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mastin2 -> RE: Epidemic|Disease~Thread 1.6 (11/16/2008 14:59:44)
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Alright, sorry to keep you waiting; major update is here! :)
First of all, I realized that Saying "Episode X, Part Y" is a little tiresome. So, I decided to create a universal shortening. Instead of Saying Episode X, Part Y, I now will be using this to lessen the load:
E X-Y.
E = Episode, obvious.
X = The Episode's Number, anywhere from one to thirteen.
Y = the part, either one or two.
So, E 5-2 is Episode 5, Part Two.
If you don't understand, look at the dictionary. Oh, did I forget to mention that?
NOTE: With the parts again being split into Twenty-Six episodes instead of Thirteen two-halfed episodes, this system is currently no longer needed. But I will, as of 2/4/09, at 4:21 pm server time, call the Rewrite episodes E 1, E 2, E 3, etc. And I shall spell out the unrewritten ones, as Episode1, Episode 2, etc.
Second thing: I'm going to try and keep a dictionary with all terms used in Disease threads. It's in the first post, under the rewrite. Oh, dear...I really need to learn to stop wording things in such a way that it reveals the next thing on the list of updates...
I started rewriting Disease. No; I'm not going to stop writing new Episodes 'til I catch up. If you want to know more, then just look at the first post in the Disease Rewrite.
You can read it if you like. If anyone wants to critique something of mine, that thread is it. *Nudges a certain poster in this thread* But I must warn you: I'd be forever indebted to you if you ACTUALLY REACH THE END. Really, do you know how long this thing is?!? This is just the FIRST EPISODE. E 1-1 and E 1-2. That's all there is, so far. Yet, somehow, I've done it again. What makes me say all of this? Well, let's just say I did a word count. The math is a little ugly. Let's just say this: I think I finally know why people are so intimidated by threads like this.
The two parts together are 14,115 words long. DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT IS?!? That's a Novellete, right then and there! It's almost a Novella! This is just the first episode, people. There are thirteen episodes planned for Disease. Assuming I keep up the length, well...Do the math. It's not pretty. Okay, I'll save you the time of opening the calculator to calculate the math. It works out to be ~183,495 Words. Nearly 200,000 words! That's the length of five novels.
...Page count didn't work out much better, either. 34 pages for the first episode. Again, I did the math for you; the result is not exactly what you'd want. 442 pages, give or take. Ouch. And the file size will be roughly two Megabytes on Microsoft Word, give or take, if you're interested in that kind of fact.
I did more math as well. Disease has grown scary fast. I did a little math on how much Disease has grown.
The original was pathetic. From the math I did earlier (which you will see later), I worked it out to be ~53,000 words, grand total. A novel, but only by ten thousand words. Then came the rewrite, in which it grew to be 1.5 times its original size. The estimated length? Somewhere around 80,000. Now, this length is what it was before. Now, it is estimated to be 180,000, at least. A growth rate of 2.5 times.
...That's not all. United Hope has grown 2.5 times its original planned size as well. It needs a rewrite. So, with this in mind, it'd probably end up being four times longer than it is now. And it's already uber-long.
...I'm terrible. Not writing quality-wise; as much as I might deny it, I have to face the fact that I'm a good writer. What I mean is that I'm terrible when it comes to stories. I just am too darn good at it for my own good! Really, I suck at making things short. I fail miserably. For me, it just keeps on getting bigger and badder. Really, you give me enough material to make a Flash Fiction, and I'll probably hand you back a Novel! (Over 40,000 words)
Now, final announcement. It's the thing that I called epic. Well, it would be, if I had a bunch of eager readers who love to devote as much to the story as they can.
...Instead, I've got one critique who can't log on anymore, one critique who has just about as many things to do as I do (too many. :P), one cofirmed reader, and any annonymous readers out there.
...So, basically, only two people who can be excited about that, and I seriously dobt they will be.
I'm lazy. I get writer's block. While it takes me five minutes to overcome this, that's five minutes that I could've been writing. As of now, there are many characters who I KNOW I'm going to have in there, some becoming fairly important. The thing is, I don't have any of the details thought out. This is where it gets interesting. Spend five minutes to one hour thinking about the details I like to avoid like a disease, or do nothing? Well, there's a third option that I'll try, for those interested.
Disease will have signups. They will have limits, of course, but will be mostly up to the sign-upee.
Universal Limitations:
-Less than Thirty Years Old
That's all.
Okay, so I do have another preference, but won't force it on others. As such, it is in invisible text. Names that fit in the real world. Really, fictional names like "Gladiarus" (Just now made that up, by the way) are cool and all, and I like them. But would people honestly name their children like that? Probably not. Okay, now people receive unusual names like Forest, Winter, Autumn, etc., so I know it happens. But on average...people are going to give their children normal names.
When you sign up, you don't automatically get that role, though. Others might want it as well, and I'll weigh the decision before making my choice in the Episode which they appear in. You can apply again, though, for a different position. As many times as there are positions, actually. But I'm probably only going to use one character idea from you.
What do you get out of this? Not much.
1: A mention in the credits when Disease is finished.
2: The pride and joy of knowing your character is in one of my more well-known stories.
Hey, I did say it wasn't much.
Anyway, those you can sign up for are below.
Protagonists
*Undecided1*
Found in New Orleans. (Deadline: E 4-2. However, the actual appearance of the character can wait 'til E 5-1.)
...Nothing else, actually. This is the character with the most freedom. Go nuts. ;)
Undecided2
Found in Ireland (Deadline: Roughly E 6-1, possibly 6-2).
Restrictions: Female, Pink hair, less than twenty-three years old, more than fifteen.
Other than that, go ahead and do whatever. Backstory can be anything, other appearances are up to you. Powers and weapons...well, you get the idea; you can do a lot. ;)
Antagonists
Unknown1
spoiler:
Member of Danger's Squad, the squad that hunts Brian's team (Deadline: Roughly E 5-2, possibly 6-1)
I was sort of hesitant to allow her to be a signup character because she has a lot already planned out, but there are many details missing.
Restrictions: Female, fifteen years old (but appears older), backstory, last name, and powers are all decided on already. Dislikes not getting what she wants.
Other personality traits, first name, weapon, appearance, and whatever else you can come up with? Nope; I have no clue. But, still, she has a lot already layed out.
Unknown2
spoiler:
Member of Danger's Squad, first sent to hunt Brian's group, then to stop them at all costs. (Deadline: Roughly E 5-2, possibly 6-1)
Restrictions: Female, Pink hair, powers involve the mind (how exactly, though, is up to the person signing up. ;) ), likes battle.
Teleporter
spoiler:
Member of Danger's Squad. (Deadline: Roughly E 5-2, possibly 6-1)
Restrictions: Female, powers involve teleporting (as the name implies. :P), dislikes fighting.
That's all of 'em. At least, all of them for a while.
Revision, 2/4/09:
Okay, I've got writers' block on the characters. I will post what I have in spoilers, and if you want to help me, look at them. I'm taking suggestions. You have my eternal grattitude if you fill in the blanks.
Protagonist 1.
spoiler:
Gender: Male.
Name: Well, I'd introduce him as his name, and not Protagonist1, if I actually had a name. <_<
Age: ...I don't know. Somewhere around twenty. (I'll consult my flashdrive and another thread, both of which contain Disease-related information, but I think both do not mention this)
Powers: Hydromancy. New Orleans is flooded, so he is in his element when the team meets him.
Location Found: New Orleans. If this is finalized, this also means an apperance in Episode Four's Part Two, but his very appearance might not be shown until the next Episode, just being a disembodied voice and a shadow.
History: Got nothing.
Appearance: Layed out; need to look at the designs later.
Protagonist 2.
spoiler:
Gender: Male.
Name: To stay consistent, I am saying he's Protagonist two. For the moment, though, I am calling him 'M'.
Age: In the teens.
Powers: Mind-related. Specializes in memories. I think, anyway. Again, I need to consult my holy flashdrive oracle, and the secret weapon of the outline post for Disease/Infection.
Location Found: Again, New Orleans is what I am currently thinking, but it is not solidified. If this is what I decide, it will be Episode Five.
History: Non existent. I intend him to remember little of his past. Perhaps this is necessary for future plot devices, though, allowing him to discover his past.
Note: Was originally thought of as an alternative to Protagonist 1. When I decided I wanted both, he was given more unique traits. Like he calls everyone by one-letter names. Calling Brian 'B', Julie 'J', David 'D', Andy 'A', and Dallas 'D2'. (For Dallas's last name also starts with a D)
Appearance: Got some idea, which I layed out, but need to look.
Protagonist 3
spoiler:
Gender: Male. I seriously need more female characters. <_<
Name: Not a clue. No, not 'Notaclu'; I don't know what to call him yet. >_>
Age: Also teens.
Powers: To a very limited extent, tele-somethingoranother powers. Like basic controlling of objects, basic communication between minds, ability to see some events coming, etc. Also has great control over his body. His primary powers are actually related to his weapon. It is *very* hard to explain, and even when I wrote it down, it was a bad explanation. Do NOT expect me to describe it without HEAVY consultation of my notes.
Location Found: ...New Orleans? If so, Episode Five is his appearance date.
History: Blank. :/
Note: Original powers were thought of as a possible augment to Protagonist2's abilities. I decided to split him off, though, as I decided that M's dagger would be enough and that the special device could become a separate person--anyway, M's perferred personality and the personailty I had associated with the weapon were different, so that'd be character conflict. He needed to be separate.
Protagonist 4-NOTE: Since he was planned to be a primary protagonist, very little is NOT thought out, so this is mainly for opinions before he is introduced.
spoiler:
Gender: Male.
Name: I am thinking Marcus, at the moment.
Age: Two thousand, give or take a couple hundred years.
Powers: Some manipulation of shadows. Mostly alteration of a being's DNA, and commonly that is done to Darmichrons. Nearly invulnerable with higher regeneration than any other character. Has experience and knows almost everything there is to know about the Sarciller.
Location Found: New York is where I am thinking. Ideally, this would be in the Episode Six to Seven range.
History: Complex. Too spoilerish for spoiler tags. See the notes for more details. If you want to offer advice at the risk of being spoiled, then deliver a PM to me.
Note: He's not actually introduced in New York--you see him earlier. Like, at the end of Episode Two, part one, and then again, part two's end. He demonstrates his slight shadow manipulation powers in Episode three, part one. Yes, he is at first an antagonist, but when the team meets him in New York, he is...different. He says that he is free of his insanity, that while he wanted to kill them before, he now wants to help him. Brian assumes it is the cliche 'antagonist becoming who he should be', but he corrects Brian, stating 'No. I'm back to the way I once was.' Again, I need to consult the magical flashdrive oracle and superweapon outline. He basically helped develope the Sarciller. He's one of the protagonists in Disease's planned prequel. I hope you can see why I can't say much more, as the very act of me not saying more is a spoiler itself.
Protagonist 5
spoiler:
Gender: Female. Finally.
Name: I haven't got the slightest idea.
Age: Upper teens, lower twenties range.
Powers: I am thinking some mind manipulation powers, but that's all I've got.
Location Found: Ireland is my thoughts. Don't ask for an estimated Episode number.
History: Nothing here. :/
Note: I am thinking she's related to an antagonist. I'll mention which one. She has pink hair. Other than that, not much.
Protagonist 6
spoiler:
Gender: Male. :/
Name: I considered Bryan, but decided against it. Ideas?
Age: Mid-thirties to lower fourties is what I was thinking.
Powers: Repells Darmichrons.
Location Found: A city/town I have yet to decide on, in England.
History: Wife sacrificed life along with his brother-in-law to save a few hundred humans from the Sarciller.
Note: A civilian leader. Does very little fighting. I want a legit Brittish accent when I introduce him, so I'll need some help. Spelling, and choice of words. Being American, I can only guess, but if I receive no assistance, it'll just be the stereotypical accent. <_<
Protagonist 7
spoiler:
Gender: You guessed it. Male.
Name: Do you think I have any idea?
Age: Less than ten.
Powers: Despite being human, has inherited the perfect health of the Sarciller, along with superhuman strength, speed, and an IQ higher than that of most people. Repells Darmichrons, like his father, but this is stronger. Anything else, I have yet to decide.
Location: Same as his father.
History: Son of Protagonist 6.
Note: Will not do much fighting, due to his young age.
And, finally, (for the moment, anyway)
Protagonist 8
spoiler:
Gender: Undecided, but leaning towards male.
Name: When I name this character, it will likely be a code name. Other than that idea, nothing.
Age: Under twenty-nine. :/
Powers: Manipulation of all forms of electricity, magnetism, etc. Some light manipulation as well. Anything else not really decided.
Location: The safe haven that 6+7 are in.
History: Managed to wander into the city and help out. Like others who went under the change, refuses to compete against the locals there, for obvious reasons. Managed to combine the PS3, X-box 360, and Wii into the best of three and hand-wrote the code for several games on the super-console. Other than this, nothing.
Note: I thought of this character for the sole purpose of creating the super-console. No fighting for this character is currently planned, but with my choice of powers, I think some use shall be found.
I shall type up the antagonists at a later time.
Of course, more will be added as I think of them as becoming part of Disease's plot. If you so wish, come up with your own ideas for characters, and if I like them, they may actually come into the storyline. You could get primary protagonist status if I like your character *that* much. ;)
Well, that's everything. Nothing left to cover. ;)
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