RGB said:
Goodness . so you do . Then again you've been here a few months before I was =P . But I'm glad to see you back in more activity ; we've been missing you !
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Goodness . so you do . Then again you've been here a few months before I was =P . But I'm glad to see you back in more activity ; we've been missing you !
One more post, canonized, and you'll be 1337 as well! 
Ah, good, interview. Not as nice as an update would be, but I can live with that easily.
Ah, good, interview. Not as nice as an update would be, but I can live with that easily.
Judas Maccabeus said:One more post, canonized, and you'll be 1337 as well!
Ah, good, interview. Not as nice as an update would be, but I can live with that easily.
Huzzah ! I'm over the hill ! Interview is done so i'm formatting it now and it should be up shortly !
You’ve Been Canonized!: TheExecuter
Good evening and welcome to this week’s installment of You’ve Been Canonized! our weekly interview segment here on Timelines where we get a patron author and get to know more about them, their thoughts on our AAR, and about their latest project or AAR! If you’re new to the programme, I’m your host canonized author of Timelines: What if Spain Failed to Control the World? Today’s guest is our newest friend TheExecuter author of The Last Mission! Let’s get to the questions!
Part I: En Taro Adun, Executer!
A look at our local ‘Toss commander turned WritAAR !
canonized: Thank you for being on the programme ! The first thing that popped into my mind about when we first met was I suddenly imagined being around spires and blue crystals and me greeting you with "En Taro Adun , Executer" ; is there a connection or am I being too big of a geek ?
TheExecuter: Yes, there is a connection. My screenname is based on the title given to the player when he controls the Protoss faction. The title is pronounced The exECuter. Starcraft is the game that got me into online gaming, and is currently the only game I am addicted to. After I signed up, I realized that most people would pronounce the name differently and thus get a different impression.
canonized: In your gaming journey , how did you come upon Paradox games and what lead you to participate in the forums ?
TheExecuter: I've always been interested in Risk type strategy games. My cousin invited me over to his place one night to show me this 'Axis and Allies' type game. It only took one game as Belgium getting smashed by the Germans in HOI 1 to hook me. Days later I had purchased the game. After being destroyed several times by the AI, I went online to find some tips to playing and found the forum. Fortunately for me I randomly selected one of Kanitlans excellent technical treatises on the game and that introduced me to the AAR forums. I began reading some of the other works by Mettrmerck and Yogi. Eventually I was compelled to comment and then encouraged by Director to try my hand at writing an AAR myself.
canonized: I also wanted to congratulate you on recently winning the Fan of the Week award this past week ; it definitely indicates your avid and deep readership ; would you care to share some of how you feel about the reading experience in AARland ?
TheExecuter: Well, initially I was content to just lurk in the shadows and read AARs without commenting. Shame shame, I know. I was finally compelled to comment in Director's 'Here there be Dragons' when I got up to date on the story and realized that he was struggling with motivation to continue it. From then on, I sporadically commented if I felt I had something meaningful to say. I did not start actively seeking out other AARs to read and comment in until I had begun writing myself. The experience of writing my first AAR in the nearly dead HOI1 forum showed me how much authors need comments to stay motivated. Now I try to find new AARs and provide 'encouragement' whenever I have the time.
canonized: Indeed , I remember we spoke before about how your first AAR taught you a lesson and that you wished to pass that on to new writers ; why don't you tell us about what you've learned and what new writers should look out for ?
TheExecuter: My first AAR taught me more than just one lesson. The main one was how much feedback is required for the creative process to continue. If the author is denied the knowledge that someone is reading the work, the author gets discouraged and is tempted to stop working on something so 'worthless.' I remember getting discouraged by the lack of response to the story initially. I owe a big debt of gratitude to Chesterton who faithfully provided comments after every update once he had found the story. I also learned that the best way to get readers is to read and comment in other AARs. The vast majority of commenting readers in my new AAR found out about it through the links in my sig in my comments in their AARs. The second most important thing I learned was to keep writing. If no one commented on the last update, write another one...and another one. Eventually someone will come along and notice.
canonized: Sound advice ; you also mentioned to me before that placement and subject play a key role in the levels of activity you get in your AAR . Could you tell us a little bit about what you mean and perhaps some comments on how you view AARland now ?
TheExecuter: Yes, my first AAR was in the less frequented HOI1 forum. The first comment I received was something to the effect of "Nice story, you should have made it in the HOI2 forum though." Be assured that if you start an AAR in such a remote area, comments will be few and far between. I have a special place in my heart for that forum, so I make it a point to try to support any AARs started there but most readaars won't stumble upon it. The subject of the story had better have some kind of 'hook' to lure readers in as well. For example, don't just write about taking over the world as Germany in HOI. It has been done thousands of times. Think of something that will set your story apart and provide a reason for the reader to keep coming back update after update. You could provide a dramatic storyline or increase the odds against you or choose an odd country or mod an existing country to provide another world. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. I find these kinds of stories the most 'addictive' as I have no clue what is going to happen and can enjoy the 'roller coaster ride' of the story. This is actually the reason I have ceased working on my first AAR. The story was becoming a world conquest with Japan, and that was just not interesting to me the writer. AARland is now becoming quite large and diverse. I remember the days when I thought that the only AAR styles were gameplay and historybook. Now we see comedies, dramas, musicals, picture heavy, stories featuring movies, mega-campaigns encompassing multiple games, role plays, collaborative advisors, multiplayer games, etc. You can always find an AAR that fits your fancy. It is definitely the most open environment for the practice of written expression I've ever encountered.
canonized: An excellent inspection of the land in which we write . Interestingly enough , you yourself have added to the depth of the various styles by implementing the AAR we will be talking about today and prefacing it as a Romance although it naturally contains suspenseful elements and what not . How did you approach this particular narrative style that you now utilize ?
TheExecuter: I was looking to undertake a project that would challenge me as a writer. I have previously written some op-ed pieces for student newspapers and some long technical reports as a part of my job in addition to the historybook style AAR I've already alluded to. The inspiration for this story came out of a test game I was playing which had some interesting events that conspired to create a dramatic and novel situation. I started thinking about how people thrust into such a situation would react and respond and 'zap' an idea hit me. At first I thought I was insane. I have no experience writing in this style and the length of the story was quite daunting. Even now I am still worried that I will not be able to pull off the entirety of the story in a believable fashion, but I digress. Slowly though, the scope of the plot revealed itself to me. The more I thought about it, the more inspired I was to share the story. I still fondly remember the day in a restaurant when I found myself diagramming plot elements using the crayons and paper provided for children's entertainment. It was then that I knew I had to start the story.
canonized: Haha , TheExecuter using childrens' crayons at a restaurant for his AAR ideas , what a scoop I've got here ! Actually I use a notebook myself that I always carry around in my laptop case . So I'd like to know what your motivation for writing is . Some people just like to share stories , others because they plan on moving into the history or narrative field later on . How about you ?
TheExecuter: Yes, I've now found the notebook to be far more convenient! I've always been a shy person. I long ago learned that I express myself far better through the written word than the spoken. I started writing as a way to communicate my feelings to the world in a coherent fashion. Recently I have discovered how much I like story-telling, so that is my inspiration to write in this forum. I have no plans on moving on into the professional narrative or history fields as yet.
Part II: Build More Pylons !
Our guest and I discuss his thoughts on Timelines !
canonized: May I ask, first of all, how you came upon Timelines ?
TheExecuter: I first heard about timelines during the voting for one of the AARland Choice Awards. Several forum members were discussing the enormous infusion of new members who were all voting for this new EU3 AAR called 'timelines.' I noted the name of the AAR and thought, "If I get time I'll have to pop over and see what the fuss is all about." Unfortunately I was quite pressed for time out in the real world, so it was a few weeks before I came back to my self-promise. I eventually had a slow day at work and launched myself into the already long tale.
canonized: Well we were certainly surprised at the record breaking turnout for voting here for Timelines. What were some of your first impressions including the length of the work when you first began ?
TheExecuter: I've never been daunted by the length. The first AARs I read on the forum were Metts 'Advantages' and Yogis 'Iron Crosses' because they had the largest post counts and I figured I could get a good idea of what the whole place was about. My first impressions of timelines were the amount of care going into the presentation. The time spanning plotline was intriguing and acted as a first hook, but I was soon immersed in the whole 'timelines' experience of bonus features and interviews and Easter eggs.
canonized: Yes, certainly the bonuses and Easter eggs and even the interviews have become part and parcel with the story . We've just ended Season I and we're now beginning to see glimpses of Season II , how did you enjoy the first Season ?
TheExecuter: It was a rockin' roller coaster ride! You've taken your heroes from one end of the earth to the other, introduced deliciously evil characters like Zio and Sio Pan as foils for your equally impressive Panzerkardinal and members of the silent room. I must say that I particularly enjoyed the antics of Antonio and Isabella in their quest to enter one another’s hearts in the midst of trying to save the world from (?). The long term story revolving around Tom and Marcus and the timepiece is still tickling my thought process though. I'm patiently waiting for closure on that score. In this case, anticipation is bliss.
canonized: Being a writer yourself who has a keen understanding of introducing different viewpoints and philosophies into your work as indicated by your current work , what kind of underpinnings and expositions have you received from Timelines ?
TheExecuter: The Catholic 'vibe' from the story is unmistakable. The concept of righteousness triumphing over evil through the efforts of man carries through your narrative. Yes, evil is powerful and destructive, but can be overcome through faithful, brave actions on the part of the heroes. That aside, there is definitely a 'supernatural' aura about the story itself. I get the feeling while reading it that things are not what they seem and that there are other powers at work. In addition, you do an excellent job of displaying each character's philosophical motivation by their interactions with the world and the other characters. I cannot say that I have deciphered what all of them believe, but I have the feeling that all that I have seen is consistent to some internal, unseen philosophical standard.
canonized: Do you have any particular characters that you've found yourself attached to this past season ?
TheExecuter: I found myself drawn to Antonio and his doomed quest for Isabella's heart. I have a fascination with sad stories as is evident from The Last Mission. I have also been intrigued by the relationships among the 'children' in the present timeline. Why is Tom so important to the story? Who are Janus and Marcus and what do they have to do with the Tom and the timepiece? I find myself attached to the story here in a mad quest to discover the secrets they all hold. In that sense, it is like reading a mystery novel where you read and reread every characters lines for hidden meanings and clues.
canonized: Thank you very much ! It's very encouraging whenever someone re-reads -- many times we can succumb to the temptation of skimming and getting an update done so I'm very honoured to have you delve into the work in such a fashion ! You mentioned earlier that we've been around the world in Season I; did you have a favourite setting in the story ?
TheExecuter: I think the most interesting setting for me was the Indiana Jones style labyrinth under Mecca. You described the area so well I could 'watch' our hero as he struggled through the scene. I also liked the masquerade party with Marcus and the ensuing locations where Tom ended up. I got a very Edgar A. Poe impression from those scenes. I could almost smell the fear the surroundings caused wafting up from my computer monitor.
canonized: Wow , certainly Renault's Mecca underground adventure is a fan favourite but first time I've heard of anyone who enjoyed the masquerade scene , thank you ! Last question of this section is one anyone reading the interviews should be familiar with : Any guesses on what the Timepiece is ?
TheExecuter: That’s easy! The timepiece is a plot device. You introduce something mysterious and powerful and have the heroes and villains fight and chase each other around the world in a vain attempt to... Oh, you want me to venture a guess as to what it actually is? Umm...ok. My current theory on the timepiece is that it is some device that enables shifts in space-time. Apparently there are multiple worlds accessible by correctly 'using' the timepiece. So, Tom's paper describing an alternate world is evidence that someone knows that an alternate world is possible AND has enough evidence to actual describe it in chilling detail. Hence the race to secure the timepiece before the evil powers use it to recreate Tom's world. I am currently puzzling over the 'keys' and must admit I have no idea what they are or their function. I also admit that I am unable to provide an explanation for the origin of the timepiece and the keys. This is all the more reason to anticipate season 2!
Part III: I fear no enemy, for the Khala is my strength!
Executer and I talk about his current AAR project !
canonized: First , I would have to say that honestly I was a bit surprised . That is to say that my first impressions of you were of a very jovial gentleman , which you are indeed , but The Last Mission not only showed the grit of the first half of the century but also its fallen nature . I almost felt the gray skies of England overhead as I read intermittently interrupted by the black and red of shadow and blood of the fascist and communist tension in the work . Could you talk to us a little about your motivations for writing about this period and its atmosphere ?
TheExecuter: Part of the power of stories from this era comes from the dismally gritty atmosphere engendered by the clash of these two totalitarian philosophies. In this kind of environment, a man is forced to choose his beliefs and then fight to keep them if he can. Our hero, Ian, is even now in the process of choosing who he is as a man and what he will stand and fight for. Time and the story will tell if he makes the right decision. I think the dramatic-ness of that choice punctuated by the urgency mandated by the time period makes for a more dramatic storyline.
canonized: Obviously , since your story has yet much to go we have not yet seen the romantic aspects of the work although we do see hints of that in Ian's dreams ; how would you say the story will evolve once the romantic element has been introduced : what can fans look forward to with that aspect ?
TheExecuter: As has been hinted at in the beginning of the story, we know that Ian will be successful in wooing a woman to his side, and that she will be instrumental in determining how he relates to the world. Unfortunately, we also know that he is mourning her loss. Once I introduce the romantic element to the story, we will get to see what effect this new relationship has on Ian's belief structure and his relationship with the world around him. I don't want to give too much away at this point.
canonized: Beliefs are very central in the story at this point and , as you mentioned , will be an important motif throughout . From what we've seen so far , we've been bombarded by communist rhetoric through the character Alain who is someone whom you've even described as “dangerous” in one of your notes of your work . Although you do not share his views , his characters comes through clearly in an almost terrifying manner ; how did you engineer him and his thoughts ?
TheExecuter: Well, I must admit I came to this point in my writing and hit a brick wall. I did not share his views and was at a loss to have a way to explain them. Finally I resorted to reading accounts from various period authors in an effort to understand the mindset of a man so devoted to the communist cause. I then borrowed the philosophical apologetics of the socialist characters in those books and channeled them through Alain in what I hoped would be a coherent expression of the way he sees the world. I will probably have to do the same for some new characters who will enter the story down the road. The only drawback to this method of character development is that it takes a long time and reduces my updating speed to something approximated by El Pip.
canonized: One of the interesting things when I read your work was the kind of kinship we shared in certain aspects of our works- that is to say that your work not only similarly reveals the 'end result' but you also have cliffhanger updates . Why did you choose this mode of structure ?
TheExecuter: It was expedient for the reader that I start the story in that fashion. As you have seen, we are several chapters in and I have yet to introduce the romantic element. Therefore I needed it to be present at the beginning of the story in order to assure the readers that, yes, there will indeed be a love story in this love story. I also learned through reading Storey AARs how effective cliff-hangers were at keeping the feeling of tension and drama running through the AAR. Because of the serial format of the work, I felt that a few cliffhangers would enhance the feeling of continuity between the updates. You can blame it all on Storey, I'm sure he won't mind!
canonized: Your work also possesses a great deal of non-traditional interpositions such as dream sequences and anthems during action sequences or even as transitions between one mode of ambiance to another . How and why have you been doing this ?
TheExecuter: I have a variety of reasons for introducing those elements. I've always been fascinated by dreams and their effect on our behavior. My namesake is famous for having 'visions in his head upon his bed' that were more than just the effect of a liverwurst sandwhich. I've used the dream sequences so far as a sort of 'window' into the non-physical aspect of the world in which my characters live. I use the musical interludes because I am a great lover of music and I couldn't resist using them...the expressions they conveyed were perfect for the moment. And I confess to using one anthem as a crutch to get me through a bad case of writers block. I ended up structuring the update around the stanzas of the anthem. It got the job done, but I am still disappointed with the result.
canonized: Well it was certainly effective and provided a great counterpoint to the action going on ! Although we've already seen the tristful nature that we're to expect , the tragedian drama draws us in . What fascinates you about this genre you've chosen and what would you like your audience to walk away with once you've completed ?
TheExecuter: I'm fascinated by the way these kinds of stories allow us to see our own nature. Good drama and especially tragedy stories enable us to get outside of our regular ways of looking at ourselves, the world, and other people. We allow ourselves outside of our own philosophical box in order to examine another belief structure and compare it to our own. I find these experiences to be immensely helpful in generating the wisdom with which to move forward in my own life. I hope that my story will impact people's perceptions of the direction their beliefs are leading them. If they end up considering another point of view in relation to their own for a few minutes, I would consider that an awesome success.
canonized: And lastly , what kind of future works do you have planned ?
TheExecuter: I usually have a new idea for a future work once a week. Most of these fade quickly, however. I'm the kind of person who likes to start new projects but does not necessarily feel the need to finish them. I find that I have to wait a while to see if I am actually committed to the idea before beginning its attempt. Right now I have no plans to interrupt this AAR with another in parallel. As I've said before, The Last Mission has a long way to go before it is completed. I have a few ideas rattling around about a fantasy AAR set in EU2...but the idea is not fully formed yet so don't go looking for it any time soon!
canonized: Well that is our interview ! I’d like to thank TheExecuter for being on the programme and once again thank you to our audience tuning in this week ! We hope you all had a good time ! Next week’s guest hasn’t been chosen yet so please check back during the week to see who it will be ! Good fight , good night !
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HEY!
That's the 'defeat' Protoss picture.
The 'victory' one is so much cooler...
That's the 'defeat' Protoss picture.
The 'victory' one is so much cooler...
I`ve just read interviews of coz1, Grubnessul and TheExecuter - great and interesting read. Thank you canonized for those bonuses - it`s really interesting to know something more about diverse writAArs, and like I said before - it`s very good thing for AAR community
ColossusCrusher: Haha , well this one just worked better for the image ; adds a bit of mystery to it , don't you think ?
thrashing mad: thank you !
thrashing mad: thank you !
Okay...I'm caught up with Season 1 and all the stuff after it....Pity about Lydia becoming Zio...or vice versa, depending on how you look at it....The conversation between Hershell and his friend is very telling.....Black holes, indeed...The timepieces...although interesting, are really almost a secondary issue with everything else that is going on. The reality is that Spain is conquering the world.
Another reality is that Hershell lives in the USA, which is definitely NOT part of the Spanish world hegemony. So how do you reconcile it? The timepieces don't actually CHANGE the timelines...They allow you to go from one to the other. Whether it be one where Spain dominates the world to one where Germany wins WWII, or wherever. The timepieces can take you from one time line to another, but it takes the KEYS to actually do it.
I think the characters believe it could destroy their own particular time line, but in actuality, just as Hershell said it is not like the people and the places just vanished into a black hole...All these time lines are 'parallel' to each other....if you make one 'inaccessible' you can 'damage' the others. Physically with things like earth quakes...but Spain in some time line has conquered the world. Another where Napoleon did the same thing. Or where the US went nuts and conquered all of the western hemisphere before the start of WWI....
The end result? An intriguing story of people dashing about trying to keep their time line alive, when in reality, as Hershell says it is not like they will disappear down a black hole....
It's truly amazing how well the writing has stayed so steady throughout the entire story. It's a very long tale, but it hangs together so well that it is virtually seamless....
Another reality is that Hershell lives in the USA, which is definitely NOT part of the Spanish world hegemony. So how do you reconcile it? The timepieces don't actually CHANGE the timelines...They allow you to go from one to the other. Whether it be one where Spain dominates the world to one where Germany wins WWII, or wherever. The timepieces can take you from one time line to another, but it takes the KEYS to actually do it.
I think the characters believe it could destroy their own particular time line, but in actuality, just as Hershell said it is not like the people and the places just vanished into a black hole...All these time lines are 'parallel' to each other....if you make one 'inaccessible' you can 'damage' the others. Physically with things like earth quakes...but Spain in some time line has conquered the world. Another where Napoleon did the same thing. Or where the US went nuts and conquered all of the western hemisphere before the start of WWI....
The end result? An intriguing story of people dashing about trying to keep their time line alive, when in reality, as Hershell says it is not like they will disappear down a black hole....
It's truly amazing how well the writing has stayed so steady throughout the entire story. It's a very long tale, but it hangs together so well that it is virtually seamless....
Amric said:
Yes , Lydia was indeed a bit of a tragic figure . I wish I had more time to hash into it ... well actually I do have time . You'll just have to see what I mean by 'time' I guess XD haha . And yes the timepieces are a bit of a secondary issue in the backdrop of world domination or vice versa . Both drive characters and both seem to coincide with each other . (world domination and the timepiece that is)
Yes , though now I'm very interested to see what you're going to say once you start reading the inter-season chapters and then start on season II . But you're right , the interchange about the black hole histories is going to be important thematically .
Thank you very much sir , I'm very glad to have you on board !
New update will be coming by Tuesday !
Yet another excellent interview and yet another AAR I'll need to add to my reading list.
coz1 said:Yet another excellent interview and yet another AAR I'll need to add to my reading list.
Yes it's a great work and just started ! Highly recommended . It was a great interview !
Avernite said:I notice how canonized isn't denying Amric's theory
So he got it right, then?
Oh no! Now everyone will know!
Great interview Canonized, Definately have to check out TheExecutor's AAR
Avernite: Haha I just didn't want to make any spoilers for Season II for Amric since he hasn't fully caught up yet !
English Patriot: Thank you , sir !
English Patriot: Thank you , sir !
good stuff as usual!
I for one think the Protoss defeat picture is much better than the victory picture, maybe that's cause I always got killed in SC
I for one think the Protoss defeat picture is much better than the victory picture, maybe that's cause I always got killed in SC
Grubnessul said:good stuff as usual!
I for one think the Protoss defeat picture is much better than the victory picture, maybe that's cause I always got killed in SC
Haha , I always hated losing as Protoss ; they're my favourite race . I always kind of felt sad when I looked at that picture and hence why TheExecuter and his sad story (at the moment) got the sad picture XD although it really did look better in the graphic than the other .
Protoss had the best story. So noble and heroic and generally sobworthy, not that I'd ever sob, mind, rugged man that I am.
But playing? I always liked Terrans. Numerous, cheap, dependable, with a counter-tool to everything.
But playing? I always liked Terrans. Numerous, cheap, dependable, with a counter-tool to everything.
RGB said:
Bah! I'm a rugged man and I definitely sobbed when I had to kill off Fenix in the BW Zerg Campaign...
I like protoss because...I'm too slow to play the other races effectively!
Plus their story is cooler...TheExecuter