Blackdove_EU

There's a good thread in this forum (That also praises the said marvel book - I should get that too!)

Pointers for the artistically challenged

Good luck!

Blackdove

I really like the way you color them! Good eye for colors and not afraid to use of them. (Only now noticed this thread). And even more impressive since it's your first tries at it!

I have some scanned line-art that I haven't got around coloring, if you're interested. (Not as professional as Bates, but you'd get to show them around )

Blackdove

Romantic, passionate and adventurous young woman looking for likeminded company. I enjoy outdoors, target practice, scouting, games and sightseeing. I also love to learn new things and discuss politics, as well as sometimes kick back and party. I am very open minded, honest and fun person and enjoy both giving and receiving affection. Looking forward to hear from you. PS. You must like cats.

As a "Congrats you Creative Genius, you" gift, I drew picture of Coile. (Or perhaps as a gift I prioritized his request to draw Coile to "now" instead of "in one, very bright, if not slightly windy day, somewhere in the possibly not-so-distant future".

Coile of the Silent Tempest

Coile-figure done with my inktense pencils and scanned, background is screenshot from game (you can guess location ) and ran through a few filters in photoshop.

Blackdove

Finally, I got the inspiration and time to do Red Commissar's picture.

I got some new pencils, this is actually my first try with them. They are really great and lot of fun to use (Inktense). I scanned the colored picture, the background is parsed together in photoshop.

Red Commissar

Comments welcome, as always.

Pyranha

Ah, sorry, my real plot wasn't anything to do with Hitler or WWII; it was just example to exxaggarate the issue. (And to use Hitler-card myself )

(( I Just got up, now to get some breakfast... ))

Blackdove

Yes, exactly. Your group had a consensus on what kind of play you want, and the GM and the players were on the same page. And, apparently, you did have IC fighting chance?

Yet, if for example GM would have regarded your characters as common runts, and Big Bad a planetstomper, encounter with him would've ended only one way (at least in the style of "make mistake and pay for it, dearly" - RP). If players saw the situation differently, upset ensues. Even if it was players who thought their chars are runts and realistically should have been killed, and it's the GM who gives them some slack and adjusts the odds a little and chars survive... THAT can ruin the immersion for the player too, and give image of another kind of "railroad" GM: The kind where the the chars get away with everything.

I believe we have very fundamental difference in what we enjoy in RP. I suppose you'd see my preferences tyrannical, and I'd see yours carebear. Even so, different styles can be matched together, but only when it's understood there IS difference.

I suppose it comes down to what is seen as railroading, (or good GMing). Personally, I don't see it railroading if there is events and plots my character cant affect, due to IC reasons. If it's clearly OOC reason, "I take this big heavy chair that wasn't nailed to floor earlier and throw it through that window and break the window" "it doesn't break the window." THAT would make me discuss with the GM. But if my char would meet the Big Bad that the lore says is unbeatable and eats better fighters than my char for breakfast... then if my char was stupid enough to try fight the Big Bad, then I'd fully expect to roll a new one.

And even so, it is still matter of perception. You met "Unkillable" NPC...and you didn't kill him. So, lore stays unbroken, and MAYBE you never had a chance to kill him anyway, there was just illusion of it. Or my char meets Big Bad, and gets away with it miraculously, and I could go on believing it was actually miraculous, not my GM smoothing the way. IMO, the GM needs to allow players to BELIEVE they have chance to affect things, and that there is very possible chance of losing and your char dying. How accurate that belief is, isn't really that important to me, as long as it is there. If railroading without me noticing makes a better story, well, that's better story and my immersion stays intact, yay.

Blackdove

Lately I was working on little plot of mine, and I got into thinking about plots and railroading and subjective views of it.

Let's say we have WWII scenario, and the players' characters, british soldiers, are thrown into little french village. The plot the GM has in mind is for the players to rescue some pretty farmer girl, keep the local mill safe and so on. In his mind the plot is "Save Little French Village In Middle of The War, And How Your Char Deals WIth It"

But the players in their minds think "WWII? We're going to stop the war, alter history and kill Hitler".

During the gameplay, it comes painfully obvious to the players that they cannot succeed in killing Hitler and ending the war, no matter what they do. And from their point of view, the plot IS railroaded. While the GM, from his point of view, has perfectly free plot *within the background*. For him, Hitler and War are background, not plot elements to change. Kind of like gravity, or everything revolving around the earth.

And of course, if Hitler couldn't be killed AT ALL, then it would be truly railroaded plot. But if some ordinary soldiers thrown to some hickey village in France cant end the war and kill Hitler...well, that's not real surprising, is it? UNLESS it is indeed miraculous plot about some farmboy and rascal going off to overthrow the evil empire.

So... both plots COULD work out, but if people are imagining different plots they are trying to achieve, then there will be a clash at some point, and possibly accusations of railroading and power-GMing (or being munchin and dilusional players).

What's my point? That the impression of railroading is quite subjective, and the impression of non-railroading is equally subjective. What is more important is to have common view of the plot and setting, which comes naturally in tabletop games, and is lot harder to do in open MMO enviroment.

That's about all my random thoughts about it. Any comments?

Blackdove

Great to see this developed into full color version! Fantastic work Swizzy. Very nice background, cool SFX (was there SFX around her hands in the sketch though? I dont remember that well), and I really enjoy the "rough-edged" way you color your work.

Blackdove.

Here's mine (again )

Subaiku:
1. Are you male or female?
Empress Of The Dark

2. Describe yourself?
Heart Unyielding

3. Describe how you live?
Into The Arms Of The Night...

4. Describe your boy/girlfriend?
Apart

5. How do you feel about yourself?
Flame Still Burns

6. Where would you rather be?
Frostnight

7. Describe what you want to be?
Unbroken

8. Describe how you love?
The Sinful

9. How do some people feel about you?
Maiden Of The Forest

10. Share a few words of wisdom?
Whatever The Pain


Pyranha
1. Are you male or female?
Who's That Girl

2. Describe yourself?
Burning Up

3. Describe how you live?
Keep It Together

4. Describe your boy/girlfriend?
Angel

5. How do you feel about yourself?
Can't Stop

6. Where would you rather be?
Back In Business

7. Describe what you want to be?
More

8. Describe how you love?
Like A Virgin

9. How do some people feel about you?
Causing A Commotion

10. Share a few words of wisdom?
Love Makes The World Go Round

I would like to nominate Coile's Pantheon of Beauty

For his emotional and touching writing, which in this piece managed to stay in very basic and mundane details, while dealing with "heavenly matters" and love, making it all the more effective that way. One of my favorites of his.

Subaiku

(( This dream will happen sometime during the night (17th, thursday, very early). If your character is connected to Subaiku, sleeping (even nodding off for awhile) or otherwise prone to receive such things, possibly even dumb luck, they can receive it. If they do or do not, is up to the player. Characters with heavy mental shields will not be able to receive it, neither those far away from Paragon City. Note: If you accept that your character sees this dream, it will open the door for possible future dreams as well.

- Subaiku ))

A normal dream, whatever that may be for you, is suddenly invaded by shadowy character, with piercing bright golden eyes that search the scene, until finally fixating on you. The stare is intense, and you feel yourself calm and attentive, accepting what is happening as normal and important.

As the figure gains your attention, the shadows evaporate around her and you realise it is Subaiku, looking just the way you would imagine her in your mind. Her mouth moves but no words reach you. Irked look passes over her face and she gestures with her hands.

The dreamscape around you melts away, into a large cavern, lit only by few unnatural fires. There is several Circle of Thorns present, bustling at work. There is ominous looking set of altars in the middle of the cavern, and the mages are apparently preparing for some kind of ceremony.

When you look back at Subaiku, she is suddenly bound and gagged and one Thorn Wielder is holding a wickedly sharp knife to her throat. Subaiku is still staring at you intently, apparently hoping you would understand something, even if you not quite sure what it is.

Abruptly you are yanked away from her and are speeding through countless twisting and intersecting tunnels, for what seems like eternity until finally are expelled into outside. You are in forest, partly scorched but still thick and mysterious. You are propelled through the canopy of leaves and high in the air. The forest is illuminated by the moonlight, and you probably recognise it as Perez Park.

Subaiku's eyes flash into view right in front of you for a brief while. Her stare is insistant before it flares into golden flames that engulf you briefly. When the lightness fades, you are back in more normal dream. You are quite aware you are dreaming and can wake up if you so wish.

Great pics! I love the strong use of light and shadow especially. The poses are excellent as well, from the last picture my favorite part is Scarlet's hands, very expressive.

/big cheers

Subaiku

My Silent Tempest: Requiem War - To Search A Thousand Worlds movie poster is up in the creative section (Silent Tempest pictures-thread). Feedback and comments welcome to it. [img]/uk/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Big thanks to Doc, once again.

Subaiku

After the big Requiem RP-plotline was finished, I got the idea of making poster for it, if it was a movie. So I did. Starring members of Silent Tempest, featuring Doctor Temporis (Who was the awesome creator of the storyline and GM) and Requiem.

Requiem War: To Search A Thousand Worlds

It is loosely based on couple of Attack of the Clones posters, and my first try at making movie-postery-pic. Feedback very welcome!

Subaiku

I'll be bluntly honest here. It was not your best work.

It wasn't bad though, you can still write well. But as a whole, it didn't reach the same atmosphere and emotion that for example Pantheon of Beauty did. My feedback focuses on the negative side, just remember I did like the story and I think you can write. But here goes...

(Most of my critique comes from single fact: It is RPed scenes put into story. Even great RP moments rarely work well in fictional form without heavy editing. I understand you wanted to try your hand on it though.)

The story is quite long, and needlessly so, IMO. There were few things repeated, and other drawn out without clear direction and purpose. While that was interesting to read from point of view of plot and getting to know the char more, it lacked the kind of emotional oomph I would've expected. Also repetive in more technical way, there wasn't so much lows/highs or fast/slow moments.

On more specific point, the opening paragraph has way too names sprinkled on. It makes very heavy and confusing read. Karakara? Khan Tengri? Lord of Spirits? Subaiku? Azure Sting? Steel Canyon? Reader may not be familiar with any of them and can be put off by it. Personally, it could work if you just cut out the first paragraph altogether, and add few location markers in the later ones.

There were some good moments and thoughts also. Mostly dealing with the dilemma "How far would YOU go if it was your loved one in danger?"

My advice: Write shorter, kill your darlings. Use more artistic lisence if you use RPed scenes [img]/uk/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img].

Friday 28th July - Manhattan, New York City

When I am not with you, my dreams are so very dark.


A sudden bright flash startled Pyranha. Despite the curtains being drawn shut the room was still clearly illuminated with hard white light, exposing every last cruddy detail of it. Then just as suddenly as it had appeared it died away, leaving her in darkness and blinking out phantom-images. She was lying on the floor of her motelroom in Upper West Side and had quite literally just been staring at the ceiling. She had wanted to think and the distinct smell of her mattress had been too distracting. In the faint phantom images she could almost see the faces of Kyo and Claire, looking at her, needing her, pleading at her to stay. Then the sound hit her a second or two later, the deafening boom of an explosion. She could feel the tremors travelling through her room as if the very ground beneath her was shaking.

Confused more than scared she got up, forcing thoughts of the past couple of weeks to the back of her mind. From her window she could only see the brick wall of the next building, but the lighting was all wrong. Too red, too dark. The street was far noisier than before, car horns honking constantly and people shouting. From further away she could hear the familiar sounds of fire, explosions and gunfire. Cold dread was spreading in the pit of her stomach, even if she had no idea what was going on.

This was New York! Here, there were supposed to be sirens and police cars speeding to one crime location or another. Ambulances, yes. Cars with black windows escorted by other big black cars. A gun fired in the seedier neighborhoods, definitely. But explosions? Big earth-shaking explosions, with heavy suffocating masses of smoke billowing down the streets and the high-pitched screams of large crowds of people thrown into panic and confusion. No, that was something that happened in Paragon City.

Pyranha gripped the windowsill, her knuckles white. She was going to see Broadway this evening. She was going to get drunk, have fun. She was not supposed to see this. She had been trying to leave that part of her life behind, how could it be right here, outside her window? She wanted time alone, away from all her problems. And now her nightmares were being manifested in flesh. In scared, needing flesh looking for a savior.

Even without her powers she was still a hero. Pyranha hastily gathered her few belongings, stuffed them into her bag and slung it on her back. She briefly wished she had brought her leather hero-outfit with her after all, as it offered a tiny bit more protection than the jeans and tank top she was wearing now. But it was no point worrying about that now. She would have to make do with what she had, as little as that was.

Pyranha headed out in the streets with a determined step. Everywhere people were running and screaming in panic. It was overwhelming. People pushing past each other, shoving each other out of the way carelessly, not caring if others fell or not, and trampling over those who had fallen. An elderly man leaning against a lamppost, clutching his chest and crying. A young couple, their face bloodied and hair matted with black dust. A mother, carrying two children and shouting after a third one. A man pulling his gun and waving it around randomly, some people dodging out of the way, others swarming over him in sudden bloodlust. Pyranha felt sick.

All these people, desperate to get away as fast as possible, abandoning all care and hope for civilized ways or compassion to their fellow humans. Not all, Pyranha reminded herself. There were those who were helping as well. Someone found the third child and brought him to his mother. Others were shouting orders, trying to direct people through more efficiently. The traffic had jammed solid and many of the cars were just abandoned in the middle of the street, others were trying to manouver between them, ignoring all traffic rules. People spilled between the cars, adding to the general confusion.

Now she could see that towards Central Park, just a few blocks away the buildings were on fire and black aircrafts hovered around them. She could hear sirens too, even if from the sounds of it, they were mostly stationary. Pyranha could not imagine what was going on. A terrorist attack? After living in Paragon City she had forgotten about all the more mundane terrorists and the real world politics. But this was no terrorist attack. This was war. There were too many aircrafts, and too few defenders. Where were the police? The military? US National Guard? Heroes? If they were not here, it meant they were fighting somewhere else.

It did not matter, though. Whatever their name was, whatever propaganda they followed, they were still evil men trying to kill innocents. Her job as a hero was to stop them. She clenched her jaw and started to move towards the sounds of fighting. It was not easy. Every other person wanted to go just the opposite direction, flooding towards Broadway and away from Central Park and they all seemed to take personal offense to her wishing to go against the flow. Pyranha really wished she could fly right now. She was pressed against the wall, shoved, shouted at and in few occasions struck at.

Finally the throng thinned out and she could move more freely. She moved only slightly faster now, her fear of what was ahead of her and doubts of her own capabilities hindering her. She moved from cover to cover and was now unable to stop the thoughts returning to her. Kyo, Claire. The two most important people in her life. She had left them, unable to cope with the reality of who they really were and what they were capable of. There was nothing she would not have done for them, and both of them in their own way had made sure she indeed did everything. Everything. The guilt and regret clenched her chest again. And now she had left them.

The street was clear of fleeing people now, just sounds of battle ahead and chaos and screaming behind her. Further down the road a nervous looking duo of policemen were standing on the sidewalk, uncertain which way to go. Pyranha waved at them in friendly fashion as she was passing, one defender of justice to another. "Hey, girl! Don't go down there!" ne of them yelled, and ran after her. Pyranha stopped and looked at them with an expression she hoped was calm. "It's okay. I know what I'm doing." Saying that made her realise all the more strongly that she really had no idea what she was doing. Without her powers she was just another shortie teenager girl. "Look, I'm from Paragon City," she continued and found her hero ID card. The policeman looked absurdly relieved. "Oh, that's great news. We need your kind here! I don't know what the hell is going on, just got called on-duty and it's World War Three out here! You think it's the Rikti again?" Pyranha shrugged and shook her head.

The fire and battle was close. Pyranha could almost feel the heat and movement of fire in the air. The two police trailed after her, their chattering more confident now. Pyranha herself felt less and less confident with every step. If it WAS the Rikti, what was she supposed to do? She was not the one leading fights against invaders from another dimensions. Not even with her powers. Even with her powers she failed. Why did she have so much trouble accepting what Kyo did? Claire had no trouble with that. Pyranha frowned and pressed on.

Out of nowhere a black aircraft came swooping along the street, its machinegun firing in a deadly staccato rhythm. Pyranha dived for cover instinctively, as did the policemen. The aircraft was gone in the blink of an eye but there was still time for Pyranha to notice the markings on it. Council insignia. Stunned, she just stared at the empty street until the cries of a man woke her out of it.

The younger of the two police had been hit across his upper abdomen and shoulder. The bullets had torn his uniform and flesh into a mangled mess of blood, fabric and flesh. Pyranha felt sick just looking at it. Zan had made her do some first aid courses and in theory she knew what to do, but no class could prepare her for a sight like this. Reluctantly she crept close. The other policeman did not seem too confidant either, his hands were shaking and he had the blank look on his face Pyranha recognized from many of the victims she had saved. Shock, disbelief at what was happening around him. However, he did try to stop the bleeding and together with Pyranha they did what they could.

It was not enough. Pyranha could tell. There was too much blood, and he was not breathing properly. They would have to get him to a hospital, but how could they do it? There was no way an ambulance could reach them and get back to the hospital in time, even if one was available. She stared at his face desperately. He was so young, so pale and so very dying. Pyranha swallowed, trying to find the words to console him. Nothing came.

Another round of bullets ricocheted from the building nearby. Reflexively Pyranha threw up her arm in a futile gesture, yet no fiery explosions flew forth, nothing even warmed around her fingers. Panicking, she dived down for another way of fighting. The policeman's gun was unfamiliar to her, but in the end one pistol is pretty much like another.

Five council soldiers were approaching. Overconfident, their machine guns held high as they waded closer through the labyrinth of abandoned cars. They had not yet noticed Pyranha and the police officers, or at least she hoped so. With her gun in one sweaty hand, Pyranha ducked behind the nearest car. She clicked the safety off and took aim. There was not much time and no room for error. All thoughts of morals and ethics had fled her mind. Now there was just time for determined concentration to a task at hand.

She fired her pistol. Over and over, until the clip clicked empty. A few meters from her the older policeman was doing the same. The Council troops had been taken by surprise and had vanished from view, either hit or having dived for cover. Pyranha bit her lip nervously. Her gun was empty and she could not say where the soldiers were. The police made obscure hand gestures at her, possibly telling her to stay put while he was going to investigate. Pyranha shook her gun at him, and surprisingly enough he seemed to understand it was empty, as he tossed another clip at her.

The officer crawled forward, disappearing from Pyranha's sight. Nervously she tried to figure out how to reload. More gunfire, and to Pyranha's relief it was the sound of pistol, not the harsh chatter of a council rifle. A man shouted in pain. Soldier or the policeman, she could not tell. She hesitated and hastily reloaded her gun after finally figuring it out. She needed to go see what was happening herself.

As she turned around corner of a car, she came face to face with one live soldier. She froze, time seeming to stop. He was on his hands and knees, black visor cracked and his face faintly visible under it. For what seemed like an eternity they were just staring at each others. He had come to kill her, Pyranha knew that. Still she could not bring herself to hate him. She was scared and she was angry, but this man in front of her, it was just one man. His hand was bleeding, and Pyranha thought he also looked afraid.

Then he made a motion to grab his rifle and Pyranha lifted hers as if in slow motion. He shouted something but it was drowned out in the roar of her pistol. The man stared at her amazed and stunned as the bullet ricochetted harmlessly off the car. Pyranha was staring at him equally amazed. She had meant to shoot him, she really had. But then something in his face reminded her that he too could be someone's son, he might be someone's loved one. And she had missed her shot. The man blinked, finally realising he was still alive, still holding his weapon. Without hesitation he brought up his gun and pulled the trigger repeatedly.

Pyranha was not sure if she felt regret or relief just before her mind went numb. Probably relief. Or regret.

Very nicely put, Coile.

Yes, I need to have feel for a character before I draw them. (Since I am not getting paid If you pay me, I'll draw anything you want ) It might not be very apparent "tale" like in Sword/Coile picture, but even in pose like Subaiku there is certain feel I had and wanted to draw.

For RC, it might mean RPing some more with me ^^ Although I do have some ideas already.

Pyranha

Two pictures from my supergroup

Coile and Sword of Truth (related to his story of them going to mountains): Into My Arms

My character Subaiku (who is not a vampire) Sister of Night

With Subaiku's picture, I was doing the channel-thing, which is getting faster in someways. I'm still learning new things about it. On Coile and Sword picture I did it with layers, it is based on pencil sketch I made instead of inked like Subaiku.

Pyranha / Subaiku

Big cheer from me! YAY!

Pyranha

I doubt you'd be disqualified, seeing that the last winner was professional cartoonist

Would be nice to see examples of your work

Pyranha

I believe I have striga missions on couple of my toons, I could try get a proper one just let me know what you want I'm available on weekend evenings after approx 8 pm BST. (Pyr won't be taking part IC, but I have others >.> )

Pyranha

I liked that a lot! Very cute and personal looking, with kind of "painty" or "earthy" touch to it. I hope you post more!

Pyranha

Global Name: blackdove
Server: Union
RP Characters:
Pyranha
Subaiku
+many others
Type of RP: Immersionist. In missions, casual, character based, supergroups, plots, you name it. Generally drama mixed with pulp and bad humor. Dark and gritty to silly and funny.
Can be contacted: Ingame mail and Forum PM's.
Times on: Usually around 9 BST to midnight.
Timezone: GMT +2
Supergroups: Ghost Tiger Investigations (Pyranha), Silent Tempest (Subaiku)

I hope this thread gets stickied, good work starting it, RC!

Pyranha

This is my character Pyranha

I have been curious about the tutorial of how to use channels in coloring (posted on this forum some weeks ago), and this is my first try at it. It was lot of fun, though doing very thorough coloring would take ages, at least until I get proper hang of it.

Pyranha