Task Force: Gamma

uvek · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:53 pm Post subject: posting styles

Hello all,

I just thought I'd get to know you all a little more. Since Dana and I share our writing space (the living room) I pretty much know all about her. One thing I've always been curious about when simming, is how the thought process goes and how each person develops their characters.

Posting is a big part of this game, and I love reading everyone's styles. How do you post? For me, it is a gut thing. I have studied off-sides the various races or personalities that I want to develop and that laid a groundwork for me here, but when it comes to posting I like to try and imagine as real-world as possible how someone would react. I try not to spend too much time on it, and just put it up. For me it gives it a more viseral feel and helps me to stay in the character. The only thing I really edit is spelling and maybe some storyline wording. Dana is more of a thinker. She needs to think it through, come up with a specific reaction and then let it out.

How about you? cut-n-paste or guts or what?
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Marek · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject:

I am all over the map, I sometimes slam out a quick post, sometimes I spend lots of time editing, and sometimes I work out a post in Word and then cut and paste, usually it depends on length. The longer the post, the more time I spend on it (seems obvious but I put more editing into a longer post, generally).
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Davynn Qech · Graphics Chief Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 809

The length and depth of my posts completely depends on my mood, and just how much my character needs to be doing at the moment. The length also depends quite heavily on how much my wrist is hurting that day (I have Carpal Tunnel in my right hand). Sometimes I have to cut a post short and say the rest in a different post at a later time.

As far as what my character says/does, well that's just all from the gut. If I truly get into a character then I can speak as though I am them without thinking (something I've gotten used to in all my years of RP). Sometimes it's easier to get into character than others. I find I have an easier time posting at night for some reason. I don't know, maybe I just feel guilty being in front of the computer when the sun is shining.

I am greatly enjoying Qech, and I think I've gotten to that comfortable place with her where I can just type what she would be thinking without having to put much thought into it. I love it when I can get into that place with a character.
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Mehvra-Kuplo · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:26 pm Post subject:

I'm also kinda all over the board.

If a post addresses a new topic, I usually end up doing some research to make sure I understand the world being presented. Whether it be a species, technology, historical fact I don't know much about, I spend some time figuring out what my character would know.

Other times, depending upon how creative I am, I may either have to think about what they would say or it just comes out and things go smoothly. Many times I find it hard to think as a character would, but I enjoy the creative challenge.

I totally have to agree with Marek in the sense that the amount of time I spend on a post goes up exponentially in relation to its length.
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uvek · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:56 pm Post subject:

If I truly get into a character then I can speak as though I am them without thinking (something I've gotten used to in all my years of RP). Sometimes it's easier to get into character than others.

I can relate to the comment made by Alaina. I can channel Uvek pretty well, and I'm getting a feel for Talbert by watching Riker and mixing in a bit of James Bond. He's kind of hard for me to read, but that's because he wants to be more friendly than he is, but he feels he cannot afford it. It sets up times when I have to stop posting my responses and ask "Would he really do that?" I really think it is more important to respond as the character would than as the story dictates because life is unpredictable and we sometimes risk tailoring a character to the storyline and not vice-versa. To me, the story is king, but the characters are the kingdom. Despite what the king wants, kingdoms are fluid. People can really affect outcomes and I think that is a key point to my play.

wow...that was long...
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lillian · Guest

Yea, that was long....LOL.

don't mind me, but I try to just be me. I have never done this before, so it will take time to get used to it. Mark is a good teacher though, and you all look like you have fun with this so it don't bother me to be a little laid back. I will follow the experts!

Very Happy

uvek · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:03 pm Post subject:

awww, shucks....... Embarassed

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ArjimCalodan · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:03 pm Post subject:

Calodan's character is based off of a lot of things. Many characters in Sims and RPs suffer from "God modding" or being far too perfect for their own good. Mary Sue's like that really frustrate me. I wanted a character that was flawed, had a flawed past, but still had the potential to be far more.

The Trill have always fascinated me, but I knew that being a full Trill just wouldn't do. What better to express a complicated character then a half-breed, mixed with human. The half-breed's we've seen on screen so far have always been volatile, but pivotal characters. Spock, Deanna Troi, and B'Ellana Torres all fit into my mold of what I wanted. But so did the fun of Jadzia Dax, where she could always have an ace in her sleeve.

As for how I write..I keep my head in the trenches so to speak. I found from very early on that my best work came from limiting what I knew. It was too easy to be omniscient if I read everything I could find. Instead, I read only what applies to me. When we split into separate threads, I keep my nose out of the rest of them. When Im imprisoned or black out..I miss the posts that happen when that happened. Sometimes this takes a lot of self-control but it is always worth it.

As for Trek knowledge, I mainly rely on what I have already locked up in my head. For some things I go and do some research at Memory Alpha. For example, in the wrap up of Amid the Mauve Sea, I did some research as to how long it would take us to traverse the distance at the warp factor described. I also on occasion take a look at tech specs or descriptions of some of the systems involved to make my technobabble more Trek based.
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uvek · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:43 pm Post subject:

I can respect that idea of keeping out of the threads. In my own view, it's like a TV show for me. We can see what the other characters are doing, the actors know what they are doing, but they are still slaves to the writing and must perform within the confines of their creation.

I also love the idea of flawed characters. Dr. Skyna is the first PTSD victim I've ever tried, and the first drug addict I can think of in Star Trek....but He needs to have the want to before the compounds can help. I like the creation of a bit of character tension. One of the reasons Uvek and Calodan don't intermingle much is their duty stations. Uvek is used to officers knowing their posts, he respects Calodan and even likes him, but there isn't that much for them in common. Qech is a different creature to him, being a strong female force (The Romulans respect that) and also his commander, it affords more interaction.

Keep it up, I love the ins and outs......
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Cory Drake · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:00 pm Post subject:

I like to make my characters a little bit about myself. Taarak would be classified as the wild, no rules part of me. Drake would be the quiet, science nerd in me. Grolik is the always happy, never angry part of me and Adams, the newest character, would be the leader in me -- it's also the newest part of my life as I'm still learning how to be a good editor/leader of the newsroom I am in.

Where I like to write? Well, LOL, like right now, I'm sitting at my desk at work staring at pages I should be working on (if sports ever start coming across the wire) and I pull up task force gamma and start typing away. It helps me think a little more. I'll also write from home too, when I'm done with work and need to relax a bit.

- Cory
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