Need creative assistance (writing)

[satori]

I compiled a list of items found in book one. For my PHP project I need 'flavor' text for each item. In some cases the book a a good discription, in some cases a quite cursory discription, and in some cases almost no discription.

The item list is here : projectaon.proboards30.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=open&thread=1145077311&page=1

Down at the bottom is the item list. It would be nice if for example the disc. for the 'Prince's Sword' was detailed, maybe some of the history behind it, etc... Even the general weapon disc. could be 'spruced up' so to speak.

None of this would be reflected in the book text, but each item will have a pop-up discription window where item stat details are (if it's a +CS/EN or the like) and it would be VERY nice to have entries that are not 'cookie-cutter'.

The whole point is for this to be a fan project, so while I could write all of these details, as well as other creative aspects of the PHP shell, I'm trying to stick with the coding, since I'm the only one who knows what's roiling around in my head

Things like adding city/town discriptions to the 'Map of Summerland' that could pop-up when you are in map view mode. A Bestiary that has bio's for the monsters in the book (not special encounters, but monsters you run into more than once) drawn on the history laid out in the books and many newsletters.

These are all things that could enrich the gaming exp. by adding background that would have been impossible to put in the gamebook, for size reasons.

And it's not a 'present to satori, he will judge' situation. The only thing I am 'controlling' is the code and UI (as it's tied in to the coding, and that will be turned over to PA and the public at large once it's finished). I'm of the firm opinion when it comes to fan submissions.....

1) If you are the only one who wrote something, it's in.
2) If more than one person wrote an entry for the same things, use a Poll vote to let the forum members pick what they like the most.

Same goes for any graphic work done (like skill icons and such)

If I have to I can add all these things myself, but don't think because I'm asking for contributions I'm going to be an arbiter as to what gets in

Jacob

[Zipp]

Sure, Satori, I'll help you out in that regards. Some of the people on this site can attest that I'm one of the more rampant fan fic writers in the Lone Wolf world. Adding another project won't hurt, right?

[Zipp]

I'm guessing this is about the size yuo'd be looking for for most items. Obviously, special items and the beastiary would be a bit more filled out.

Tablet of Perfumed Soap

This exquisite smelling bar of soap is an import from Vassagonia. The perfume comes from a flower called "The Desert Rose" which is famed for its sweet fragrance. It also lends the soap a bright pink tinge.

[satori]

zipp said:

Sure, Satori, I'll help you out in that regards. Some of the people on this site can attest that I'm one of the more rampant fan fic writers in the Lone Wolf world. Adding another project won't hurt, right?

Then it's your time to shine

The first working version of the Woof engine (I promise I'll come up with a better name before release) will have disc. fields for items (including all weapons), skills (I know, but I always misspell dis....), and encounters.

The encounters will not be a Bestiary style, but rather a discription shown when you click on the monster Icon during combat. What I need here is flavor text for each combat enemy. These are listed in another thread. So when the book has you fighting Giaks, for example, during combat you can click on the giak's picture, and get a text disc. of that giak. This is needed for each encounter (sometimes more than one per combat)

The second version of Woof will include Bestiary type information, so the entry for Giak would be based on the articles Joe has written over the years. There is room for flavor, but within existing constraints. City/Town information will also be in this version, accessable from the Map view, and follows the same pattern (use basic guidelines, fill in the details however you want)

So in order of importance (for me at least ) is Items, Combat Encounters, Creature background, World Background.

Another possibility (thanks to the magic of variable storage) if that the engine KNOWS exactly what path you took through the book, so it could auto generate a 'summary' of your adventure. If this was polished (A lot of conversion from data to storytelling) at the end of each book you could get a short, custom story of your heroism (or lack thereof )

These could be recorded for each book, allowing you to look back when you finish a series in almost a short novella form. Just something to think about if you need a blackhole on your free time

[satori]

zipp said:

I'm guessing this is about the size yuo'd be looking for for most items. Obviously, special items and the beastiary would be a bit more filled out.

Tablet of Perfumed Soap

This exquisite smelling bar of soap is an import from Vassagonia. The perfume comes from a flower called "The Desert Rose" which is famed for its sweet fragrance. It also lends the soap a bright pink tinge.

Bingo

[Zipp]

More will come on the weekend. My weekdays are stuffed with the Maze Tournament I run at Tower of the Sun and with homework.

The maze tournament is now on its fifty fifth page, and not yet halfway done. I'm thinking of asking my girlfriend to illustrate it and turn it into a comic with me.

www.towerofthesun.com/lonewolf/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2123&start=0

EDIT: I decided to do one tonight, for the hell of it.

Crystal Star Pendant
This pendant, in the shape of a seven pointed star, is worn by the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star as a sign of initiation into the guild. Brothers are allowed to give away the pendant as a sign of great trust, as a gift, or as a sign of fortiutious meeting. Anyone who wears the Crystal Star Pendant is promised aid by the Brotherhood. The magic of these pendants is in the bonds that form between friends and allies. Just holding its cool metal can bring clarity and focus to one's mind.

Torch
A portable source of fire used as a source of light, usually a rod-shaped piece of wood with a rag soaked in pitch or some other flammable material wrapped around one end. They can stay lit for long periods of time, and some can even be doused and relit at a later time.

Tinderbox
A small container containing flint, steel, and straw, used together to help kindle a fire. Some people personalize their tinderboxes, inscribing the lids with their family seals or special designs. There also are said to exist magical varieties, which create fire automatically when opened.

[Zipp]

Spear

A long weapon with a sharpened point at the end. There are many different varieties of spear, ranging from crude improvisational spears made from farmer's tools to spears with points at both ends, or even spears with sharpened shafts which can be used to slice as well as stab. The spear is a common weapon in all cultures. This utility rises from several factors, including versatility, cost efficiency, ease of use and overal effect. The spear is also commonly used as a symbol of power or high rank.

Giak Spear
A black spear wielded by Giaks and forged by the Dark Armies. Giak spears are shorter than normal spears, as Giaks are shorter and have smaller arms than humans. Usually the heads of a giak spear are edged with razor-sharp obsidian blades, seated deeply in grooves carved into the head. If the blade is imbedded in a human or animal and then pulled free, it will pull flesh with it, causing extreme pain. This takes more strength and requires a stronger shaft. For this reason, most Giak spear shafts are made of heavy metal. This makes them heavy and harder for normal creatures to wield, so if a Giak falls on the battlefield, it is not likely their spears will be picked up and used by the enemy. Many Giaks also poisen the tips of their spears. Indeed, some Giak troops are famous for their use of poisen on their weapons. These troops are feared, for even a scratch from a weapon laced with Giak poisen can mean death.

[satori]

Too much of a good thing

These discriptions are going to come up with a popup window, so there is a limited amount of text that can fit before it gets unwieldy.

The Tinderbox text is about the longest that will fit neatly. However, feel free to write longer versions and then scale them down (so you have the original full one, and a truncated one). When the bestiary and map popup histories are coded there will not be any length limits, and your more verbose and detailed text can be used.

Here is an example of what I would truncate down:
Spear
A long weapon with a sharpened point at the end. There are many different varieties of spear, ranging from crude improvisational spears made from farmer's tools to spears with points at both ends, or even spears with sharpened shafts which can be used to slice as well as stab. The spear is a common weapon in all cultures. This utility rises from several factors, including versatility, cost efficiency, ease of use and overal effect. The spear is also commonly used as a symbol of power or high rank.

To:
Spear
A long weapon with a sharpened point at the end. There are many different varieties of spear, ranging from crude improvisational spears made from farmer's tools to spears with points at both ends, or even spears with sharpened shafts which can be used to slice as well as stab. The spear is a common weapon in all cultures.

And:
Giak Spear
A black spear wielded by Giaks and forged by the Dark Armies. Giak spears are shorter than normal spears, as Giaks are shorter and have smaller arms than humans. Usually the heads of a giak spear are edged with razor-sharp obsidian blades, seated deeply in grooves carved into the head. If the blade is imbedded in a human or animal and then pulled free, it will pull flesh with it, causing extreme pain. This takes more strength and requires a stronger shaft. For this reason, most Giak spear shafts are made of heavy metal. This makes them heavy and harder for normal creatures to wield, so if a Giak falls on the battlefield, it is not likely their spears will be picked up and used by the enemy. Many Giaks also poisen the tips of their spears. Indeed, some Giak troops are famous for their use of poisen on their weapons. These troops are feared, for even a scratch from a weapon laced with Giak poisen can mean death.

To:
Giak Spear
A black spear wielded by Giaks and forged by the Dark Armies. Giak spears are shorter than normal spears, as Giaks are shorter and have smaller arms than humans. Usually the heads of a giak spear are edged with razor-sharp obsidian blades, seated deeply in grooves carved into the head.

If you are comfortable with me editing entries for space, there is no need for you to do anything but write the high-detail text. I don't mind editing, but I won't if you would rather do it (since you wrote it)

Jacob

[Zipp]

No, no, by all means you should do it. You pick out the parts that you feel would be best/most interesting for the player to know. Along those lines, I'm not going to go to extremes to make my original entries short. This way, you'll have more to work with.

[satori]

zipp said:

No, no, by all means you should do it. You pick out the parts that you feel would be best/most interesting for the player to know. Along those lines, I'm not going to go to extremes to make my original entries short. This way, you'll have more to work with.

Great I'll preserve the longer entries in the item fields, they just won't be visable from the main engine.

[Zipp]

Quarterstaff

A quarterstaff is a variant of the staff weapon, consisting of a long shaft of hardwood, sometimes with metal-reinforced tips. The word "quarter" refers to the weapon's ability to stun an opponent, rather than kill them, thus allowing the wielder to "give quarter," show mercy.

Message
A scroll inscribed with strange runes. Found on the dead body of a (). There is something ominous about the scroll.

For this one, you should also have the picture with the scroll text showing:
www.projectaon.org/en/xhtml/lw/01fftd/ill15.htm

Mace
A strong shaft made of wood or metal with a head made of stone or metal. The head is normally slightly thicker than the diameter of the shaft, shaped with flanges, knobs or spikes to allow greater penetration of armour. The mace is a bashing weapon, used most often to smash in armour, crushing the wearer. It is less effective against hide armour.

Short Sword
A one-handed sword with a blade of moderate length. The short sword is considered a side arm, longer than any knife, but shorter than a two-handed sword. It allows for quicker attacks, but doesn't do as much damage.

[Zipp]

Prince's Sword
The sword that King Ulnar forged for his son has no magical properties. It is, however, a superior weapon, crafted by the best weaponsmith in Sommerlund. The blade was given to the Prince in the hope that he would pass the weapon down through the generations. Thus, the weapon symbolizes stability and a continuing reign. This weapon is guaranteed to cut through the strongest steel, so well forged is its blade.

[Zipp]

Alether Potion
Alether berries contain a natural stimulant that, when processed, becomes a powerful pain suppressor and muscle exciter. The effects of this are that one becomes more fast and powerful, while feeling less pain. The effects will last only a short time, however, and can leave one feeling heady.

[Zipp]

Gold Crowns
The currency of Sommerlund, accepted in most of Magnamund. All other currencies are valued in relation to the crown. The only coin that is valued higher than the crown is a platinum throne, used mostly by the nobility or extremely wealthy merchants. Often times gold crowns are stamped with the year and the head of the current ruler of the country the crown originated in. This has no legal effect on the acceptance of the crown.