Let's see if I can explain...

Subject: Let's see if I can explain...
Author: Neshomeh
Posted on: 2015-05-18 17:00:00 UTC

There's a lot of elements to it. There's a whole world with characters and backstory, which you can follow via comic strips. Some of the characters run shops you-the-user can visit to buy stuff for your avatar. You can also outfit a car, house, and aquarium. There are also games (like the puzzles I mentioned), which you can play to collect gold to spend on aforementioned design-y things. There's a thing where you can run around in the world and interact with other players, too, though it's fairly limited—or was the last time I poked my nose in. There are also forums for everything you can possibly imagine. I joined the site in the first place because some friends of mine were RPing there. (Posting also earns you gold.) Then there are the special site-wide events, which are occasionally really cool, such as the one where they created their own version of Oregon Trail. Playing them generally gets you special limited-edition avatar items.

... Basically, it's a huge, elaborate time-waster. ^_^; But mostly harmless, and sometimes really fun.

~Neshomeh

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Quick question about agents by Matt Cipher on 2015-05-14 20:43:00 UTC Reply

I assume we do not approve face claims, when dealing with the agents' appearance, right? If so, does anyone could recommend any good character creator? I mean, I have Rinmaru one, but it only makes slim anime-like characters, which is kinda boring. I could use some variety.

I'll toss this question here by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-05-15 22:41:00 UTC Reply

I have an idea for a prospective agent, but his status is a bit complicated. He comes from an unpublished original universe that was intentionally designed to be bad. I was going through a really strange Meta-Fiction Experimental Stage in my writing. So I guess the question is, are there any objections to using that kind of a character?

Well... by Desdendelle on 2015-05-15 23:13:00 UTC Reply

It's hard to say without seeing the character, but Stylistic Suck doesn't mean that character is actually bad. What sort of character is it?

Well... by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-05-16 00:04:00 UTC Reply

I basically created the character to essentially spork the story he was created for. A Viking/Barbarian from Generic Fantasy Land with no fourth wall. He recognizes that the story might as well have been called Generic Fantasy Plot 1, decides his sole purpose is to correct a very bad story. He finishes his arc by killing the very bad author. It was part of an intentionally designed trunk story.

Really, there is nothing wrong with the character himself, other than coming from a non-published universe. Though his full awareness as a fictional character might be a bit much.

If that's the case... by Desdendelle on 2015-05-16 00:10:00 UTC Reply

Non-published is perfectly fine - he'd be a Semi-Fic Blip. The meta awareness is probably the more problematic part, but it's not inherently bad - it's a thing that can be done well.

That's what I figured by [EvilAI]UBEROverlord on 2015-05-16 00:25:00 UTC Reply

I'll keep playing around with it and see what I get.

Also, a question for my Harry Potter brethren by Matt Cipher on 2015-05-15 15:02:00 UTC Reply

I plan on writing a "Next Generation" fic, about James Potter II's first year at Hogwarts (and maybe expand it into a series, who knows). S, here's my question:

How do you guys feel about vampire students? Or, half-vampire (we know that's possible - Lorcan d'Eath), because I felt like expanding the British folk tales into the Potter-verse. I know, it sounds bad - a PPC member messing around the canon universe, but I feel like up for a challenge. So, what is your opinion? Also, anyone willing to Beta it?

Um, well, if you were to do that... by Iximaz on 2015-05-15 15:30:00 UTC Reply

You should remember that the one time we see a vampire on-page (Sanguini, in HBP), he had to be kept from eating some of Slughorn's partygoers. So while it's maybe possible to 'domesticate' a vampire, it seems like they never quite loose their thirst.

As for pointing to Lorcan as your canon example... I'd hesitate to call that 'book canon', per se, since it's from the games and they have a different canon from the books and movies (thank Rowling).

Anything can be done well if handled right, but this is definitely a delicate thing you're playing with. I'm honestly quite a bit leery of the idea, but I'll reserve judgement until I see it.

Oh, true to that, by Matt Cipher on 2015-05-15 17:13:00 UTC Reply

I never meant for any of my vampires (if I was to create them) to go on a bloodless diet. I was thinking about making a DADA teacher somehow connected to them (to make a reference to what Dean said in PoA when discussing who will be their next teacher, after Lupin), but I think this might be too much.

I think a safe way of doing this, is not making the character a full vampire but have them having a vampire somewhere in their ancestry.

As for Lorcan, he was featured on Rowling's site as November 2006's "Wizard of the Month", so I guess we could count him as a canon, maybe?

I use Heromachine by LonelyStar on 2015-05-15 07:25:00 UTC Reply

Which is here: http://www.heromachine.com/heromachine-2-5-character-portrait-creator/

It has a rather realistic style (no super-deforming) and a good variety of options, even if you don't want to make superheroes..
I know how I will eventually be doing it. by ratbrainbasher on 2015-05-15 05:35:00 UTC Reply

Honestly, I would use a program to custom make CGI models of my agents, but Star Trek Online is much faster, and almost as good. Seriously, it has the best character creator I've seen. A screen shot, a little trip through Gimp, and I have a new agent picture. I've done this professionally before, and I still do a little, but Star Trek Online would work really well if you don't have experience with things like Makehuman, Blender, or even Maya. I may discover a better method in time, and once figure it out, I'll share it.

Of course, if you want a 2d picture, Gimp is the best free option. If you have it or want it, either Coreldraw or Photoshop will work. If you are inexperienced, it is actually surprisingly easy with the latter two, to alter a photograph of a consenting friend, or yourself. It won't be perfect if you're really new, but you can go back later and make improvements once you're more experienced. Hope this wasn't too long winded or rambley.
I drew mine by hand. by Voyd on 2015-05-14 21:38:00 UTC Reply

I can't do a normal Caucasian skin tone, but if you check out my agents on the Wiki (Valon, Kala, and Gabby) their pictures are hand-drawn because there were things that just plain couldn't be done in a character generator. Like Kala's entire bottom half.

Why is Chakkik excluded? There's already official artwork of a Mantis Ant, which is what I used.

By the way, Gabby's chest is actually small for a MonMusu hobgoblin. I just can't draw them that big, eheheh.
Here is this thread! by radioactiveSue on 2015-05-14 21:31:00 UTC Reply

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=199610;article=271339;title=PPC%20Posting%20Board;pagemark=175

I hope it helps!
We don't do face claims here. by JulyFlame on 2015-05-14 21:23:00 UTC Reply

That said, the primary one used on the wikia is basically used for Gaia Online avatars. If you want to see a different kind, you can check out the website Doll Divine, which has a lot of individual different ones.

The TekTek site got shut down a while back. by Iximaz on 2015-05-14 21:52:00 UTC Reply

We're still flailing to find a decent replacement.

Gaia Online has said they'll make a replacement. by Neshomeh on 2015-05-14 22:45:00 UTC Reply

No telling when that will actually happen, though, or if it will be open to non-members.

If not, though, I'll be happy to volunteer my avatar-making services. I loved playing with TekTek, so if Gaia's version doesn't suck, I'll take any excuse to play with it, too. {= D

~Neshomeh

Avatar builder is now in beta. by Neshomeh on 2015-05-20 06:29:00 UTC Reply

I can't try it out myself yet, but from other people's comments, it seems like they haven't worked out all the kinks yet, so maybe that's just as well.

~Neshomeh

Well, at least they've got it up! by Huinesoron on 2015-05-20 16:09:00 UTC Reply

Not that I actually have any particular need to use it right now, but still! It's the principle of the thing. ^_^

hS

Couldn't agree more. by Scapegrace on 2015-05-21 10:43:00 UTC Reply

We all loved Tektek, and it's a poor sight in any loving relationship if you can't get it up for the people who love you yeah this metaphor broke under its own weight I'mma go hide somewhere now. =]

Update by Neshomeh on 2015-05-16 19:25:00 UTC Reply

As of last night, Gaia says the new avatar builder is "coming soon" and "nearly ready for public testing." They posted a preview image here, though I don't know if people without accounts will be able to view it.

I'll keep everyone posted, since I go on there to do puzzles from time to time. {= )

~Neshomeh

Image is visible to everyone. by Huinesoron on 2015-05-16 23:50:00 UTC Reply

Does a Gaia account require anything other than an email?

(Also, that is a seriously ugly webpage. Eesh.)

hS

Nope, just an e-mail. by Neshomeh on 2015-05-17 14:06:00 UTC Reply

Maybe a bit of your soul, too, but just a little one. Nothing you'll actually notice. {= ) It's free to sign up and do most things on the site, though they try like blazes to get you to pay money for more, shinier things. Do friend me if you get an account—I'm Neshomeh_soul on there. One of the few times Neshomeh was already taken.

~Neshomeh

Who needs a soul anyway? by Huinesoron on 2015-05-18 10:09:00 UTC Reply

So... what actually is it? Other than the source for pretty agent pictures, obviously. ;) Can you give me a quick rundown/summary?

hS

Let's see if I can explain... by Neshomeh on 2015-05-18 17:00:00 UTC Reply

There's a lot of elements to it. There's a whole world with characters and backstory, which you can follow via comic strips. Some of the characters run shops you-the-user can visit to buy stuff for your avatar. You can also outfit a car, house, and aquarium. There are also games (like the puzzles I mentioned), which you can play to collect gold to spend on aforementioned design-y things. There's a thing where you can run around in the world and interact with other players, too, though it's fairly limited—or was the last time I poked my nose in. There are also forums for everything you can possibly imagine. I joined the site in the first place because some friends of mine were RPing there. (Posting also earns you gold.) Then there are the special site-wide events, which are occasionally really cool, such as the one where they created their own version of Oregon Trail. Playing them generally gets you special limited-edition avatar items.

... Basically, it's a huge, elaborate time-waster. ^_^; But mostly harmless, and sometimes really fun.

~Neshomeh

I used to play with TekTek when I was stuck for writing. by Iximaz on 2015-05-16 20:30:00 UTC Reply

I'm really hoping the replacement Gaia has is free, because I loved derping on that so much.