Forgot to post this last month, so why not combine two months?
After discovering Limyaael's wonderful fantasy rants, I have been examining how well Gemsinger holds up, and responding to them. So far, I only have a few cliches, and have stayed FAR away from the most common ones.
The Video Game is also taking shape--I'm hoping it will be fun for everyone.
Thanks to all that read and support the blog.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #50: Fighter Heroes
1. Like Miresa, Bradlin has worked hard in his training as a dragoon.
2. Bradlin was taught at an early age not to fight dirty, plus a dragoon resorting to dishonorable tactics would get into heaps of trouble. He has, however, been told that feigning injury and setting traps have a place in the dragoon's code (but under certain circumstances) and that harming an unarmed person, woman, or child is only acceptable if they try to harm you first.
3. Bradlin won't be defeating (much less challenging) those that have trained for years.
4. Bradlin has his limits too.
5. Bradlin is by no means the best in the world--he is still an apprentice, and has a lot more to learn.
6. If his sword doesn't work, he has several other weapons he can use.
2. Bradlin was taught at an early age not to fight dirty, plus a dragoon resorting to dishonorable tactics would get into heaps of trouble. He has, however, been told that feigning injury and setting traps have a place in the dragoon's code (but under certain circumstances) and that harming an unarmed person, woman, or child is only acceptable if they try to harm you first.
3. Bradlin won't be defeating (much less challenging) those that have trained for years.
4. Bradlin has his limits too.
5. Bradlin is by no means the best in the world--he is still an apprentice, and has a lot more to learn.
6. If his sword doesn't work, he has several other weapons he can use.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #49: Mage Heroes
1. The only thing Miresa is clumsy at is spellcasting--she's actually quite agile and fast physically.
2. I will show what happens to weapons and instruments that are not properly cared for.
3. I will be consistent with my magic system.
4. Miresa is not a mercenary at all--but she does play the reluctant hero at first.
5. Miresa is far from being a lady Gandalf.
6. The Gemsinger may have a lot of power, but they are not invincible.
2. I will show what happens to weapons and instruments that are not properly cared for.
3. I will be consistent with my magic system.
4. Miresa is not a mercenary at all--but she does play the reluctant hero at first.
5. Miresa is far from being a lady Gandalf.
6. The Gemsinger may have a lot of power, but they are not invincible.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #48: Council Scenes
In the first book, one plot point is Galia introducing Miresa to High King Fion and the Elven Council--that said:
1. Every member of the Council will have a name.
2. We will know each side's motivations.
3. There will be plenty of banter and interruptions between both sides.
4. The recap will be summarized.
5. Things will be happening besides the council gathering.
6. Some victories will not be won so easily.
7. I will be careful with tension
1. Every member of the Council will have a name.
2. We will know each side's motivations.
3. There will be plenty of banter and interruptions between both sides.
4. The recap will be summarized.
5. Things will be happening besides the council gathering.
6. Some victories will not be won so easily.
7. I will be careful with tension
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #47: The Plot (part 2)
1. Expressions will advance the plot.
2. Conversations will be more than infodumps.
3. Sometimes ordinary things get the plot going.
4. I acknowledge I'm taking the "chosen one" route with Gemsinger, but I'm not destroying her village (Miresa actually saves it), and she doesn't angst too much (she figures no one got anywhere by angsting, so she just accepts it)
2. Conversations will be more than infodumps.
3. Sometimes ordinary things get the plot going.
4. I acknowledge I'm taking the "chosen one" route with Gemsinger, but I'm not destroying her village (Miresa actually saves it), and she doesn't angst too much (she figures no one got anywhere by angsting, so she just accepts it)
Monday, July 26, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #46: The Plot, Part 1
1. The first chapter will not be mainly exposition--the exposition will be scattered through the plot, and even then, it will be the exposition we need for that moment.
2. I will be careful with long coversations.
3. Secondary characters will be alive, too.
4. Plot elements will rely on each other.
5. Angst does not a good book make.
6. Miresa is the center of the plot.
2. I will be careful with long coversations.
3. Secondary characters will be alive, too.
4. Plot elements will rely on each other.
5. Angst does not a good book make.
6. Miresa is the center of the plot.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #45: D&D Stereotypes
1. Miresa will not get that many advantages just because she is human--she will have to rely on her non-human friends for help sometimes.
2. The bad guys, while hordes, are not generic.
3. Power is not the goal itself--it is the way a goal is achieved.
4. Shokiyu's magic is WAY different from D&D.
5. The party doesn't run into THAT many wandering adventurers.
2. The bad guys, while hordes, are not generic.
3. Power is not the goal itself--it is the way a goal is achieved.
4. Shokiyu's magic is WAY different from D&D.
5. The party doesn't run into THAT many wandering adventurers.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #44: Explanation
1. I will be careful with context.
2. I will explain things as they become relevant to the story.
3. Aliies and saving graces will be introduced early on.
4. I will make sure my audience can remember and follow conversations.
5. I will be careful not to present whole scenes of explanation.
6. Not every motivation will be explained.
7. If I have to infodump at all, Miresa will do it.
2. I will explain things as they become relevant to the story.
3. Aliies and saving graces will be introduced early on.
4. I will make sure my audience can remember and follow conversations.
5. I will be careful not to present whole scenes of explanation.
6. Not every motivation will be explained.
7. If I have to infodump at all, Miresa will do it.
Friday, July 23, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #43: Travel
1. Animals will be resting like the humans will.
2. I will plan how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B.
3. Sometimes the landscape will be a bad guy for the party.
4. I will be mindful of the seasons.
5. I will add detail to the journey.
6. I will be mindful of the disadvantages of some travelers.
7. There will be times when the party has to take another route.
2. I will plan how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B.
3. Sometimes the landscape will be a bad guy for the party.
4. I will be mindful of the seasons.
5. I will add detail to the journey.
6. I will be mindful of the disadvantages of some travelers.
7. There will be times when the party has to take another route.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #42: Comic relief
1. Characters will not be just for comic relief
2. Everyone has a chance to shine.
3. I will only use humor when needed.
4. You will see the costs as well as the benefits of humor
5. Puns will not depend on the English language.
6. Irony will not be forced.
2. Everyone has a chance to shine.
3. I will only use humor when needed.
4. You will see the costs as well as the benefits of humor
5. Puns will not depend on the English language.
6. Irony will not be forced.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #41: Magic objects
1. Magical objects in the possession of a family or a group will have their reasons to keep them.
2. Talking objects will get real personalities.
3. The object's name will be nice sounding, appropriate, easy to say, and devoid of the capital and puncuation shakers.
4. The Twelve Stones help run the world, actually.
5. Katva hasn't destroyed them yet because they are one step ahead of him.
2. Talking objects will get real personalities.
3. The object's name will be nice sounding, appropriate, easy to say, and devoid of the capital and puncuation shakers.
4. The Twelve Stones help run the world, actually.
5. Katva hasn't destroyed them yet because they are one step ahead of him.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #40: Rulers
1. I will show the goodness of my rulers more than I tell it.
2. My rulers party responsibly.
3. They are aware of their power.
4. They prefer to act rather than react.
5. They are creative in areas besides the arts
6. They can and will screw up
2. My rulers party responsibly.
3. They are aware of their power.
4. They prefer to act rather than react.
5. They are creative in areas besides the arts
6. They can and will screw up
Monday, July 19, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #39: Introductions
1. I will try not to introduce someone all at once
2. Miresa will not be oblivious to odd features like purple eyes.
3. We will have a recap of plot points that hint at any big surprises before I reveal the big surprise.
4. A character will not be introduced with squees--they have to earn them.
5. New items, characters and plots will be connected to old ones in some form.
2. Miresa will not be oblivious to odd features like purple eyes.
3. We will have a recap of plot points that hint at any big surprises before I reveal the big surprise.
4. A character will not be introduced with squees--they have to earn them.
5. New items, characters and plots will be connected to old ones in some form.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #38: Empathy
1. Everyone will serve more than plot purposes.
2. We will see what the party is insterested in, and how they grow and change
3. Everyone will have diverse relationships
4. I will balance how I show emotion.
5. We will see the mundane as well as the magical.
2. We will see what the party is insterested in, and how they grow and change
3. Everyone will have diverse relationships
4. I will balance how I show emotion.
5. We will see the mundane as well as the magical.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #37: Transitions
1. Cliffhangers will be resolved in a reasonable amount of time.
2. None of these cliffhangers will be coy.
3. Miresa will not fall asleep or pass out at the best parts of the story.
4. If we all know what happens next, we'll skip over it.
5. I will skip over uneventful travel scenes unless something happens.
6. There will be quiet parts in betwen exciting points to allow the audience and the party to calm down.
2. None of these cliffhangers will be coy.
3. Miresa will not fall asleep or pass out at the best parts of the story.
4. If we all know what happens next, we'll skip over it.
5. I will skip over uneventful travel scenes unless something happens.
6. There will be quiet parts in betwen exciting points to allow the audience and the party to calm down.
Friday, July 16, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #36: The Difference Between Drama and Melodrama
1. I will watch my language--bigger is not always better.
2. It will get quiet before a "noisy" scene, not the other way around
3. No long angsty monologues here.
4. Drama will take its time to unfold
5. My dramatic scenes will not be that simple to understand.
6. I will be careful to make my drama reasonable and realistic
2. It will get quiet before a "noisy" scene, not the other way around
3. No long angsty monologues here.
4. Drama will take its time to unfold
5. My dramatic scenes will not be that simple to understand.
6. I will be careful to make my drama reasonable and realistic
Thursday, July 15, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #35: Clothes
1. Clothes will be appropriate to the climate.
2. The party will have only a few essential outfits, and pick up others as needed.
3. I will take materials and class into account.
4. The detail of clothing will depand on whose POV I'm telling from.
5. Modifications to clothes will be practical
2. The party will have only a few essential outfits, and pick up others as needed.
3. I will take materials and class into account.
4. The detail of clothing will depand on whose POV I'm telling from.
5. Modifications to clothes will be practical
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #34: Sense of Place
1. The amount of detail I describe something will be proportionate to how important that item is to the story.
2. The place's features will be described too
3. Setting will contibute to atmosphere.
4. Setting will also be linked to themes.
5. I will include some of the party's everyday routines.
6. I will be careful to do the reasearch.
2. The place's features will be described too
3. Setting will contibute to atmosphere.
4. Setting will also be linked to themes.
5. I will include some of the party's everyday routines.
6. I will be careful to do the reasearch.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #33: Interesting Bad Guys
1. Katva wants to destory Shokiyu so he can have a world of his own, yet Meikon won't allow this.
2. Katva actually loves and cares about his lackeys--their goal of a world of their own they see as desireable (but it would require destroying Shokiyu)
3. Katva doesn't spend eons planning his plots--his impulsiveness lies in his desire to get what he wants--and in his failure to plan ahead, he falls.
4. I will be consistent with Katva's skills and abilities.
5. Katva will behave realistically when he tries to tempt the party.
6. Both heroes and villians respect each other.
2. Katva actually loves and cares about his lackeys--their goal of a world of their own they see as desireable (but it would require destroying Shokiyu)
3. Katva doesn't spend eons planning his plots--his impulsiveness lies in his desire to get what he wants--and in his failure to plan ahead, he falls.
4. I will be consistent with Katva's skills and abilities.
5. Katva will behave realistically when he tries to tempt the party.
6. Both heroes and villians respect each other.
Monday, July 12, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #32: Interesting Heroines
1. Miresa may appear to have one goal (becoming a blademage), but in achieving that one goal, she also achieves some others (seeing the world, becoming a renowned adventurer and performer, etc.)
2. Miresa is not (in Limyaael's words) a delicate swooning virgin angel at all--she feels the whole spectrum of human emotion.
3. Miresa will still have to heal from traumatic experiences, just like Bradlin will.
4. She knows more angry reactions than tears and slapping.
5. Miresa has plenty of people that know her.
6. Miresa does talk with other girls and women.
2. Miresa is not (in Limyaael's words) a delicate swooning virgin angel at all--she feels the whole spectrum of human emotion.
3. Miresa will still have to heal from traumatic experiences, just like Bradlin will.
4. She knows more angry reactions than tears and slapping.
5. Miresa has plenty of people that know her.
6. Miresa does talk with other girls and women.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #31: The End
1. The ending will not race to the finish.
2. We will discuss only the fates of the party and their allies, nothing more
3. I will stay consistent in tone and not be "cute" at the end.
4. The surprises will stop at a certain point
5. I will try to avoid the obvious
6. The ending will have at least one obvious meaning
7. I will gradually work to the ending.
2. We will discuss only the fates of the party and their allies, nothing more
3. I will stay consistent in tone and not be "cute" at the end.
4. The surprises will stop at a certain point
5. I will try to avoid the obvious
6. The ending will have at least one obvious meaning
7. I will gradually work to the ending.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #30: Surprises
1. Any surprises will match the story's tone.
2. Clues will hopefully be discreet.
3. The reveal will rely on more than language.
4. The party will act realistically to the surprise.
5. Most surprises will be towards the middle.
6. Just because it's a surprise doesn't mean it gets to break the rules without a very good reason.
2. Clues will hopefully be discreet.
3. The reveal will rely on more than language.
4. The party will act realistically to the surprise.
5. Most surprises will be towards the middle.
6. Just because it's a surprise doesn't mean it gets to break the rules without a very good reason.
Friday, July 9, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #29: Education (part 4)
1. Miresa has also learned from her family.
2. There will be more than lectures and stories. (but there will be a few stories involved)
3. We will see Miresa gradually getting better at tasks.
4. Miresa does daydream in class on occassion.
5. Our heroes will be connected to their backgrounds
2. There will be more than lectures and stories. (but there will be a few stories involved)
3. We will see Miresa gradually getting better at tasks.
4. Miresa does daydream in class on occassion.
5. Our heroes will be connected to their backgrounds
Thursday, July 8, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #28: Education (part 3)
1. The mage's academy does have some precautions against magical accidents.
2. Miresa will be learning (and has learned) about the limits of magic.
3. the details will be original and fluff-free.
4. We will watch Miresa grow and change as a result of learning magic.
5. She is in the academy because she has choen a specialized career--one that isn't taught in the traditional classroom
2. Miresa will be learning (and has learned) about the limits of magic.
3. the details will be original and fluff-free.
4. We will watch Miresa grow and change as a result of learning magic.
5. She is in the academy because she has choen a specialized career--one that isn't taught in the traditional classroom
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
How Gemsinger holds #27: Education (part 2)
1. Miresa's sword training is more than "whack-the-dummy-now-you-try", it includes a visual diagram of the move, a little bit about how it developed, what it can do, any known variants, an at speed and slowed down demo, a group attempt, and THEN you get to whack the dummies.
2. Miresa, Bradlin, and Arune have trained under mentors of all shapes, ages, and sizes.
3. The party will NOT learn overnight.
4. Miresa will get all around training for her journey, although it will focus on magic.
5. This is mainly why I made Miresa an aspiring blademage--so I could combine physical fighting and magic to create a different fighting style.
6. I will be careful not to cheat in training scenes.
2. Miresa, Bradlin, and Arune have trained under mentors of all shapes, ages, and sizes.
3. The party will NOT learn overnight.
4. Miresa will get all around training for her journey, although it will focus on magic.
5. This is mainly why I made Miresa an aspiring blademage--so I could combine physical fighting and magic to create a different fighting style.
6. I will be careful not to cheat in training scenes.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
How Gemsinger holds #26: Education (part 1)
1. Shokiyan teachers are supported by public donations (be they food or gold) and grants from the Scholar's Guild.
2. I will try to keep a balance between the perfect professor and the teacher of doom.
3. Students will not learn anything overnight.
4. Shokiyans value intelligence, so education is important--however, I will try to not make it mirror schools in our world too much.
5. There will be a heaping helping of common sense in the Shokiyan schools
6. Miresa is by no means a "special" student--she is good at some subjects and bad at others.
2. I will try to keep a balance between the perfect professor and the teacher of doom.
3. Students will not learn anything overnight.
4. Shokiyans value intelligence, so education is important--however, I will try to not make it mirror schools in our world too much.
5. There will be a heaping helping of common sense in the Shokiyan schools
6. Miresa is by no means a "special" student--she is good at some subjects and bad at others.
Monday, July 5, 2010
How Gemsinger holds #25: Magical Limits
1. I will be careful to be consistent with limits.
2. The reason why the Gemsinger is an exception to my limit of powers is because they are channeling the spirits themselves, not power that the spirits generate (but that doesn't make the Gemsinger invincible)
3. I will acknowledge and know when I've crossed the line of the ridiculous (and revise the scene(s) in question right away)
4. There are physical limits to my magic--magic induced fatigue
2. The reason why the Gemsinger is an exception to my limit of powers is because they are channeling the spirits themselves, not power that the spirits generate (but that doesn't make the Gemsinger invincible)
3. I will acknowledge and know when I've crossed the line of the ridiculous (and revise the scene(s) in question right away)
4. There are physical limits to my magic--magic induced fatigue
Sunday, July 4, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #24: More ideas
1. I hope to show a little of every character's personality, not just tell the audience about it.
2. I hope the entire story will have serious optimism--acknowledging that problems are there and need to be solved, but still going ahead and trying anyway.
3. There's going to be fighting, yes, but you will see the aftermath of fights.
4. I don't plan on creating a whole new genre--"Gemsinger" was meant to be a pure and simple heroic romp of a quest story from the beginning
2. I hope the entire story will have serious optimism--acknowledging that problems are there and need to be solved, but still going ahead and trying anyway.
3. There's going to be fighting, yes, but you will see the aftermath of fights.
4. I don't plan on creating a whole new genre--"Gemsinger" was meant to be a pure and simple heroic romp of a quest story from the beginning
Saturday, July 3, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #22: The Reluctant Hero
1. Miresa worries about her friends, her family and her hometown--she fears that if she leaves on the Gemsinger's Quest, she will lose them.
2. Miresa has a lot of questions at first--first if she is adequate for the job, then what she has to do.
3. Part of Miresa's initial reluctance is her pride.
4. The Gemsinger is not a leader, but more of a guardian/protector--and Miresa is initially afraid to accept her fate because of her magical mishaps in the past.
5. Miresa's constant questions and worrying do grate on everyone else--until Arune knocks some sense into her.
2. Miresa has a lot of questions at first--first if she is adequate for the job, then what she has to do.
3. Part of Miresa's initial reluctance is her pride.
4. The Gemsinger is not a leader, but more of a guardian/protector--and Miresa is initially afraid to accept her fate because of her magical mishaps in the past.
5. Miresa's constant questions and worrying do grate on everyone else--until Arune knocks some sense into her.
Friday, July 2, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #21: General irritations
1. Every character does not exist just for Miresa to be bettered.
2. There will be plenty of mistakes made--some large, some small.
3. The villians will not go over their plans in great detail when they capture our heroes--the party will learn what the villians are doing on their own.
4. I will be careful of loopholes.
5. I will not set things up and then never refer to them again.
6. Miresa has to work to become the Gemsinger--she doesn't gain those powers overnight because destiny said so. While she is chosen, she has to earn the right (and the strength) to wield the immense power the Gemsinger wields.
7. Romantic love doesn't play that large of a role in the story--I mainly want to focus on love between friends.
8. The story will be more than style and symbols--I do have a plot in mind.
2. There will be plenty of mistakes made--some large, some small.
3. The villians will not go over their plans in great detail when they capture our heroes--the party will learn what the villians are doing on their own.
4. I will be careful of loopholes.
5. I will not set things up and then never refer to them again.
6. Miresa has to work to become the Gemsinger--she doesn't gain those powers overnight because destiny said so. While she is chosen, she has to earn the right (and the strength) to wield the immense power the Gemsinger wields.
7. Romantic love doesn't play that large of a role in the story--I mainly want to focus on love between friends.
8. The story will be more than style and symbols--I do have a plot in mind.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
How Gemsinger Holds #20: Nature
1. Shokiyu is more low-tech than Earth, and I plan to explain how they do things that usually require machines on Earth
2. Creatures will be cared for accordingly
3. I plan to have the demon lord wreak some havoc, and you will see the havoc
4. The party will be going through more than temperate climates
5. There will be a balance between nature and culture
6. I will be describing the wildlife.
7. Just as I'm not cheating with magic, I won't cheat with nature either
2. Creatures will be cared for accordingly
3. I plan to have the demon lord wreak some havoc, and you will see the havoc
4. The party will be going through more than temperate climates
5. There will be a balance between nature and culture
6. I will be describing the wildlife.
7. Just as I'm not cheating with magic, I won't cheat with nature either
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