The Free Company Tavern & "OOC" Thread: Book IV

[Valdemar]

Originally posted by MrT

Considering that there are a limited number of ships and a much larger population, you may find yourself having to vie with the locals for a seat on the ferry. I'd have had Roos say this except he has never been in such a situation before and therefore wouldn't be aware of the panic and flight in the streets when heathens begin to rampage...

That was what I was trying to get Frederik to hint at when he said that there was bound to be rebellions once the citizens figured out what the purpose of the quater was.

I'm going to be online very irregularly this weekend due to network trouble.

V

 

[The_Hawk]

Originally posted by MrT
Considering that there are a limited number of ships and a much larger population, you may find yourself having to vie with the locals for a seat on the ferry.

Not to worry. The Cyprian has quite a number of bows, not to mention a loose definition of right and wrong.

Of course, for him to evacuate the Company, he has to survive long enough to do so.

 

[EmprorCoopinius]

I'm sure some special protection for our intrepid sailing master could be arranged, perhaps for preferential seating arrangments once the walls start to come down.

 

[unmerged(6528)]

Wake up Free Company, Lieutenant Lochlan is severely disapointed with your lack of posting!

Seriously though guys, 4 or 5 of us have been pushing it all week, we having a writers block issue?

RJ

 

[Faeelin]

I've been really busy all week. Hopefully this week, since I have thursday and friday off, I'll get to do some serious posting.

I imagine that most of the writers are very busy right now.

And Yusuf would appreciate finding out whether or not Wlaks chew their own cud.

 

[Craig Ashley]

I think it's a combination of a few things. First off the weekends are always slow, so just discount the last two days. Secondly, I do think many FCers are suffering from RL and/or writer's block. Lastly, the fact that things have slowed down a bit, make it harder for anyone to post. Sometimes your character isn't present or just doesn't have anything to add to the current situation.

I'm sure it will be better this week. After all, a battle is looming.

EDIT: That said, I was disappointed that no one took up the mantle of Sir Thaddeus and the near disasterous ambush.

 

[Faeelin]

Originally posted by Craig Ashley
EDIT: That said, I was disappointed that no one took up the mantle of Sir Thaddeus and the near disasterous ambush.

I think a lot of it is that writers, especially newer ones, are hesitant of when to comment, unsure of when to jump in. Poor Abdul, for instance, is walking around Constantinople with a holy relic, and one person has commented on its absence.

 

[Craig Ashley]

I think a lot of it is that writers, especially newer ones, are hesitant of when to comment, unsure of when to jump in. Poor Abdul, for instance, is walking around Constantinople with a holy relic, and one person has commented on its absence.

Perhaps. I was interested in the relic story, but wasn't it Omar who had the relic?

Perhaps a reminder is needed. The FC is an INTERACTIVE AAR. It thrives on other people getting involved in the various subplots. Of course not every character is going to know about or care about every subplot.

Speaking of subplots, I certianly hope the cloud of doubt has not been removed from Shur'tu in everyone's eyes. I'm not sure Captain shared Shur'tu's version of things and I'm also not sure that everyone would take the Mongol at his word. More to come later.

 

[Lord Durham]

Originally posted by Craig Ashley
I think it's a combination of a few things. First off the weekends are always slow, so just discount the last two days. Secondly, I do think many FCers are suffering from RL and/or writer's block. Lastly, the fact that things have slowed down a bit, make it harder for anyone to post. Sometimes your character isn't present or just doesn't have anything to add to the current situation.

I'm sure it will be better this week. After all, a battle is looming.

EDIT: That said, I was disappointed that no one took up the mantle of Sir Thaddeus and the near disasterous ambush.

Once again, I am partly to blame. My RL has got the better of me. Things have quieted a bit, so I should be able to get this moving at a brisker pace.

I find the shakeout of writers is typical for the FC. Usually we start with 20 - 25 and end up with 10 - 15. That's why I preface each book with the warning: "Not for the Feint of Heart". We'll make do

Craig, the next Sir Thaddeus post is up. In fact, I have moved this along to the point where The_Hawk can weave some magic. And your point about the Interactive Part is well made. It's something I should enforce more often. Let's make sure we leave an opening so someone else can step in. At the same time, let's make sure someone is around to step in.

Faeelin, the problem with the theft of the Crown Jewels is that there was no follow up to remind us (specifically, me). I'm trying to keep all these little plot threads straight in my mind and sometimes stuff like that slips through. So I take full responsibility. Perhaps if Omar were to brag to someone...

Secret Master, all Hail! Thanks for joining our story. I look forward to the tangled web that Foscari will weave.

 

[Valdemar]

Originally posted by Lord Durham

And your point about the Interactive Part is well made. It's something I should enforce more often. Let's make sure we leave an opening so someone else can step in. At the same time, let's make sure someone is around to step in.

I couldn't agree more, I find that about half the open ends I leave remains undiscovered, so if thats an average, then I can understand why you can't keep up with it. This is in no way meant as criticism, merely aknowledging fact.

When that is said I find this extremely funny to participate in and I find myself checking the story as one of the last things before I go to bed jsut to make sure some of you colonials
hasn't responded.

V

 

[Norgesvenn]

Originally posted by Rath Jones
Wake up Free Company, Lieutenant Lochlan is severely disapointed with your lack of posting!

Seriously though guys, 4 or 5 of us have been pushing it all week, we having a writers block issue?

RJ

On my behalf, yes. I do, sadly. And today (and tomorrow) I've had little access to any computers, being on a seminar and all. It's not that I don't want to post. More that what I write looks immensly stupid in my eyes.

"The problem's all in your head, she said to me. The answer is easy if you take it logically"

Paul Simon, "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover"

 

[Valdemar]

As to writers block, my answer is simple but time consuming. I just write.

That is I find out what it is I still need to cover and then I just start writing, most of the time the post get all jumpy and wierd and very very long, but then I can go back and edit out untill I've got the basic story covered. Then I start all over with the story from before firmly in my mind I try to retell that story like I need it to appear.

Another approach is to think things through during the day without writing them down, I can go through the same three or four conversations or pieces of story inside my several times during the day, on my way to lunch, on the bus, while brushing my teeth. When I finally get to my PC and write it down I may write something completely different but I've got the "feeling" for the story firmly inside my head.

Sorry if this was inconsistent ramblings and didn't help at all, but I really hope we can get back on track soon

V

 

[Craig Ashley]

V: Half your hooks are left to wither and die? Hmmmmm. First off I'd like to say that it's quite possible some are more subtle than others and may go over people's heads. I also know you have referenced several times about Frederik not getting his money from Shur'tu yet. I've purposely left that story alone because I want Frederik to twist in the wind a little. It adds to the growing suspicions surrounding my Mongols. Fear not though, I have a conclusion in place. I'm just waiting for the right time to spring it.

LD: Don't worry about RL taking you away from the FC. I think we have a good core of writers and we'll wait for our glorious leader as long as it takes.

 

[Craig Ashley]

Another approach is to think things through during the day without writing them down, I can go through the same three or four conversations or pieces of story inside my several times during the day, on my way to lunch, on the bus, while brushing my teeth. When I finally get to my PC and write it down I may write something completely different but I've got the "feeling" for the story firmly inside my head.

I do that a lot. Nailing down the "feeling" of the scene and your characters is key. A lot of the little details come to me in these daydream-like writing sessions.

 

[Valdemar]

CA, thats crossposting for you, I just left you another hook

V

 

[Valdemar]

Ca, this can't go on we keep crossing.

I know you're aware of the lack of payment and I know some of them are subtle, that's the whole idea Some of them are only menat for one or two posters

Now excsue me while I watch the Police raid "Christania" I'll be back in half an hour

V

EDIT, for some reason, when I posted this one, CA's post was in between, being the last post, now I see his two posts are together and mine are together

V

 

[The_Hawk]

Magical enough, LD?

Anyone can feel free to explain how, precisely, the Cyprian is being cut off. I have my own ideas about it, and if nobody takes the topic up, I'll finish that thought tomorrow. I just thought I would give someone else a chance to screw my characters over for once.

 

[Valdemar]

Originally posted by The_Hawk

Anyone can feel free to explain how, precisely, the Cyprian is being cut off.

Nezzie perhaps?

V

 

[J. Passepartout]

I see the Bedouins are getting a bit of a reputation. Remember this. Raids on towns and tribal warfare by bedouins didn't stop until the 1920s. It doesn't happen much now, but still happens. Also, the Bedouins were very good fighters, and would scare the heck out of any soldier who knew anything about them, and was in Arabia.

 

[Faeelin]

Originally posted by J. Passeportout
I see the Bedouins are getting a bit of a reputation. Remember this. Raids on towns and tribal warfare by bedouins didn't stop until the 1920s. It doesn't happen much now, but still happens. Also, the Bedouins were very good fighters, and would scare the heck out of any soldier who knew anything about them, and was in Arabia.

Problem: Thrace is not Arabia. Ipso Facto, tactics that work in Arabia do not work in Thrace.

So you can see where their reputation's from.

But you're right; I'm goign to have the Moors bungle things up, next time there's a fight.