Wheel of Time in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Wednesday, August 10 2005 12:06
Profile
Well, now I'm glad I haven't done more than begin work on the story for this project yet. Although I fully intend to make the scenario, it will have to wait until I get things in real life sorted out. Right now, staying sane is my number one priority. Consider this project on hold. -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |
| Wheel of Time in Blades of Avernum | |
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Apprentice
Member # 4423
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written Monday, August 8 2005 06:49
Profile
More thinking on how I might do this has resulted in new, and I think better, ideas. I can't really do much with side characters set in the events of the first book. Everything I've been thinking about up to this point has been "first book this" and "first book that". Why the heck do I need to do anything with the first book? I figured that I could do something fun with Bridgette's husband. Or rather, the guy she always ends up with. In one of the books, it mentions that he's reborn, aka put back into life. What if I go with a storyline in which he was pulled out, not spun out, as what happened to Bridgette later on? Alone, confused, and in the wrong time period our hero wanders the lands... sounds like a sci fi TV series. But not necessarily bad. I also like the idea of doing something based on the Asha'man. The freedom to adventure, with more vague directives than the White Towers explicate orders. Plenty of magic to use, and lots of possibilities for additional party members. It may even be possible to allow the player to make their own party. Plus, with either this or the last idea, I can make the scenario size however I want (thus much smaller, to help me finish it) because I don't have to follow the book even a little bit. Just so long as it's in the same universe. Problem being, I'd need help with rebuilding the Asha'man magic system. That leaves me with the idea for whats-his-name being pulled out of TAR. I could also do something with one of Perrin's followers, that is after he returns and builds an army, I could do something with a few of his soldiers. Or, something with a few of Mat's intensely loyal soldiers. I even thought of something to do with the white cloaks, maybe a small group of their soldiers coming to the realization that what they're doing isn't quite so high holy as their superiors think... these ideas have the benifit of no magic system rebuilding, but also the downside of no magic system rebuilt for the player to experiment with. But, maybe one of these first, followed by an Asha'man scenario with the proper magic system? New thoughts on these ideas? -------------------- "When your teacher needs a calculator to add up how many you missed more than you need a calculator to take a calc test, that's bad." Posts: 44 | Registered: Tuesday, May 25 2004 07:00 |