Here we are: the sequel...

Bi-weekly Prompts: Open Season by Novastorme on 2019-02-04 17:45:00 UTC Reply

AKA create and answer your own prompts. To try and limit spam from one or two people, I'd ask that you only suggest 1 prompt each, although unlike last time I won't put a limit on how many prompts overall I'd like.

Good luck!

Novastorme

Perhaps a non-writing prompt? by Neshomeh on 2019-02-06 06:37:00 UTC Reply

Okay, I admit this is just an excuse for me to share stuff I've been messing with, but anyone can do it, so...

Design your agents' RC with Floorplanner!

I did my agents' RCs with this a long time ago, but they've changed a bunch of stuff since then. The options (many, many options) all look a lot more realistic now. Downside: no color customization except on walls and floors. Upside: waste hours and hours searching for just the right furniture and accents! It's Fun! {= D (Or be less obsessive and perfectionist than I am, have fun, and also have something to show for it. ^~ )

Suggested inner dimensions for RCs, in meters because that's the default:

Office Single (undivided living/office area) - 4m x 6m
Office Double (divided into 2-4 rooms) - 8.15m x 7.65m
Fancy Single (main area + closet & bathroom) - 5.15m x 8.15m
Fancy Double (main area + 2 rooms, 2 closets, 1 bathroom) - 10.15m x 8.15m

As for exactly how the insides are arranged, I reckon HQ is nothing if not inconsistent, so go nuts. FYI, the Fancy Double is hella generous, like a proper apartment. You probably have to be a veteran and have kids and pull some serious ~~shenanigans~~ strings to get one of those.

Other tips: I've used the Greek Texture surface for the floors. I think the White Lacquer Entertainment Unit with a Mixer Console on it makes a half-convincing console. Stick a Kitchen Single Cabinet next to it and mount a Digital Jukebox Icon Storm on there, and it'll pass for the disguise generator.

The first thing I've updated that I'm calling done is the FicPsych foyer:

<a href="https://ppc.wikia.com/wiki/File:FicPsychfoyer.png">

If you follow the link to the wiki, you can see the old version and the new version to compare. Mainly, the walls are less janky, the nurses' station is built into the space rather than tacked on the outside, and the whole thing is just neater. For reference, the diameter of the whole circle would be 12 meters, the length of the long, straight wall, and so it's 6m from the main entrance to the doorway to Unit A. The curve isn't a real half-circle, but a) I couldn't get the walls to bend like that, and b) this is probably more functional anyway.

And here is Jenni's RC, which is an Office Single:

Notably, this version is pre-Henry, so there's a bookshelf in the place where a kid's bed will go later. I'm less than thrilled with the grassy green rug, but oh well, close enough. At least it livens up the image.

I might put together slideshows of these in 3D so you can see what it's like to be inside, but not tonight.

So, what about the rest of you? Care to give it a shot? {= D

~Neshomeh

I might have to later today. by Iximaz on 2019-02-06 09:10:00 UTC Reply

When I saw Floorplanner had been changed a few months ago, I'll admit my first thought was annoyance. I'm rather fond of the more cartoony version they had before (and with a bit of dorking around, I was able to still edit my saved RCs in the old version, but I couldn't add new items).

Your redesign does look good, though, so maybe I'll have to stop my grumbling and give them another go.

My prompt idea: by Snowblaze on 2019-02-05 16:41:00 UTC Reply

One of your characters has to talk their way out of a difficult situation.

...okay, I admit it: I chose this so I could write the sequel to last fortnight's prompt, which will be posted either today or tomorrow. Hopefully.

Here we are: the sequel... by Snowblaze on 2019-02-06 15:02:00 UTC Reply

Approximately eight hours later, Tiger was snoring silently. Admittedly that was only because he’d cast a snoring spell on himself and the girls were too fed up with listening to it so had silenced him.

His mission wasn’t really going that well: he was securely trapped in a cage made out of magically reinforced chairs and had so far heard nothing of use to him.

Out of one half-closed eye, he spotted Sarah, the girls’ leader, heading in his direction and internally groaned.

“Wake up!” she said, poking him.

Tiger jerked upright but said nothing as he had been silenced. Right, he told himself, you have no idea what’s happened for the last nine hours and you have a massive hangover.

“So,” asked Sarah, “why were you stupid enough to get drunk?”

Tiger said nothing.

“Oh. Right. Silencing spell.” She muttered something. “That should do it. Now answer my question.”

Tiger found he was able to talk. “Drunk?” he asked. “I only remember having one glass…” He clutched his forehead, imagining a pounding headache.

“Why did you drink anything when you know that it is against your own father’s rules?”

“Well, I figured it couldn’t do any harm, just one glass… everyone was having some.”

“Whose idea was it to drink in the first place?”

“Martin’s. He found a bottle somewhere and proposed a celebration of our impending victory.”

Sarah looked at Tiger as if he had gone mad. “No way,” she said. “Even Martin wouldn’t be that stupid… unless…”

Tiger could tell that she had worked it out. He wasn’t altogether surprised. “Unless what?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Unless… you were pretending to be drunk… so you could spy…”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. That would be the worst plan I’ve ever heard.”

“I know Martin,” Sarah said. “I dated him last year. He is just the sort to make a plan like that.”

Tiger sighed. “Okay. Fine. I admit it. I’m a spy. Now what?”

Sarah hesitated.

“I have an idea,” said Tiger suddenly. “How about I spy for you?”

Sarah blinked. “You… want to switch sides.”

“Yeah. I’ve had enough of working for an idiot. What would you like Martin to think your plans are?”

“Hang on… how do I know you’re not just faking it to escape?”

That was a good point. “You don’t,” he said, knowing that there was nothing that he could do to persuade her that he was going to stick with his new side. He wasn’t even sure of it himself. It would be very satisfying to beat Martin, but on the other hand he also really wanted to beat his sister.

“True enough, I guess…” Sarah was clearly thinking about this quite hard. “I’ll need to talk about this with the others. I’ll be back in a minute.”

She walked away from Tiger, who returned to his slump. Even though he didn’t actually have a hangover, the dizziness spells were taking longer to wear off than he’d expected.

To be continued...