All Quiet on the Swaggish Front

Tusserk

Member since: 2009
Location
Australia

Hi everyone!

Of course we all know it's pretty quiet around here at the moment, and I in noooo way want to try and pile up extra pressure onto Eclipse or anything-- but I do want to say how much I miss seeing all the fresh art getting uploaded, and that I truly can't wait for things to be up and running soundly again, whensoever that might be! I would always be a bouncy little bubble of anticipation waiting for the newest batch of uploads, and though my bounce has died down into more of a quiet, patient, sedentary bubble waiting in the corner... I still check back here pretty frequently, and do wonder how everyone is.

So how are we all?

We finished our campaign last night, and I'm still all a little emotionally wobbly in the guts about it all. That was definitely the single most satisfying roleplaying experience of my life, and last night was definitely a bit of a celebration; we had a majorly impressive feast (cheers to Master Chef Toaster!!), took photos, acted like idiots, had some mind-boggling revelations, mourned the fact that one of our dear board-disrupting cats didn't actually make it to see the end of the campaign (RIP, Brocky) and just generally had a grand, nostalgic, hilarious, fantastic night. That's what it's all about, right?

Art-wise I've admittedly lost a little of my mojo of late; lots of ideas pottering around, but no real drive to work at it. Hopefully that will pick up soon... got a couple of artsy obligations that I promised of people that I really aught to get out of the way within the next few days, so maybe that'll kick start me back into a creative kick. In the meantime, I've been making friends with my piano again.

Hope all you swaggers out there across the globe are well, and here's to everything getting back into action once more... whenever that may be!!

Asok

I visit SWAG at least once a day to check on things, and I'm always a little sad to see the resounding silence right now... So it makes me glad when little things happen. I'd be glad to see some idle chatter, even if there's no new art showing up.

My home group has also taken a Star Wars RPG hiatus, and we've been hitting up the Pathfinder lately. We've started calling it the Adventure Time campaign, and no one takes it too seriously. So yeah, it's pretty awesome.

And I've been working on some cool new projects on the down low. Hopefully sometime this summer I'll have something worthwhile. (Don't tell nobody.)

Boshuda

Casca1967

I have not been gaming due to schedule issues at work, but a friend is getting ready to starta heros unlimited game. I would say campaign but we switch games so fast it's more like a movie trailer is to a movie.

Got a good start on a rendition of my character. He's an armored hero. Not to armored though and with few weapons. He's more of a crime scene investigator type. Mostly a mobile science lab with mini missles.

Asok

Haha, it's like a movie trailer to a movie! Sometimes... sometimes... that's EXACTLY what it's like.

Boshuda

TNJadeonar

Glad to hear about your campaign wrap-up Tusserk!

So does that leave your group sitting at a crossroads now? I mean, is there a "next" campaign starting up anew right where this one ended, or will there be a whole fresh new campaign, new characters & story line?

As for idle time, I'm kinda busy in my personal life at the moment. That and until I get the air conditioner setup again its getting pretty hot in the house to be running my "rendering rig" , so at the most its on only briefly in the daytime to check email and stuff (and the occasional visit here). I still get a bit of test rendering done late at night when the temps are lower and i can open the window for a fresh cool breeze.

As for art renders, I've got a cool little "theme project" started, a secret group on Coruscant called the "Agency" . I've got a cast of characters with full background writeups with render project WIP's for them. The Agency is kinda a similar idea to the original La Femme Nikita tv series from the 1990's, where the secret government Agency performs covert operations that could not normally be politically sanctioned. The operatives themselves are individuals that have stepped on the wrong side of the law and selected for their traits and skills, then further trained and put into service ala indentured servitude... This being Star Wars I've added a few little twists and changes, including that majority of the field agents are also paired with a droid "watchdog & partner" that compliments the character's role.

Anyone curious can see the first character here: Agency Dossier: Ynnara and Stix / Ynnara Closeup

Stay tuned, there is more to come - the Director, Tech Specialist, the Negotiator, Sniper, and several more agents. Maybe even a tagged candidate target or few that I'd do a slightly different style of writeup for.

As for a lul in both SWAG gallery and forum discussion / activity, years ago there used to be a really cool fun and friendly artist weekly contest. The name of the game would first be to suggest weekly art themes and majority popularity decides the winning theme. Then the task would be to (and whomever wanted to) draw an image based on that theme. There's no winners or losers here, just everyone having a fun time drawing images based on the weekly theme and seeing how the chosen theme is interpreted. Each week would be a new thread, or at least each new theme would have its own thread, and the finished artwork posted in the thread. (would have to be in this case - links to photobucket, d.a gallery or wherever since the submission process is still currently backlogged).

________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

If your going to complement me, don't tell me my work is neat, cool or awesome. If you really like it, tell me why you like it and what you like about it. Only then I'll take it as a complement.

Tusserk

Crime scene investigator.... WITH MISSILES!! Haha, I love it, Casca!! (Which reminds me- I'm gonna shoot an email your way!)

Secret projects? From Asok?? Will be looking forward to seeing any of it come to fruition!! My curiosity begs for more details, but since it's all happening on the down-low, I guess I'm just going to have to maintain my careful patience (see me there pretending I am making the choice to be patient!)...

TNJ- very, very neat idea!! Is this something that's being created for the purposes of a game? Or just a story completely of your own devising..? Curious, always curious...

Our campaign ended with a hint as to where our next campaign will begin, though we're not quite sure when that will be, or if all of the same group will be involved (Toaster, for one, is moving to the U.S at some stage in the not-too-distant future). GM even gave us the opening for an aspect of our current characters to remain for the future campaign; the option to play 'regenerated' versions of our current characters, so to speak (all fabulously infused and legitimised with wonderful Force-and-techno-jargon). I decided to take Tusserk into graceful retirement-- neither he nor I were sold on Palpatine's 'master plan'-- so I guess a few IC years down the track he's going to go down with Alderaan. Sniff.

For the time being we're having another go at regular online games via MapTool and voice chat, plain old DnD and nothing too serious at all! (I'm playing a human female. OUTSTANDING!) I'm toying with the idea of attempting to run a really short campaign myself, but I'd have to learn a heck of a lot more about game mechanics before I could make a start.

TNJadeonar

Thanks Tusserk!

I have one online SW forum game that's kinda hiatus - I've been trying to get back to typing up an update post. But thats a game of an entirely different nature.

After I had finished both Archangel's and Derf's character requests, I was putting together a random character render just for myself - kind of in a lul with nothing really specific in mind, and was listening to my Nikita TV series soundtrack cd (one of the better tv series soundtracks imho with tracks like Fluke - Absurd, Depeche Mode's The Love Thieves, Hednoize - Loaded Gun, Curve - Chinese Burn, Morcheeba - Fear & Love, Gus Gus - Gun, etc ).

The soundtrack was put together really well, definitely captures the mood and tone of both the characters and series. I had become inspired and the idea just began coming together like that. Ynnara's back story pretty much wrote itself; while I kept her outfit attire generically stylish enough that the art could be used for a variety of other character types (smuggler, gambler, enforcer, crime lord, etc). I have a lots of "orphaned" render projects and characters i had started but never finished for some reason or other (stumped for ideas or idea just didn't pan out as planned and now will with some slight changes), and a secret agency idea is something I could write backstories for them, while having a good and renewed reason to finish them; albeit towards a useful theme to tie it all together.

This Agency story is intended to be useful for gaming purposes. A setting, backdrop, theme, characters with full bios, and potential plot hooks. Flexible enough that the Agency could be placed in any era and location in the galaxy. Depending on the angle / point of view desired, the Agency could be the good guys, bad guys, or neutral. The characters useful as PC's or NPC's, and just require stats.

So yeah, this is the start of a multi-part series of character renders. If you'd like, I could start a fresh thread for it, and write out the story capsule in better detail than the brief blurb I included for Ynnara.

As for your campaign, sometimes its nice to switch games and/or genres entirely after a long haul after that. Then come back and revisit the character later down the road. I usually end up doing that with my namesake character whom I've had for 10 yrs now. Basically it helps keep them memorable without getting stale or tiresome.
________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

If your going to complement me, don't tell me my work is neat, cool or awesome. If you really like it, tell me why you like it and what you like about it. Only then I'll take it as a complement.

Xanamiar

Well I'm here at least 3 or 4 times a day. Checking the board, making sure everything looks good. Other than that, I browse other forums, and waiting patiently for SWTOR to come out. Til then I'll be on here quite often, just checking everything out.

I hope Eclipse is okay, it's unusual for him to disappear completely for this long. Hopefully he'll be back soon.

Asok

Eclipse is fine, I drop him a line on facebook every so often. I believe he's just busy, and working out some kind of bugs somewhere, somehow...

I would love to see the weekly themed submissions return, if we can muster enough participants!

Boshuda

Michael

Here's a question: What are the rules for Non-Artists such as myself for posting in discussions such as these (Or better yet, are there rules about that)? I just ask because I always feel kinda awkward posting.....

Xanamiar

There are no rules on posting in discussions.. If you can see it, you can post in it.

I'm not an artist either.. Feel free to join all discussions if you have something you'd like to add to it. Just don't take away from it :)

Asok

You can (and should!) post in any forum you have access to! The community forum was designed for the greater SWAG community, so that artists and non-artists could chat freely. Guild members have a few of their own forums, but if you're not a member (a contributing artist, that is), you won't even know about them (BECAUSE THEY ARE INVISIBLE!).

Boshuda

Seghast

I drop by maybe six times a day to see what's happening; I just rarely speak/post anything. I always get a little wary when the site slows down as much as it seems to have lately and worry it's a sign that SWAG may be dying as seems to happen to so many of my favorite sites. Hopefully, though, SWAG has many good years left in it, and we'll see the activity levels pick back up eventually.

My group is on a break from Star Wars (again), and apparently on a break from our DC/Marvel campaigns as well since we haven't got together in weeks now. Blah: we have two separate SW campaigns that are on hiatus, three DC campaigns, and one Marvel. Gives me little to request sans for my writing (and I feel a bit guilty about always asking for that), and many of the general threads just don't seem to draw me in.

I'm always here, though, lurking silently; I've been here since SWAG existed only on the HoloNet forums, and I'll probably be the last to leave.

________
Links removed because the spam filter apparently doesn't like me, but I shall have vengeance. And maybe beer. Beer and vengeance.

TNJadeonar

Well Seghast, I too remember when SWAG first started up in the C&M section at the holonet by way of a few artists posting their artwork in threads which led to holonetters beginning to make requests. :)

Right now there isn't much activity at the holonets either for the past year or two, but its still hanging in there thankfully. I do know that feeling, activity dwindled down to the online community equivalent of a digital ghost town.

I think most of the inactivity at the SWAG forums here in general, are just simply from a lack of new topics posted. The site has decent enough traffic, and lots of people from the holonets and d20radio forums drop by to make requests (which the main reason this siteexists); but as for a definition of a swag online community there's really just a dozen or two of us that actually participate in the discussion forums here.

Ok, so, Asok likes the art theme contest. anyone else? I suppose we could relax the timing of it a bit, not limiting the deadline to a week, to a couple or few weeks for the theme to be open.

Another fun idea would be to start SWAG's very own community filk radio station (thread).

So what is filk?

Filk is the art of fandom spoofing of song lyrics to a particular genre / fandom, usually within sci-fi or fantasy. Fans re-writing (spoofing) song lyrics for fans or making entirely original tunes and lyrics. Filk is similar to Folk, in the general idea that when it's performed live solo or in a small group (and purely for non-profit), its often done in the style of folk music, unplugged / acoustically even with selections from today's popular music. Or sometimes A-Capella, blues, or rock performed styles.

Weird Al Yankovic has already done a few spoof songs on his albums like "Yoda" (original song: Lola), and The Saga Begins (Original song: American Pie). However, Weird Al has made a career out of song spoofing, with a record label and commercially selling cd's. And this is a different territory than Filk, but is a good example of what a filk song would sound commercially reproduced to mimic the original.

Over at both the Holonets and d20radio, FULONGAMER has literally written up a few dozen SW Filks, pretty good quality too. I've done a handful myself. They're not that hard, just a little tricky and it takes a bit of creative thought.

The Art of filking when replacing the wording in lyrics is to do so with the same or less number of syllable count; the overall flow and style of the words have to be the same. So that when your listening to the original tune and reading along with the new filk lyrics, the new words are almost a perfect match.

For example:

Drum - 1 syllable
Son - 1 Syllable

Firecracker = 3 syllables
Lightsaber = 3 syllables
Lightsider = 3 syllables
doomsayer = 3 syllables

"She's a party goer" = 6 syllables
"He's a force user" = 5 syllables, but it fits

So, without further ado...

Oh wait... we still need a couple important things:
1.) No stealing and reposting other filks (Such as those already made by Fulongamer)
2.) Feel free to makeup your own song title and SW group/band/artist/singer name, but credit the original artist and song title under the new band name and song name. Also makes it easier to lookup and listen to the original if its an unfamiliar tune.
3.) A radio station announcer opening blurb is welcome but entirely optional.
4.) Encouragement should be encouraged. Everyone here is encouraged to try their hand at it.
5.) Don't worry about your filk being perfect. Just Have fun!

Now, without further ado... Presenting:

The SWAGOnline Holomusic Network!

Remember gentlebeings, if you can post in the forum here, your part of the SWAG forum community. So don't be shy, give it a try, come on in and participate :)
________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

If your going to complement me, don't tell me my work is neat, cool or awesome. If you really like it, tell me why you like it and what you like about it. Only then I'll take it as a complement.

Xanamiar

I hate to correct you TNJadeonar, but firecracker is actually 4 syllables .. Fi re Crack er ... 4 ....

Actually I lied, I actually enjoy correcting you :)

Asok

Firecracker can be 3 or 4 syllables, depending on your dialect. And even if you speak a dialect where firecracker is 4 syllables, it can easily be condensed to 3.

Boshuda

Tusserk

'Fire' is a bit of an odd word like that. I've just spent the last ten minutes saying 'fire' in as many different ways as I can (my favourite? Basil Fawlty's 'FI-AH! FI-AH! F-F-F-F-FIIIIRE!') and I can't for the life of me decide how many syllables I 'normally' give it.

That aside, I like to think I'd be up for some sort of 'weekly' theme, though I also agree that maybe a bit of a longer time frame than a week might help. ;) And this would be something that non-guild members could get in on too, right?

Asok

Maybe monthly themes would better suit our busy lives... And I think anyone with any means of sharing (ie hotlinking) a piece of art can and ought to participate! FULL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION!

Boshuda

TNJadeonar

So I stand corrected :)

Monthly themes I think would be a good idea.

Full community participation? Why not?

________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

If your going to complement me, don't tell me my work is neat, cool or awesome. If you really like it, tell me why you like it and what you like about it. Only then I'll take it as a complement.

Michael

Okay then, thanks for clearing that up guys.

In that case, my group has kinda taken a break when it comes to Star Wars (although we should be picking a campaign back up next time we meet). We've mostly been doing AD&D 2nd Edition for the past couple of months, but for May, our main GM has been in Australia, so we've only met once this month with his son who is was trying out GMing. So all in all, it's been pretty quite here.

I probably check in maybe 2-3 times a day, just to see what's happening. Also, I'm home schooled so I have no life.

Monthly Theme Drawings?! Full community participation?! Heck yes!! I can't wait to show off my awesome stick-figure drawing skills!

Asok

You play AD&D? That is OLD-SCHOOL! My group picked up Pathfinder recently, and we LOVE it. It is the greatest thing ever. I'm still trying to convince people to try Marvel RPG, but so far I've only won over my little brothers (and that was an INTERESTING experiment!).

Boshuda

TNJadeonar

Way cool... last time I played AD&D 2nd Edition was in the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series of computer games. Its still a pretty decent rule system, if you don't mind the THAC0. I liked that it had different weapon speeds taken into account.

So, Asok.. Since your one of the actual guild members, did you want the honors of kicking off the monthly art challenge thread?
________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

If your going to complement me, don't tell me my work is neat, cool or awesome. If you really like it, tell me why you like it and what you like about it. Only then I'll take it as a complement.

Tusserk

Hahaha, I had a taste of 2nd Ed when the GM of our online-tabletop game gave us a 'dream sequence' session, just for laughs. We had our asses handed to us by a hydra... thank goodness it was just a dream sequence.

Asok, you aught to come GM over here some time! I know half a dozen folk who would be ALL OVER a Marvel RPG like criminal masterminds over a shard of precious trinium.

Drig

I've been quiet cause I just got laid off, no internet makes things hard. I've got a ton of things brewing though. I maybe quiet but I'm still swaggin!

Xanamiar

Sorry to hear it Drig... hope you get a new job soon... I'm sure you can get into the artside of things...