It’s dead Jim

I’m a writer, not a necromancer. My NaNo was DOA and got more putrid with every word I injected into it.

So I said, screw this!

I started over.

Will I make it to November 30th?

I doubt, but at least I shed a lot of bad ideas and now I can proceed with a clear mind.

Because NaNo is not (just) about winning, it is also about the writing.

And that makes this a win for me.

Good luck to all of you this month. Keep on writing!

NaNo Update: Things Coming Together and Blowing Apart

Now the story feels like it they are coming together. The key players are coming online and the action is moving forward. Still behind the curve at about 10k to 15k words but I can live with that as long as I keep writing. I’ll see how many more words I can produce before I hit the sack tonight.

Laging behind in NaNo

But I’m not done yet. Not by a long shot:

 

Yes, that is the NaNo counter widget. Forgot to include it in pasts NaNo posts. It’s up now.

Now back to work.

Breakthrough

So far NaNo has been nothing but pure frustration.

That is until last night.

Last night I finally reached my minimum daily requirement (1,600 words).  I’m still way behind but I can catch up now.

The problem so far is that I screwed up the beginning. It doesn’t have a proper hook. And so I plowed on, chapter after chapter. But now the action is picking up, which is what the book needed. Yes I know, NaNo is a very rough draft, but I always pride myself in my beginnings.

One rule I always follow, killed someone in the first three pages, preferably by the end of the first page if possible. A bit crass, I know, but nothing raises the stakes like a well place body. I’ll do my best to win this year and leave the inner editor out of this.

Now, if you’ll excuse me I have to get back to NaNo.

Web Tools for Your RPG Campaing- Obsidian Portal

I found (via the Penny Arcade news page) a new web based site for tracking and keeping notes about pencil-and-paper RPG campaigns. Its called Obsidian Portal. According to their home page:

Obsidian Portal allows you to create Dungeons and Dragons campaign websites and other tabletop role-playing games. Rather than trying to automate the playing of the game, Obsidian Portal provides tools to help facilitate the storytelling. Every campaign gets a shared blog/wiki to showcase their story, as well as integrated tools to help track NPCs, locations, treasure, and all the other minutae that makes up an RPG. Check out this video for more details.

Basically you can upload background information, maps (in jpeg format) and all the minutia of your current campaign. It need not be a D&D campaign or for that matter an RPG at all (great for fantasy/sci-fi world building) and the service is free (although if you want to use the full features you need to “upgrade”). So far I found it useful if nothing else a backup for my own files in case the worse happens. For example, I uploaded this map of one of the locations for my upcoming campaign (made with the Neverwinter Nights 1 Aurora engine, however my copy of NVW went kaput, so I lost the ability to create more 3D maps!). Feel free check out my campaign page here.

 

And now for some over the top anime action!

PC vs. Consoles: The Upgrade Wars

My first console was a Atari 2600, my second an Xbox.

Yeah, you read that right, from 2-bit to 32-bit.

So what did I use in the intervening 20+ years?

Computers.

First there was the C-64 which lasted about 8 years, then a Compag 486 that lasted all of 3 years or so, then a HP Pentium one which lasted about as long, a Pentium II which lasted about 3 and now my current machine which lasted about 3, and really only used it for a year’s worth of gaming.

Seeing a pattern here?

No.

One word.

Upgrades.

Constant, expensive and infuriating upgrades. That’s the real advantage of a console over a PC. Yes, you can spend about $2000.00 (U.S.)  for the fastest Alienware, which will be completely obsolete a day and an hour and a half after booting it up for the first time.

Why is that? It’s the nature of the beast.

Software makes for PCs know that the next piece of graphic hardware or memory expansion is just around the corner and so they program their PC exclusive software to match. That’s what  Origin started in the 90s and everybody else jumped in. But consoles don’t work based on an accelerated upgrade curve. They are projected to be on the market for about 4 years. Which means that if you buy an Xbox or PS early enough, you will be hitting it’s prime 2 years into its prime. In order to catch up in a PC you probably have to change graphic cards every six months.

Now you do the math. Factor software costs, base hardware costs, oh and OS compatibility.

And now most of the games that once were the exclusive domain of PCs are just as good if not better in consoles; RPGs, FPS, sandbox games, air/space combat sims, you name it. And the controls are better over all. Yes, I know that nothing beats sniping with a mouse and keyboard, but I can run, strafe, lob grenades and stab you with a bayonet using my Xbox dual triggers before you can pull the trigger on that rifle.

And with online services like Xbox live, consoles are now crowding the last PC frontier, the online RPG (MMORPG).  Now the biggest hits come on the console first and later for the PC. Gone are the days of weak Arcade or PC to home ports.  In fact one of the reasons MMORPGs stay in business is that they keep their system requirements as low as possible for as long as possible so as to no alienate dedicated players who don’t have the time, money or inclination to run to the Best Buy(tm) every time the company decides to launch an upgrade. Of course they do take the risk that their graphics become outdated, but that’s a risk that the folks at Blizzard (for example) are willing to take in order to keep their 11 million subscribers.

Besides, many games these days are more about pretty shade effects, object dynamics and cinematic sequences than actual long play. Might as well buy that game and stick it into your console than to tear out the guts of your machine just to play 10-15 hours of pretty graphics. Your best friend already played the game, finished it and is already downloading the next expansion while your sitting in your bedroom floor tearing bloody clumps of hair wondering why the latest piece of Plug-and-Pray(tm) shit you bought only gives you a blank screen.

I’ll give you this much, some PC games still look pretty, but as you see the trailer below, ask yourself, why is this game PC-exclusive, when you and I both know a Xbox 360 or PS3 could do it without breaking a sweat?

Fire in the Sky (2)

Grand Peterhof Palace, Peterhof, Russian Territory, Earth, Sol System, Orion Arm, 30 March, 08:00 hrs. Local Standard Time

Shaparov waived his hand over the conference table, “Please take a seat.”

To the left of  House de Havilland sat the ambassador to Earth of House Garou, Altain Jorgen whose pointed canine ears twitch in response to every sound in the room. To Edwards right say Jackelyn Carter-Moore, representative from the Imperial Bureaucratic Corp, with her long black hair running the length of her gold trimmed white robes, both front and back. Both seats across from him remained empty. Light streamed from the large floor to ceiling windows. Edward noticed the rich baroque furnishings, from the vases to the ornate frescoes in the ceiling

Shaparov stood by his seat, waiting for the final delegate, “And there she is.”

She glided into the room. Her sapphire blue eyes pierced the young duke’s mind like nothing he had ever seen before. Platinum blond hair flowed in long streams behind her. She had a single escort, a shot hair woman of about the same age with a stern expression on her face.  It was the sight of the second that snapped the duke back into reality.

With a snap of the boots and a bow Shaparov welcomed them, “Thank you for coming, Lady Andrea. Now if you will take a seat, we shall begin.”

Edward took a zip from the glass. He saw the Lady’s impish smile refracted through the water. He cleared his throat to distract him from the burning sensation on the tip of his ears.

Shaparov’s demeanor changed from amiable host to military commander in a heart beat, “Ladies and gentlemen, the reason why you are here is simple.” He took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. ” With your help, I intent to reshape the universe.”

The announcement was greeted with stunned looks of silence by all of the participants except two, Edward Duke of  House de Havilland and Lady Andrea Jessica,  First Daughter of House Kaiser. “For the past three hundred years, the Throne of Stars has remained empty. This was and still is due in grand part to the infighting between and within the Major Houses. We in the Imperial Arm have also contributed to this by our own military actions. Although the intentions of those who held my post were honorable, they were also misguided. One can be a soldier or a ruler, but not both. Soldiers need leaders to follow. Those leaders in turn set the missions to be accomplished and give the soldiers the means to accomplish them. Therefore I propose that,” he waved an open hand toward Edward, “that we find such a leader.”

This time the gesture was greeted with murmurs by the others.

Jorgen spoke first, “House Garou’s position has always been to support any legitimate candidate to the Imperial Throne. Considering that the last Dynasty came from House de Havilland, we believe it to be the logical choice.”

“We have the Duke’s genetic material on record and it is a match to that in the Imperial files. There is a question about parentage–”

“A question that has been asked and answered,” Edward retorted.

“Yes, well the Corps would have to review the records. But if they meet with the established requirements then the path should be clear.”

Edward felt Lady Andrea gaze on him, studying him closely.  Her soft lips move slowly and deliberately with each syllable, “The position of House Kaiser is thus, we make no direct claim to the Throne of Stars. However, we do reserve the right to support or reject any candidate to it, and we will enforce that right by any means necessary.”

She drank from her cup, delaying the moment.  Then she spoke again, “Our approval hinges on one condition.” Her looked directly at Edward with an unflinching stare, “that our Houses be united by marriage.”

“I see. An Emperor needs an Empress, but I did not know that the Duchesses was still available,” Edward replied.

“Not her, me.”

“A union between the eldest and youngest of the Houses would erase any question of legitimacy, would it not Ms. Carter-Moore?” Jorgen added.

“It would help the Duke’s cause, although there is the question of who would take the Duke’s title. After all, once he becomes Emperor, should that happen,  his House would be the Imperial House, not House de Havilland,” added Carter-Moore.

“Indeed, in order to retain the balance of power, the would be Emperor must appoint a successor,” Jorgen said with a flick of his pointed ears.

“That will not be a problem. My cousin is next in line and more than ready to take the position if comes to that. My only question is what you, Grand Marshall, get out of this,” Edward said.

“The only thing that an Emperor could give me and those who have served with loyalty the Empire for hundreds of years, the recognition that we are due.”

“A title of your own. That would elevate the Orion arm to the same level of the other Houses, and deprive the Imperial House of territory,” Edward said.

“However misguided, our loyalty to the Throne of Stars has never wavered.  What is territory compared to the fealty of millions of the best troops in the galaxy standing at the call of the Empire?” Shaparov said.

“A net gain,” Edward said. Turning back his attention across the table, “Which leaves the matter of marriage. You’ll forgive me my Lady if I take sometime to ponder your proposal.”

“I expect no less. But I believe I speak for everyone here when I say that the window of opportunity is small and could close at any moment,” Lady Andrea said.

Now it was Edward’s time to smile, “I understand.”

“If there are no other matters to discuss I call this meeting adjourned. I hope you stay with us until this evening. We planned some modest celebrations in your honor and I hope that you take the time to enjoy them.”

Edward exchanged a last glance with Lady Andrea as group departed the conference table, a move that met with stern disapproval from her escort. On their way back to their quarters Mercer spoke into his duke’s ear, “There was someone missing from the table.”

“I know. But I expect that we will hear from the Han soon enough.”

Fire in the Sky (1)

Castle de Havilland, de Havilland Ducal Seat, World of Mercia, Mercia System,  Sagitarriuss Arm, 3319 CE, 13 March, 6:00 hrs Local Standard Time

Edward, Duke of House de Havilland, ran his hand along the rain slick stone atop the battlements. To one side the raging waves of the Emerald Sea pounded the shoreline a few yards from the base of the castle wall. On the other two lines armored soldiers, clad in the House colors of Blue and Black, waited for their morning inspection.  He looked at the still, gray sky and waited, but no drops came forth. He made his way down the stairs to the courtyard followed by Ronald Mercer, his  Chief of Staff and Einhard  Galenon, Head of Security.

Edward walked in front of the assembled House Guard. In their powered armor they towered over his 6 foot frame. Their faces reflected years of service to House de Havilland . A crop of short gray hair here, a scar there. These men had seen action across many worlds and now stood in attention in front of their top commander a man half their age.

Edward stopped two-thirds down the line in front of one of them, “Geoffrey isn’t it?”

“Yes m’lord, Warrant Officer Geoffrey Lant. Sir!”

“How’s the wife and kids enjoying their new quarters?”

“I bit rainy m’lord, compared to Prairie Marches, that is, but otherwise doing well. My eldest, Chiarra, will be enrolling in the Academy this Fall.”

Edward smiled warmly, “Good. I’ll make sure to keep an eye on her.”

“Thank you m’lord.”

The moment the duke reached the end of the line, the Sergeant-At-Arms bellowed a command, “Alpha Company, dismissed!”

As the platoon broke up Edward spoke to the Sergeant, “Sergeant Miles?”

The ground  trembled with the footsteps of the men in their power armor, “Yes m’lord?”

“I hate to change your training schedule but I want you to run the men through a series of ship security drills.”

“Planning a trip, m’lord?”

Edward did not bat an eye at the tone of the Sergeant’s voice. He had served him and his father for the last twenty-two years and had earned the familiarity, “Could be. I’ll have Einhard give you the details as soon as possible.”

The Sergeant snapped a salute, “Will be ready, m’lord!”

A hosts of servants and officials waited just inside the main door of the keep. Edward answered questions, signed requests and gave orders on the go with his chief advisers just a few step behind. Ronald  closed the door to the duke’s office while Einhard swept for listening devices. Edward unbuttoned the jacket of his tunic and draped it over a chair.

“So, let me have it”, Edward said.

“I,” Ronald exchanged a glance with Einhard, “I mean we, don’t believe this trip is worth the risk. We will be going into the heart of enemy territory–”

“Enemy territory? has your threat assessment changed Einhard?”

Einhard ran a hand through his thinning red hair, “No m’lord, it has not, but Ronald is right. This is a very risky move, both politically and militarily.”

“You think this a ploy to capture or kill me?”

“Everything is possible. Unlikely I admit, but still possible,” Einhard said.

Edward sat down on his desk. His chin rested on his folded hands. “Yes, it is. But the price, gentlemen, the price is well worth the effort.”

Mars Jump Gate, Mars, Sol System, Orion Arm, 29 March, 3319 14:06 Local Standard Time

Seven battlecruisers emerged from the concentric rings that formed the jump gate. On the bridge of his flagship, Colossus, Duke Edward de Havilland observed  the scene before him. Mars dangled like a wet green jewel in space, a tribute to Man’s efforts to tame the planet. Tiny motes of light orbited around the planet.

A voice snapped the young duke from his thoughts, “Comm signal from Mars control. They wish to speak to the Duke.”

“Patch it through,” Edward said.

An image sprang in the air in front of him, “This is Mars Orbital Traffic Control, welcoming you to Mars. The Grand Marshall has been waiting for you. He requests permission to come aboard.”

“Permission granted.”

Edward made his way, with guards and full retinue in tow, to the shuttle bay.  They stopped and waited for their guest to disembark from the shuttle. A several men descended the ramp, one of them holding a case. Edward eyes focused on the man leading the party, Grand Marshall Shaparov. He mentally ticked off the facts he memorized about him. While he was as tall as the duke his features were broad and muscular underneath his crisp red military uniform. Shaparov stopped at the bottom of the ramp and snapped a sharp salute. Not the Imperial salute across the chest, but the conventional military salute to the brow. Edward responded in kind.

The newcomer signaled to one his aides. “I am glad you responded to my request.” He opened  the case, “A token of goodwill from me to you.” Inside the case a double edged sword, with a half moon cross guard gleamed in the light. “I’ve heard of your prowess with the blade. I for one prefer the cavalry saber, but each one has its strengths and weakness, as those everything in life.”

Edward fought the urge to test the blade, thinking it improper to brandish a weapon in front of his guests, “I accept this gift in the spirit in which is given.”

“Great!” Shaparov extended his hand. Edward shook it. His counterpart grip was firm but not crushing.

Shows strength without risking insult.

“Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll like to signal my forces. They must be getting very anxious by now,” Shaparov added.

“Of course, come right this way.”

They made their way back to the Colossus bridge. There Shaparov made his transmission.

The face of the Mars Traffic Controller appeared once again, “Gate unlocked. Escorts are in position.”

Edward kept his eyes on the displays as a group of warships took positions around his taskforce. The rings spun into position. “You are clear to access Mars jump gate.”

“Captain, takes us in,” Edward said.

Anything could be waiting at the other side of this jump, but we made it this far.

His perception shifted slightly, as if he had dosed off for a second.  Before him loomed a dark round object, which peeled away to reveal a blue gem with the familiar continental shapes every school child had learned across the galaxy.

Shaparov noticed Edward’s expression and matched it with a wide smile of his own, “My dear Duke, welcome to Earth.”

1 (or so) Days to NaNo: Counting the Hours to NaNo

The time is 10:11 A.M.

This is is it! Tonight, at 12:00 a.m. local standard time, NaNoWriMo begins. My wounds have healed enough that I can write for an hour or more and hopefully I’ll dump…I mean write a few thousand words in the wee hours of the morning. One thing I learned about NaNo last year is that you have to bank your word count early. The more you write at the beginning, the more time you have when life, and writer’s block hits you upside the head.

I’ll post the opening paragraphs here, the usual bitching and moaning and may be a excerpt or two.

So stay tune.

And good luck with your NaNo 09!

 

2 Days to NaNo: Writer’s Notes/Encyclopedia Galactica

More world building stuff, this time an “encyclopedia” of useful terms. Again, this is a reconstruction, since I lost the original some time ago. Now, in no particular order (and therefore defying the encyclopedic concept|) here are a few terms:

Galactic Empire:  Form of hereditary government that claimed dominion over the whole of the Milky Way Galaxy. Currently defunct.

Throne of Stars: Galactic seat of goverment. Established on Pharriss Prime.

I.C.: Imperial Calendar. Current year 1300. Year Zero 3000 CE.  Not in used outside the central spar.

Imperial Credit Standard: Or ICS (not to be confused with I.C.). Serves as the galactic monetary reserve standard and main form of galactic currency. Comes in two forms- ICS and BICS. ICS covers all transactions except those at the world governments/institutions level, those use the Billion Imperial Credit Standard.

Imperial Governance Bureau: The main bureaucratic/technocratic corp that enabled the Emperor to administer the galaxy. They now control the central spar of the galaxy waiting for a new Emperor to take the Throne of Stars.

Imperial Navy: Main military branch of the Empire. It’s mission was to patrol the trade routes between worlds and uphold  Imperial writ(s).  Currently divided among the House Major with 40% under the control of the Grand Marshall of the Imperial Arm.

Grand Marshall:  Supreme military commander under the Empire.

Gate Network: A series of “jump” gates that allow ships to traverse space at Faster Than Light travel (FTL) and also serve as transmitters for FTL-communication between star systems. Military vessels rely on their own “jump engines” for FTL, but this makes them several orders of magnitude more expensive than not FTL equipped ships.

Imperial Marine Corps:  Support ground units of the Imperial Navy. Specializes in using powered armor for planetary assaults.

House-Major: Political subdivisions of the Empire. Each house controls an arm of the galaxy.  Each Five Houses exists divided into a host of House-Minor.

House Regiments:  Military forces of each House-Major. Considered to be inferior in quality to former Imperial elite forces (Navy/Marines). Most of the these forces serve as planetary garrisons and/or system defense. Since the fall of the Third Dynasty many of the forces have expanded. Some, like the 555th Infantry Regiment of House de Havilland have acquired reputations rivaling the former Imperial counterparts.

The Red Horse: A mercenary “company”. One of many that came to being during the Dark Age.

Dark Age (Galactic): Current area. The last 300 years of galactic history without sans Empire.

Garou: First space-faring alien race encountered by humanity. After a series of wars with humanity the Garou were defeated and assimilated into the Empire. Later, under the Second Dynasty they were ascended to House-Major status.

Dynastic Eras- The galaxy has known three dynastic periods- Kaiser/Han/De Havilland.

Powered Armor- Sophisticated suits of armor that provide omni-environmental protection to ground forces, with expanded sensor suites and enhanced strength/endurance. Basic armament consists of a 27 mm Grad-Mauser  auto-cannon, but can be armed with a series of weapons suites including missile/rocket launchers (direct/indirect fire),  recon/stealth sensor suites and enhanced kinetic or portable energy weapons.

The Void: The space at the edge of known space. The scattered worlds on the galactic rim (the edges of the spiral arm and the outer sphere of the galaxy) do not hold any allegiances to House or Empire.  Also known as the Grey Market, it is home to rebel factions, commerce raiders and the like.  Attempts over the centuries to bring this area over Imperial control have failed. Economist suggest that the Void acts as an “pressure valve” for the “close galactic economy”.

World: Any planet or system with over 100 million inhabitants.  Each world has a governor or some form of representation within the House-Minor/Major structure. They also sport one or more jump gates.

World-Sanctuary:  Worlds reserved for non-human sentient races.

World-Imperial: Worlds controlled directly by Imperial writ. They serve a series of functions, such as libraries or military bases.

—–

Well that’s all I have for now. I’ll add more terms as I remember them.

And now for the obligatory video!