How's My Driving | March 2015

[ironwood]

HELLO CHELONAUTS! It's been a while since we've had a game-wide HMD post, so here's the first one of our new arc!

How's My Driving?
While each and every character must have an HMD page available, we offer a game-wide HMD once every calendar quarter. This is an opportunity to get together and discuss IC interpretations and portrayals in a respectful, beneficial fashion. In a nutshell, it's a chance to see how we're doing in the grand scheme of things.

There are a few ground rules to cover off before we can start:

• Participation in the quarterly HMD is 100% optional.
  
• Be respectful, anon or not. It's a lot easier to give and receive crit if all parties are making it a discussion of it rather than an argument.
  
• IP logging is off and anonymous commenting is on. You can offer crit signed in if you like, but the option's there.
  
• We ask that each concrit provided consist of one positive and one constructive bit of feedback. Bring up something that you like about that player, and in the same comment provide something that you feel they could work on. This is to help round out the feedback and provide a better experience all around.

To make things easier, here's a handy-dandy code box:

<big><b><i>Player Name</i></b></big> <i>Character Name:</i> <i>Canon:</i> <i>User Name:</i> <user name=""> <I>Focus:</i> Optional. Do you have particular concerns about your portrayal that you'd like to be the focus of crit? You can link any threads you'd like a second opinion on here. If you're looking for structural feedback, or would prefer things like grammar not be mentioned, put it here.

Comments

MODS

[ironwood]

This comment is for feedback on the modteam (Li, Am, and Pur) OR for game related concrit, including any related to the changes made since the reboot. Some areas that have been notably changed are: monthly itinerary posts, AC overhaul, Reward Points system and NPC involvement. If you want to let us know how you feel about these (and any!) aspects of the game, please do so here!

When we respond, we'll put our name in the subject line so you know who's answering. If it's something that needs input from all of us, we'll drop a quick note to let you know we're getting you the answers but we may need a bit of time to talk about it (because TIMEZONES). Thanks!

Re: MODS

[raavashing]

I'd like to bring up something about how AC is currently done that I was reminded of during this last AC round and which I find to be needlessly rigid within the AC system.

Currently, the rule is that if you have a thread going in a log that was posted in the previous month, you may continue to tag it into the new month and have any tags from that count for AC. But you cannot create a new thread within the new month in a log (essentially a top level or responding to a top level) and have that count toward AC EVEN IF the log in question is supposed to cover time that takes place in both months.

The differences between continuing a thread and starting a new top level in a log that is dated for the correct month ICly is minimal. I don't see the point to having this rule. So long as the same thread is not presented as AC proof in both months, and no one is trying to start a top level in a log that's not part of the 'current' game state (a log that takes place across the previous month and the current month is still part of the 'current' game state), there really shouldn't be a need for such a rigid rule to be in place.

Posting to a log that bridges the previous month and the current month (or current month and upcoming month) should be allowed to count for AC so long as the tags fall within the AC period in question. It allows for better organization and grouping of logs and events without spamming the comm with what is essentially a repeat of the original group log just to ensure you can count it for AC if you want it to.

If it's a worry about someone abusing the system, simply put in a 'common sense' ruling - IE, it's common sense that you can't tag into a log from December with a new top level and thread things out and have it count for AC because you aren't actually being active in the current game state - to cover any concerns on that end.

Otherwise, I find the AC system to be perfectly acceptable. This one part of it just makes no real sense to be so hard-lined on in my opinion.

Thank you

[akito]

Just wanted to comment and say I absolutely love all of the NPCs. With the setting change post time-skip it's just been ... wow. The NPCs are very well fleshed out to the degree that I would mistake them for canon characters if I ran across them elsewhere. They definitely make the entire setting feel much more dynamic and it makes me feel like characters can actually interact with the world around them at a much deeper level, if that makes any sense.

TL;DR such npc. so wow. ♥

Li

[denyamenti]

Li

Character Name: Jack Frost
Canon: Rise of the Guardians
User Name: wintershepherd
Focus: Jack's grown so much in the length of time that he's been in Keeliai, but some days I wonder if I haven't misplaced too much of his voice? In the last month or so, I've been trying to scale back his seriousness and recapture that... not silly, but more carefree attitude.

Character Name: Yami no Bakura
Canon: Yuugiou
User Name: denyamenti
Focus: I put Bakura through some heavy stuff by coinciding a canon update with the Malicant endplot, and he's still recovering from that. THAT SAID, I don't intend for him to be downtrodden too much longer, and overall I think it will be good for him? But I hope he's not too mopey to play off of.

Character Name: Stork
Canon: Storm Hawks
User Name: merb
Focus: He's BRAND NEW so he hasn't had a chance to make much in the way of CR yet, but I can already tell that I'm going to constantly fret about conveying his very unique speaking style into text. Right now I'm leaning toward SO ITALICS MUCH ELLIPSE WOW, but I'm also worried that's going to get old for other people very fast ;~;

→ I have a collective private HMD post for my characters HERE if you prefer that!

[theideaguy]

I am canon-blind for ALL of your characters. Okay, wait, that's not fair. I at least kind of have seen the previews for that Jack Frost movie, whatever it was called. But I still haven't seen it, and I know nothing about what went on during it.

THAT SAID

Jack is awesome. He's got a little bit of carefree attitude, and maybe Sokka just brings it out? (If so, awesome!) But he's adorable, but a lot of the CR so far isn't super deep, so it's hard to say!

Bakura I only know primarily from Genis' perspective, and he's a big teddy bear for him. I know nothing about what you put him through during the Creep Lord endplot because he wasn't in my Sokka CR circle then, but so far he's been fun to work with. :)

Stork... I haven't even read your intro pose yet. Stupid flying getting in the way of RPing.

[skeletonenigma]

Personally speaking, I never find SO ITALICS MUCH ELLIPSE WOW to grow old or get distracting. In fact, the one similar character I played off of actually made me all the more interested in the canon because of it. I think the trick is to balance dialogue with prose/actionspam, so it doesn't feel like you're abusing italics - and you've managed that really well so far, so. ^_^

[theideaguy]

TML

Character Name: Wang Fire Sokka
Canon: Avatar: The Last Airbender
User Name: theideaguy

Character Name: Genis
Canon: Tales of Symphonia
User Name: strokeofgenis
Focus: Specifically voice. I didn't get to do a lot of canon review, and it's been quite a while since I've actually played ToS. Am I on track?

[denyamenti]

I'm really happy to see that you're expanding Sokka's CR circle lately! I never considered him insular or anything, but I've always felt that as a non-bender in an RP setting, he would be the first to venture outside the cast circle, and you've done a great job with it. Also THANK YOU for not making him goofy ALL the time! I love the Wang Fire thing (and hope there's another one coming) but some players craft the entirety of the character around that aspect, and they lose the more serious parts of him. I really hope to see Sokka getting involved with the local politics, because I think he could really find a niche there!

--

If you hadn't said you didn't get a lot of canon review, I'd have completely assumed you'd gone straight from console to keyboard to write the app, because I'd have never guessed. Genis is a hard character to get right in terms of, sometimes he sounds like a 12yo brat, and sometimes he sounds much more mature, and you've got the mix down so far. Especially in a new environment, he's brash but you've got the little bits of uncertainty coming through (especially in the thread with Raine yes what I stalk everything.)

TL;DR you seem really on point with both characters!

i'm bad at these

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

sokka is fun :D

[needmetoo]

Gorse

Character Name: Xion
Canon: Kingdom Hearts
User Name: needmetoo
Focus: It's been a long time since I've played Xion straight from canon, so I'm worried about how I'm doing with that. Trying to balance her shyness/nervousness versus actually getting her out there and her reacting to things that would ping her is a primary element of that.

Beyond that, anything you want to tell me about, I'd be happy to hear! I also have a private HMD on her journal, if anybody prefers that!

[strokeofgenis]

I WANT MOAR.

Seriously. That's basically the gist of what I can say. X)

I haven't gotten very deep in any of the existing logs and threads I've got with you so far, but I'm really intrigued to see where this goes. I can see Genis and Xion being friends at some point, but of course that's time and paragraphs away. I don't know if you're playing Xion true to form or not I ragequit the first Kingdom Hearts when they made me have Tarzan in my party, but I'm really REALLY curious to see where CR with Xion goes as time goes on.

Balancing her shyness with getting out there and establishing will be a trick (I mainly play extroverts, oddly enough!), so good luck on that. But if you're hoping to make people curious about Xion's character development, you've succeeded for me. :)

[highprofilerichkid]

Cinna

Character Name: Tony Stark
Canon: Iron Man: Armored Adventures
User Name: highprofilerichkid
Focus: I've been pushing Tony through a lot of character development, so I'm always concerned about making that development feel organic and consistent, and allowing him to change while still maintaining his voice. And I'm never sure I'm pulling off "nineteen year old boy" well. I'm also sometimes worried that his... Tony Starkness isn't really coming through. This is a more minor concern, since he's so different from the standard Tony even in his own canon, and he's changed even more in his time at Tushan, and he's so far out of his usual element here - but still, I don't want to completely lose that particular genius billionaire playboy philanthropist je ne sais quoi.

Private HMD is here if you prefer.

[strokeofgenis]

Being specifically canon-blind regarding Iron Man: Armoured Adventures, I really have no idea how much of that version of Tony comes through in the end. I really don't. I really REALLY need to fix that. Where can I find the episodes of this to watch?

But that said, Tony has been FUN. Super fun. Especially for Sokka, but even I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to throw Genis at Tony and see where it goes. You are a DELIGHT, I must say, and I'm looking forward to more CR with you as the game goes one.

[backwordscompatible]

Player Name Hina

Character Name: Zatanna Zatara
Canon: Young Justice
User Name: backwordscompatible
Focus: Zatanna has been on the Turtle for a long time. More than two years, probably close to two and a half? when did I app here again? So obviously there's been some IC growth, and I'd be interested in hearing thoughts/opinions on that.

Character Name: Midii Une
Canon: Gundam Wing: Episode Zero
User Name: unetrustworthy
Focus: Midii has also been on the Turtle for a while. Less than Zatanna, but long enough that--with the time skip--she's gone from 11 to ~14. And lost a LOT of close people to her who had begun to make a positive change in her life. So she's regressed some in recent months. But I'm still trying to show that she's been away from "home" long enough that there's still some growth lingering. She's older, for one. There's a big difference between preteen and teenager.

Character Name: Aya
Canon: Green Lantern: The Animated Series
User Name: looksfine
Focus: I...don't even know? The thing about Aya is that she's an animated-only character who's kind of godmoddy in her abilities and knowledge BUT what I love most about her is that she's sort of still a bb. There are many things she doesn't know and/or understand AND she does have the ability to be wrong. It comes down to what KIND of wrong she is--hopefully, I'm getting all my empirical facts right and the only times in which she is being questioned revolves around emotional bias and/or the degree of subjectivity when it comes to...certain topics.

[strokeofgenis]

I am completely canon-blind and all but CR-blind to all of your characters. But I am still making an effort to reply to everyone because I am a masochist, so here goes!

Zatanna is adorable. I've had interactions with her from both of my characters, and she's fun. I know a little bit about DC, and I've read stuff about Zatanna, so I think you're definitely in the ballpark with her! I keep hoping to get more CR with her one day, but now that I have Genis, I think that's definitely a possibility.

I watched one of the videos you posted on Plurk re: Aya, so I definitely have a little more insight as to the character. She's fun, and I definitely can tell that you play her without some amount of understanding about things, and that's really awesome and fun. So I think you're definitely close to the mark on her.

Midii is my least familiar of your muses. I'm looking forward to seeing her more as the game goes on!

K

[seismometrics]

K

Character Name: Toph Bei Fong
Canon: Avatar: The Last Airbender
User Name: seismometrics
Focus: I'm kind of fresh back to things, so I'm just starting to dip my feet in again, but if you have thoughts or questions about how I'm playing Toph so far, let me know? Mainly I'm trying to get her re-adjusted.

I know I need (and want!) more CR everywhere. <3 I haven't reached out a lot yet due to some else-game changes, but as Toph gets her feet more again, she'll be doing that more and more. The cross-canon CR that I had in this game before was part of what made it awesome.

[strokeofgenis]

Who are you again?

I don't need to tell you this here because I tell you this everywhere else, but I love your Toph. You are really really good at her. And seeing as how I've never really gotten to play Sokka properly off of a Toph anywhere else, it is a huge (and very good!) stretch for me! So I'm definitely enjoying it so far! Even if some of your posts give me conniptions trying to figure out how to reply to them! ;)

One day, I want to send Genis Toph's way. That will be a glorious pile of horrible. Ye gods almighty, the turtle is doomed from thence forward.

[walkthedarkpath]

Koko

Character Name: Vergil
Canon: Devil May Cry
User Name: walkthedarkpath
Focus: Open
Player Note: I would just like to go on and point out I know I have a lot of grammar issues. This is a life long problem I am constantly trying to improve. I do apologize for any issues it causes. Some issues with Vergil's behavior are simply me trying to figure out how to properly combine what Nelo Angelo was to who Vergil is and sometimes it comes out strange. Either way, I feel the need to apologize for any problems and say I hope make lots of fun for everyone.

[skeletonenigma]

Actually, about the grammar thing - I'm really, really impressed. There's a common misconception that grammar is easy and that if you're not doing it right, you're either bad at writing or too lazy to try and correct it. I always notice when someone (read: you) is a talented writer with comparatively minor issues, because it means that you have been constantly trying to improve, and it shows.

I can't say much about Vergil's behaviour what with being canon-blind, but I've liked what I've seen so far!

Riddle

[stonebird]

Riddle

Character Name: Sansa Stark "Alayne Stone"
Canon: A Song of Ice and Fire
User Name: stonebird
Focus: All crit is welcome! You are also welcome to PM me or poke me on Plurk!

[strokeofgenis]

Your Alayne is wonderful. She is spot on. I know we haven't gotten super super deep or anything quite yet, but I am loving every bit of CR that Sokka has gotten with Alayne so far. And oh the plans in the back of my head. Hush, my pretties. One day. One day. But seriously, I think you've got a solid voice for her, and I'm honestly really really looking forward to how things are going to turn out for her, especially with how she adjusts to Turtle Hell in the coming months.

[wrathfulkhan]

Alex/Zed/Rin/??? who the fuck am I? who knows

hmds make me really really anxious please be gentle

Character Name: Gene Khan
Canon: Iron Man: Armored Adventures
User Name: wrathfulkhan
Focus: Gene's been in-game for a year and a half in real time, and he's grown and changed a lot since I initially brought him in. I'm a little worried - does he still scan as the same character, for those I've been playing him against from the beginning?

Character Name: Jackie Ma
Canon: Sleeping Dogs
User Name: jinzhong
Focus: I feel like I'm losing his voice. I'm overdue for a canon review. But I'm not quite sure where to go with him or if people even like playing against him. IDK. /shrug

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

I love gene he's a charming punk

[lordhotman]

Darkfeather

Character Name: Zuko
Canon: Avatar: The Last Airbender
User Name: lordhotman
Focus: I think I'm due for a canon review. I'm always afraid I'm being too OOC with him or that I'm losing his voice. Thoughts?

[denyamenti]

I don't think that you're OOC, but I feel that you are very, very insular with Zuko and who you choose to thread with -- namely, basically only the Avatar cast. I've gathered some examples:

Oct AC - with Aang only
Jan AC - with castmates only
Bonfire log threads with Wan, Aang, and Sokka. In fact the only people who weren't castmates who were tagged in the Bonfire log were NPCs, and one thread with Aya.

Landfall log - thread with Sokka, thread with Wan, no other tag ins there.
Race log - thread with Iroh, thread with Wan, thread with Sokka, no other tag ins in that log either.

I've noted you sometimes express that you're worried about making AC, and I really think you could benefit in that regard by tagging non-Avatar characters sometimes.

[sonjaofyellowcomet]

DigitalSocrates

Character Name: Sonja
Canon: Advance Wars
User Name: sonjaofyellowcomet
Focus: still pretty new and i think i have a grasp already of where people stand with sonja for the CR i do have, but i'm still open to people giving any unvoiced commentary or OOC crit?

[skeletonenigma]

It's been a really, really long time since I played Advance Wars, but seeing your app for Sonja still made me squee. Childhood nostalgia, I guess? Anyway, I think you're doing a really good job with her, and you're definitely drawing out every single aspect of her personality from the more innocent to the... less innocent. :P And I love how involved she gets with each new plot or puzzle!

I also want to say specifically that barring a couple of hiccups I'm pretty sure I don't know the full story of anyway, you've been doing a fantastic job at listening to both IC and OOC feedback so far (especially where RPing on Dreamwidth is concerned.) Thank you!

[aquanimity]

Mads/Madred

Character Name: Aqua
Canon: Kingdom Hearts
User Name: aquanimity
Focus: I'm always hoping I'm getting the voice and the characterization right. Definitely considering playing some more BBS soon just to make sure, though. Also would like to know if I've been a fun tagging partner! Or like any concerns, comments, crits, etc.

[skeletonenigma]

You are an awesome tagging partner. Thank you for being willing to indulge my obsession with Skulduggery's varied and disastrous introductions.

... And since I'm leaving you something anyway: I really feel you have Aqua down pat. That's a pretty impressive feat, considering she comes from a game where the player characters are really well-rounded but are also... player characters, if that makes sense?

[skeletonenigma]

Amaraq

Character Name: Skulduggery Pleasant
Canon: Skulduggery Pleasant
User Name: skeletonenigma
Focus: Honestly, I've been a tad worried ever since Skulduggery's canon update that he's become a little strange for canon-blind folks to tag? You know, more so than usual. I do need to reread the last two or three books in the series at some point, but I'd appreciate feedback specific to that. I'm pretty sure I still have him solidly IC, but I'm not sure if he's believable enough to people who haven't finished the series.

[theideaguy]

I know nothing about Skulduggery. And all I know of him is from the first meeting that Sokka had with him. You know, back in October. Which was gold. So I can't speak for the canon update, but I'm looking forward to finally getting a thread in with you this month. Because, if nothing else, great fun should be had, and I'm looking forward to being able to see what's been going on with SP soon!

Also, Genis has totally got to meet Skulduggery and immediately think he's a monster, so off he goes spellcasting. Or not. XD;

[raavashing]

KCH

Character Name: Wan
Canon: Avatar
User Name: raavashing
Focus: I know during the October-November-December and even into January I was a little too insular with cast and specific close CR. February I worked on trying to break out of that and I feel I was moderately successful. However, I know I could be better with that. That is currently my only major concern but if anyone has any concerns on how IC or OOC they feel Wan is, or any concerns about my tagging habits or anything, please feel free to leave them here or on my journal's HMD.

[merb]

I definitely agree that I've seen a big improvement in the last month over your branching Wan's CR out, so good job!

[peacefullywreathed]

Pur

Character Name: Anton Shudder
Canon: Skulduggery Pleasant
User Name: gistful
Focus: Tagging speed. Or maybe tagging load. Or some combination thereof. I wouldn't mind some comment on whether he's as active/not active as he should be; the Hotel is a really controlled setting, but I'm not sure how perennial a presence he ought to be in played-out threads.

Character Name: Solomon Wreath
Canon: Skulduggery Pleasant
User Name: peacefullywreathed
Focus: I've been in a rut with him lately, I'm aware; I do have a new plot planned for this month, though I don't think I'm going to be widely available with him even after that since he's not nearly as open and helpful as Anton anyway. So basically he's my insular character by design. Otherwise, I'm occasionally worried I'm woobying him a little.

[theideaguy]

Anton is beautiful. He's hilarious, and I love the relationship he has with Sokka. One day, Sokka is going to get the upper hand here. That day is not today.

Solomon I'm so looking forward to getting in with Genis. We've had so little CR together and I'm desperate for it!!

[ruinsprofessor]

Makari

Character Name: Raine Sage
Canon: Tales of Symphonia
User Name: ruinsprofessor
Focus: She's uh. She's definitely changed, since she first came here, and while I'm usually pretty solid with her -- I think -- when I worry it's about her voice and still keeping her true to the core of the Raine we see in the games, while taking into account that character development.

Character Name: China Sorrows
Canon: Skulduggery Pleasant
User Name: inkulcation
Focus: Hahahaha everything. I love her but she's proving a difficult balance to strike and I'm not sure I'm measuring up to the sheer level of idgaf she generally exists at. That said, I'm not sure what to tweak, I just don't think she always rings true. Also: I'm shy to tag in in general, which I know and am working on, but with her I find myself hesitating especially because of that thing she does. If you have suggestions or such especially for that I'd love them.

Generally speaking voice and actually... doing things with people are my main concerns, I think, and while I'm on one level terrified of having done a thing wrong I do want to be the best I can be with these two sooooo have at?

[skeletonenigma]

Hahahaha yeah. That thing she does.

My only real suggestion on that front is to hold off on tagging someone who's never encountered China before until you PM them or something, but that's usually a lot more trouble than fun RP is worth. It doesn't seem to me like you've had trouble with it so far, though? Most players seem pretty up-to-date and okay with the whole thing, and since attraction does tend to present very differently from character to character, leaving exact thoughts/reactions up to other players is a good idea. Don't fix what ain't broke! If you ever encounter an issue, you can always blame TURTLE SHENANIGANS for why it doesn't work, especially with the Dreaming plane getting up close and personal with the Life plane.

TL;DR on a completely different note, I've never not liked China's voice, which I think is the only part I'm qualified to comment on because I'm not canon-blind. :P KEEP UP THE AWESOME WORK.