WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Discussion regarding the Outsider webcomic, science, technology and science fiction.

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Voitan
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by Voitan »

Murph wrote:This is the sort of thing I am looking forward to, Loroi backstory. I especially want to hear Fireblades backstory.
Cultural exchanges are the most interesting things I like about first contact stories.

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Ithekro
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by Ithekro »

Arioch wrote: Don't be fooled by the cheerful expressions... they're talking about death.
For death talk time, they are drawn rather sexy.

kiwi
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by kiwi »

Well, I saw those expressions and I thought... predatory. Like they’re describing something terrible they did to someone who might have deserved it.

Krulle
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by Krulle »

[color=red]Arioch[/color] wrote:Image
Don't be fooled by the cheerful expressions... they're talking about death. :D
Joyful talks, then.
I assume they're talking about how the diral lost its members one yb one since passing to sdulthood, all due to the war.

These kids d not know otherwise than death being part of their friends.
Vote for Outsider on TWC: Image
charred steppes, borders of territories: page 59,
jump-map of local stars: page 121, larger map in Loroi: page 118,
System view Leido Crossroads: page 123, after the battle page 195

boldilocks
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by boldilocks »

"So anyway, there I was, strangling some local wildlife with one hand and stabbing its offspring with my other, when genius here decides 'hey, strangling them doesn't seem to be working; here, let me light them on fire' ..."

kiwi
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by kiwi »

I wonder if the standing (or sitting) next to each other is a traditional way that Loroi present a tale (give or take sanzai vs speech). From page 167, we see that Talon and Spiral are standing tight against each other. Then this WIP frame shows them sitting tight against each other.

boldilocks
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by boldilocks »

kiwi wrote:I wonder if the standing (or sitting) next to each other is a traditional way that Loroi present a tale (give or take sanzai vs speech). From page 167, we see that Talon and Spiral are standing tight against each other. Then this WIP frame shows them sitting tight against each other.
I guess that's the difference between two warriors who have been together their entire lives, more or less, and a bunch of warriors who have been tossed together to serve on the same ship but don't have that same sense of cameraderie.

Arent
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by Arent »

kiwi wrote:I wonder if the standing (or sitting) next to each other is a traditional way that Loroi present a tale (give or take sanzai vs speech). From page 167, we see that Talon and Spiral are standing tight against each other. Then this WIP frame shows them sitting tight against each other.
I suspect that they meanwhile sat down & it got colder it the shuttle. It's the old 'tales at the fireplace'. I wonder whether Alex has any tale that might be equally impressive. Then again, the Loroi might not expect a male to tell such tales & might be used to be admired for their valor :mrgreen:

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GeoModder
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by GeoModder »

The Insider states that touching increases the sanzai 'bandwidth' between two Loroi individuals.
But sofar it seems Talon and Spiral don't seem to touch the other's bare skin.

Would contact between two Loroi's hair be sufficient to have this increase awareness of one another?
Image

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dragoongfa
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by dragoongfa »

They probably know each other well enough to make it look like they are reading each other's mind in the most intimate level.

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SaintofM
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by SaintofM »

GeoModder wrote:The Insider states that touching increases the sanzai 'bandwidth' between two Loroi individuals.
But sofar it seems Talon and Spiral don't seem to touch the other's bare skin.

Would contact between two Loroi's hair be sufficient to have this increase awareness of one another?
That would explain Fireblade's hair despite the pressures of space combat.

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SVlad
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by SVlad »

When I started to read that story several years ago, the FAQ said that story is outlined 7 chapters (of about 60 pages each) and 500 pages total.
Now it say 8 chapter (75 pages) and 600 pages total.

It's growing.
Outsider in Russian
Image

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dragoongfa
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by dragoongfa »

As long as Arioch doesn't go full Martin all will be well.

Still though, I wonder if the increase is down to underestimation of size or if a late idea was good enough to alter part of the plot.
Last edited by dragoongfa on Mon Dec 02, 2019 9:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Arioch
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by Arioch »

SVlad wrote:When I started to read that story several years ago, the FAQ said that story is outlined 7 chapters (of about 60 pages each) and 500 pages total.
Now it say 8 chapter (75 pages) and 600 pages total.

It's growing.
It's not so much that the story is growing, but rather that the earlier estimate was a wild guess made at a time when I didn't have very much experience in knowing how many comic pages it takes to deliver a scene. The outline describes the whole story, but the actual script usually progresses just a bit ahead of the current page, and it's not broken down into comic pages. So, for example, even though we're getting near to the end of chapter 2, I couldn't tell you exactly how many pages that is. So the new estimate might be just as wrong.

The change in the number of planned chapters is because chapter 2 is way too long and had to be split into two chapters. So the second half of the action that was supposed to happen in chapter 2 will now be the new chapter 3. Exposition chews up the page count. :D

kiwi
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by kiwi »

Arioch wrote:Exposition chews up the page count. :D
Yup. But many of us enjoy the cultural aspects of speculative fiction, and ways that characters change and behave.

When I was younger, I was totally fine reading pulp sci fi where everything is driven by the demands of the Big Bad. Every part of their plots turned on ‘do or die,’ leaving little room for characters to choose things.

Then I read The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi and holy crap it was great. And it was great because the whole damn thing was driven by what the characters wanted, and what they knew, and what they chose.

So please take your time to show us the characters, and what they know, and what they desire. Lots of people really enjoy it.

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sunphoenix
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by sunphoenix »

...I certainly do enjoy getting into the character's personalities and drives.
PbP:
[IC] Deep Strike 'Lt' Kamielle Lynn
[IC] Cydonia Rising/Tempest Sonnidezi Stormrage
[IC] Incursion Maiannon Golden Hair
[IC] TdSmR Athen Rourke

"...you can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is Kill him."

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cacambo43
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by cacambo43 »

kiwi wrote:
So please take your time to show us the characters, and what they know, and what they desire. Lots of people really enjoy it.
Well, yes. But perhaps not TOO much time ;) :D

CJSF

Arent
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Re: WIP Discussion (Part 1!)

Post by Arent »

As long as people complain & demand more comic pages or else, everything is fine. That's a sure sign of people actually liking a comic.

However, if people stop complaining, that's pretty bad. Chances are they don't care about the webcomic or are bored by the current storyline.

Krulle
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Cheers!

Post by Krulle »

Cheers!
Here's to the new year, and that it may bring you luck and may you stay healthy!



(I know it's a sealf-heating emergency ration pack, but the opportunity was too good to wish you all a great 2020)
Vote for Outsider on TWC: Image
charred steppes, borders of territories: page 59,
jump-map of local stars: page 121, larger map in Loroi: page 118,
System view Leido Crossroads: page 123, after the battle page 195

Arent
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Re: Cheers!

Post by Arent »

Krulle wrote:
Cheers!
Here's to the new year, and that it may bring you luck and may you stay healthy!



(I know it's a sealf-heating emergency ration pack, but the opportunity was too good to wish you all a great 2020)
I imagine he's again doing his smooth talking:

Alex: "Hey, it's not so bad! We have good food, are safe for once & there are lots of cute... blue skinned... well you get the drift."
Spiral: "No, I don't?"

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