Le suilon.
Past readers will notice that, in my first character sheet reviews, I ask a lot of little details about character sheets. Do I honestly expect every single thing about a character to be answered? No.
Asking questions in a critique is designed not only to point out things that should probably be added, but also to make the creator thing about the character sheet - and if those questions should be answered in a sheet or not.
Sometimes, not explaining a lot about a character could be perfectly acceptable - and preferable. If the character is an average person with a relatively uneventful life, then we don't need pages of details (note: this does not mean other characters with eventful lives need all of it spelled out, either - save that stuff for writing books).
Likewise, if a character is young - a novice, a knave, a squire, that sort of thing - then not a lot of information could be available.
Also consider in-character motivation: if your character has amnesia, you could put less down for his or her character by virtue of that character not knowing - and, therefore, the information is unavailable.
Or, perhaps the character is a spy and is destined to betray the group. Why put that in the character sheet? It should only be alluded to, at best, and not very obviously at all, either.
Maybe the character is secretive and doesn't want to be personally known by other characters. It defeats the purpose of being secretive if all the other players know that, even if their characters don't.
Not many people can have knowledge of a character before playing, yet have their characters act as though they know nothing. This is why it is important to consider what to leave in and what to take out. If it says in the character sheet that your character is a wolf in sheep's clothing, can the other players guarantee that they won't be affected by it?
Probably not, for the majority. The majority would probably act as though they don't know, but would find reasons to distrust the character where they might not have, before.
This is why it is important to consider what to share and what not to share.
Sometimes details are trivial, as well. It is necessary for the player to know the trivial details, the little things - favorite colors, childhood pets, parents' names, that sort of thing. However, it is unnecessary for all of that information to be on a character sheet meant to familiarize other people with the character. The finer details are matters that naturally come up - or don't - in small ways in a role play.
Another issue about details is the problem of adding too much. When you write a paragraph just detailing how your character's hair looks, at least a noticeable percentage are going to be inclined to scroll right past most of it.
Sometimes less is more. Readers can draw conclusions and use their imaginations for many finer physical details, after all.
If a history is necessary to help us understand the character, consider that it shouldn't be bogged down with paragraphs of canon material the readers should already know. It should involve significant events - briefly, of course, because significant events in detail can often warrant stories instead of summations and motives.
The character should also not disturb suspension of disbelief. Many times, when I ask questions, it's to point out that it's grown so unbelievable that I have to ask "Why? How does this make sense?"
Remember: not all of my questions need to be answered in the character sheet. They're only a way of illustrating how I think the character is faulty in logical composition and suggesting questions that might help (or might hinder) if they were answered.
Namárië.
29.7.10
26.7.10
Armor: Part An: Types
Le suilon.
Sometimes in games, fan fictions, books, or role plays, I'll come across incorrect information varying from insane (such as gold armor) to dumb general misconceptions (that armor is so heavy that knights were lifted onto their horses by a system of pulleys - blame Twain for that remark). This is a pet peeve of mine.
Typically, I see errors the most in role plays, so I will be referring mostly to them in my examples.
The information I'm giving is very bare bones and only comes from my still limited research (there are probably enough books on the matter to at least fill a small library and one can never have too much research). However, it's a good place to start, I suppose.
It is important to know what the hell you're talking about in a role play. It shows effort and understanding, it keeps you in better character, and it cuts down on cumbersome phrases, like, "On his shoulders are oval-shaped white plated of curved armor."
Typically, there are three fairly known kinds of metal European armor. At least, from what I've noticed in playing RPGs on my computer and have seen from other people doing the same.
These would be: plate, chain, and scale. These are often called platemail, chainmail, and scalemail in modern role-playing, despite the fact that "mail" comes from a word meaning "chain."
Depending on your audience, very few people will feel the need to call you out if you refer to plate armor as platemail. Heck, sometimes I still do it from a lifetime of playing games that use such vocabulary.
Scale armor is similar to a type of armor called lamellar armor, which is more common in Asian cultures and is made of small plates of armor laced together in rows. Though, according to wikipedia, a big difference between the two is that scale armor has backing. It is also more flexible than lamellar.
Plate armor! This is actually what role players or people into Dungeons and Dragons would call full plate.
Plate armor, as we know it, was actually a later creation, coming into play around the thirteenth century to help reinforce mail armor (that is, chain). Before that, it was used as early as Roman days to protect the torso and arms, but was expensive and not really the best.
Plate armor can be used to cover a fighter from head to toe in interlocking sheets of metal. Some plate armor allowed such flexibility that a fully armored knight could do a somersault. Another entry will fully detail the names of all these pieces, beyond the obvious chestplate (breastplate - which does include the backplate, by the way).
Chainmail!! Another beautiful classic. Chain armor is armor made of interwoven metal links. It's not good for sneaking around in - not that any metal armor is any good for that. Because "mail" means "chain," you can really just refer to chain armor as mail. Chainmail is a relatively new term. I like it, though.
There are different words for chain shirts, though.
Hauberk refers to a chain tunic, long sleeved, that reaches to the knee. A haubergeon goes to mid thigh, and a byrnie only reaches the waist. There are more mail garments, but that will have to wait for another time.
Like all armors, the effectiveness largely relies on the make of the individual piece. If mail is made with wide links and it isn't very closely knitted, you're going to have trouble with thinner piercing weapons, like arrows and rapiers.
However, well-made, closely knitted chain of respectably small, but not too small, links was very effective against nearly any medieval weapon. Of course, thickness of the links also matters.
That isn't to say that weapons couldn't break through mail armor, though. Quite the opposite. No plain armor is impervious. Just research more fully than this brief overview, and judge for yourself.
Note that it was also a used tactic to get around the armor, instead of through it. Remember: always armor your thighs. Major arteries rest there, and you can bleed out QUICK if they're cut.
Also note that chain is only protective against cuts and piercing. Bludgeoning weapons are... going to hurt. And sword blows may not cause you to bleed out, but they'll still HURT.
Finally, just remember that there is a lot I haven't gone into, here. While wikipedia isn't a good resource for everything, it is actually a good starting point for armor, and the information I've seen does appear to be largely correct. If you're lazy, at least read through most of the wikipedia articles.
Next time, I'll have an abridged list of sources and diagrams for plate armor.
Namárië.
Sometimes in games, fan fictions, books, or role plays, I'll come across incorrect information varying from insane (such as gold armor) to dumb general misconceptions (that armor is so heavy that knights were lifted onto their horses by a system of pulleys - blame Twain for that remark). This is a pet peeve of mine.
Typically, I see errors the most in role plays, so I will be referring mostly to them in my examples.
The information I'm giving is very bare bones and only comes from my still limited research (there are probably enough books on the matter to at least fill a small library and one can never have too much research). However, it's a good place to start, I suppose.
It is important to know what the hell you're talking about in a role play. It shows effort and understanding, it keeps you in better character, and it cuts down on cumbersome phrases, like, "On his shoulders are oval-shaped white plated of curved armor."
Typically, there are three fairly known kinds of metal European armor. At least, from what I've noticed in playing RPGs on my computer and have seen from other people doing the same.
These would be: plate, chain, and scale. These are often called platemail, chainmail, and scalemail in modern role-playing, despite the fact that "mail" comes from a word meaning "chain."
Depending on your audience, very few people will feel the need to call you out if you refer to plate armor as platemail. Heck, sometimes I still do it from a lifetime of playing games that use such vocabulary.
From: Renaissance Magazine:
SCALE ARMOR: Small rectangular plates of metal, attached to a leather or linen coat, lighter and more flexible than mail.
Scale armor is similar to a type of armor called lamellar armor, which is more common in Asian cultures and is made of small plates of armor laced together in rows. Though, according to wikipedia, a big difference between the two is that scale armor has backing. It is also more flexible than lamellar.
Plate armor! This is actually what role players or people into Dungeons and Dragons would call full plate.
Plate armor, as we know it, was actually a later creation, coming into play around the thirteenth century to help reinforce mail armor (that is, chain). Before that, it was used as early as Roman days to protect the torso and arms, but was expensive and not really the best.
Plate armor can be used to cover a fighter from head to toe in interlocking sheets of metal. Some plate armor allowed such flexibility that a fully armored knight could do a somersault. Another entry will fully detail the names of all these pieces, beyond the obvious chestplate (breastplate - which does include the backplate, by the way).
Chainmail!! Another beautiful classic. Chain armor is armor made of interwoven metal links. It's not good for sneaking around in - not that any metal armor is any good for that. Because "mail" means "chain," you can really just refer to chain armor as mail. Chainmail is a relatively new term. I like it, though.
There are different words for chain shirts, though.
Hauberk refers to a chain tunic, long sleeved, that reaches to the knee. A haubergeon goes to mid thigh, and a byrnie only reaches the waist. There are more mail garments, but that will have to wait for another time.
Like all armors, the effectiveness largely relies on the make of the individual piece. If mail is made with wide links and it isn't very closely knitted, you're going to have trouble with thinner piercing weapons, like arrows and rapiers.
However, well-made, closely knitted chain of respectably small, but not too small, links was very effective against nearly any medieval weapon. Of course, thickness of the links also matters.
That isn't to say that weapons couldn't break through mail armor, though. Quite the opposite. No plain armor is impervious. Just research more fully than this brief overview, and judge for yourself.
Note that it was also a used tactic to get around the armor, instead of through it. Remember: always armor your thighs. Major arteries rest there, and you can bleed out QUICK if they're cut.
Also note that chain is only protective against cuts and piercing. Bludgeoning weapons are... going to hurt. And sword blows may not cause you to bleed out, but they'll still HURT.
Finally, just remember that there is a lot I haven't gone into, here. While wikipedia isn't a good resource for everything, it is actually a good starting point for armor, and the information I've seen does appear to be largely correct. If you're lazy, at least read through most of the wikipedia articles.
Next time, I'll have an abridged list of sources and diagrams for plate armor.
Namárië.
22.7.10
New Management
Le suilon.
I'm sure people who notice the name change and the even more jarring bright visual change are wondering what in blue blazes is going on. Well, it's a long story, and so on and at the end of the day, I'm not going to share the full details right now.
However, after the issues with Ryuu saying a particularly rude thing about me (But you deserve it! Well, maybe I deserve bad treatment, but I don't take kindly to being accused of things I find atrocious and being lied about, especially not to my loved ones.), it was decided tactically best if I at least temporarily step down and let Rinku in charge, as my second, of the blog and all final matters involving Ryuu.
While Rinku handles that, I have not much to do. For anyone who noted, I elected to abstain from all Ryuu-related posts until the matter is settled one way or another. Since Ryuu seems to be completely opposed to reaching any resolution, favorable or unfavorable, I'm just sorta stuck here. So, out of boredom, Rinku and I reached this compromise.
My compatriots will still be doing new Ryuu based posting, more likely than not. However, I will eventually, with Rinku's blessing, be moving on to other things for the time being.
For all fans and haters of the Ryuu blog Epic Failure, don't despair or get your hopes up. All the posts, including unpublished drafts, will be saved under the tag of "Epic Failure" and retro-dated to the day January 1, 2010. This way, they will be easily accessed without mucking up the works. At least, mine will be.
More information will follow on the particulars, of course. Right now, I have to clean up the old stuff and stick it in the back.
New Ryuu posts will not be moved to the old archives.
Namárië!
I'm sure people who notice the name change and the even more jarring bright visual change are wondering what in blue blazes is going on. Well, it's a long story, and so on and at the end of the day, I'm not going to share the full details right now.
However, after the issues with Ryuu saying a particularly rude thing about me (But you deserve it! Well, maybe I deserve bad treatment, but I don't take kindly to being accused of things I find atrocious and being lied about, especially not to my loved ones.), it was decided tactically best if I at least temporarily step down and let Rinku in charge, as my second, of the blog and all final matters involving Ryuu.
While Rinku handles that, I have not much to do. For anyone who noted, I elected to abstain from all Ryuu-related posts until the matter is settled one way or another. Since Ryuu seems to be completely opposed to reaching any resolution, favorable or unfavorable, I'm just sorta stuck here. So, out of boredom, Rinku and I reached this compromise.
My compatriots will still be doing new Ryuu based posting, more likely than not. However, I will eventually, with Rinku's blessing, be moving on to other things for the time being.
For all fans and haters of the Ryuu blog Epic Failure, don't despair or get your hopes up. All the posts, including unpublished drafts, will be saved under the tag of "Epic Failure" and retro-dated to the day January 1, 2010. This way, they will be easily accessed without mucking up the works. At least, mine will be.
More information will follow on the particulars, of course. Right now, I have to clean up the old stuff and stick it in the back.
New Ryuu posts will not be moved to the old archives.
Namárië!
20.7.10
Ryuu's Straight Pride
As was already pointed out, Ryuu is unabashedly homophobic, and we have a bit of a problem with that. Perhaps this is what he's talking about when he says that we "slam" his religion, which is, of course, patently absurd. Many Christians don't believe that being gay/bi/trans is wrong, and feel that other Christians who attempt to use the religion to discriminate against LGBTs are simply appropriating Christianity to justify their hate and insecurity. Simply speaking, to say that calling out bigotry is "slamming [Ryuu's] religion" implies that either Ryuu has made a religion out of bigotry, or he believes that homophobia is an intrinsic part of Christianity and all those LGBT-friendly Christians simply aren't being good Christians.
Of course, even if he did make a religion out of bigotry, even if homophobia was an intrinsic part of Christianity, to insist that criticism of such is "slamming" is ridiculous, and borderline offensive. Any religious belief used to justify discrimination NEEDS to be called out. Bigotry NEEDS to be brought to light. Just because you insist that it's a religious belief doesn't, and shouldn't, protect it from criticism, especially if it encourages discrimination against human beings. And, yes, bigotry is deplorable and makes you worthy of being ridiculed.
Thus comes the topic of Ryuu's "Straight Pride".
Where's the straight love, you ask?
Look around you. It's everywhere.
See, Ryuu suffers from a common affliction known as 'straight privilege'. It's one of many forms that 'privilege' can take, along with 'male privilege', 'Christian privilege', 'cisgender privilege', and 'white privilege', to name a few. A sign that someone is afflicted with privilege is the assumption that their trait, because it's shared by the ruling majority of the population, is the "normal" and "default" trait. Because of this, they are benefited in society by simply having these traits, often without being aware of it.
No one bats an eye when a man talks about his wife or girlfriend. A cisgender woman has no second thoughts when she enters the women's restroom. There's no shortage of straight people in the media, and everyone is assumed to be straight until further notice. This is a result of privilege, and it's why "straight pride" is a ridiculous concept.
Straight, heteronormative people don't have to think about their sexuality or their gender -- that is, until a minority group shows up.
Why does Gay Pride exist? Because gay people (and LGBT people in general) are discriminated against, simply for being gay. They're told that being gay is shameful and wrong, that it's abnormal, and that they aren't deserving of the same rights as straight people. Sometimes they're mocked and intimidated for being gay, and sometimes they're physically beaten or killed. Gay Pride is a response to such treatments, as a way of saying that there is nothing shameful about being gay, that diversity is a good thing, and that gay people are just as wholesome and normal as the rest of the population. It's a way of fighting back against a campaign that aims to push them back into obscurity.
Straight people don't have to deal with this. There is no campaign trying to push straights into the closet. There is no underabundance of straights in the media. Straights don't have to worry about being fired, or beaten, or killed for being straight (unless, of course, they're mistaken for a gay person). Straight parents never have to worry that their children will be taken away from them because of their straightness. Being straight, in this society, is something that they never have to think about -- until they see a gay person.
This is why nobody has "straight pride," except directly as a response to "gay pride". It's not about being proud of your sexuality, but about putting gay people back in their "place". It's about insisting that the spotlight never move from the straight person. It's about belittling the discrimination that gay people regularly have to face. It's about silencing the minority.
Of course, Ryuu and folks like Ryuu claim that heterosexuals are discriminated against all the time. After all, even we "slammed" him and called him a bigot. Oooh, shame on us. We called a bigot a bigot. Just like all the other anti-gay people are "slammed" and called naughty names.
Frankly, even if we called him a bigot unjustly (and we haven't), if being called names is the worst that he has to deal with, he's doing a pretty damned good job. Either way, that's certainly not an assault on his heterosexuality, nor is it bashing Christianity. He only had to remember his religion and his sexuality for a moment, and then he could merrily go on his way, not having to worry about the consequences of mentioning that he has a girlfriend. And I'm willing to bet he'll have forgotten about his "straight pride" until the next time he's reminded that gay people exist.
Of course, even if he did make a religion out of bigotry, even if homophobia was an intrinsic part of Christianity, to insist that criticism of such is "slamming" is ridiculous, and borderline offensive. Any religious belief used to justify discrimination NEEDS to be called out. Bigotry NEEDS to be brought to light. Just because you insist that it's a religious belief doesn't, and shouldn't, protect it from criticism, especially if it encourages discrimination against human beings. And, yes, bigotry is deplorable and makes you worthy of being ridiculed.
Thus comes the topic of Ryuu's "Straight Pride".
Ryuu's comment:
Very true, I must say. We straight people don't get enough love. There's all this gay-promotion going on and for the most part it's like society's trying to make it look like... well, let me quote your comment, here...
"What is this? Let's tolerate gay people but give straights a hard time?", end quote.
Exactly my thoughts.
Where's the straight love? I'm glad to see something like this. Thank you, much!
Where's the straight love, you ask?
Look around you. It's everywhere.
See, Ryuu suffers from a common affliction known as 'straight privilege'. It's one of many forms that 'privilege' can take, along with 'male privilege', 'Christian privilege', 'cisgender privilege', and 'white privilege', to name a few. A sign that someone is afflicted with privilege is the assumption that their trait, because it's shared by the ruling majority of the population, is the "normal" and "default" trait. Because of this, they are benefited in society by simply having these traits, often without being aware of it.
No one bats an eye when a man talks about his wife or girlfriend. A cisgender woman has no second thoughts when she enters the women's restroom. There's no shortage of straight people in the media, and everyone is assumed to be straight until further notice. This is a result of privilege, and it's why "straight pride" is a ridiculous concept.
Straight, heteronormative people don't have to think about their sexuality or their gender -- that is, until a minority group shows up.
Ryuu comments:
Man x Woman? Yes, please! Thank you for posting this!
Why does Gay Pride exist? Because gay people (and LGBT people in general) are discriminated against, simply for being gay. They're told that being gay is shameful and wrong, that it's abnormal, and that they aren't deserving of the same rights as straight people. Sometimes they're mocked and intimidated for being gay, and sometimes they're physically beaten or killed. Gay Pride is a response to such treatments, as a way of saying that there is nothing shameful about being gay, that diversity is a good thing, and that gay people are just as wholesome and normal as the rest of the population. It's a way of fighting back against a campaign that aims to push them back into obscurity.
Straight people don't have to deal with this. There is no campaign trying to push straights into the closet. There is no underabundance of straights in the media. Straights don't have to worry about being fired, or beaten, or killed for being straight (unless, of course, they're mistaken for a gay person). Straight parents never have to worry that their children will be taken away from them because of their straightness. Being straight, in this society, is something that they never have to think about -- until they see a gay person.
This is why nobody has "straight pride," except directly as a response to "gay pride". It's not about being proud of your sexuality, but about putting gay people back in their "place". It's about insisting that the spotlight never move from the straight person. It's about belittling the discrimination that gay people regularly have to face. It's about silencing the minority.
It's like a child asking their parents why they have a Mother's day and a Father's day, but no Children's Day, and his parents say that it's because every day is children's day.
You don't need to remind people that you have rights.
You don't need to fight to be treated like a human being.
You don't have a reason to be proud to be straight.
When you're kicked out of your home, beaten, and treated like shit for holding hands with someone of the opposite sex, then you can go around parading this crap. But until then, shut the fuck up, you never had to do anything to be accepted. It's like being proud of having fingernails.
"The most important political step that any gay man or lesbian can take is to come out of the closet. It's been proven that it is easier to hate us and to fear us if you can't see us." --Amanda Bearse
Of course, Ryuu and folks like Ryuu claim that heterosexuals are discriminated against all the time. After all, even we "slammed" him and called him a bigot. Oooh, shame on us. We called a bigot a bigot. Just like all the other anti-gay people are "slammed" and called naughty names.
Frankly, even if we called him a bigot unjustly (and we haven't), if being called names is the worst that he has to deal with, he's doing a pretty damned good job. Either way, that's certainly not an assault on his heterosexuality, nor is it bashing Christianity. He only had to remember his religion and his sexuality for a moment, and then he could merrily go on his way, not having to worry about the consequences of mentioning that he has a girlfriend. And I'm willing to bet he'll have forgotten about his "straight pride" until the next time he's reminded that gay people exist.
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