H.M.A.S Badger ~ Online Æther Ship ~ Member's Wanted (OOC Thread)

[MWBailey]

Just a quick addition to the previous: "The Company" has been applied to all sorts of organizationsin regular corporate and spy fiction, but most often, its been used to denote the CIA and MI6 (or whatever number). perhaps that is the true identity of Miss Curious' employers? That way, perhaps she would be kept on to sort of keep an eye on Grey and not let him stray too far beyond the long arm of "The Company"...

[Alexis Voltaire]

My apologies if I caused the story to go off track too far.

I'll miss your writing a lot, Jim. Nightshade is one of the better villains I've read about in a long while.

I will continue to write, although I'm afraid I haven't been doing as good. Perhaps when we get done with this part, If you are still interested in continuing the story on Venus or some other place, we should do a 'restart' of sorts. Maybe have it take place years after, and give new opportunities a time to arise. It seems we may have written ourselves into too many corners here. 

[MWBailey]

I'm appalled to see people wanting to give up.is my writing so bad that no one can stand to put up with it anymore? am I introducing too many ideas?I don't want to flood the story, but I guess I must already have. Maybe I should write out everything but Bailey Maybe he and I need to leave as well. is that the real message here? I don't want to kill the RP, but it's beginning to look as if I have. I'm really sorry If I've driven people away. I never meant to do so. well, never mind, I'm obviously just blowing wind here. Fine, I'll bow out.

[MWBailey]

Yeah. Well, you should have known it wouldn't be that easy; Actually, I'm staying, to see if this can be salvaged. I'm getting really sick of games that fall apart because of power struggles and people getting all bent. Its really making everything suck, people.

Why are you trying yet again to take the decision away from the rest of us? Do we not have a say in this? Seems to me you really ought to let the group decide what WE cut out or whether WE start over or not (sorry, but it really is not your decision alone; you don't own this board. Neither do I).

This keeps turning into a power struggle instead of a game. Is power that much more important than the story or the game? Seems to me it's an idiotic thing to do in what is in fact a group effort.

Maybe what's needed is for everybody to finish out the school year before we try to continue this. It's possibly finals time or close to it for some of you (I really don't know everyone's ages, it's really not any of my business unless you decide to share that info, in my book), and some may be graduating high school or college, each of which inherently carries its own groin-kickers.

While that only obliquely affects a sub like me, it can adversely affect a hard-studying student. I'd hate to be a factor in someone failing to matriculate.

So How about it? Maybe just everybody back off before we all start taking heads?

[Alexis Voltaire]

I'm not sure if any of the above was directed at me, but if so, I apologize.

My comments in the last post were intended as suggestions for the rest of the people here to decide over, not directives. It was also not directed at anyone personally, although rereading it I can see I wrote a few things that might be seen as such.

[Theosophus Grey]

OK, I think everyone needs to take a deep breath.

It's entirely up to Jim whether he follows along for now, hopefully he'll continue to read the thread and pop in when he's inspired - I for one certainly hope so, I read his posts with great anticipation of Nightshade's current nefarious deeds.  I don't think anyone drove him away, Bailey, your counter-post to his pirate plot was entirely logical and opened up new possibilities.

I've actually enjoyed the turn taken towards the dragon thread, it's extremely creative and detailed, and fits in well with the existing story line; I'm anticipating exciting aerial-battle posts from Mr. Bailey when the action starts on Mars, soon I imagine.

I'm afraid I have to respectfully disagree with the "too many corners" and "taking heads" comments - there are infinite options with the existing thread, and new elements can be added at any time (such as Zuttle re-animating the ship's cat and picking up radio signals, loved that); and, I think Bailey and Alexis in particular have done a terrific job lately of playing off each others posts, that's exactly how it's supposed to work.

If you've done these sort of shared-writing projects before, either on paper or online, you'll know that there are points when the process can get stalled due to burn-out or block, or just overwhelming personal issues getting in the way, and a recess is in order - perfectly normal.  I propose we all try to continue posting into the Easter holidays to wrap the current battle plan, then take a break and discuss new options for Chapter 3 - I like some of those already posed, particularly going to Venus; since it's not colonized yet, who knows what we'll find...

I know I'm having way too much fun to drop this, and I've seen too many of the other RP threads on the Portrayal list stall out for no good reason - let's try and keep it going, but no pressure, post when you can and check in every once in awhile.

Best, Theo

[Theosophus Grey]

I'm curious, Theo, is that Mara Jade, or Grey's ensign Perkins?

lol, both

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,23024.0.html

[Theosophus Grey]

In the interest of smoother sailing (pun intended) going forward, I thought I would summarize the plot points to date for Chapter 2, both so we're all on the same page, and as a brainstorming tool to see new interconnections and possibilities for expansion.  As always, comments and edits entirely welcome.

1.  Martian forces under the Anhwar of Parhoon are continuing to attack and expel all remaining colonials; those that had escaped by aethership have either returned to Earth or mustered on Deimos for a cooperative counterstrike by British, German, and other European forces.  The story of the Temple assault has been spun by Earth's governments to make us all 'heroes', and bully up public support for the impending war on Mars.

2.  A representative of the British Foreign Office is pressing hard for a retaliatory assault and overthrow of the New Seldon Emperor and the installation of a puppet regime, using the 'artifact' Nightshade provided as a symbol of power (the real item having been destroyed to prevent the Beast's release) to lend credence to the crowning of a traitor within the same principality's House, who has agreed to aid the British (and unknowingly, Illuminati...?) takeover as originally planned.  

3.  Nightshade has been rewarded for his actions to date, and has been dispatched to the Asteroid Belt to recruit a pirate navy to bolster the Martian's limited aether forces, while Loftis remains on Mars to consolidate agreements with the other Houses for the new Empire.  Unbeknownst to them, the miners of the outer belts heard of the plot and have informed the colonial forces, who even now are preparing a welcome.

4.  The Mad Badger has been refitted as a warship, and successfully tested both its new armaments (twin forward Vilhaus guns) and 'plummet' orbital dropships.  Bailey and Vilhaus have revised the misinformed British attack plan to focus on an aerial assault, by both plummets and possibly the sentient moondragons as new allies, the latter's ancient culture apparently tied closely with the original Martian diaspora of eons ago.

5.  Alexis has revisited the Beast legend, and learned from a Martian soothsayer that one of the three remaining Great Keys could inadvertently allow the creature's release, and therefore must be located and destroyed also, it likely being within the walls of the Temple of the Blood Red Moon.  However, energy weapons and technology will now not function within the Temple grounds because the Beast was awakened.

6.  The new Ship's Surgeon being an academic, his research has not only identified a connection between the Beast legend and a rugose being called Cthugha (or Blood Red God) from the Cthulhu Mythos, but the fact that Professor Loftis literally wrote the book on the subject and went ahead with his nefarious plans for seizing power anyway, bringing both his sanity and real motives into question - who's really pulling the strings here, and why?

7.  Perkins has been promoted to Ensign, and signed to a sweet modeling deal for the Aether Navy's new recruitment posters.  

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,23024.0.html

[Zuttle D. Curious]

7.  Perkins has been promoted to Ensign, and signed a sweet modeling deal for the Aether Navy's new recruitment posters.  Wink

*Laughs*

[Theosophus Grey]

Jim, if you're still with us in spirit, I'd like to point out that 4 of the 6 current story threads listed above are based on your contributions, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say you are welcome to stop in anytime for a verbally-abusive cameo. 

[MWBailey]

I'm curious, Theo, is that Mara Jade, or Grey's ensign Perkins?

lol, both

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,23024.0.html

This is probably a misappropriation, but it expresses my thoughts exactly:

HEEELLLLOOOOOO NURSE!
 


On a slightly more serious note:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The 'taking heads" comment was actually directed at myself, as I have somewhat of a reputation for flying off the handle, and (despite probable appearances) am trying to rectify the fact. In other words, I was reminding myself to take a powder instead of a head (the khukri being somewhat infamous for being used thus).

[Theosophus Grey]

I'm curious, Theo, is that Mara Jade, or Grey's ensign Perkins?

lol, both

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,23024.0.html

This is probably a misappropriation, but it expresses my thoughts exactly:

HEEELLLLOOOOOO NURSE!
 


On a slightly more serious note:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The 'taking heads" comment was actually directed at myself, as I have somewhat of a reputation for flying off the handle, and (despite probable appearances) am trying to rectify the fact. In other words, I was reminding myself to take a powder instead of a head (the khukri being somewhat infamous for being used thus).

Well said, sir, on both counts.

[Theosophus Grey]

"Garden basketbuilder steak gravy parrot sketch walking blight further creampuff underwear longjohns eating poisonous horse sweat..."

...of Ulm.    If that wasn't from Monty Python, sir, it should have been.

[Theosophus Grey]

GREAT nightmare sequence, Alexis! 

[Alexis Voltaire]

Thanks!  That was really fun to write...

Unfortunately, after several sleepless weeks of grappling with the beast, the Emperor has gone rather mad...

Fortunately, the priests of the temple, and the Emperor's new 'speaker' have been able to keep this a secret. for now.

---

I finished with the scheme project, and made this logo thingy:

http://sites.google.com/site/picturehost412/_/rsrc/1269887131573/home/Badger%20pic%201.bmp

I redesigned the engines and the back, and I like the look better. I attempted to put windows on the nose, and it just wasn't working. It ended up looking unbalanced, and not working with the rest of the picture. The background was inspired by what I imagined Bailey's Mars Cross to look like.

I was thinking that this might make a neat t-shirt design, or something like that. I happen to have access to a good printer and some printable iron-on transfer paper. I'll be tying it out soon to see how well it works. if it turns out, and you'd like one, I'll see if I can send you a printed one.

[Theosophus Grey]

Ahhh, the 'speaker for the Emperor', who just happens to have London connections, bwahaha...  

LOVE the logo, Alexis, I'll post a copy on the recruitment poster page!

If I could propose a motto for the logo, perhaps curving from 9:00 to 3:00 around the red cross:

opta ardua pennis astra sequi ("they choose hardship that follow the stars on wings") - Virgil, the Aeneid

Mr. Bailey, have this made into patches for the crew's uniforms, immediately sir!  

[Alexis Voltaire]

opta ardua pennis astra sequi ("they choose hardship that follow the stars on wings") - Virgil, the Aeneid

Great! I was actually thinking the same thing, about having a latin motto or something around the bottom, but I couldn't think of one (plus the translation problems, I don't know a thing about how to do it right.) or know where to find one.

I shall add it! 

[MWBailey]

OOPS...
 I went ahead and made a patch, but the motto's at the top. oh, well, best let Alexis do it...


maybe a darker brown background...

(maybe I stay out of the design shop, lol )

Seriously, somebody's bound to be able to make a better patch than I did; even the motto is blurred on this one..

[Alexis Voltaire]

Finished! 



The pictures look a bit better on my computer than they do on the internet, particularly around the ship's frame area.

This was interesting to work on... particularly since it involved placing the letters one at a time, so the spacing might be a bit off.

[Zuttle D. Curious]

Gorgeous, Alexis. Nice job

[MWBailey]

Nice!

Maybe my artwork will improve after I beat these allergies. No, I don't really believe that either (lol).

[Theosophus Grey]

Good posts, everyone!  You've made my morning.  The potential for renegade dragons, and Bailey gets to use the blowtorch and pliers... 

[MWBailey]

"Garden basketbuilder steak gravy parrot sketch walking blight further creampuff underwear longjohns eating poisonous horse sweat..."

...of Ulm.    If that wasn't from Monty Python, sir, it should have been.

nudge,nudge/wink,wink

Oh, dear. sorry to mix bad news with the glorious python, but I have contracted a rather serious case of flu.(no idea whether or not it is swine flu, but rest assured the person who gave it to me has been roundly cursed for his or her piggishness!

I shall try to return within a reasonable period, but right now, I can only sit upright enough to type for about twenty minutes at a stretch (well, more or less, anyway. its pretty inconsistent) i have, currently, a fever of approximately 102 degress, and am thus rather thoroughly chilled at all tmes.I keep sssshhhiiivvvveeerrriiinnngggg (lol, sorry, couldn't resist)

seriously, I make light of it only because I'm a bit worriedabout job and othe rconcerns while I have this !@@$%%#%#& bug.

I think I've covered everything.

PS
oops, forgot to say this: anybody can write for bailey in my absence.there, thats theticket...
Oh, goody! Here comes mommy with the cough syrup!(Bleagh)...

[MagnaRyu]

I am looking into putting my character into this game.  I just need some info.....mainly how big is this ship?  Is it big enough and have the ability to take in my characters little one man modified longboat?

[Theosophus Grey]

Absolutely MagnaRyu, the Badger is about 150 meters by 35 meters and equipped with dropship bays and a captain's launch, welcome aboard!  T.M. Grey, Commanding