RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (Full Version)

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Arthur -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/22/2013 15:08:09)

quote:

the fight scene that is either too quick, or too long, because you want it "epic".


There you go, I can see myself there.

However, I don't go for "Epic", the word(s) I'd rather use is/are "Dynamic", "Energetic", to the point of being unrealistic at times.

Seriously, I have my limits. Somehow, while I can add in some impossible actions or moves in a battle to keep the pace up, I try never to make the whole battle completely unrealistic.




TJByrum -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/22/2013 15:46:13)

In battles against NPC's I like to focus on individual battles (may have stated this before). Instead of "I killed one guy and bashed another", I like to go in-depth with it.

"I charged forward, ducked down and to the left, and thrust my blade upward into the man's chest. Another opponent to my right tried to hack at my flank, but I spun around and bashed him with my shield."

That's a poor example, but still...

I'm going to join a PvP roleplay as soon as I can to focus on my PvP skills. I think I ought to be good at it, or good enough, a lot of good tips throughout this page.




Eukara Vox -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/22/2013 22:12:21)

@Legendium

Well, unfortunately I was taught how to write combat by a Marine. He pulled me into MSN and tutored me. Unless you have someone willing to do that...

I find reading helps me a lot of times. If I come across a combat scene, I try imagining being one of the characters and see if I can see the fight/combat truly from that perspective. I will spend time imagining how it feels to be there, what around me affects the process, how I feel about everything.

Also, a writing exercise you can try is watch a combat scene, but try writing it as you see it happening. Of course, pause buttons are useful here. What you will find is that what you are watching suddenly isn't enough when you start writing it. One of your goals when writing the scenes back is filling in the blanks.





UnderSoul -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/22/2013 22:37:41)

A Marine? Now you're just showing off. That is pretty cool though, good for you Eukara.




superjars -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/22/2013 22:42:34)

It looks as if we might need a combat-centric RPA thread. It won't be required for graduation to the RP forums, but we'll do some work with it. Seems to be a lot of misinformation and confusion about RP combat should go around here...

*brushes off his old combat thread*




Mirai -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/23/2013 4:42:58)

Looking forward to seeing that thread 'jars!

I really like Eukara's suggestion of writing out a fight scene that is seen on tv. This is a bit of an age old adage, but another suggestion for 'immersing oneself in a fight scene without others' assistance' is to use other bits of real life that don't require LARPing.

For example, if I want to portray a character as getting tired during a fight, I've sometimes gone for a run myself, and when I got home, jotted down the different things I was experiencing- heart pounding, lungs heaving, sweat on brow, etc.

Likewise memories of real life events can flesh out a scene- I've had characters get the shakes from the aftermaths of adrenaline (I was in a car crash a little over a year ago), or overbalance trying to do over-complicated moves (indebted to my experiences of learning karate a few years back).

And of course you can base ideas on observations of people around you (most of Selina's quips in the 2011 EC were indebted to thinking about how a couple of friends of mine might react to events), or ideas other people have given you of what things felt like to them, or their mindset in reacting to different challenges (Martin Johnson, a former England rugby captain, was once famously asked what was going through his head when he packed down against a New Zealand scrum, 5m from the England line, with the England side 2 men down, and marginally ahead in the game. He responded: "my spine.")

Obviously the raw elements of RL won't always translate into ideas for what a fictional characters might feel (is an undead warrior going to feel its heart pounding in the middle of a fight? Probably not). But they do provide a good starting point.




Arthur -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/23/2013 6:48:31)

@Jars, that thread is a splendid idea. Do implement it as soon as possible.




Legendium -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/23/2013 7:49:33)

@Eukara

I actually live quite close to the american military base, and my parents have a few marine acquaintances....

But I think I'll go with watching things on youtube, or better yet, write down what I do in Skyrim. I might just make a new character for that.
Anyways, thakns for the help, Eukara.

quote:

For example, if I want to portray a character as getting tired during a fight, I've sometimes gone for a run myself, and when I got home, jotted down the different things I was experiencing- heart pounding, lungs heaving, sweat on brow, etc.


That's also a good idea, and with woods in my area, I can probably get things like that done pretty fast. Especially since I live in mountain regions.
Thanks everyone. These practice ideas should be able to help me write better combat.




TJByrum -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/23/2013 8:58:52)

@Jars: A combat-centric roleplay would be most interesting to me Jars.




Legendium -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/25/2013 2:42:22)

I found an interesting website class for combat writing.

It actually seems like a very good explanation, in my opinion. I think I'm going to follow these steps every time I make a combat oriented character now.




TJByrum -> RE: How Do YOU Write a Combat Scene? (1/25/2013 12:42:55)

I'll give that a read, thanks Legendium.




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