The Observatory

[Snowflake]

I can't find my last post before I left. Did you delete it Kody? It was a roleplay post. Or did it never get posted?

[Kody]

I can't delete posts.

[Snowflake]

Yes I guess I was in too emotional at the time and didn't wait till the server load it.

[Snowflake]

I was thinking how would the narrating of the game go. We have IC right now. But do we need to start recording the game in some way? Have you thought about this Kody? Do you want to record it as a history, like which year who discovered who or what, or write it up like how we do the IC? Do you want me to take part in it? I haven't been following the game closely. If you need me, I can start to do so.

[Method]

welcome back HH

[Snowflake]

Thanks Method.

[Kody]

It is nice to see that you're back now.

I'm kindof semi-inactive now. Real life catching up with me again.

I'm currently have enough to do with IC story and newspapers. I don't think I'll have time to record a history.

[Snowflake]

I thought that was the main task for the narrators no? If you want me to do it I could give it a try. But I'd appreciate your thought on what format it should be.

[Snowflake]

I've been thinking about it. Perhaps it is a good idea that you do the IC stuff and I do the recording history stuff. The Spartans seemed still unforgiven to me so it may be wise for me to lay low and stay away in the IC department. It'll be a little hard to go back and retrace the history but if I start now there won't be too much for me to catch. In the mean while I'd be doing something that will not take an emotional toll on me while I can actually contribute to the game.

[Kody]

Well I'm wondering what the spartans have against you? I didn't realise there was anything going on.

Recording a history was the main reason for this forum. Narrator's main task really is whatever we take upon ourselves to do, which is nice. Well aside from wresting moderator tasks from Drogue, which we're liable to do, but shouldn't.

[Snowflake]

Yeah I think I was being oversensitive myself. Nevertheless I think an historian may be a good position for snowflake.

[Kody]

I see a really busy week coming up for me. So I won't be around for a bit.

I'm doing Tutoring again this semester, I've got a conference paper in the works and I've got a book or two borrowed out.

[Snowflake]

What books are you reading Kody?

I used to be a real book lover. Read Journey to the West (Xi You Ji) when I was seven and so on. When I came to the US it took me several years before I could really read a book in English. Till today I still only read books in English on a very narrow range, like Christie's detective stories and such. That's why I always feel so inadequate when I write in English. I think I've got to read more books.

[Kody]

I think writing is like art. You even someone who's still learning a technique can still make something beautiful.

I'm going to read one of Tad Williams books. 3th book of the series (actually fourth book since he split the third book into two parts) "To Green Angel Tower: Storm Pt. 2 (Memory, Sorrow & Thorn S.)"

[Snowflake]

Want to recommend a book for me to read?

[Kody]

Books largely depend on your taste. People tend to read and like certain types of books and it's fairly pointless trying to convert them unless you like very similar things. I tend to read high fanstasy (subset: epic adventures with magic) and sci-fiction (subset: people fighting for survival of the human race etc).

If you like those types of books I may be able to recommend one.

[Snowflake]

Yes I love fantasy and sci-fi. I used to read lots of science fictions in Chinese. I read the Nightfall not long ago and loved it. Then I started Nemsis but realizedd that I've read it in Chinese before so I didn't really finish it. I think I've read another couple sci-fi books in English but I'm not sure. Main English readings I had so far is Agatha Christie and Sidney Sheldon, if we don't count the books for 5 year olds.

[Snowflake]

I've started the history thread at the Gaians. Will move it here when I finish some turns for the other teams. Kody, could you take a look at that and give me some feedbacks? I've been doing it slower that I would like. Would appreciate any help from you when you have time.

[Kody]

Hrmm, okay for books

Jane Welch - fantasy writer, you might like her.
Ian Irvine - sci-fiction/fantasy combination of the two

Those two authors I think you might like.

Raymond Feist - "Magician", first book in a series. I liked that book most of his works. The later books were decent, but started repeating similar themes afterwards. Fantasty Setting.

Robert Jordan - Wheel of Time Series, first few books are great, later books sort of drop off in quality. 1-5 really good, 5-10 decent, 10 onwards puts me to sleep.

Most of the good sci-fiction books are singular in nature, not series so it's more difficult remembering.

Orson Scott Card - wrote "Enders Game", you can decide whether you want to keep reading after that, but "Enders Game" was really good.

I remember there was another book that I can't remember a title or the author, but I remember it was a very good book.

It talked about a plague on the earth originating from an alien race that communicated via viruses. It was supposed to send a message, but instead killed most of mankind. When humanity started recovering from the effects of the plague they find out they somehow have knowledge of how to build a space gateway to another solarsystem and information about the aliens implanted in their heads.

The story follows the "twisters", named so because they were the children born around the time of the plague. They were like leaves twisting in the wind. The twisters were like a lost generation that didn't fit in with the older people that knew the world before the plague and didn't fit in with the people born after the world had settled down after the plague. There were very few children that surived the plague, and most lost their parents to the plague or were stolen to replace some child that had died. They spent their lives rebuilding the world and the hardship they had to endure meant they showed brilliance and inspiration that was lacking in the younger generations. Then afterwards when the world went back to normal they found themselves in limbo, not quite fitting in a world where people nolonger worked together to survive.

I was really touched by that book, because I'm a sucker for books that show people suffering hardship, but struggling on despite all odds. Also it talked about people that had their world change around them twice, first time due to the plague, second time when things went back to normal.

I wish I remembered more of the titles and authors of sci-fiction books. The fanstasy authors tend to write serials that are good, but the sci-fiction authors are the ones that sometime have one time gems that really get you thinking. Unfortunately the ones that generate the gems usually don't have many books and the quality between their books differ greatly.

[Kody]

I don't know much about the in game aspects, I finally stopped reading all the posts. I do think you've done a pretty good job with what you're writing, it's interesting and informative.

“Why haven’t anybody said anything when I asked for confirmation of the plan in the meeting.” L

There's an "L" at the end of that sentence?

people who tries hard to persuade him

... people trying hard to persuade him ...

[Snowflake]

Thanks Kody! Especially for the book recommendations.

Drogue, is it ok to comment on private forums on things like commenting at Gaians when GT publically commented on Gaians false claim of a dead colony pod? Isn't it part of roleplays? Would you consider any information is leaked by me trying to pat the Gaians' shoulder saying GT's post means Gaians misinformation campaign is successful?

[Snowflake]

Urgh I'm so tired. I don't think I can ever finish this thing and catch up with the game.

[Snowflake]

For Drogue: A question from angels here. http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...59#post3171959

I would like to use this opportunity to ask you again to perhaps top the rules for this game.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Snowflake
Drogue, is it ok to comment on private forums on things like commenting at Gaians when GT publically commented on Gaians false claim of a dead colony pod? Isn't it part of roleplays? Would you consider any information is leaked by me trying to pat the Gaians' shoulder saying GT's post means Gaians misinformation campaign is successful?

I'd rather leave it to them to figure out whether it's successful or not. Moreover, the Gaians would complain if we said that about them to another faction, so I think it's only fair for it to work both ways.

But it's not a major thing. I read the Gaian thread on it, and I'm never sure on this. Anything priviliged, from private forums, stays private. Opinions on gameplay issues are also out, IMHO. However when it comes to pointing things out, or giving opinions, on things on the public forums, I'm never sure. When they help a team, it might be affected by privilaged information, and since we aren't on teams, could aid a team unfairly, but in the name of gameplaying and fun, I wouldn't want to ban it all, by any means. I think it's a 'use at your discretion' thing, and if I think you've gone too far, or you're not sure, then ask, and we can decide as a group, so we get an idea of what people, and we, want

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Snowflake
For Drogue: A question from angels here. http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...59#post3171959

Have replied

Originally posted by Snowflake
I would like to use this opportunity to ask you again to perhaps top the rules for this game.

I knew I'd forgotten something I will make sure I do this!

[Drogue]

BTW: this probably isn't my bit to do, but I was sufficiently impressed for this : http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...6#post3173416. Sporadically, if something sufficiently moves me, I'd like to award a Kody, like an Oscar, for playing in character, or something like that. Named after our narrator, of course

Is that ok, or should I stay out of roleplaying/characters?

[Snowflake]

Oh please do, Drogue. The Kody award is a great idea! I liked it too when they first came up with this idea. Suggested a headline "Morgan lawyers opened property right lawsuit against the Hive".

[Drogue]

Having connection problems at home at the moment (won't access 'Poly) so I can't do any serious investigation and putting together rules, since work wouldn't be happy.

[Snowflake]

Who's wrek?

[Snowflake]

Kody I saw you were online a little while ago. Could you write an openning paragraph for the history thread whenver you have time? You are so good at writings. I just cannot write something as beautiful as you did for the ACDG introduction.