tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post2722367551360655031..comments2024-01-06T08:09:19.613-08:00Comments on Travels through Azeroth and Outland: Crystalsong ForestDestronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880259350300667791noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-43273534060126775622014-08-19T20:05:47.100-07:002014-08-19T20:05:47.100-07:00Ah, them coplicated elf politics with a good dash ...Ah, them coplicated elf politics with a good dash of very formal starcrossed exes, done very appropiately. Each side sees the others as the traitors who took the easy way out, but at the same time, those people often know each other by name and spent a long time being brethren before they became enemies, so yeah...<br /><br />...aand, of course, going back there to Dalaran is a huge stepping stone for Destron personally. After having read the entire journey were he kept those memories and their setting as that distant faraway baggage, reading his.... mental preparation, trying to basically keep himself on the ground and not expect too much, does get somewhat emotional. <br /><br />As for the whole spell effectivity issue, prose dramatic curves and game mechanics simply have different requirements; IT's the same in official novels and short-stories.Kendrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03502596942918893445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-54957325844192455532014-05-10T13:27:35.215-07:002014-05-10T13:27:35.215-07:00That's artistic license on my part. In the tra...That's artistic license on my part. In the travelogue, a single fireball spell will probably kill or at least incapacitate a normal person, as opposed to WoW in which it was not that damaging (I guess it's been replaced by frostfire bolt, but the same idea applies).<br /><br />It'd be boring to write an action sequence where mages just lob spells at each other without much effect. That's why I describe the spells as being far deadlier than their game counterparts. At the same time, I have to reduce the amount of spells that a mage can use at any given time, since they'd otherwise be overpowered, leading to a boring story.Destronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08880259350300667791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-5713617751651249752014-05-10T13:12:48.947-07:002014-05-10T13:12:48.947-07:00I think that Destron running out of mana is a way ...I think that Destron running out of mana is a way to make it more interesting, but I don't EVER have trouble with that on my characters that have been playing for a while, so I think that it is slightly unrealistic unless there are people who play differently from me. It almost seems like Destron can cast about 4 pyroblasts before his mana runs out. My dad can't remember ever running out of mana on his mage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-45803090636206291262010-02-15T18:29:46.226-08:002010-02-15T18:29:46.226-08:00No need to be so self-deprecating, Drew, I appreci...No need to be so self-deprecating, Drew, I appreciate your insights and commentary.<br /><br />I have a general plan as to how I'll handle the rest of Northrend. While the narrator will be thrown into some brutal combat situations, I don't think they would be all that much worse than, say, Shadowmoon Valley. The narrator already has the full complement of spells enjoyed by an in-game level 80 mage with arcane specialization.<br /><br />(I'll confess here that I don't have any mage characters in-game. I know, my bad)<br /><br />I'm honestly not sure how I'll handle the Blue Dragonflight. The problem is that I just don't find dragons very inspiring. While I can't omit them entirely, I just can't seem to get many ideas for them. <br /><br />I'll probably explore draconic issues in Dragonblight, and maybe touch on them in the Borean Tundra. There are tons of things in WoW that really inspire me: Forsaken, orc peons, Nerubians, food production, arakkoa, ethereals, religions, and trolls, to name a few. Dragons just aren't one of them. *shrugs*<br /><br />I'm not sure about Icecrown, but I'm thinking the climax there will be more of a personal one. Keep in mind that the narrator is very uncomfortable with his own desire for vengeance, so the situation's more complicated than it is in Ahn'qiraj.Destronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08880259350300667791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-59822501067785255042010-02-15T17:57:59.361-08:002010-02-15T17:57:59.361-08:00Interesting. I must say, Destron's character e...Interesting. I must say, Destron's character evolution is fascinating. In the beginning of this travelogue, you make a point of addressing memory as a very strong force to the Forsaken. However, Destron's character did not seem unduly affected by it, at least not as much as the rest of the Forsaken were; with, admittedly, a few quirky and somewhat vicious exceptions, an example being Alen-of-the-Gun, seen in Desolace (And even there, upon second thought, these exceptions are not free from the influence of their memories). This Crystalsong entry is one of the times that Destron's memories come into prominence, and affect his decisions. On the whole, however, Destron seems, to me at least, to not fit this bill. I have a little difficulty in visualizing him as a decaying specter; instead, he seems to be something of a knightly accountant: polite and curious, but with a courageous streak that shows itself not too infrequently. I might be confusing the issue, and that image might be what you intended, or close to it, or not, but hey, whatever. <br /><br />Also...<br />Destron is visiting areas that are becoming increasingly more dangerous. As far as his style of exploring goes, this has worked so far. But there are places in Northrend that are sites of open, total warfare. A suggestion: during Destron's visit to Dalaran, he should update his skills a bit, possibly including portalling, or not. Just a suggestion; of course, this might be wholly unnecessary, and you might have already planned this, or I might be simply short-sighted or whatever. But I think that you have underplayed the fact that Destron is a mage. Not much, his skills define his style of combat and give him an edge where mana is extensively used. An encounter with an old teacher might be of use here. I keep expecting him to become more involved, especially with the situation with the Blue Dragonflight, and the treat to magic-users it poses. Also the assault on Icecrown Citadel. I, personally, would have Destron participate in an Icecrown raid, as he did with Ahn'Quiraj. It would give him a chance at the vengeance so desired by all the Forsaken, and seems to me that it would be appropriate as a landmark to end the Northrend section, as you ended the Old World section with AQ. Once again, forgive me if I'm being presumptuous, overbearing, insincere, or simply stupid.Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145359384753612636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-61381642525584084352010-02-14T05:50:24.497-08:002010-02-14T05:50:24.497-08:00Beautiful section. Definitely one of the iconic mo...Beautiful section. Definitely one of the iconic moments of the travelogue for me. Reading this section brought me back to the very first paragraphs of Tirifal Glades or Destron's idyll in the wilderness of the Badlands. I always feel that the best moments of the travelogue are Destron's moments of "Forsaken ennui". Don't be afraid to push the emotional envelope, so to speak. I can't wait to see what you have in store for Dalaran itself. <br /><br />On an unrelated note: I know you've mentioned before the narrative order of the Northrend zones, but could you remind me again? I'm wondering because I'm interested in how you'll handle Borean Tundra. Ingame, it's meant, like H. Fjord, to be Northrend 101; it's an introduction to the expansion and its myriad story threads. But if Destron visits toward the end of his time in Northrend, how will that change? I'm also wondering how you'll address the Wrathgate incident. Basically, what I'm getting at is, have you thought about how you'll reconcile the geographic and temporal narrative imposed by the game with Destron's circuitous path through Northrend?Wallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-16316154966702045682010-02-14T03:06:51.648-08:002010-02-14T03:06:51.648-08:00Nope, Probably just got the same name.
Oh, and don...Nope, Probably just got the same name.<br />Oh, and don't worry, don't make it momentous or anything, he's still got a good half of Northrend to finish up after all.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348692856815318660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-13501824350243057902010-02-14T00:29:28.510-08:002010-02-14T00:29:28.510-08:00Thank you both very much for your comments. Thoug...Thank you both very much for your comments. Though the world of Azeroth is the main focus of the story, I do try to make the narrator an interesting and compelling character.<br /><br />Now, I don't want to raise too many expectations for Dalaran. I do have it planned out, and I think it's good, but it might not be as momentous as some readers might expect. I know that's very vague, I just really want to avoid misleading anyone. <br /><br />I'm planning to put up an original fiction blog in March. Don't expect too much from it right away. While I plan to update it regularly, I'll need to shift gears in regards to the style, so it might not be as polished as you're used to. And I will continue updating the travelogue as well, though possibly once a month instead of twice.<br /><br />Also, Lucas, are you Brett's friend? From Starving for Gravity?Destronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08880259350300667791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-31727000250512469642010-02-13T22:49:20.950-08:002010-02-13T22:49:20.950-08:00... Beautiful...
Lets leave the game out of this ...... Beautiful... <br />Lets leave the game out of this for a moment.<br />Dude, you got skill. As a writer. I was enthralled by your main characters thoughts on his memories. Destron isn't another leeroying, spawn farming, trade spamming player. You've made him into a complex character slowly over the course of this entire story. It feels like its all coming to a climactic point at Dalaran. I don't know what you have planned, but you built it up well to this point. <br /><br />Got any others works planned or in progress?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348692856815318660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8564585184157117409.post-24684848269915412592010-02-13T15:42:30.282-08:002010-02-13T15:42:30.282-08:00Incredible.
I was going to say something about the...Incredible.<br />I was going to say something about the whole Sunreaver/Silver Covenant business, but... wow. <br />Nostalgia is a dangerous thing, memories your dearest friends just like your worse enemies. That whole ending was just, just... <br />Incredible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com