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Lazzy the Spazzy

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  1. Lazzy the Spazzy

    Story Fit! =]

    By Lazzy the Spazzy,

    Some of you may have heard of Exo-Fat's new RPG Fit Program. Due to its success, I'm starting a similar program for story writing rather than role-playing, named the Story Fit.
     
    Each week I will post a new prompt or task of sorts, such as a one-word theme to write a story around, or an idea to incorporate into your work. Other than that, you will have complete freedom with what to write – you can write your story in the Short Stories, Comedies, COT forum, or even in the Epics forum. Once you do, post to that week's blog post with a link to your story. There is no deadline for completing the tasks, unlike with the RPG Fit, so you can take as long as you need to write your story -- you still have to write it though. xD
     
    The basic idea here is to improve the writing skills of participants through weekly "exercises". But for members who aren't satisfied just with the prospect of becoming better writers, I will also use a point system similar to Exo-Fat's for extra incentive. You get points for completing the exercises, reviewing other members' stories, or inviting other people to join.
     
    If you want to, sign up here and I'll add you to the members list. Happy writing!
     

    Exercises 
    Season 1
    1/20/10
    1/27/10
    2/3/10
    2/10/10
    2/17/10
    2/24/10

    3/3/10 3/12/10 (Special)
    4/2/10 (Finale)
     
    Season 2
    4/3/10


    Members Akai Hana no Tenshi
    Rising Moon
    Rockhound
    protohuman
    Rassiter
    -Tilius-
    Emperor Alex Humva
    Rising Moon
    ~LG~
    ~Monday~
    Yukiko
    The Iron God
    snoopy82
    Toa Velox
    Lady Kopaka
    Grant-Sud
    Parugi
    .:Makutox The Nomad:.
    Contrary
    Spink
    AZBlue
    Ardros
    Toa Spirit
    Neelh
    Senjo
    Hahli Husky
    MechaFizz
    Saiph
    {Zaxvo}
    Lewa Krom
     

  2. Lazzy the Spazzy
    For an explanation of what the Story Fit is, please go here.
     
    Each week I'll post an exercise. This is the entry for the exercise of the week of January 20-26. Since this is the first week of the Story Fit, we'll start off with a simpler task -- a one-word prompt:
     

    Transformation

    Write a story revolving around the theme of transformation. You may interpret it literally or figuratively. There is no word limit or any other constraints -- the only requirement is that the story contain this theme. Feel free to put forth ideas on stories if you're not too sure about what you want to write. Note: You do not have to complete this task by the 26th, as there is no deadline for the Story Fit project. However, since new exercises will be given out each week, you should still work on your stories to prevent too many tasks from piling up...procrastination won't be pretty.
     
    Once you write your story, post here with a link to it. Extra points will also be awarded to those members who review other Story Fit members' stories. This will not only give you practice with writing but also reviewing, as well as promote an exchange of ideas and styles within the BZP Writers Community.
     
    At the end of the week we will vote for the "Writer of the Week" based on whose story is everyone's favorite.



  3. Lazzy the Spazzy
    Well, this is it.
     

     
    All joking aside, in less than three days now, I'm going off to college. Which means that the day I've anticipated, sometimes dreaded, but always prepared for, has come. It's time for me to say goodbye to BZPower. I don't really know how I feel. Yeah, of course I'll miss BZP and all the memories and connections I've made here. But, knowing for a year and a half that this was the day that I'd have to say a final goodbye has helped me come to terms with that. I've 'quit' BZP before, but this time I'm pretty sure it'll be different. I don't think I'll miss it enough to want to come back. And I've done so much these past eight months, enough to last me a few years I think, so I don't mind setting this obligation to rest.
     
    That's probably not the right word, 'obligation'...well to be honest, BZP did used to be an obligation for me. In 2007 and 2008 I felt more like BZP was something that I had to do, but I didn't want to, and it sort of stifled and restricted me. So why not quit? Well, I did, more than once. But each time I did, I started to only have memories of the good things in BZP, not the bad, so that always made me want to come back.
     
    I guess what I've come to realize as I went through my last year of BZP going above and beyond and doing more than I've done in the three years before, is that it's really all in the mindset. I told myself I had to do BZP and that I didn't want to, so that's what happened. This time I chose to treat it as what it was in the beginning, something I do for fun. And as expected, I had a lot of fun.
     
    There's another thing too. BZPower by itself has never been what I've liked, what I've tried to quit from and what I've always returned to. No, what it was, was the connections I made, the people I met, the friends and even good friends that I've made on BZP. It was the people that made me want to come back, the idea of having such connections that made BZP so addicting.
     
    So I've made a sort of 'thank you list' of people I want to, well, thank. Maybe we've been IM buddies for a year or more. Maybe we only shared one PM conversation. Whatever it was, I want to thank you for making my four year stay on BZPower meaningful, and I've tried to include everyone here, hoping that I didn't forget anyone.
     
    But before that, a considerably shorter list about me. More specifically, about things I'm proud of that I've done here. I sometimes find myself thinking about what I didn't do and what I could've done, but I'd rather focus on the positive.
     
    Things I'm proud of
     
    Won a BZP Contest: I accomplished this my first year, which was really surprising to me because I didn't think I could do it. That was really fun though, knowing that I met one of my goals I set for myself. And then another one, a team contest this time, which was better, I guess because it felt like we won as, well, a team.
     
    Made it to the Top 100 Overall Posters: I dreamed like every new member of racking up a high post count. Sort of forgot about that over the years as I found more fun things to look forward to in BZPower, but it's nice that I finally made it onto the list near the end of my time here. I'll probably fall off the list soon as others get more posts than little soon-to-be-inactive me, but just making it once was enough. =]
     
    Ran an RPG: I did this for two years until the RPG closed, though it was more of a failure than a success for me. Even so, all the mistakes I made as an RPG Moderator have at least taught me what not to do, so I'm grateful for that. As my last day drew closer, I kept getting thoughts of wanting to start and run another RPG, though I knew I wouldn't have the time to...and I would've had to leave anyone who joined out in the cold once I left. But after failing as an RPG Moderator the first time around, and spending more than half a year as just a 'regular' RPer to get back to the basics, I think if I had the chance, I'd be able to run an RPG successfully and fairly this time. Who knows? The experience is something I'm grateful for, at least.
     
    Ran the Story Fit: I know I canceled it a couple of months after it started, and sometimes I wonder if I should have kept it going. Even if it was only one person who participated, that could still be considered a success. Still, it was fun while it lasted, and I liked how the SS forum jumped in activity when I ran it. The Libraries always felt like one of the under-appreciated forums to me, and I'm glad that the BZP News Team is finally acknowledging the wonderful work that our writers and artists do. I hope someday the Libraries will be as busy as the other forums.
     
    Made People Laugh: Is that servile or not? But really, I liked it when I made people's days with my posts or blog entries. I try to lighten the mood, especially in the RPG forums where things can sometimes get melodramatic, so it's always nice when I succeed.
     
    Ran a Story Arc: After years of trying in the BZPRPG, I'm glad I finally managed to not only start a story arc but also end one successfully. I know, RPing in the thing counts as contributing too, but I felt like, having been a role-player for four years in the same RPG, I wanted something to show for it, you know? I'm sorry for being selfish in that regard, but my deepest thanks to everyone who participated and supported me in my quest for a complete story arc.
     
    Speaking of which, I guess it's time to get to my Thank-You List. This accomplishments thing has gotten too long already.
     
    People I Want to Thank
     
    Dr. Bionicle: You probably won't see this, but thanks for inspiring me to become a role-player. I've been re-reading the old Academy topic these past few months, and man were we Acad noobs a handful. If it were me I would've given up after the first week, but you dealt with us with so much patience. Thank you for that.
     
    EmperorWhenua 2.0: Wow. I have so much to say I don't know what to put on here. Thanks for being someone I can call a best friend on here. For all the moments we've shared, on AIM and off of it. The T-shirts, the mutual *glomp*ing, you giving me that lateral promotion from slave to toy, etc. You're funny, eccentric, nice, patient, and everything else, and I admire and respect you for that. I hope you continue to have fun with BZP and real life. Congrats again on Eagle Scout and Man Scout status. You earned it. =]
     
    Emzee: Thanks for RPing with me this last year. It was nice that I finally got to know you as more than just a name on the list of staff. Have fun with the rest of the 2010 storyline! Here's to hoping your master plan with the mods goes well.
     
    Female BZPRPGer: Gato, Gato, Gato. I have dozens of cherished memories of you, not least of which is that genderbending confusion, that Russian sleep experiment thing, your huge gallery, the 'herpaderp' in chatrooms, and finally your charming sarcastic wit. Loved your comments in the GD and the metagaming Ga. I think I can say I consider you one of my close friends here on BZP, and I'm glad I got to know you. Thanks for all the awesome memories!
     
    Friar Tuck: Friar, thanks for being here these past couple of years. As with Emzee, I'm glad I got to know you as a member this time...the wacky chatroom moments were great, and I hope you continue to have fun modding the BZPRPG. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Joske. =]
     
    GaliGee: GG, I can't thank you enough. You were one of the main reasons I was inspired to join BZPower in the first place...in November 2005 I stumbled onto your epic, Tangled Web, and I was mesmerized. I remember how, in your review topic, you'd take the time to answer the comments of each and every one of us...that's part of what gave me the idea of doing this list. Thanks for being so nice to us, and for treating us with more respect than we deserve. I hope that you'll achieve your goal of getting a book published...what am I saying, I'm sure you will.
     
    Hahli Husky: Thanks for hosting all those contests, and leading one of the coolest forums in BZP. Besides the RPG forum, of course. ;P Also, thanks for hosting the Redwall RPG way back when.
     
    Hak: Thanks for being a buddy to me, trading reviews of each other's epics, RPing in the Acad...fun times. I hope that whatever you're doing now is going well for you. Thanks for everything. =]
     
    Khote: Thanks for being one of my first friends! If not for all your help and kindness those first few weeks with the Academy RPG, I probably would have dropped out. Speaking of your kindness, thanks for going out of your way to make that MoC of Lazok. I don't know if you'll ever see this, but if you do, I'm using those MoCs as my blog's sideboxes right now. =]
     
    King Sharkticus CXII: Oh, Shark. Despite all the poking fun at you in chatrooms, I really do value that you've been a friend to me all these years. The weird conversations, the wacky jams and RPs...Zezak and Lazok make a good comedy duo, I must say. With Lazok being the straight man, and Zezak the funny man. But yeah, thanks for all the fun times!
     
    Kiotu: I'm sorry I can't collaborate with you on that arena RPG. I hope you're able to submit it to a contest though! It was nice brainstorming with you for all of...one month? =P Thanks for the experience.
     
    Lady Kopaka: I still remember that time in '06 when I checked my inbox and got this PM from you. I thought of you as a legend at the time with all your artwork, so I was surprised to get a PM to little old me. I regret that we never got to interact more, with the group epic thing being discarded before we even started and then my never fulfilling my promise of reviewing all your works of art...and even the BZPRPG. I'll have you know you made me stay four months more than I had planned, thank you very much. =P But really, thank you for that...if that hadn't happened, I probably wouldn't have accomplished so much in these last couple of months. I hope that your health gets better and your life less busy. Some parting advice I guess, would be, don't be too hard on yourself with deadlines and all. Focus on your own well-being sometimes, yeah? =]
     
    Lloyd: the White Wolf: Thanks for the four years of memories, Lloyd. I enjoyed jamming with you, doing those survey things...you were always the serious one in our little groups. Thanks for everything.
     
    Lord Dunsparce of York: I'll always think of you as Jolek, personally. I still remember how, back in January or February or so, even though it was fun to have someone new to RP with, I was a bit annoyed that I had to change Lazok's text color so as not to confuse it with Jolek's. I forgive you. =P j/k But definitely, thank you for RPing with me. It was nice to have an RPing buddy, and a repeat of the connections we built from RPing together helped me deal with my, how do you say it, mid-life crisis with RPGs. Stick with the BZPRPG, I think you're one of the best out of the 2010 'newbies' and you'll only improve as time goes on. =]
     
    Lurking the Bolt: I don't know if you'll ever come back on to see this, but in case you do, thanks for the little RPing we did, and for the awesome stories.
     
    Moutekea: Mout. Man, I don't know what to say. If you happen to drop by here someday, I want you to know that, as with Doc B, it wasn't until I went back four years later to look through the Acad topic that I realized just how patient you were with us noobs. I know a lot of stuff happened that made you leave, but I never really had a chance to thank you for all you've done, all the help you gave me, and how you taught me to be a better, more mature RPer. Here's to another thirty-something years, you old fogey. =]
     
    Nid: Thanks for writing the Arachniphobia epic. It's one of the reasons why I became a member, to comment on your stuff. And thanks for mentoring me during the 2007 BZPRPG, and for creating the Nogans. We had fun with them the last few months. =P Anyway, back to Arachniphobia...I remember when I submitted that entry to your guest star villain request, and I felt so honored that you accepted it and even responded. But yeah, thanks!
     
    Nuju Metru: Nuju, thanks for RPing with me this past year. Your vibrant characters like Grokk and Uhuraz occasionally gave me a chuckle, and your posts were definitely among the ones I most enjoyed in the BZPRPG. Hope you continue to have fun RPing!
     
    Patient 065: Sera...wow. Three years of memories, buddy, thanks for making the BZPRPG fun during that time. Sharing music videos, etc...and the AIM chatroom moments, always got a laugh from your antics when you were on.
     
    Rising Moon: Right now I'm thinking about how it was a shame we never got to do that group epic together. It really would have been...well, epic. =P Anyway, I've always enjoyed reading your works; it's scary sometimes when I'm reminded that you're still only 13. I know you'll only get even better at writing as time goes on. Keep up that awesome work!
     
    Robo: If someday you come back and read this, then this is for you. Thanks for being my close friend and confidante for two years...we both listened to each other's rants, haha...that definitely helped me keep a cool head through all the RPG drama. Watch that ego, all right? =]
     
    Smeagol4: Smeag, you are a crazy, crazy man. And I'm glad that I finally got to know you this last year. Thanks for returning to the BZPRPG and exceeding my already high expectations of the kind of guy you were. =]
     
    Snoopy82: Snoops, thanks for RPing with me. I regret we didn't get to know each other better, but the few memories we did share were fun.
     
    Spink: Spinky! Thanks for letting me be your cat for ~45 days. =P And thanks for RPing with me in the NRPG, BZPRPG, etc.
     
    T-Hybrid: Thanks for transferring the lifetime PMship to me way back when. I wish I had talked to you more before you left, but yeah, I regret never thinking to thank you personally.
     
    Toa Velox: V...I can't believe that two years ago you were just some vague MoCer and writer I remembered seeing once or twice as I scrolled down the forums. But I'm glad we got to know each other better this past year. Thanks for the memories from RPG, Story Fit, suffering through the SSCC together...=P I regret that we weren't able to do the group epic, but oh well. Anyway, thanks for being my friend, and I hope you'll have fun in your new job of supervising the SSCC. You deserve it. =]
     
    Toa Zehvor MT: Thanks for I guess listening to my advice. =P I always feel happy when I feel like I've helped out a fellow RPer with his or her project. Good luck with the next contest!
     
    ToM Dracone: Thanks for catching that little mistake I made, and for hosting that Songfic contest four years ago. =]
     
    xccj: Thanks for being one of my inspirations to join along with GaliGee and Nid. I loved Kulagi's Kanoka, and I'll always remember it fondly.
     
    Yukiko: Thanks for, well, RPing with me. =P And for participating in the Story Fit, I've always enjoyed your poems by the way, poetry buddy haha. Defending the merits of poetry against the naysayers in the BZP GD in, what was it, 2009? Something like that. Anyway, have fun in Ecuador!
     
    Zooplankton: Thanks for letting me make that MoC of your character. Same with MT, I always feel happy when I've helped out someone. I hope you continue to enjoy success with your epic...maybe someday I'll finally know how it ends. =P
     
    Captain, CJ, EU, Sisen, Kaitan, Vorik, Tahakki, Krayzikk, toatc, JMJ, and all the other BZPRPG pals; Chibi, Von, Hubert, Shadok, and the other WfE buddies: Thanks for making my last eight months here especially awesome. Keep on RPing, the BZPRPG can never have too many people. Don't stop improving your RPing skills either. =] Same with the WfE guys, I wish I had more time to get to know you, but thanks for the RPs we did have.
     
    Dwin, Gera, Hahligirl56, Hiraga, Poks, Tom, LFZ, Mr. E, and the rest of the old Acads: Man. Good times, huh? Not that you'll see this, most of you moved on way before I was ready to say goodbye to you all...but thanks for being my first group of friends, and for all the wacky moments in the chatrooms. I miss those.
     
    Advent, Allen, Nacatumi, Madara, Necro, and the rest of the NRPG folks: Thanks for dealing with my failings as a Moderator. I know we all struggled with balancing running the RPG and life, but I'm hoping that somewhere out there you're all managing better with real life and stuff. Nacatumi, a special thanks for that art topic you made back then featuring my RPG character.
     
    Akai, Rockhound, Toa Spirit, Neelh, Eyru, and the rest of the Story Fit: Thanks for a great few months! Proof that writers on this forum can come together and stuff...no, really. I was afraid that my project wouldn't get off the ground, but thanks to you the Story Fit thrived. I hope you all keep improving your writing. =]
     
    Janus, Toa Iranu of Atohune, AZBlue, and Tifosi92: Team Yes all the way! Thanks for all the fun with the SS Autumn Olympics, I was honored to be able to work with you guys.
     
    Rausaro, Takuna Nuva, Raptor, Paharak Girl, and the rest of the Redwall gang: Even though the RPG wasn't as active as others (understatement), I still had a lot of great memories with you guys. I hope that whatever you're doing right now is going well.
  4. Lazzy the Spazzy
    2/3/10 Story Fit Exercise

    For an explanation of what the Story Fit is, please go here.

    Each week I'll post an exercise. This is the entry for the exercise of the week of February 3 - February 9.

    Since we're into our third week, let's go for something different from our past two one-word prompts.

    When attempting to reveal a character's beliefs, writers often fall back on using a monologue: a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker. Many criticize monologues however, citing its length when compared to the rest of the story, arguing that because of that length monologues can end up dull or boring, disrupting the pace or monopolizing the dialogue, and in some cases even backfiring -- restricting the monologue's character and the directions the character can go. Regardless of your personal opinions, I feel like the monologue needs to be be defended -- so let's show these nonbelievers that an interesting monologue can be written!

    Your exercise this week is to incorporate a monologue into your story but at the same time make it interesting. I will be using different scoring criteria this week, judging your story not on its quality but on the effectiveness with which you defend or support the monologue. Be careful not to make the same mistakes as most monologue writers!

    There is no word limit or any other constraints -- the only requirement is that the story contain this theme.

    Once you write your story, post here with a link to it. Extra points will also be awarded to those members who review other Story Fit members' stories. This will not only give you practice with writing but also reviewing, as well as promote an exchange of ideas and styles within the BZP Writers Community. Happy writing!


    Note: As of now, there is no deadline by which you must turn in your story. This is an issue that is currently being discussed: see bottommost section and respond with your opinion.


    ---

    Each week we vote for the Writer of the Week, based on the popularity of the stories submitted during that week. Whoever gets the most votes wins the award. Without further ado, I present this week's Writer of the Week:

    Rassiter, for his Transformation-themed story Winds of Change!

    Below is a list of stories that have been submitted within the past week. Look over them, read through them if you want, then vote for your favorite story (send a PM with your vote to me). At the end of this week, I will count up the votes and give the Writer of the Week [of 1/27/10 - 2/3/10] award to the writer who gets the most votes.


    Last Week's Stories

    1) Reunion by Akai Hana no Tenshi
    2) Alternate Perspective by Grant-Sud
    3) A Murder Of One by Rising Moon

    Vote away!

    ---


    So far we still only have one vote (Rising Moon) for one task a week. Please put forth your opinion so we know what changes need to be made, if any.


  5. Lazzy the Spazzy
    3/12/10 Story Fit Special

    For an explanation of what the Story Fit is, please go here.

    Each week I'll post an exercise. This is the entry for the exercise of the "week" of March 12 - March 23.

    The Task

    Story Fit has now hit the two-month (plus two days) mark, and what with the promise of more active SFers and a minor addition to the system, this is the perfect time to go back and redo any of the exercises you missed!

    That's right, that's all there is to this exercise. You have eleven days (not counting today) plus a week after that to go back and catch up on the exercises you wanted to do. To make this easier on you I have listed the seven previous exercises below. You may click on the links for a more thorough description of the exercises.

    Week 1: Write a story inspired by the word "Transformation".
    Week 2: Incorporate a conflict into your story.
    Week 3: Incorporate a monologue into your story but make it interesting.
    Week 4: Think of the activity you do to dispel Writer's Block then incorporate that activity into your story.
    Week 5: Include a celebration into your story.
    Week 6: Six six-centric tasks to choose from.
    Week 7: Write a story with the protagonist as a person/type of person you hate most.

    ---

    Once you write your story, post here with a link to it. Extra points will also be awarded to those members who review other Story Fit members' stories. This will not only give you practice with writing but also reviewing, as well as promote an exchange of ideas and styles within the BZP Writers Community. Happy writing!



    Writer of the Week

    Each week we vote for the Writer of the Week, based on the popularity of the stories submitted during that week. Whoever gets the most votes wins the award. Without further ado, I present this week's Writer of the Week:

    Grant-Sud, for his six-centric story Sight!

    Each week we vote for the Writer of the Week, based on the popularity of the stories submitted during that week.
    Below is a list of stories that have been submitted within the past week. Look over them, read through them if you want, then vote for your favorite story (send a PM with your vote to me). At the end of this week, I will count up the votes and give the Writer of the Week award [of 3/3/10 - 3/12/10] to the writer who gets the most votes.

    Last Week's Stories

    1) Crimson Crown by Akai Hana no Tenshi
    2) Ignoble Hero by MechaFizz

    Vote away!

    Announcements

    Now for the changes:

    - There is now a two week deadline. You have two weeks to complete a task, or one week after the next task starts (for example, 18 days for this task, 14 days for normal tasks). Full-time SFers are required to complete the exercises.
    - What if you don't have time? Don't worry, sign yourself up as a Part-Time SFer or SFer On Leave: I will be giving further instructions in the PM I am sending out shortly.
    - Take a look at the Story Fit Point Tracking Box...I've added some decorations.



  6. Lazzy the Spazzy
    2/24/10 Story Fit Exercise

    For an explanation of what the Story Fit is, please go here.

    Each week I'll post an exercise. This is the entry for the exercise of the week of February 24 - March 2.

    ---

    We're into our sixth week now, and since six is such an important and prevalent number in the Bionicleverse, this theme will be based on six.

    Instead of being given a requirement, you will be given six possible requirements, with the option to choose between one of the six for your story this week...or, if you're feeling up to it, two or three or even all of the options. o_O

    Without further ado, here are the possible themes! Pick one (or more).

    1) The work must be under six hundred (600) words.

    2) Write a story with six and only six characters in it, no more, no less (all characters must be more than a prop/one-scene character, but not all of them have to be significant to the story).

    3) The work must break the fourth wall six times.

    4) The work must focus on an artifact that has something to do with the number six (name, location, number of sides, etc.).

    5) The work must contain six pop culture references (remember to keep them BZP Rules-friendly) OR six references to Bionicle canon.

    6) Your work must not contain any six-letter words. =O

    ---

    There is no word limit or any other constraints -- the only requirement is that the story contain this theme. Psyche! This time there may or may not be a word limit depending on which option you choose! xD

    Once you write your story, post here with a link to it. Extra points will also be awarded to those members who review other Story Fit members' stories. This will not only give you practice with writing but also reviewing, as well as promote an exchange of ideas and styles within the BZP Writers Community. Happy writing!


    Note: As of now, there is no deadline by which you must turn in your story. This is an issue that is currently being discussed: see the bottommost section and respond with your opinion.


    ---

    Each week we vote for the Writer of the Week, based on the popularity of the stories submitted during that week. Whoever gets the most votes wins the award. Without further ado, I present this week's Writer of the Week:
    Akai Hana no Tenshi, for his Writer's Block themed story, Vaii Daha!

    Below is a list of stories that have been submitted within the past week. Look over them, read through them if you want, then vote for your favorite story (send a PM with your vote to me). At the end of this week, I will count up the votes and give the Writer of the Week award [of 2/17/10 - 2/23/10] to the writer who gets the most votes.

    This week is another special one. Akai is once again the only one who submitted an entry this week, so instead of the usual vote for WotW, I will instead advertise the BZP Elements 2 Anthology. Give it a look and share your comments and constructive criticism with the great writers who participated in the project!

    ---

    So, it's pretty much been decided that we'll have one task a week, but there's still one issue to discuss: whether or not to have a deadline, and if so, whether to have it one week, two weeks, or other.

    So far we have two votes for a two week deadline, along with a suggestion that an addendum be added to the deadline: "You have two weeks to complete this exercise or another of your choosing that you have not already completed", giving writers the option of doing previous exercises.

  7. Lazzy the Spazzy
    I personally don't see any difference at all between the two, but I'm just curious: which one do you use, or do you use both or neither (some other image hosting site) for your Bionicle/BZP things?
     
    Note: This is not about which is better, just which one you use.
  8. Lazzy the Spazzy
    1/27/10 Story Fit Exercise

    For an explanation of what the Story Fit is, please go here.

    Each week I'll post an exercise. This is the entry for the exercise of the week of January 27-February 2.

    Conflict is central to storytelling, a ubiquitous device that nearly always fulfills its role of advancing the plot. So many authors incorporate the idea of conflict into their written works -- the earliest stories had conflict in the form of gods and humans, good and evil, known and unknown. In fact, the common view is that without conflict, stories tend to be quite bland.

    This week's task is to incorporate a conflict into your story. This can be interpreted in any way -- a physical conflict, a verbal conflict, a clash of ideals, an external conflict, an internal conflict.

    There is no word limit or any other constraints -- the only requirement is that the story contain this theme.

    Once you write your story, post here with a link to it. Extra points will also be awarded to those members who review other Story Fit members' stories. This will not only give you practice with writing but also reviewing, as well as promote an exchange of ideas and styles within the BZP Writers Community. Happy writing!


    ---

    Note: As of now, there is no deadline by which you must turn in your story. This is an issue that is currently being discussed: see the bottommost section and respond with your opinion.

    Note2: Over this past week, writers have submitted their exercises. Below is a list of stories that have been submitted within the past week. Look over them, read through them if you want, then vote for your favorite story (send a PM with your vote to me). At the end of this week, I will count up the votes and give the Writer of the Week [of 1/20/10 - 1/26/10] award to the writer who gets the most votes.


    Last Week's Stories

    1) Recovery Time by -Tilius-
    2) Winds of Change by Rassiter
    3) Liavuru-Metru: Origins - Beginning of the Journey, Chapter 12 by Akai Hana no Tenshi
    4) What We Become by Yukiko
    5) Finding His Way by ~Monday~
    6) The Wall, Chapter 10 by Rising Moon

    Vote away!



    So far we have one vote (Rising Moon) for one task a week. Please put forth your opinion so we know what changes need to be made, if any.


    ---

  10. Lazzy the Spazzy

    My Grandfather

    By Lazzy the Spazzy,

    It was bound to happen. My grandfather’s health was deteriorating already, mostly due to his constant smoking during most of his life.
     
    Still, it came as a shock when my mom stumbled up the stairs, crying and saying that she had just received a phone call from the hospital/senior center my grandfather was at. His heart had failed during the night.
     
    I didn’t really know my grandfather. He lived in Taiwan the later part of his life; my parents had immigrated to the US, so much of my extended family was still in Taiwan. I had met my grandfather a few times when we visited him or vice versa; on one of his visits to the US, he beat my siblings and I in a soccer game single-handedly.
     
    His soccer skills were amazing. My mom said that during his prime, he had been considered for the National team in China. But during that time World War II started, and my grandfather turned down the offer to become a soldier.
     
    That’s another thing I know my grandfather for. He was a war veteran. He never talked about his experiences in the war (but then again, you can’t really talk about these things, can you?). He must have had very traumatizing experiences in that war and the war after that (the Kuomintang-Communist War), because after the war he fell into habits of smoking, drinking, and gambling. His life went downhill from there.
     
    My grandfather grew up in the midst of war. There was one incident that occurred during my father’s mid-teens. My grandfather’s father was sick and Japan was attempting to invade China. My grandfather had to take his younger siblings with him (he was the oldest) and abandon his dying father in hopes that he and his siblings could escape. From what my mom tells me, one of his siblings was captured by the Japanese. He never heard from him again.
     
    My grandfather’s gambling habits kept my mom in poverty during her early life. He was almost never home at night; playing mahjong and other gambling games and throwing away his money. My grandmother was forced to take a job of her own, and even that couldn’t hold up the slack; some of the debts on my mom’s family still haven’t been paid back today.
     
    My grandmother. She was stubborn, and strong-willed; there were many arguments between grandpa and her. My mom remembers them all too well.
    My grandmother landed in the hospital shortly before my grandfather did; a blood vessel near her brain burst out of stress. That happened about 5 years ago. My grandmother got amnesia, and her health’s been in steady decline since.
     
    For all their fights, my grandfather still cared about her, staying with her long hours in the hospital, and when they moved her, the senior center. He became a permanent resident there several months later; his addiction to smoking had finally caught up to him.
     
    We visited them the winter of 2005; that was the last time I saw him. He looked fine, better than my grandma at least; I was more worried about her life than his.
     
    A year after we came back, surgery was performed on my grandfather. They gouged out a hole in his throat and inserted a pipe into it for respiration. He couldn’t talk after that. I remember thinking how regrettable it was that I could never ask about his war experiences. Now he’s dead. Same difference, if I think about it that way. But I try not to.
     
    He died two days ago; the senior center he was in dumped his body in a mortuary. He doesn’t even have the money for a proper funeral ceremony. My mom doesn’t know what to do. She’s going over there in two days.
     
    My grandfather was a failure at most of his things in life. He smoked, drank, gambled…was never around to take care of his children. He was the cause of money problems for my mom’s family, the reason why my grandmother had to struggle so. Still, he’s my grandfather.
  12. Lazzy the Spazzy
    You've all heard of the term "___ wins the internetz". I'm usually against using such cliches because overusing these memes tends to downplay the awesomeness of real accomplishments. However, in this case I believe our resident Compulsive Name Changer, Rabid (or My name is a sentence. now) has indeed won the internetz. Congratulations.
     
    Link to post:
    Quoted post below (spoiler'd to save space):

    » Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
  14. Lazzy the Spazzy
    As a premier member, I have room in my inbox for 1000 messages. But the PMs I've been getting over the years I've been here are stacking up, and already past halfway. I panicked, and went on a sort of cleaning spree, reading through some of the PMs and deleting ones from the same thread.
     
    I did this at first to clear space for future PMs, but soon found myself happily reading the PMs I sent to friends and vice versa. It awoke so many good memories...Hak discussing his Hunters of the Dark comics...Dwin and I talking about BZPower, the Final Battle the RPG...Me, asking Moutekea about catalysts...that MoC of Lazok that Khote sent to me...The 'how could you' PM I sent to Hahligirl56 after her character, Alta, was killed...All those PMs that I and the other four mods of the Naruto RPG sent back and forth...I remember sitting late at night, typing up the rules for the RPG, rules and more rules...It took hours, didn't it?
     
    Haha, I even uncovered that PM that Black Six sent to me for posting one of those 'I'm the first one to post on this page' posts. I lost proto for that... ^^;
     
    And then I found this PM that I didn't even remember sending; it was this guest star request for an epic that Nidhiki99 (now Nid) was writing. I didn't even know that I knew Nid from before BZPRPG!
     
    And there was even this PM that Lady K sent to me! Imagine that, one of the BZP legends talking to me, just a normal member!
     
    Man, reading all those PMs brought me back...I feel so old right now. I've done so many things on BZP, some that I don't even remember anymore.
     
    Good times, good times.
  16. Lazzy the Spazzy
    CartoonNetwork's old show
    Justice League is one of the best, if not the best, animated series in the history of animated series. Its sequel JLU isn't far behind.

    Give a shout out if Justice League was a fond childhood memory for you too.



  19. Lazzy the Spazzy

    Priorities

    By Lazzy the Spazzy,

    Bad experiences balancing BZPower with Sophomore life? ... Check.
     
    Thinking ahead to two years in the future? ... Check.
     
    Revelation that Undergrad life will likely require an absence of a commitment to BZP? ... Check.
     
    Decision to make long-term plans to "retire" from BZP by the end of senior year? ... Check.
     
    Adamant about decision despite persuading and/or objecting from BZP friends? ... Check.
     
    Almost ready to retire? ... Check.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    "What is the meaning of this status on EW's AIM? I shall ask. Hello EW...what? Do I hear you right? Lady K's joining the BZPRPG?"
     
    *tosses out two years of plans*
  20. Lazzy the Spazzy
    TEAM 16:
    TEAM HISTORY:
    Team 16 is a new team, having been only formed for a day. However, the team's members got along extremely well with each other, and exhibited great chemistry, completing a mission successfully on their first day together. Team 16 shows the most promise out of the three new Genin teams so far, and has been advancing quickly.
     
    SENSEI:
     
    Name: Yuuhi Tasare
    Member: All mods
    Age: 21
    Rank: Jounin (Genin team sensei)
    Village: Konohagakure
    Personality: Tasare has inherited the laid-back personality of his godfather (and father figure), Nara Shikamaru, though not to the extreme degree of apathetic aloofness. He loves puzzles and other games that challenge the mind, especially Shogi, and holds intellect and sharp wit to be key to shinobi battles.
    Tasare deeply admires his role models, especially Shikamaru, but unfortunately, has picked up negative traits of Shikamaru as well, such as the habit of smoking. Tasare gets along well with his teammates and comrades, and is often the mediator in arguments between friends. He is looking forward to mentoring his own Genin team, but harbors slight doubts about being able to manage as a teacher.
    Appearance: Tasare wears the standard Jounin outfit, complete with green jacket and black clothes. His shinobi sandles go up past his ankles, and his kunai holster is on his upper right leg. He carries a belt-pouch as well, which holds basic ninja necessities as well as a cigarette pack and a small ash tray. His face bears striking resemblance to Asuma's, but his hair is long and shaggy like his mother's, reaching almost to his shoulders. He wears his headband on his forehead.
    Fighting style/skills: Tasare has had Shikamaru’s trait of anticipating enemy moves ingrained into him, and thus his fighting style focuses on reading an opponent’s move and quickly devising a counterstrike against it. Tasare’s mental skills are nowhere near the level of Shikamaru’s, though he has been lauded as sharp for his age.
    Tasare focuses mainly on Taijutsu in battle, although he has a natural aptitude for Genjutsu as well, being able to “sense” when a Genjutsu is being performed on him before it takes effect. Tasare can also throw off enemy Genjutsu with considerably less effort than average ninja, but this does not hold true for higher level Genjutsu.
    Tasare is able to wield Genjutsu expertly himself, capable in all five fields of Genjutsu. He uses Genjutsu often in missions that require them, such as interrogation or infiltration.
    In battle, Tasare often starts with close-range taijutsu, fighting long enough for him to note his enemy’s habits or fighting style, then devising a counterstrategy to render the style ineffective. Tasare hardly ever uses Genjutsu in battles.
    Weapons: Trench knives are crucial to Tasare’s battle style. He learned how to use them from his godfather (who in turn learned them from Asuma).
    List of jutsu: Incomplete list: Jubaku Satsu; Unnamed Interrogation Jutsu; Kokohi no Jutsu; Kokuangyou no Jutsu; Kori Shinchuu no Jutsu; Flower Petal Escape; Flower Petal Dissolve; Magen Narakumi no Jutsu; Nehan Shouja no Jutsu; Katon: Kasumi Enbu no Jutsu; Katon: Haisei Kishou; Hien; Konoha Senpuu; Konoha Dai Senpuu; Konoha Gouriki Senpuu; Konoha Raiken; Konoha Kage Buyou; Konoha Shoufuu
    Clan: Yuuhi; Tasare is considered the same clan as that of his mother, according to tradition, though he holds traits from his paternal clan, such as a natural fire affinity.
    Trivia: Tasare was born on the same day that Uzumaki Naruto became the youngest Hokage in history. His mother was Yuuhi Kurenai, and his deceased father Sarutobi Asuma.
    Tasare’s overprotective mother, Kurenai, was the one who requested that Tasare substitute in as the Academy teacher while Shikamaru was organizing border patrols for the Fire Country. Kurenai hoped that Tasare would get some practice teaching, however Tasare did not, as Shikamaru returned to the Academy earlier than expected.
    Tasare’s Jounin mentor was Rock Lee; it was from him that Tasare picked up his taijutsu skills.
    Tasare has chosen training ground 56 for Team 16.
     
    GENIN:
     
    Name: Sunawara Shizake
    Member: Hydraxon of the Pit
    Age: 14
    Rank: Genin
    Missions completed:
    D: 1
    C: 0
    B: 0
    A: 0
    Personality: Shizake is a laid-back quiet teenage boy that enjoys reading. He has a cool temper and doesn’t let a taunt aimed at him affect his external mood. He doesn’t hold grudges, and is loyal to his friends at the Academy. However, some other students see him as a social misfit. He is respectful to his teachers and enjoys learning from his teachers. He can be rather closed to those he views as annoying. Shizake also tries to treat girls with healthy respect. He doesn’t like fighting girls, preferring to run from a potential conflict with a female. However, when his friends are insulted, he is quick to speak up for them. However, his actions can be rather awkward around girls and makes comments which unintentionally offend them. On the inside, he is calm and collected, this aspect of his personality is also amplified to the outside, which can result in him ignoring people and focusing on details. He enjoys schoolwork, thinking tacticallyzs and plays games like Shougi, and Xiangqi. Some other hobbies of his include rock collecting, drawing (one day he hopes to train under a certain Konoha Anbu that uses his artwork in battle), and building small marionettes to entertain his younger siblings. He would like to join the ANBU in the future. His primary aim is to one day lead his clan and increase its reputation, size and overall degree of influence in Konoha.
    Appearance: Shizake has dark brown, almost black hair.His hair has a small, but noticeable spike in the middle, the hair is gelled upward creating a “dramatic” effect. Shizake keeps it at medium length. He is 5’9”, thin, and agile. His eyes are a golden brown, and he keeps his nose and mouth covered by a black mask. His skin is pale and smooth. The mask is connected to his long sleeved shirt, which is black with a small red spiral on his left sleeve. He wears a dark blue vest with a large neckband and his clan’s symbol adorning the back. Two cream-colored bands criss-cross across his chest. He keeps his chokuto strapped to his back angled towards his right hand. He wears long dark blue pants with a kunai holder on his right leg. Dark metal arm guards cover his forearms. He also has small earrings in both ears. Since his stricter taijutsu training, he has also begun covering his hands with bandages to protect them. Shizake’s shuriken and scroll pouch is attached to his belt, a finely multi-linked silver chain. He wears the standard shinobi sandals. Around Shizake’s neck is a small pendant, which is the Kanji for water, a gift from his parents symbolizing his clan’s affinity to water jutsu. He also wears black weight holders on both his legs (to make him train to increase his speed and let his Body Flicker technique get faster).
    Fighting style/skills: Shizake has above average chakra control and potentially high chakra levels. He specializes in genjutsu and ninjutsu. He has received clan training that assists him in stealth and how to assassinate an opponent with minimum noise. He is also at the beginning stages of his clan’s genjutsu training, as such, he can only dispel E to C level genjutsu. He often starts out a sparring match or battle by using the Hidden Mist Technique before using the Body Flicker Technique to approach an opponent swiftly, to cut short the time spent in hand-to-hand combat. His taijutsu is average, as such; he is working on improving his hand-to-hand combat skill. He lack of stamina; the cause for his taijutsu training, is one of his major weaknesses, as he tires easily during a prolonged taijutsu battle. He possesses his clan’s affinity for water jutsu, and also has an affinity for wind-based jutsu. However, he has received little training in his wind-based jutsu. Another weakness is that he is afraid of letting down his friends or clan, and is afraid of being surpassed by his peers. His cautiousness can also be a disadvantage in a fight that can give an opponent time to gain the upper hand. Shizake has learnt tracking, as well as outdoor survival skills from his clan. He also has photographic memory and is semi-ambidextrous. Although Shizake possesses an eye kekkei genkai, he has not yet awakened it. His has high mental strength, but at this point, he lacks large reserves of physical strength.
    Weapons: Shizake carries a chokuto, a straight single-edged sword (like a katana), made of the same chakra-friendly material as that of Sarutobi Asuma’s trench knives. He has been training with it for the past 4 years. However, he has not yet mastered how to infuse it with his natural chakra and is still only proficient with it in hand-to-hand combat. He uses it for short to mid-range attacks.
    List of jutsu:
    1. Illusion Clone Jutsu
    2. Substitution Jutsu
    3. Body Flicker Jutsu
    4. Hidden Mist Jutsu
    5. Henge/Transformation
    6. Suiton: Teppoudama
    Clan: Sunawara clan. This clan is relatively new and quite small, only having come to Konoha in the past 18 years. It is related to and led by, Ranmaru. Members of the clan possess a kekkei genkai that can create incredibly convincing illusions. However, it does not appear automatically, and must be awoken by a dangerous situation, before it can be used. It is similar to the Byakugan, and allows users to see through solid objects, have night vision, perceive someone’s “life force”, create illusions with chakra circulatory systems, and partially predict upcoming attacks. It can interfere with the workings of the Byakugan and can affect the ordinary vision of others. When activated the eyes glow red. This clan specializes in the art of swift and silent assassinations as well as the study of kekkei genkai based – genjutsu, water ninjutsu, and tracking. Most members of the clan are not taijutsu specialists. Their preffered fighting styles are genjutsus used to immobilize and confuse opponents before using close-range lethal ninjutsus to finish off the trapped opponent.
     
    Name: Mercuto Robert
    Member: Robo
    Age: 11
    Rank: Genin
    Missions completed:
    D: 1
    C: 0
    B: 0
    A: 0
    Personality: Typically mild mannered and lazy, Robert prefers to do as little as possible. Was forced into the academy by
    his father who failed to be a shinobi. His mother and older brother (who were shinobi) died while trying to bring honor to the family, and that is the only reason Robert doesn't just quit. Will normally ignore bullying unless someone is picking on his short size, then he goes berzerk and often attacks the person making fun of him.
    Appearance: Appearance: green hair in a crewcut. Green eyes. One foot shorter than most kids his size. Favorite outfit is a black muscle shirt under a red t-shirt with baggy red pants. Wears black sandels with moss sown to the soles so its harder for him to leave footprints. Has pale skin that makes him look perpetually ill. wears a ring on his right index finger that has the symbol of his clan (A snowflake with a kunai in it) imprinted in it. Wears thin-framed glasses to correct his nearsightedness.
    Fighting style/skills: Specialized in ninjutsu, no aptitude for taijutsu, and stopped bothering to try genjutsu. Particular talents within bloodline are water jutsu. Fights at close and mid range, but cannot fight longrange due to nearsightedness. Small stature gives him excellent agility and maneuverabilty and speed. But, because of small stature, direct hits cause more damage. Robert heals slowly. Has a nerve disorder in right elbow that enhances sensations (pain) in that area to near cripling levels. Able to reduce breathing and heart rate to make himself completely silent. Combine that with his smallness, and he's great at sneak attacks and spying.
    Weapons: A single dagger that has been passed down through the generations of the clan. Whenever a clan member dies in battle with the dagger, a bit of his life essence is imbedded into the blade, making it harder and harder to destroy or dull.The handle is made with a sacred wood that helps focus (focus, not enhance or change) chakra.
    List of jutsu:
    1) Substitution jutsu
    2) illusion clone jutsu
    3) body flicker technique,
    4) [unnamed] Mizugakure
    5) Kasumi Juusha no Jutsu/Mist Servant
    6) Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Penguin
    Clan: Mercuto clan. The clan is small but thriving, but the bloodline is fading with every generation with the exception of the occasional person born with 'whole blood', or, born with all of the traits of the bloodline, like green eyes. No specialized style of fighting, but have a natural tendency to use water justus and have a great aptitude for them. They have an heirloom as well, a dagger that is passed down through the generations.
    The Mercuto Clan originated in Amegakure, in the Land of Rain. It was a very prominent Clan of the village, but was divided during the Civil War that ravaged the Land. The 'pure blooded' half of the Clan remained with Amegakure while the non-pure blooded half fled. It was the kindness of the Second Hokage that saved them, by allowing them to come and live in Konoha. Because of the 'blood-loss', the part of the Mercuto Clan in Konoha hasn't had much skill surface, leaving them in anonymity. In fact, there have been no successful missions completed above C-rank by the clan.
    Trivia: Rob’s birthday is August 21st. Rob’s father is named Mercuto Richard.
     
    Name: Uchiha Ukuru
    Member: Shard Esquire
    Age: 13
    Rank: Genin
    Missions completed:
    D: 1
    C: 0
    B: 0
    A: 0
    Personality: A "punk" of sorts, very disobedient and rude at times, but only on the outside. However, Ukuru is helpful and considerate when need be, and has a strong conscience. However, Ukuru is very gentle and kind with animals, especially the robin who lives on the tree outside his window. Ukuru cannot bring himself to kill, no matter what the circumstances. During a battle, Ukuru is in total focus, to the point of ignoring just about everything arond him. Ukuru is also a very light sleeper. Ukuru is very interested in smithing, and would go into it for a career, if he was not a ninja. He can also
    Appearance: Ukuru is about 5'7". He wears baggy shorts with a belt, and chain down the side, with a black tshirt. Ukuru's left arm and leg are bandaged, like Neji's were, as he had a large tattoo on both arm and leg. The tattoos are 6 black lines intertwining multiple times, with a black rose in the foreground. Ukuru's eyes are the normal Uchiha black. He also has a tan, but it isnt too deep. His skin is smooth, and is tattooed with a thorn band across his upper right arm. His hair is grown straight down, and is very shaggy, going to his shoulders. His hair is also highlighted with dark red, and has is spiked down in the back and bangs. His ninja sandals are like normal, except have the Uchiha Fan imprinted on them. He has fingerless gloves, think Kakashi's, and wears his kunai on his right leg. Ukuru has an extra pouch for his bomb tags, also on his right leg, because he uses them a lot. He wears a greyish jacket on occasion. (Picture coming soon.)
    Weapons/Fighting Style: Ukuru has no fighting style, per se, but fights at midrange. The chain on his shorts functions as a close range whip, and is much longer than it looks. He has Fire Element chakra, and uses bomb tags with special skill. His fighting style is a "Float like the Butterfly, Sting like the Bee" one, and his battles always start with a Bunshin or two for reconnaissance. After the Bunshin, he uses many shuriken and bomb and smoke tags as a distraction. His weaknesses are skilled Taijutsu users and Genjutsu in general. Ukuru has almost no defences against Genjutsu, so he is currently training extra hard. Ukuru can also hold his own in Taijutsu, but is quickly overcome by the likes of Lee. (At the start of Naruto 1, like when he beat Sasuke before the first exam.)
    Jutsu:
    1) Kawarimi
    2) Kage Shuriken
    3) Illusion Clone
    4) Kanashibiri (Temporary Paralysis)
    5) Henge no Jutsu
    6) Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu
    Clan: Uchiha. His father was away on a mission during the massacre, and was spared. However, his father's wife was killed in the massacre. He later remarried and Ukuru was born. Itachi later discovered this and came back for Ukuru, but his parents were killed instead, which is why Ukuru won't kill.
  21. Lazzy the Spazzy

    Fury

    By Lazzy the Spazzy,

    There are few things in this world that incite as much anger in a person as the bullying of the person's younger sibling.
     
    You can hurt me, you can cripple me, you can beat me to a pulp, but lay one finger on my seven-year old brother and I will personally come and tear you apart.
  22. Lazzy the Spazzy
    4/3/10 Story Fit Exercise

    For an explanation of what the Story Fit is, please go
    here.

    ---



    This is the beginning of the second successful season of the Story Fit! We got really great stories last time, with a few writers especially standing out (Season 1 Finale).

    And with this last season behind us, let's start the second season fresh. Most long-running television series always start off the new season with a bang, usually a story arc that spans two episodes. Likewise, this week we will have two simultaneous exercises.

    ---



    Our first theme this week is:

    Angst

    A cliche term, often used mockingly, angst is nowadays used to describe "downtrodden teenagers thinking they're the only bloody people in the world who have it tough" (thanks Urban Dictionary). Indeed, lots of stories exist which make fun of teenagers' angst.

    Like we did last season, it's once again time to take a cliche concept and turn it around. Make it interesting. Make it unique. Make it something worthy of being discussed seriously in literary circles once again, rather than a derogatory phrase. Approach angst as a literary tool, to be manipulated and employed like any other.


    Our second theme this week is:

    Periodicity

    Sine graphs. The Earth orbiting around the Sun. The Periodic table. All exhibit some form of periodicity, and periodicity is what you will write about in this exercise.

    Cycles are a common theme in literature...the repetition of events in history, the way a story ends up in the same place that it starts, even the old phrase "what goes around comes around"...it's all about cycles, about periodicity.

    And that's what you'll tackle in this exercise. What cyclical theme can you work into your story?


    ---


    Introducing a new workout from Rising Moon:

    Vocab words!

    Each week I'll provide a short list of random words for optional use. You may incorporate one or more of these words into your stories.

    This week's list (definitions from Dictionary.com):

    Dredge - » Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «Manumit - » Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

    Picket - » Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «



    Have fun!
  23. Lazzy the Spazzy
    2/17/10 Story Fit Exercise

    For an explanation of what the Story Fit is, please go here.

    Each week I'll post an exercise. This is the entry for the exercise of the week of February 17 - February 16.

    ---

    We're into our second month now! Yay! And to celebrate, this week's exercise is to include a celebration in your story. This can be the focus of your story or a prop/background, or just a device to propel your plot. Write away!

    Note: Yes, I know it's just been Valentine's Day, but I figure it would be redundant what with people already writing romance-themed stories and Tifosi 92 already hosting a romance-themed story event. If you're up to writing a second story this week, feel free to mosey on over to his blog entry and pay some respects to him for his permanent leave from BZPower while you're at it. =[

    ---

    There is no word limit or any other constraints -- the only requirement is that the story contain this theme.

    Once you write your story, post here with a link to it. Extra points will also be awarded to those members who review other Story Fit members' stories. This will not only give you practice with writing but also reviewing, as well as promote an exchange of ideas and styles within the BZP Writers Community. Happy writing!


    Note: As of now, there is no deadline by which you must turn in your story. This is an issue that is currently being discussed: see bottommost section and respond with your opinion.


    ---

    Each week we vote for the Writer of the Week, based on the popularity of the stories submitted during that week. Whoever gets the most votes wins the award. Without further ado, I present this week's Writer of the Week:

    Rising Moon, for his Monologue Short Story, Soulsnare!

    Below is a list of stories that have been submitted within the past week. Look over them, read through them if you want, then vote for your favorite story (send a PM with your vote to me). At the end of this week, I will count up the votes and give the Writer of the Week award [of 2/10/10 - 2/16/10] to the writer who gets the most votes.

    This week is a special one. Since Akai is the only one who submitted an entry this week, I've also thrown in ~Monday~'s slightly tardy entry, the conflict-themed Fate.


    Last Week's Stories

    1) Vaii Daha by Akai Hana no Tenshi
    2) Fate by ~Monday~

    Vote away!

    ---

    So, it's pretty much been decided that we'll have one task a week, but there's still one issue to discuss: whether or not to have a deadline, and if so, whether to have it one week, two weeks, or other.

    So far we have one vote for a two week deadline.


  24. Lazzy the Spazzy
    In my previous RPG Etiquette Episode (more than a year ago now), I adopted a rather cynical and sarcastic tone. This Episode will depart from that a bit by taking a more neutral opinion on matters.
     
     

    ---Part 1--- 
     

    Godmodding. We RPers all know what it is. It's a rule in almost all RPGs, and those that don't have it usually tend to fall apart. Why is that? 
    For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, Godmodding essentially stands for "godly modification", where a player makes his or her character unrealistically powerful or omniprescient, like a god. Ever heard of the slang term "hax"? A godmodder is basically the text-based RPG's equivalent of hax.
     
    Let's use a scenario to clarify this definition. Let's say you're role-playing in an RPG. Your character is a Toa, let's call him Toa A. You're fighting another player who also has a Toa, let's call him Toa B.
     

     

     

     

     
    Above I've illustrated the usual symptoms of godmodding. Player B not only has his own hits inexplicably hit his opponent without giving him a chance to react (a subcategory of godmodding called auto-hitting), but he also showed a disregard for Player A's actions and his surroundings (dodging their attacks without getting hit, despite being in a narrow alley).
     
    Now let's say Player C comes in. Player C has accumulated quite an army from years of role-playing, and has brought a fleet of airships that she has earned.
     

     

     
    Now the godmodding gets more unrealistic than before. Yes, we all see this in movies. A single person somehow manages to take down an entire airfleet through sheer awesomeness alone. But unfortunately, what godmodders often don't understand is that RPGs aren't movies, and that they (or their characters) are not the main character in some epic battle. In RPGs author powers don't apply, and using them without respect for the other player's wishes often leads to being punished.
     
    But my main purpose for writing this entry isn't to tell you what godmodding is. Chances are, if you're in an RPG, you know.
     
     

    ---Part 2---
     
    So, we know what the problem is. How do we solve it?
     
    Usually (and hopefully), all it takes is a word with the godmodder. Most of the time they don't know that they're being unrealistic, and once they've been corrected they get better.
     
    But sometimes things aren't that easy. Sometimes the godmodder just doesn't get it, or if he/she does, just doesn't care. Maybe he or she likes being all powerful and invincible, and the rules can go to heck because they're in control, they get to make their character as omnipotent as they want.
     
    If you've been RPing for more than a few months, you've probably run into this situation. Maybe you're Player A, and your character is the one that gets "killed" by the other player. Maybe you're an observer, but you see how Player B is clearly godmodding and breaking the rules. Maybe you're a Staff Member, and it's your job to tell Player B to quit it.
     
    It's never pretty, and it's never fun. If Player B is okay with godmodding, he's probably okay with breaking every other rule in the RPG or even disrespecting the staff. On the internet where it's hard to actually enforce a rule on someone who intentionally chooses not to follow it, dealing with this can be frustrating.
     
    But deal with it we must, because otherwise, without consequences, Player B can godmodd all he wants and the RPG would fall apart.
     

    ---Part 3---
    So how should we deal with it? Punish the godmodder? Sometimes this helps. Sometimes they just keep playing without regard for the rules.
     
    Ban the godmodder? Sure, that would make things much nicer. But does that guy deserve this punishment? He should be given a chance to improve himself, even if that chance happens to be the twentieth we've given him.
     
    Does he even deserve another chance? If we're considering doing something like banning the godmodder, he's probably done enough to deserve it. It would certainly save ourselves the trouble of having to deal with him again (which is a very real possibility).
     
    That dilemma is a tough one, but punishing the godmodder is a privilege that only staff have. What should we regular players do if we are godmodded against, or see someone godmodding?
     
    Telling them is usually the first option, but in rare circumstances where this godmodder is repeating his "crime", what would we do?
     
    Godmodd back? Fighting fire with fire works in many situations, but not in this one. If we try godmodding against the godmodder, he'll just godmodd more, thinking it's okay to, or doing it because we made him mad. Worst case, when the staff finally get to the problem, they may just punish all of us, because we also godmodded. If we sink down to his level, then he has an excuse to break the rules.
     
    Ignore him? We could just have everyone not interact with the godmodder, but that may not work if the godmodder actively seeks out people to beat up.
     
    The biggest problem is, a godmodder will usually respond to bigger conflicts with even more godmodding. Things escalate without a way for a reasonable solution to be achieved. I don't entirely know a path we can always take against godmodding, but I do know that responding with godmodding definitely won't work. If we get mad over this, then we're no better than the guy who repeatedly godmodds.
     
    What I think is the best road to take in this circumstance, is to just let the staff handle it. They have the authority to punish him, and if the godmodder ignores even the staff then there's no help for him anyway.
     
     

    ---End Credits--- 

    A group of kids run around on the playground. One of them points at another. "Bang! Bang!"
     
    The kid ducks. "Missed me!" he points at the first. "Bang! Bang! You're dead!"
     
    "No I'm not!"
     
    "Yes you are! I hit you!"
     
    "No I hit you!"
     
    "Liar!"
     
    "Cheater!"
  25. Lazzy the Spazzy
    I'm starting a new blog project. Each month I'll post nine links to topics/stories/blogs that I highly recommend. Included with that will be a "game" of sorts (where the name of this entry comes from).
     
    First, I'll introduce the nine topics, and then the rules of the game below.
     
    1 - Renowned Outstanding BZP Citizen, Master Artist and Writer, and overall Nice Person Lady Kopaka is now offering commissions. If you're feeling like having one of your story characters or RPG characters or a random something put onto paper and professionally drawn, mosey on over to her blog for more details.
     
    2 - The Short Stories Critics Club is desperately in need of new critics to help review stories. If you're up to being an official story reviewer, go and sign up and help out this dwindling club.
     
    3 - Bionicle stories not for you? That's okay, because the sister guild to the SS Critics Club, the Completely Off Topic Stories Guild, deals with stories set in non-Bionicle worlds and eras. You'll be sure to find some stories that are more to your liking there.
     
    4 - Don't want to take up a job you may not be able to handle? How about just reading one story for now? OBZPC and former COT RPG Judge Robo Devil is embarking on a huge task to chronicle the classic tale Les Miserables...in a Bionicle setting. Check out this amazingly awesome epic.
     
    5 - Don't like reading? That's okay, because this topic won't require a large attention span. BZPower members are currently voting for what they think should be the primary color for the element of Gravity. That's right, this'll be made canon. If you think your vote can still make a difference, go over to the poll and take the second or two to state your opinion.
     
    6 - Speaking of voting, there's another contest currently going on, and this one is canon too! Vote for a bird entry you think should be made a canon Bara Magna species in the IDBM #3 forum!
     
    7 - Just want to play? RPGs are next, specifically the BZPRPG. A long-running RPG that's seen the entire Bionicle legacy through, the big guy could nevertheless use some fresh RPers to spice the playing field up.
     
    8 - The Star Wars RPG is a shrinking RPG, with only a few active players keeping the fire burning. We fans kept the Star Wars legacy alive for twenty years in between trilogies, we can keep this RPG alive no problem!
     
    9 - Is RPing too tough for you? That's okay, because with the RPG Radio Live you can just listen to people discussing RPGs! Check in when they broadcast their next episode and show your support!
     
    Now you may have found a link or two that's already caught your interest, but if you can't decide or don't care enough to visit all of them, here's the game.
     
    Below you'll see a TicTacToe grid that's been filled in. Each "X" or "O" has a link to one of the above topics. Click on one of the grids, and they'll take you to a random topic. The rules of the game, however, dictate that you must give the topic you've randomly chosen, a look over. Skim it, participate or subscribe to it if you're interested enough. My hope is that this will encourage interaction among BZPower members and increase awareness on what other members are doing. Who knows, maybe you'll make a new friend. So wave your mouse over a square and click! =3
     

     

     

     

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