You don't think you should, er,

Subject: You don't think you should, er,
Author: Larfen J. Stocke, esq.
Posted on: 2017-05-29 08:40:00 UTC

do a bit of research into Lovecraft, before doing a Lovecraft-styled RPG? Read the fellow a bit? Man's got some bloody well good stories, let me tell you!

I mean, Iunno. I say this as a turbosnob with zero life at all whatsoever, but there's a whole lot of things to Lovecraft's stuff beyond 'tentacleguy that makes you crazy when you look at him.' Not that he owns the concept or will rise from the grave and slap you for doing it without researching or anything, but if you're stating him as an influence, it's helpful, y'know?

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Obscure Mini problems. by laggycat on 2017-05-26 20:28:00 UTC Reply

So in Iximaz's mission to Rose Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a mini of Halloween (the holiday) was created.
It manifested in the form of a Jack-o'-lantern with the misspelled name carved into it. Halloween (the holiday) is not a continuum, so there can be no fan fiction or OFUs written in it.
In addition, Iximaz says that not only is the mini-jack-o'-lantern not their idea, but they also do not remember whos it is. If I wanted to add this to the Minis page on the wiki, what should I do?

Wiki repair request. by Bramandin on 2017-05-29 22:38:00 UTC Reply

I could probably try to fix this myself, but the Sprouts page links to the board instead of the archives, which means that the older references are broken.
Mini page proposal. by Neshomeh on 2017-05-29 20:31:00 UTC Reply

I've been thinking about expanding the Mini page for a couple days now, with stuff like what to consider when inventing a new mini type and what kinds of misspellings generate a mini. However, I keep getting hung up on the fact that the Table of Contents is so huge and disruptive. I could keep it below the rest of the page content, but what I'd really like to do is move the list to its own sub-page, Mini/List of Mini Types, with a link to the list from the main page. Is there support for this, or does anyone have any strong objections?

~Neshomeh

Okay, looks like this is happening. Thanks! (nm) by Neshomeh on 2017-05-31 14:48:00 UTC Reply
Probably a good idea. by doctorlit on 2017-05-30 01:01:00 UTC Reply

Sorry for adding the table; that page was getting so long, it was getting frustrating to edit, and took a while to load in edit mode. (At least, for me.)

But there's no denying that questions about mini types and creation are still some of the most frequent things for newer Boarders to ask about. That seems to indicate that we need the info more explicit than we currently have it. I say, go for it!

—doctorlit, liking minis too much
I have no objection. by Bramandin on 2017-05-29 21:52:00 UTC Reply

Whatever will make it clearer, but I have no trouble understanding it now.

I am wondering if mini-sues remember being killed. I don't think it was confirmed either way. I'm thinking of a Twilight story where the mini-sparklewolf kept popping up and was disposed of by the rest of the minis.

Unrelated mini concern... by Bramandin on 2017-05-28 04:41:00 UTC Reply

For the Legacy of Kain series, someone suggested mini-squids.

I have decided to go with mini-Sarafan. They look like four-foot-high empty suits of armor. As a bonus, there are at least two minis of Sarafan. I think Seraphan is an acknowledged alternate spelling.

Moebius, Kain, and Vorador were the only characters to be referenced between all five games, but the Sarafan concept was also prominent, at least as much as Vorador was.

Can Bramandrin be an official mini-dragon? by Bramandin on 2017-05-29 19:11:00 UTC Reply

I don't have an agent pair that would willingly own him, but I might in the future.
What about Hylden? by Neshomeh on 2017-05-28 14:43:00 UTC Reply

A few reasons for this:

1. They're unique to LoK. Sarafan, as humans (or even suits of human armor), aren't.
2. They also feature throughout the series (called "the Unspoken" or "the enemy race" at times, but still).
3. They're the ones pulling the Sarafan's strings, IIRC, making them bigger baddies.
4. They're naturally monstrous in form, so you don't have to jump through any descriptive hoops to avoid having minis that look like small children.

~Neshomeh

Re: What about Hylden? by Bramandin on 2017-05-28 16:32:00 UTC Reply
1. True, it would be the same mini as for "Bedknobs and Broomsticks."
  
  That's why http://legacyofkain.wikia.com/wiki/Firedemons(SR2) probably wouldn't work either. They'd look too much like smaller mini-Balrogs. ((BTW, for years I thought that mini-Balrogs were three feet tall, not eight feet tall.))
  
  2. I agree. There is even a mural of them in Soul Reaver, though I forget the explanation for it.
  
  3. Just the Seraphan of Blood Omen 2. The original order had nothing to do with Hylden.
  
  4. This is a good reason.
  
  5. Writing the mini-squids was fun, but I had extra problems. The most important one was that they were immobile, much like tribbles. In symbolism that the original squid was referred to as chatty, they would randomly make Tony Jay quotes, which meant extra work.
  
  6. There is actually a joke that works well with Hylden. Liz is going to wonder why "Hylians" doesn't spawn a mini.

General rule of thumb concerning minis? by Zingenmir on 2017-05-28 14:09:00 UTC Reply

Their form in any canon is theoretical until they've appeared in an OFU or a mission. They do frequently get discussed on the Board before their first appearance, but the mission or OFU is what makes them official (though even then OFUs will sometimes switch things up--see mini-tribbles becoming mini-Gorn in OFAS, for instance, IIRC).

I know absolutely nothing about Legacy of Kain, mind, including whether or not it's been missioned before (the list on the wiki page doesn't include it, so I'm guessing it hasn't), but this is generally how things work. If it's had a mission with minis, the mini form is set; if it hasn't been missioned in a case where minis appeared, then the mini form isn't set. And if a mini form has been proposed and recorded... then going by the wiki page, the first mission writer or the OFU writer makes the final decision.

All of this is, in fact, on the wiki page, but why not restate it here? Might be helpful. :)

~Z

Re: General rule of thumb concerning minis? by Bramandin on 2017-05-28 23:03:00 UTC Reply

I assure you that Legacy of Kain has been missioned by another anti-mary-sue society, but not by the PPC.

There was someone who made an agent from the LOK universe, but they spent five years with permission and not doing a thing with it.

Unless someone intentionally does a LOK mission to claim the mini-naming rights, they will be mini-Hylden.

Non-continuum minis. by Neshomeh on 2017-05-27 19:00:00 UTC Reply

Hi there!

If you go to the Mini page, you may notice a section headed "Non-Continuum Minis." I would suggest that as the best place to put a mini that is not based in a particular continuum. {= )

You should also try to track down the story it does come from, if you can. Some creative Google-fu may yield results. If not, I'd just credit Iximaz' mission with a note that it is not the original appearance, and that the page should be edited to link to that instead if/when it is found. See other entries with notes on the page for the correct format.

~Neshomeh

...wait, um. by Iximaz on 2017-05-28 00:15:00 UTC Reply

To be completely honest, I'd totally forgotten I'd even included a Halloween mini at all. So my line of thinking was, "I've never written that mini before so I can't have created it."

I dunno, maybe I did make it and I just don't remember. *shrugs helplessly*

Yeah, I made the edit. (nm) by laggycat on 2017-05-28 22:56:00 UTC Reply

Good question. by Bramandin on 2017-05-26 22:38:00 UTC Reply

Does anyone remember that conversation about a misspelling of "Bristol" "Bristle" in a Harry Potter fic?

There was an argument of whether it should be a paintbrush, somehow connecting it to the real world.

Or there was an argument that it should be a mini-arogog, like in the Harry Potter series.

I think that the answer was either never found, or the answer was "whatever is funny."
I also has question =IyI= by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-26 21:19:00 UTC Reply

(Not sure if this should have been a new thread... best not to bump stuff, right?)

(Maybe add this to the FAQ?) I'd like to know rules about starting RPs. More detailed description on the talk page.

http://ppc.wikia.com/wiki/Talk:FAQ:TheBoard#Aquestiontoaskandtoadd

-Twistey

Usually what people do... by Neshomeh on 2017-05-27 19:08:00 UTC Reply

Is pitch the RP idea on the Board first to see if there's sufficient interest to go forward. RPs generally take place on T-Board or Discord these days depending on whether you prefer semi/not-real-time or real time.

I suspect the reason this is not stated anywhere is that people tend to pick it up through observation. I guess we haven't had anyone start an RP for a while, though.

Adding questions to existing question threads is good, BTW. Plus, more people are likely to see your questions on the Board than they are on scattered wiki Talk pages.

~Neshomeh

Okay, thanks (plus the RP idea) by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-27 21:32:00 UTC Reply

Alright. (I put stuff on talk pages and the Board whenever it could be added to an article.) Now that we've gotten that cleared up...

I had an idea for a Lovecraftian/horror RP involving either an alternate universe of the PPC (e.g. EPC) or an alternate universe of the Boarders themselves (e.g. Plort.) Players can be either one of the paranormal investigators or someone on the side of the monsters (monsters, cultists, etc - since it's Lovecraft styled, the creatures are all essentially gods, and would probably be an analog for Mary Sues and other weird Internet stuff.) Or they can switch sides if they get reformed or possessed. Does that sound like fun?

-Twistey

I'm probably not going to participate either way. by Bramandin on 2017-05-27 22:28:00 UTC Reply

I don't know as much about Lovecraft as I should.

It won't really be in the continuum... by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-28 18:36:00 UTC Reply

Just the same idea of monstrous gods that can make you go insane just by looking at them, and sorta exist pretty much everywhere in space time. I don't know much about the actual Lovecraft thing either, but here's a link to a description of the general idea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu_Mythos

-Twistey

You don't think you should, er, by Larfen J. Stocke, esq. on 2017-05-29 08:40:00 UTC Reply

do a bit of research into Lovecraft, before doing a Lovecraft-styled RPG? Read the fellow a bit? Man's got some bloody well good stories, let me tell you!

I mean, Iunno. I say this as a turbosnob with zero life at all whatsoever, but there's a whole lot of things to Lovecraft's stuff beyond 'tentacleguy that makes you crazy when you look at him.' Not that he owns the concept or will rise from the grave and slap you for doing it without researching or anything, but if you're stating him as an influence, it's helpful, y'know?

I take it that you'd be interested if I did? :P by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-30 17:01:00 UTC Reply

Okay, that seems like a good idea. Despite the fact that the RP would take place in a new continuum, it would still be a good idea to research the original continuum so that stuff gets done right.

Do you have an idea about where I should start with my research? The stuff I know so far is that the Cthulhu mythos gods have a structured hierarchy (Great Old Ones, Outer Gods... can't remember the other kinds), there's a lot of them (I've been to the list on Wikipedia, wow), they've all got cat-on-keyboard names, you go insane looking at them because they're all so weird that the human brain cannot comprehend them... can't recall any more info, other than Lovecraft's work wasn't the most PC. But hey, look who's talking. Can I get a bit of guidance as to where to begin? If we get enough interest in this RP going, I'll let you be a moderator with me so you can give me a bit of help with regards to the canon I'm basing on. I'm noticing now that since the Lovecraft stuff is well-known literature, people often think they've got the idea nailed and don't go in as accurately as they could have; thus, advice is appreciated. (Although that kind of "slap Cthulhu's name on it" stuff isn't all bad. Ahem, various Terraria bosses. :D)

Thanks for the advice!

-Twistey

P.S. I've also started working on a story of another Lovecraft world, and I would share it with you to beta what I've got so far, except it's on my Google account for school, so, y'know, personal info. Hopefully this research and RP excursion will help me out.

Aaaaaaaack, I wish! by Larfen J. Stocke, esq. on 2017-05-31 13:56:00 UTC Reply

I wish I wish upon a fish. I'm doing school stuff and I am, at this very moment, gearing up for one of those real work-heavy bursts, y'know? I don't dare join another RP, as such, let alone moderate things! But good grief, would it be awesome to join.

And, yes! He was not PC. In fact, he is a git. I know, for certain, that he would probably hate me because not only do I not have a single droplet of New England blood in me (popping me in the 'potential cultist/cannibal' area,) I have a parent with brown skin (popping me in the 'potential horrific eldritch abomination of gaping inhuman death' area.) I don't, personally, think his stories are necessarily specifically aiming to be racist propaganda - as I see it, he really was genuinely interested in themes of inhumanity and alien-ness, the empty inhuman depths of space and such. It's just that, being racist, he tended to project those themes on other races a lot of the time. His stories, in general, have a far greater focus on those general themes, and he's a good enough writer that it usually doesn't feel, y'know, weird. Except Shadow of Innsmouth. That one is really racist. Phew. But, yeah, I know people who sort of like to avoid that stuff, so if you sort of like to avoid that stuff, here's warning. I still do, personally, feel that the good parts are faaar worthwhile, in general.

But, yes! Research! The best research is, obviously, reading his stuff, which is fairly easy in Lovecraft's case, because the majority of his work is short stories. Here we got a collection of electronic texts of his stories. It's public domain, so it's legal. This means you are not allowed to read them while wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket.

The Colour out of Space is the most solidly Lovecraftian short story you'll get - weird horror, blendings with sci-fi, set in classic Lovecraft country, another reason I don't want to spoil. It's bloody good. Genuinely one of his best.

The Dreams in the Witch House is a jolly good showcasing of the element of witchcraft and sorcery in Lovecraft's works that is usually overshadowed by Oh No Tentacles. It's a brilliant reinventing of the idea of witchcraft from a weird sci-fi perspective, it is. It also explores Lovecraft's fascination and ideas on dreaming. Also it is good. That is important.

And then there's The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. Of all of the parts of Lovecraft that are overshadowed by Oh No Tentacles, it's his Dream Cycle that gets it the worst. Which is a shame, because the Dreamlands is one of the most fascinating fantasy worlds I've seen, being totally separated from all that elves and dwarves, and having Lovecraft's styles of weirdness and horror. Dream-Quest is just like that - an oddly classic fantasy adventure, done in Lovecraftian style and creativity. It's, er. It's a bit long, but it's the Dream Cycle story I love the best and have read the most into. Lovecraft himself was pretty hard on the story, but shut up Lovecraft, you racist, I liked it! And, yes, it is, in fact, still connected to the rest of the mythos.

So those sort of cover a lot of his various facets, are fairly short (except for Kadath, whoops!) and are relatively not-racist (a sign of a great author, when that has to go into account.) A lot of the stuff on the gods and their hierarchy, as I've found, was greatly added in later on by not-Lovecraft, and a lot of those writers were, er, not quite as good at Lovecraft with his ideas for the mythos. I will also recommend Mountains of Madness, The Rats in the Walls, and The Whisperer in Darkness and a bunch of other ones I can't remember. Of course, it's your own continuum, so you don't need to, y'know, stick heavily to it or anything. But learning makes you smart, and everyone loves smart people. And if you're interested in those themes, it's good to actually see them.

Also, you considered making a personal Google account? I got a school one and I got a personal one, where I pop all my stories on. It's got a fake name and everything! I like to wear my sunglasses and leather jacket, while altering things in it.
And, er, pardon for taking a while. But, school and such.

Understandable. by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-31 21:03:00 UTC Reply

Well, hopefully I can use the texts you gave as a way to learn better, even without somebody helping me out. I'll begin reading the stuff soon. And yes, I am going to make a, well, haha, a non-personal personal Google account. I already have a personal one, but it has personal info on it. I'm going to transfer all my stories and other stuff onto the fake-name account once I've got it up and running. That will include the Lovecraft-styled thing and also a crud ton of fanfi...il then, *bookmarks Lovecraft thing*.

-Twistey

Oh shoot! I forgot about the thing! XD (nm) by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-31 21:04:00 UTC Reply

Uhm... by Edhelistar on 2017-05-27 22:25:00 UTC Reply

https://derpicdn.net/img/view/2012/11/17/155312_safeimage+macrolyra+heartstringslyrareaction+imagecaptionteamonocle.png

...Lyra looks kind of like a bird in that picture. XD (nm) by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-28 18:33:00 UTC Reply
(Reply with fixed HTML) by Edhelistar on 2017-05-27 22:35:00 UTC Reply

Well, yesterday was a RP in Discord... by Edhelistar on 2017-05-27 20:58:00 UTC Reply

...whichinvolved Granz throwing fridges at people... and 1visible somehow ending up in hell... while magically sealed in a portable restroom...

Yeah, it got weird pretty quickly...

Although I was thinking of themed I love those kinds of RPs. (nm by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-27 21:31:00 UTC Reply

Re: I also has question =IyI= by spectralballoons on 2017-05-27 16:23:00 UTC Reply

The PPC Posting Board does not feature any sort of bump system.

What I meant by "bump" by twistedwindowpane on 2017-05-27 21:29:00 UTC Reply

Not "bump" as in bumping something to the top. "Bump" as in bumping something off the bottom, which the Board is confirmed to do.

-Twistey