Writing ideas

Mantaray

I think there must be at least 5 zillion ways to write the storyline in plug-ins, and after thinking of the things, I decided the most unique way was to mix 1st person and 3rd person into the same thing. Example:

excuse the spur-of-the-moment badly written story

<PN> looked around, wondering where the rest of the crew went. The broken, damaged hull had an eerie feel that made {g "her" "him"} think of the way spiders walk on ceilings.

Etc, etc... until the choice, where it asks in the 3rd person.

I just thought this was an interesting way to write, it would offer a change from the normal big plugs/TCs... This way would offer a MUCH better flexability on how the player's emotions work, and nobody would complain.

So, I've patented the idea. I call it, Sting/Manta tense.

Edit: After re-reading my post, I remembered the term "3rd person Omniscient" Duh duh duh. Still a good idea, though.

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Mantaray suggests: Karosine! The panacea for all your ills! boom

(This message has been edited by Mantaray (edited 10-05-2002).)

P-Psycho

Quote

Originally posted by Mantaray:
**I think there must be at least 5 zillion ways to write the storyline in plug-ins, and after thinking of the things, I decided the most unique way was to mix 1st person and 3rd person into the same thing. Example:

excuse the spur-of-the-moment badly written story

<PN> looked around, wondering where the rest of the crew went. The broken, damaged hull had an eerie feel that made {g "her" "him"} think of the way spiders walk on ceilings.

Etc, etc... until the choice, where it asks in the 3rd person.

I just thought this was an interesting way to write, it would offer a change from the normal big plugs/TCs... This way would offer a MUCH better flexability on how the player's emotions work, and nobody would complain.

So, I've patented the idea. I call it, Sting/Manta tense.

Edit: After re-reading my post, I remembered the term "3rd person Omniscient" Duh duh duh. Still a good idea, though.

**

Uh-huh...

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Onyx

I like that, but i would add that you don't have to put it in 3rd person more than once per paragraph... i.e.
"<PN> wandered down the corridor, trying not to step on spilled produce from a broken cargo container. The stuff was rotting like nobody's business, and put such an assault on the nostrils you'd barely know which way was up. If <PN> wasn't such a focused individual, vomiting would likely ensue."

Now, granted, that is more similar to the "you do this, you do that" style of the standard EV writing. Additionally, that particular sample has little actual story too it, because the writer is somewhat inept.
Moving on, though, I tried writing many missions for my TC in first-person, to see how well it fit, and I wasn't that disappointed. People don't like this for some reason, though, say it plays too much like a graphic novel, and is therefore contrary to the entire spirit of EV gameplay. Here's a sample:

We sat there in the little office, under an uneasy silence perched as akwardly as a fat man on a flagpole. The bastard was staring me down, trying to get me to crack.
"It takes guts to fire a leadslinger like that," Clarkston mused. Clearly he knew about last nights bar incident. "Quit lookin at me like you're gonna kill me, too, or I'll smash that shoddy ship of yours, <PN>. If you cooperate with me this one time, we can make amends, and then no more feud, eh?"
I kept my eye on that bodyguard he had in the shadows behind him, trying not to move so much as blink. He thought he was well hidden, I guess.
"C'mon, whaddya say, eh?" He continued, big goofy smile on his face.
I shifted in that godawful chair, feeling the weight of the revolver in my coat pocket. "You're fulla sh**. You ain't gonna let none of this go and you know it," I jabbed.
"<PN>, don't blow you're chance at this. I don't break my promises."
"Bull," I said, squinting at the ugly bastard. In one quick motion, I drew the snub-nosed .38 from my coat pocket and drew a quick bead on Clarkston's head. The goon behind him hiccuped with unpreparedness.
Clarkston looked a bit amused. "<PN>, what is this, eh? What're you gonna do with that, shoot me?"
(at which point there is a "yes" and "no" option)

Is that too novel-ish? Writing it in second-person was very annoying, as was keeping it in present-tense. Third-person was a little better, but not by much. I prefer first-person, myself, at least in this instance.

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