For some time now, I've been pondering a webcomic based on my 'Future History' series, also published in this section (and on llearch's story server).
The big stumbling block for illustrating it was of course my own artistic incompetence when it comes to drawing people. However, Ren Gaulen has kindly stepped in to fill the breach by providing the lineart and thus making this venture possible.
I therefore present: Project Future (http://www.project-future.org).
(http://www.project-future.org/strips/comic/strip032.png)
http://www.project-future.org/strips/comic/strip032.png
Hopefully this will be updated weekly, on http://www.project-future.org (http://www.project-future.org).
Comments, criticism and so forth would be much appreciated.
Episode 1
Strip 1 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg179765.html#msg179765), Strip 2 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg180584.html#msg180584), Strip 3 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg181787.html#msg181787), Strip 4 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg182883.html#msg182883),
Strip 5 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg184272.html#msg184272), Strip 6 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg185592.html#msg185592), Strip 7 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg186533.html#msg186533), Strip 8 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg187401.html#msg187401)
Episode 2
Strip 9 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg188421.html#msg188421), Strip 10-12 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg189236.html#msg189236), Strip 13 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg190297.html#msg190297), Strip 14 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg191512.html#msg191512),
Strip 15 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg193366.html#msg193366), Strip 16 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg194586.html#msg194586), Strip 17 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg195818.html#msg195818), Strip 18 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg197250.html#msg197250)
Episode 3
Strip 19 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg198824.html#msg198824), Strip 20 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg200681.html#msg200681), Strip 21 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg204441.html#msg204441), Strip 22 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg206905.html#msg206905),
Strip 23 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg210635.html#msg210635), Strip 24 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg213161.html#msg213161), Strip 25 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg215626.html#msg215626),Strip 26 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg217697.html#msg217697)
Episode 4
Strip 27 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg220211.html#msg220211), Strip 28 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg221967.html#msg221967), Strip 29 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg224277.html#msg224277), Strip 30 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg226499.html#msg226499),
Strip 31 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg228746.html#msg228746), Strip 32 discussion (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg230999.html#msg230999)
... must I suggest again? ;-]
I've already commented on it on the chatroom, but I think it's great. :)
Lovely
Well, it looks good. I'll certainly be paying attention to this as it develops. It will be interesting to see how it differs from the story you've been writing. Already have some deviation just in the comic text, which is very well timed by the way.
This looks very nice. :3
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on March 01, 2008, 07:52:25 PM
Well, it looks good. I'll certainly be paying attention to this as it develops. It will be interesting to see how it differs from the story you've been writing. Already have some deviation just in the comic text, which is very well timed by the way.
The plan is to keep most of the best dialogue, while at the same time condensing it so it fits comfortably in speech bubbles. Jakob has a marked tendency to ramble (I was going to give an example, but I can't actually find one since I've managed to keep a great deal of it intact).
There's also the consideration that I'm not using narration here except in special cases, like when Dorcan dies. That means we have to have extra cues from the dialogue (or thoughts).
For example, in Page 3, when Joshua wakes up he thinks he's dead (apologies to those who haven't read the original). The original reads:
"At first he thought he was dead," - In the storyboard, we have:
Page 3
1. Blurry white frame [Oh gods, this must be Heaven...
I hope they can forgive my sins...]
...some things, like the description of how he isn't breathing, simply won't easily translate to this format, unfortunately.
I've also been trying to synchronize it so that anything controversial or dramatic hits on the last panel. That said it was actually Ren's idea to expand the intro to two pages and I think it hits the mark.
And finally, I have been trying to fix a few minor plotholes/continuity glitches and make it more accessible to people who haven't read CJP - or even DMFA. Around page 15 we're going to stop and have a quick demonology overview to explain the races of interest.
**EDIT**
Quote from: Zedd on March 01, 2008, 06:51:49 PM
Lovely
I'm not sure 'lovely' is quite the word that springs to mind while watching a husky die of blood loss and exposure, but thanks anyway :3
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on March 01, 2008, 03:03:11 PM... must I suggest again? ;-]
Yes, I think you must. There were a number of things you did suggest, in various quite different contexts. If you mean the comic engine, I thought yours was still too experimental for use at the moment. By all means feel free to correct me.
Thanks for the comments, people. I just hope the interior scenes work out as well.
I'm happy that people like this comic too. :) Tape's colouring is really great - I am confident that the interior scenes will work out well. I'll do my best too!
Quote from: Tapewolf on March 01, 2008, 08:23:03 PM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on March 01, 2008, 03:03:11 PM... must I suggest again? ;-]
Yes, I think you must. There were a number of things you did suggest, in various quite different contexts. If you mean the comic engine, I thought yours was still too experimental for use at the moment. By all means feel free to correct me.
Ah... mine is running solidly on CVRPG & DSWC, and also on Jigsaw's site. And possibly some others I've forgotten (I keep meaning to write up a webpage to keep track of these things) The problem with it is I've hand-written it into the html, as it were. I'm still working on the easy-install option.
Well, I say working, basically I'm thinking about it and not getting around to typing anything. However... I really should get on to that.
The "hard install" works fine, though. And, uh, it's a -bit- cleaner than the CGI hack you described. ;-]
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on March 02, 2008, 05:04:11 AM
Ah... mine is running solidly on CVRPG & DSWC, and also on Jigsaw's site. And possibly some others I've forgotten (I keep meaning to write up a webpage to keep track of these things) The problem with it is I've hand-written it into the html, as it were. I'm still working on the easy-install option.
Okay, I'm interested. Do you want to PM me with the details?
I agree with Zedd. Lovely.
a good start...to an unhappy begining.
the question is will the folowing pages be a flashback, or will the one responsible be gloating over his bad deeds?
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on March 05, 2008, 08:02:47 PM
a good start...to an unhappy begining.
the question is will the folowing pages be a flashback, or will the one responsible be gloating over his bad deeds?
He staggers around in the snow for a bit and then some bastard cuts his head off :B
Seriously, this is part of the prologue. I wanted to have it as a single page at first, but Ren decided it would work better as two and I agreed.
Quote from: Tapewolf on March 06, 2008, 05:55:34 AM
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on March 05, 2008, 08:02:47 PM
a good start...to an unhappy begining.
the question is will the folowing pages be a flashback, or will the one responsible be gloating over his bad deeds?
He staggers around in the snow for a bit and then some bastard cuts his head off :B
Seriously, this is part of the prologue. I wanted to have it as a single page at first, but Ren decided it would work better as two and I agreed.
Actually, after the prologue part he is rescued and turned into...
Robocop!! :B Just kidding! :3
...
Or am I?.. :paranoid
I approve greatly of this. :) Very nice, promising start.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on March 06, 2008, 09:52:40 AM
I approve greatly of this. :) Very nice, promising start.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Very much seconded looks like its gonna be a great comic
Quote from: Paladin Sheppard on March 06, 2008, 10:44:43 PM
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on March 06, 2008, 09:52:40 AM
I approve greatly of this. :) Very nice, promising start.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Very much seconded looks like its gonna be a great comic
Thanks. I finished colouring page 4 last night, but I'm going to have to redo parts of it and page 3 owing to a slight cockup. One of the changes from the original story is that we're going to add a flashback of Josh's briefing, so Keaton is likely to have a short background appearance around page 30.
Strip 2 is up. I have edited the initial post with the new strip.
It's updated earlier than last week, but hey, technically it's Saturday, even if it's 1AM...
hmm, this is just the thing to replace that dead altermeta link.
Page 3 is up, see the top of the thread. Or check the website.
I wonder if it is bad of me to find the line "You don't need to" in the last panel hilarious?
Also, "I can not breathe, and I must scream". That is all.
Quote from: Tapewolf on March 01, 2008, 08:23:03 PM
For example, in Page 3, when Joshua wakes up he thinks he's dead (apologies to those who haven't read the original). The original reads:
"At first he thought he was dead," - In the storyboard, we have:
Page 3
1. Blurry white frame [Oh gods, this must be Heaven...
I hope they can forgive my sins...]
...some things, like the description of how he isn't breathing, simply won't easily translate to this format, unfortunately.
original?
Quote from: pyrohamster on March 15, 2008, 02:26:21 AM
Quote
For example, in Page 3, when Joshua wakes up he thinks he's dead (apologies to those who haven't read the original). The original reads:
"At first he thought he was dead," - In the storyboard, we have:
Page 3
1. Blurry white frame [Oh gods, this must be Heaven...
I hope they can forgive my sins...]
...some things, like the description of how he isn't breathing, simply won't easily translate to this format, unfortunately.
original?
Took me a while to figure out what you meant, since you quoted a screenful of text without cropping it to the bit you were referring to. You're asking where the original story comes, from, yes?
It's adapted from a similarly-titled story of mine which is also in the Tower of Art. Whether you now go to read it is up to you, since it would obviously spoil a lot.
In case anyone's curious, this is the original version of the lower frame, in full-res yet:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/pf3outtake.png
Page 4 highlighted certain problems which necessitated the screen curtains. Pity, I liked the walls.
Page three and still looking good Tape. Took me awhile to notice the subtle color difference of the fur of his head in comparison to the fur of his body. Very subtle. Thankfully it will only... oh, wait. Some people haven't read the main story yet in this thread. Guess I'll stop talking then.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on March 17, 2008, 09:10:00 PM
Page three and still looking good Tape. Took me awhile to notice the subtle color difference of the fur of his head in comparison to the fur of his body. Very subtle.
Yeah. Originally it was the fur pattern, but he doesn't really have a fur pattern as such, and since he's wrapped up warm in the first two pages anyway it wouldn't have been as noticeable.
Page 4 is up, complete with a rambling message on the website.
You're trying to conceal the face of a man who is not what he appears to be... interesting. I guess since we're trying to do this from the point of view that the audience is coming into this cold turkey it makes sense.
I just can't wait until we get to see his real face up close and personal. Then I can finally answer the question if Jakob Pettersohn and Tape's avatar is one and the same. You know, without being cheap and asking him or something.
I'm impatient, but the story is good.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on March 24, 2008, 10:08:36 PM
You're trying to conceal the face of a man who is not what he appears to be... interesting. I guess since we're trying to do this from the point of view that the audience is coming into this cold turkey it makes sense.
Yes, I'm trying to do this so it will work without any prior knowledge of DMFA, let alone the fanfics.
QuoteI just can't wait until we get to see his real face up close and personal. Then I can finally answer the question if Jakob Pettersohn and Tape's avatar is one and the same. You know, without being cheap and asking him or something.
They are the same, but whether the character portrayed is him is a different question >:3
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on March 25, 2008, 12:44:27 AM
I'm impatient, but the story is good.
Yeah. Really I'd like to do a two-a-week update, but that doesn't look so realistic at the moment.
Page 6 should be interesting when it comes.
Page 5 is up. Enjoy.
Even though I said it before, I feel like saying it again: great work, Tape!
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/DanHappy.png)
I have to use this (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/DanHappy.png) pic once in a while.. (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/DioHappy1.png) :3
Can't wait to see the next page. Of course, I have already seen it, only without the colour or text.
I actually messed up on this one - the Doctor was supposed to have introduced himself. I've revised the storyboard so that happens on page 9 now.
Nice view of the "hospital". I wonder why he took the "you son't need to breathe" answer so calmly and continued assuming it was a regular hospital.
Quote from: Gabi on March 28, 2008, 07:25:35 PM
Nice view of the "hospital". I wonder why he took the "you son't need to breathe" answer so calmly and continued assuming it was a regular hospital.
He probably did not understand what was said to him at that moment - he was too shocked.
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on March 28, 2008, 07:28:22 PM
He probably did not understand what was said to him at that moment - he was too shocked.
That and he's been asked about 3 other things since. Also, he kind of thinks that he
is breathing and it's the anaesthetic preventing him from feeling it.
**EDIT**
In case anyone's interested, here's a closeup (12% of its full size!) of the VAX:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/tape/decvax12.png
Those who remember CJP well may recognise the description of it.
out of curiosity, in the first scene is he wearing goggles or glasses?
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on March 29, 2008, 03:42:27 PM
out of curiosity, in the first scene is he wearing goggles or glasses?
Josh wears goggles there. In Arctic environment that would be a good idea.
We have an early update...
(http://www.project-future.org/strips/comic/april1a.png)
Better yet, ask the Governator. ;-]
"Yugi, I think I'm pregnant..." (http://wikihost.org/wikis/yugiabridge/wiki/episode_7)
But seriously, I lol'd. :B
~Keaton the Black Jackal
PS: The transcript is given in the link 'cos I couldn't link directly to the actual video. But it's at the Yu-Gi-Oh the Abridged Version's official website. Episode 7.
Poor Joshua... I almost feel sorry for him. But do you really think that his suffering is over?
I bet most of you don't remember this post (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg180379.html#msg180379). But in the end I turned out to be right!! Joshua really becomes a Robocop!
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/JoshuaOswald-1.png)
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/JoshuaOswald-1.png
And if you don't believe me, wait for the next page of the comic to come out! >:3
Alright, I've read the comic fully now and it looks promising.
Unfortunatly, I've only read up to chapter 27 of CJP and have read none of future history. I'm trying to fix this as soon as possible.
Quote from: Pagan on April 01, 2008, 08:25:08 PM
Alright, I've read the comic fully now and it looks promising.
Unfortunatly, I've only read up to chapter 27 of CJP and have read none of future history. I'm trying to fix this as soon as possible.
Well, don't be in too much of a hurry :3
If I do this right - and I'm quietly confident - it should make sense without having read
DMFA, let alone the others.
**EDIT**
Now, should I keep the current page on the site until the real update on Friday or revert back to strip 5?
I would say keep it.
If you want to put it in a secondary list of AF strips, maybe, but for the moment, it can probably stay in the main list.
The real page 6 is up now. For the time being I've included a link to the AF page in the rant. When chapter 1 ends I'll put together a proper archive page which will include the april fool's strip and various other oddments.
Just like I said - Joshua is now a Robocop! :B You should have listened to me! :veryevil
...
OK, so he does not look anything like a Robocop, but still, he is a cyborg now...
*spoiler*Actually, he is as weak and fragile as C3P0 right now, but wait until he is upgraded...*/spoiler*
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on April 04, 2008, 05:25:56 PMhe is as weak and fragile as C3P0 right now, but wait until he is upgraded...
all we need is an ID armor and a few mechs, then we're all set for final fusion :robo
That turned out a lot like I imagined it.
And XD... I've just seen the April Fools version. Good one, JP!
Quote from: Jack McSlay on April 04, 2008, 06:49:56 PM
all we need is an ID armor and a few mechs, then we're all set for final fusion :robo
Graet. :erk Now I imagine Josh yelling "
Gao... Gai... GAAAAR!!!!" while piloting one of the most ridiculously looking yet absolutely awesome mechas known to Man.
Thank you. :)
I haven't read much of Future Chronicles. Is Josh's blood synthetic? If so, Is it the red stuff or the white stuff?
Quote from: !KCA on April 09, 2008, 11:56:06 PM
I haven't read much of Future Chronicles. Is Josh's blood synthetic? If so, Is it the red stuff or the white stuff?
Josh has been turned into a robot from the neck down. Later he gets *edit* something else happen, spoiler alert! spoiler alert!
Sorry, tech. ;-]
-- llearch
Quote from: !KCA on April 09, 2008, 11:56:06 PM
I haven't read much of Future Chronicles. Is Josh's blood synthetic? If so, Is it the red stuff or the white stuff?
As Tech says, he's a cyborg. If there is any synthetic blood in him it'll be synthetic plasma to bulk out the real blood. There is a closed loop as part of his life-support system. The rest of him I haven't really designed in detail, but I'm thinking there may be a thermally-conductive gel.
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on April 10, 2008, 01:02:52 AM
Josh has been turned into a robot from the neck down. Later he gets
Appreciated, but on the other hand there are a few people reading this who haven't read the original story, so I'm trying to be a little vague for their sake. :3
It might be nice if you could edit out the spoiler...
Quote from: Tapewolf on April 10, 2008, 04:36:08 AM
It might be nice if you could edit out the spoiler...
You're welcome. ;-]
Whoops. My bad :< I didn't think it would be that much of a spoiler... :B
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on April 10, 2008, 09:24:11 AM
Whoops. My bad :< I didn't think it would be that much of a spoiler... :B
it's not - and if I thought you might respond this quickly, I wouldn't have edited, anyway. The point is, it -is- a spoiler, even if only a tiny little one, and Tapewolf has been trying to avoid posting -any-, just to be nice.
I mean, I don't think there are too many folks reading the comic who haven't read the story, but even so, let's think of others, hmm? ;-]
The new page is up, after some last-minute tweaking which was not helped by my main monitor suddenly undergoing a screen collapse. Fortunately I have an identical unit which I was able to swap in, but it did a few things intimating that it might not be long for this world either. If it dies too I will have three dead CRT monitors in my house. (Memo to self - consider the ViewSonic VP950b as a possible candidate for an art-grade LCD monitor)
Um, anyway. Page 7 is up, enjoy it. The next page will be the end of chapter 1.
Nice one too, but I'm out of constructive comments.
And here is some extra material for you, dear readers! The shocking truth about Joshua's new body!!
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/JoshuaFridge1.png)
That's right! Joshua has been turned into a fridge!! (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/JoshuaFridge1.png)
I can't believe I haven't posted in this thread yet. I think this is awesome.
I like the writing, it's an easy read and flows well. I like Gaulen's grasp on anatomy too, though the poses could stand to be a little more fluid.
(Looking back on the first comics) Speaking as someone with first hand experience with harsh arctic climates, I am amazed he is walking around without head gear or gloves of any sort, let alone walking around bleeding.
HOWEVER. Nothing personal, I am obsessive compulsive about this matter...
Quote from: Tapewolf on March 01, 2008, 01:38:57 PM
The big stumbling block for illustrating it was of course my own artistic incompetence when it comes to drawing people.
*Bap*
I have to change my sig now.
Stand back drymouth! Its superfridge!
Quote from: WhiteFox on April 12, 2008, 06:15:05 AM
I like the writing, it's an easy read and flows well. I like Gaulen's grasp on anatomy too, though the poses could stand to be a little more fluid.
Yes... it was the anatomy in his earlier pictures that prompted me to ask him about it.
QuoteSpeaking as someone with first hand experience with harsh arctic climates, I am amazed he is walking around without head gear or gloves of any sort, let alone walking around bleeding.
He's got gloves, as for headgear he's got goggles but that's about it. On the other hand, he is supposed to be a Siberian husky.
Quote
Quote from: Tapewolf on March 01, 2008, 01:38:57 PM
The big stumbling block for illustrating it was of course my own artistic incompetence when it comes to drawing people.
*Bap*
I have to change my sig now.
Oh, I'm quite good at sprites. I can do still life reasonably, and I can reconstruct things from existing artists' work. In fact, someday I'll have to publish Ren's original lineart because sometimes I've mucked about with them quite a lot. The VAX is mine and in frame 3 of this strip I completely redrew Josh's muzzle because it looked too flat in the original.
But as I found out when I tried to sketch a basic storyboard, I simply can't get beyond this level: http://www.jpmorris.force9.co.uk/stuff/jakob_sketch.gif
...which is
not what I had in mind for the comic.
Quote from: Zedd on April 12, 2008, 06:16:45 AM
Stand back drymouth! Its superfridge!
Oh yeah, that reminds me, I've got to finish the other spoof strip
Quote from: WhiteFox on April 12, 2008, 06:15:05 AM
I like the writing, it's an easy read and flows well. I like Gaulen's grasp on anatomy too, though the poses could stand to be a little more fluid.
Thank you. I am still but a learner; my skills will improve over time.
Quote from: Zedd on April 12, 2008, 06:16:45 AM
Stand back drymouth! Its superfridge!
Something tells me Josh is not too thrilled about being a fridge. :3
*Joshua* "It feels like I'm
dying inside!"
Call it a hunch.
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/not_a_fridge2.png)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/not_a_fridge2.png
Quote from: Tapewolf on April 12, 2008, 06:49:51 AM
But as I found out when I tried to sketch a basic storyboard, I simply can't get beyond this level: http://www.jpmorris.force9.co.uk/stuff/jakob_sketch.gif
*Bap*
*Changes sig, AGAIN.*
Nice page. I very much liked Joshua's expression in the first panel. However, I found more enjoyment in the two supplemental drawings. Are you going to add those types as extras on the site in the future?
So, that is a can or something in his chest?
Josh makes a cute frige though
Quote from: Pagan on April 12, 2008, 08:56:15 PM
Nice page. I very much liked Joshua's expression in the first panel. However, I found more enjoyment in the two supplemental drawings. Are you going to add those types as extras on the site in the future?
When chapter 2 starts, I'll put together an archive page, split by chapter. I'll add a section to contain the other oddities.
QuoteSo, that is a can or something in his chest?
Yes.
I found it weird. He says only his skin now can feel touch, but that's how it normally works :erk
Quote from: Jack McSlay on April 13, 2008, 03:03:38 PM
I found it weird. He says only his skin now can feel touch, but that's how it normally works :erk
I revised the wording slightly to try and make that clearer - evidently I did not succeed. Normally hairs have their roots in the skin, which means if they touch anything the movement is picked up by the roots - for example if something brushes your hair, you'll feel it, even though the hair itself is basically dead. Another example is the sensitive whiskers on a cat or dog.
Joshua doesn't so much have fur on his arms now as fun-fur, which is basically just a covering over his skin (which
is fully touch-sensitive). That is what Kris is trying to say.
Nice thing about this comic is that we get to see Josh as a main character again. It's a temporary role at best, since he's only acting as a decoy for the real protagonist, but it's still nice.
Oh, and please. Go ahead and get the husky some pants. Considering Jakob's standards of decency, I'm surprised it hasn't already happened.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on April 13, 2008, 09:27:01 PM
Oh, and please. Go ahead and get the husky some pants. Considering Jakob's standards of decency, I'm surprised it hasn't already happened.
True, but then again, in real terms he's only been awake for about 5 minutes or so.
Quote from: Tapewolf on April 12, 2008, 07:37:27 AM
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/not_a_fridge2.png
I loved this one.
Poor Joshua. I can be a bit of a jerk at times. And it does not look like I am going to leave him alone any time soon. >:3 One can only wonder what would happen to Josh next time...
one crit i have, your artist needs to learn some inking skills, it looks like it was sketched with a ballpoint =p
http://www.methart.com/tutorials/digi-ink.html
one example, more if you google "inking tutorials"
Quote from: Turnsky on April 17, 2008, 01:21:48 AM
one crit i have, your artist needs to learn some inking skills, it looks like it was sketched with a ballpoint =p
I kind of like the ragged edges, actually :3
Yes, it can be a pain when trying to integrate the backdrops, but I find it adds a sort of harsh, stark edge to it. I guess it reminds me a bit of Ralph Steadman's illustrations from
Fear and Loathing.
Ren was very busy and delivered the lineart a few days behind schedule, so I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make the de-facto schedule of Friday evening GMT. Fortunately, I did. Go check it out.
It seems kinda odd to me that he doesn't appear all that phased by the whole "your lifespan has been reduced to 5-10 years" thing. Is he going to fully realize it and then have a panic attack about that later on? I know that if it were me I'd have my hands around his throat and yelling "Fix it fix it fix it fix it fix it!"
Quote from: Ryudo Lee on April 18, 2008, 04:52:08 PM
It seems kinda odd to me that he doesn't appear all that phased by the whole "your lifespan has been reduced to 5-10 years" thing. Is he going to fully realize it and then have a panic attack about that later on? I know that if it were me I'd have my hands around his throat and yelling "Fix it fix it fix it fix it fix it!"
Yeah, the expression in pane 7 doesn't quite tally with what he's been told. The basic concept is that the doctor is going to have the new body ready by the time he needs it. Suggestions for rewording it would be handy.
IMHO, I just think that "WTF do you mean shorter lifespan!?" would be a higher priority than "can I have that new body now?"
Quote from: Ryudo Lee on April 18, 2008, 05:00:06 PM
IMHO, I just think that "WTF do you mean shorter lifespan!?" would be a higher priority than "can I have that new body now?"
I've updated the text - the doctor is now a bit more evasive about how long he's going to live. Again, "How much shorter?" is something he should be asking right away, but that dialogue was cut from the storyboard to make it fit unfortunately.
That is better, and perhaps it can come up in a future conversation. I know that'd be on the top of my list of things to ask about.
The new strip is up, kicking off chapter 2. It should help answer Sofox' question "Why does it say 'DMFA-inspired'?".
I've also got the archives up too - let me know if there are any bad links. I'll work to make it prettier later on.
He took the angel thing rather well. I assume wings and angels are a common occurrence in this world?
And, is the warp aci carrying... frying pan-chucks?
Quote from: Ryudo Lee on April 25, 2008, 03:16:36 PM
He took the angel thing rather well. I assume wings and angels are a common occurrence in this world?
The real reason is that there are other things which he's more afraid of. It's more a case that he's nervously agreeing to keep Kristofer happy until he knows more about what's going on.
QuoteAnd, is the warp aci carrying... frying pan-chucks?
I'm not sure what you mean by 'chucks' but yes, those are frying-pans.
Quote from: Tapewolf on April 25, 2008, 03:35:22 PM
I'm not sure what you mean by 'chucks' but yes, those are frying-pans.
Ryudo must be talking about nunchaku. I have just realised that this contraption looks very much like those. :3
I guess you don't read 8-bit theater... you know... sword chucks (http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010815)?
Quote from: Ryudo Lee on April 25, 2008, 05:25:26 PM
I guess you don't read 8-bit theater... you know... sword chucks (http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010815)?
No, no, I have read that. I just did not get the reference at first. I like sword-maces better, anyway. >:3
...you know, considering he's a robot in a prototype body, I'm surprised they gave Joshua a package at all. Oh well, not going to pry on that topic is only because of the rating of the forum in general.
I do really like the facial expressions in the comic, though. Amazing how much detail you can get from Jakob's eyes in every single panel.
obviously I've lived in the Las Vegas area too long if I find the "Oh my god what the hell is that" response for something as silly as a glowing unearthly entity floating in space over dramatic.
Quote from: Ryudo Lee on April 25, 2008, 05:25:26 PM
I guess you don't read 8-bit theater... you know... sword chucks (http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010815)?
Duh... having actually used nunchucks I should have made that connection :rolleyes
As for 8-bit theater, I've read some of it, yes.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on April 26, 2008, 10:51:32 PM
...you know, considering he's a robot in a prototype body, I'm surprised they gave Joshua a package at all. Oh well, not going to pry on that topic is only because of the rating of the forum in general.
I have no idea what brought that up but I believe the word you are looking for is 'recreation'. Moving swiftly along....
QuoteI do really like the facial expressions in the comic, though. Amazing how much detail you can get from Jakob's eyes in every single panel.
Panel 3 (4 if you include the title) was a major pain in the arse. The eyes didn't look right in the original sketch, I think the pupil and iris had blobbed together, so I redrew them but it looked scary. I can't remember how I fixed it now.
The eyes in the first pane of the upcoming demonology gave me similar problems - they were uncomfortably penetrating. They're better now - IIRC I stole them from another panel or page or something.
The new strip is up. Incidentally, the site is now powered by llearch's comic engine. Thanks, llearch! This makes updating a lot less complex and error-prone, but does mean that if you've got any bookmarks to the site itself, that they are or will soon be dead.
**EDIT**
Oh yeah, and we also did this for Keaton's birthday:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/dmfa/FromRussiaWithLove.png
**EDIT EDIT**
There will be two bonus updates this week, probably Monday and Wednesday, so stay tuned :3
Question for you, tape: where'd you find the counter images?
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 02, 2008, 04:15:31 PM
Question for you, tape: where'd you find the counter images?
Here, I think:
http://doc.trecom.tomsk.su/INTERNET/Counter/all.html
'Fancy Digital Red' (also in green and cyan).
Triple update. Thinking back to the written story, I can't think of anything that could mandate such a thing... unless you're about to enter monolog mood to allow non-DMFA-readers to get some more background. Given the context of what is about to be said, that I could at least understand. Of course, the comic might take a tangent from the literary work. Till Monday, no one knows but you and Ren.
But how am I to complain? All this really means is that we get more art. ;)
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 02, 2008, 04:39:14 PM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 02, 2008, 04:15:31 PM
Question for you, tape: where'd you find the counter images?
Here, I think:
http://doc.trecom.tomsk.su/INTERNET/Counter/all.html
'Fancy Digital Red' (also in green and cyan).
Hmm. The author site listed is 404; I don't think I can re-distribute them without feeling guilty. Or at least risking problems later.
Oh, well. I'll just have to make some. ;-]
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on May 03, 2008, 12:21:35 PM
Triple update. Thinking back to the written story, I can't think of anything that could mandate such a thing... unless you're about to enter monolog mood to allow non-DMFA-readers to get some more background.
Basically, yes. It's a two-page aside. The original plan was to keep it as a backup for AC, but I miscalculated how long it would take to get there and the story is now in a position where we need the exposé. So rather than stall the storyline, or simply stick it in as part of the website, I figured it would be better to include both panels within the week.
Cramming all three in at once was a possibility, but it would have made a few people go '??' and maybe miss the main update if they didn't realise there were three pages instead of one...
It's technically Monday, albeit 2am, so I've put up the page before I go to bed. Enjoy.
**EDIT**
And now I have also updated the link in the first page of the thread, FWIW.
Nice cameos! Even if it was hard to make out Aisha's face. James looked as if he'd rather be somewhere else... which may have been the case.
(Read Quest of Twelve)
Nice comic. But canonically I don't think Aisha is a demon. :P Awesome stuff regardless.
Quote from: Gareeku on May 05, 2008, 04:26:28 PM
Nice comic. But canonically I don't think Aisha is a demon. :P
Thanks! She actually is a demon in Eternal Rains. That said, the demonology is just a demonology and the characters in it are just examples and not canon to their real stories...
Very true X3 Well as I said, nice comic man
Quote from: Gabi on May 05, 2008, 01:01:19 PM
Nice cameos! Even if it was hard to make out Aisha's face. James looked as if he'd rather be somewhere else... which may have been the case.
It was just that cafeteria calling to me. :3
Agreed, another nice page. You got the Demonology out quick, at least it seemed that way to me. Still, as was said, nice job on all the cameos. :3
Quote from: Aisha deCabre on May 05, 2008, 06:01:50 PM
Agreed, another nice page. You got the Demonology out quick, at least it seemed that way to me. Still, as was said, nice job on all the cameos. :3
Thanks. And thanks for letting me borrow Alternate-Aisha :P
Originally these were supposed to be cover for AC, but I managed to screw up the estimate of when we'd need them, and since I know there are people following this who don't necessarily read DMFA, it seemed necessary to give some background pretty quick after the Angel thing was introduced.
As for James' expression, I gave Ren
this (http://missmab.com/Demo/Cubi02.php) as one of the references and he may have taken the expression to heart :P
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 05, 2008, 06:31:03 PM
As for James' expression, I gave Ren this (http://missmab.com/Demo/Cubi02.php) as one of the references and he may have taken the expression to heart :P
Hehehe... That comic is making me both famous and infamous. :P
Quote from: James StarRunner on May 06, 2008, 02:17:06 AM
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 05, 2008, 06:31:03 PM
As for James' expression, I gave Ren this (http://missmab.com/Demo/Cubi02.php) as one of the references and he may have taken the expression to heart :P
Hehehe... That comic is making me both famous and infamous. :P
>:3 Yesh you mighty dorkus
Quote from: James StarRunner on May 06, 2008, 02:17:06 AM
Hehehe... That comic is making me both famous and infamous. :P
You expected otherwise from the Mighty Mab?
Demonology 2 is up. In other news, the strip may possibly be 'late', IOW it may actually be on time instead of early >:3 We shall have to see.
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 06, 2008, 08:34:40 PM
Demonology 2 is up. In other news, the strip may possibly be 'late', IOW it may actually be on time instead of early >:3 We shall have to see.
Whoo nice page there
Poor Luke. Even if this isn't cannon, people just seem to like messing with him physically. ...and mentally, but there isn't much mental toture going on in this picture.
In any case, the demonology lesson was nice. It will certainly cover things up until the weres start popping up. The thought does make me wonder what the other species have been up to in your story. You know: fey, dragons, mythos and such. I know you don't want to step on Amber's toes much, but surely you've put some thought into the subject. You're greater theme eventually will get the fey and dragon attention after all.
It occurs to me that there's a reasonable cover for a Cubi.
Anyone asks to see the real you, under force of arms, say, you morph into an Angel guise. White wings, etc.
"Oh, sorry." "It's ok, my child. You did what you thought was right." type approach...
Provided the captor isn't anti-Angel, it's gonna give you a lot of leeway in screwing with their heads...
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 07, 2008, 05:13:34 AM
Anyone asks to see the real you, under force of arms, say, you morph into an Angel guise. White wings, etc.
Interesting. Angels do need a concealment patch/charm to morph, though. You could probably use a ring or wristwatch as a prop, of course.
And it's a little bit touch-and-go whether Angels are considered trustworthy.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on May 06, 2008, 09:55:04 PM
Poor Luke. Even if this isn't cannon, people just seem to like messing with him physically. ...and mentally, but there isn't much mental toture going on in this picture.
He already had the wings - adding another pair was easy >:3
Heck, even in-canon he looks like he's about to be trained up by a bunch of 'Cubi anyway. For all we know the headwings are glued on or something.
QuoteIn any case, the demonology lesson was nice. It will certainly cover things up until the weres start popping up. The thought does make me wonder what the other species have been up to in your story. You know: fey, dragons, mythos and such. I know you don't want to step on Amber's toes much, but surely you've put some thought into the subject. You're greater theme eventually will get the fey and dragon attention after all.
The Fae, perhaps - I'm not so sure about the Dragons. Mythos don't strike me as being a cohesive faction in and of themselves, they're more-or-less 'whatever's left'.
The Weres I remembered only after the demonology was planned and laid out. That may take an extra page... I'll have to find some way to pad it out, because IIRC not many other races feature in the story.
I do wonder what you would say about Weres. Afret all the ones who showed up in Future History were quite nasty, but of course, not all of us are like that.
I liked how this turned out, it seems objective and very descriptive. You've managed to include a lot of information in just a few panels.
Why was he doing that, anyway?
Quote from: Gabi on May 07, 2008, 11:13:31 AM
I do wonder what you would say about Weres. Afret all the ones who showed up in Future History were quite nasty, but of course, not all of us are like that.
Nasty is perhaps too harsh a word. The way I see it, they were fanatics, but not actually bad people as such.
That reminds me - I need to write the followup to that particular scenario... I've been spending most of my time on the Dorcan-Salomere arc at the moment, but there are a
lot of little things coming up (e.g. what Daryil did to earn the enmity of B&Q) and I keep losing track...
QuoteI liked how this turned out, it seems objective and very descriptive. You've managed to include a lot of information in just a few panels.
Yes. There are a few things missing, but personally I think I got the balance about right.
QuoteWhy was he doing that, anyway?
If the question is 'why is he asking that', the reason, as I remember it, is long, somewhat convoluted and probably not worth the effort involved in explaining it, though I can try if you like :3 Sort of an in-joke, really.
As for why I used Luke, I originally had Dorcan in mind for the incubus, but since the strip is based on the story he was created for and since all the other characters are cameos, I felt it kind of broke the pattern. I picked Luke instead as he already has the backwings. Another possibility was Keaton, but everyone and their dog has a succubus as an example of 'Cubi, and as with Dorcan, she's due to turn up in the story anyway. That and it was kind of a thankyou to Turnsky, who borrowed Dorcan for Foxfire.
I meant to ask why Luke had agreed to that and then asked why he had. Apologies if that still isn't clear.
There are several incubi on the forum, but I don't object to your choice, Luke made the strip quite funny. ^^
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 07, 2008, 06:03:33 AMInteresting. Angels do need a concealment patch/charm to morph, though. You could probably use a ring or wristwatch as a prop, of course.
Well, it's likely not an inherent ability anyways, but they are naturally gifted with light magic, which may grant them at least the ability to cause an illusion.
QuoteAnd it's a little bit touch-and-go whether Angels are considered trustworthy.
Same could be said for any race. >:3
Of course. Trusting someone just because of his/her race would be both ridiculous and risky.
Quote from: Gabi on May 07, 2008, 12:28:25 PM
I meant to ask why Luke had agreed to that and then asked why he had. Apologies if that still isn't clear.
IIRC, "Why am I doing this, again?" was what Ren described James' expression. Strictly, James wasn't supposed to look like that, but the 'Cubi
was supposed to look bored in the second frame, so I added the caption. (My earlier attempts to explain this last night took many more words and was rather illegible :3)
Memo to self: Also need Weres, Undead (since Dorcan will mention them later)
Ah, thanks for explaining. And yes, I would have described James's expression like that too. But I don't think that caused a negative effect in the strip, it just makes us (at least me) wonder how they all ended up posing for the lesson.
Quote from: Gabi on May 08, 2008, 09:23:51 AM
Ah, thanks for explaining. And yes, I would have described James's expression like that too. But I don't think that caused a negative effect in the strip, it just makes us (at least me) wonder how they all ended up posing for the lesson.
Incidentally, and hoping Ren doesn't kill me for this, here's an early draft:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/cam.png
James came out looking positively evil :U
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 08, 2008, 09:37:09 AM
Incidentally, and hoping Ren doesn't kill me for this, here's an early draft:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/cam.png
James came out looking positively evil :U
...only difference I can note are the eyebrows. Are eyebrows really that evil?
Mind you, James has always looked kind of tall to me. Given the size of ferrets, I would expect squirrels to be a smaller species in Furrae. Of course, the same could be argued for house cats, but most felines are 'human' height in Furrae. I certainly can't personally remember seeing any cats at the height of Wildy, Jyrras and the basement mice.
How about poodles, Ryan?
Shouldn't Fa'Lina be another short-arse?
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 08, 2008, 11:54:42 AM
How about poodles, Ryan?
Shouldn't Fa'Lina be another short-arse?
Well, she probably has the ability to change her size through shapeshifting. Also,
full-size poodles are pretty big.
As for James' height, you'd have to ask him...
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 08, 2008, 11:59:58 AM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 08, 2008, 11:54:42 AM
How about poodles, Ryan?
Shouldn't Fa'Lina be another short-arse?
Well, she probably has the ability to change her size through shapeshifting. Also, full-size poodles are pretty big.
Not compared to full size Alsations, I thought...
Am I mistaken?
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 08, 2008, 11:59:58 AMAs for James' height, you'd have to ask him...
Listed as 5'10 in the wiku page.
Quote from: James StarRunner on May 08, 2008, 05:01:57 PM
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 08, 2008, 11:59:58 AMAs for James' height, you'd have to ask him...
Listed as 5'10 in the wiku page.
Now I know James and I are the same height :D
At least when it comes to characters. In life I'm 6'0, so 5'10 is small (to me)
Quote from: James StarRunner on May 08, 2008, 08:51:58 PMAt least when it comes to characters. In life I'm 6'0, so 5'10 is small (to me)
That I can understand. Perspective of the player ruins the sense of "average" height. I'm on the tall side myself, coming down to 6'0
with a slotch. Ryan's normally been set above my casual "bad posture" height to what I know my true height to be.
I have more to say, but I'll move it to PM since I don't want to clutter up Tape's comic thread any more with this off topic tangent.
i sympathize, its weird to have no real clue how tall you are for no other reason then its lost a frame of reference.
as a kid my best friend was the little nerdy shy kid, and he hung out with me the hulking brute psychopath kid for protection. after a few years i grew so used to bending down to talk to someone who only comes up to my elbow that how tall someone is makes no difference. in a way i wonder if the dan and jyrras combo had the same effect or if its passe in a world where every fourth person is only knee height
case in point my wife comes only to my chest height, and its common for us to forget how big a difference that is sometimes- untill of course we hug and i crush her face while all she can grab is butt or thigh.
feh, its not like people walk by a giant ruler daily so they see 'oh, im five foot seven' or 'wow, i cant believe im six foot ten, i dont feel that tall'
Quote from: Brunhidden on May 09, 2008, 07:00:53 AM
case in point my wife comes only to my chest height, and its common for us to forget how big a difference that is sometimes- untill of course we hug and i crush her face while all she can grab is butt or thigh.
... you're complaining about her grabbing your butt?
James's character is still quite tall in comparison with me.
Why are we discussing heights so much anyway? I think it's up to Amber to decide whether it's common for a squirrel to be that tall or not.
Against all odds, Page 13 is up today/tomorrow rather than Saturday or Sunday. I still don't really believe it, but there you go.
GREAT WORK, TAPE!!! :) (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/A%20Bunch%20of%20Random%20Pictures/JoshHappy.png)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/A%20Bunch%20of%20Random%20Pictures/JoshHappy.png)
I'll try not to put you in a situation where you have to colour a whole page in one evening again. I promise.
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on May 09, 2008, 08:29:50 PM
I'll try not to put you in a situation where you have to colour a whole page in one evening again. I promise.
Well, these things happen. Though it would be nice if they didn't, I'll admit >:3
I'll probably be looking at the thing and seeing mistakes and things which could be tweaked for the rest of the week. I've already made a slight change...
Clan? Well that has to be the biggest tangent the comic has taken from the written story. Maybe it will be nothing. Maybe it will be everything. Clan does imply cubi after all. Big difference from anything I remember.
Oh, and you are correct Gabi, but Amber is unlikely come out and give complete answers to every question. Even if she was, we know we'd all rather her spend her time elsewhere. The comments on height are all just derived from her various comic scenes.
I would suggest no more explanations for now, this would be a good time to skip ahead to a villainous action being conducted by a member of the clan then have the good doctor start explaining...otherwise the comic is going to be "this guy explains everything in intricate detail a bit too well."and then it starts to get boring like a lecture from a tenured professor going over the alloted class time frame and who is still talking as the students leave the classroom.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on May 09, 2008, 11:31:05 PM
Clan? Well that has to be the biggest tangent the comic has taken from the written story. Maybe it will be nothing. Maybe it will be everything. Clan does imply cubi after all.
Demons and Weres have clans too, but I'll admit it coming straight after the demonology page gives an impression I did not originally intend.
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on May 10, 2008, 12:40:58 AM
I would suggest no more explanations for now, this would be a good time to skip ahead to a villainous action being conducted by a member of the clan then have the good doctor start explaining...
In the original writing, the bulk of chapter 2 was, I'm ashamed to admit, largely padding to space out what happens between chapter 1 and chapter 3. In fact, a number of characters who are soon to show up are camoes from an earlier non-DMFA story. In the comic storyboard I've done my best to liven it up and in any case I can't ditch most of it now because it's become important to later chapters. And of course, it explains why Josh is there.
(Mutters something about the second album always being the problem child)
**EDIT**
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 08, 2008, 12:05:37 PM
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 08, 2008, 11:59:58 AM
Also, full-size poodles are pretty big.
Not compared to full size Alsations, I thought...
It looks like they overlap. By the looks of it, a 'standard' poodle is about 16-24" to the shoulder - an Alsatian is 22-26".
The background in panel five is terrific. I don't know why it just stood out at me. These backgrounds remind me a lot of the DMFA panels, only I've never seen sweatdrop-shapes utilized in the comics before...
By the way, great art, Ren. I think Kris has been looking surprisingly handsome in the past few pages, which is tricky to do with canines, considering the muzzle. I'll probably need to take some notes regarding drawing canines from the front, so I can foreshorten the muzzle.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on May 11, 2008, 12:00:44 PM
The background in panel five is terrific. I don't know why it just stood out at me. These backgrounds remind me a lot of the DMFA panels, only I've never seen sweatdrop-shapes utilized in the comics before...
Thanks. I was wondering who'd notice that. It was a sudden flash of inspiration. Originally I was going to do the melting effect like on page 7. But yes, the backgrounds are directly inspired by the SAIA interior walls from DMFA.
There are a few little things which I'm planning to do in this series which I have never seen done before, or have only seen done rarely. Time will tell whether there is a good reason for that >:3
QuoteBy the way, great art, Ren. I think Kris has been looking surprisingly handsome in the past few pages, which is tricky to do with canines, considering the muzzle.
Kris? IMHO Ren has worked wonders on making Joshua look awesome, but Kris... well, I suppose I do have something of a mental block towards him :3
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on May 11, 2008, 12:00:44 PM
By the way, great art, Ren. I think Kris has been looking surprisingly handsome in the past few pages, which is tricky to do with canines, considering the muzzle. I'll probably need to take some notes regarding drawing canines from the front, so I can foreshorten the muzzle.
Thank you! :) It isn't easy to draw Kris for me - I have to make him look handsome without making him look effeminate like some of my own characters. Also, he is constantly turning out looking Evil, like in the eighth panel of this page. Here's a link to original lineart (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/EvilKris.png). He looks like he could be Doctor Ink's relative (or, at least, a colleague)
!! :eek
This is a little detail, but I like the way the eyes are aligned on panels 9 and 10. It causes quite an effect.
Quote from: Gabi on May 12, 2008, 05:02:54 PM
This is a little detail, but I like the way the eyes are aligned on panels 9 and 10. It causes quite an effect.
In the very first version they were slightly out of kilter. So anyone who grabbed it as soon as I posted will have the um, 'Collector's Edition'. Yes, that's right... a rare special edition...
The new strip is up, after a last minute decision to redraw the weather effects and change Kris' eye in one of the panels.
It's probably just the style, but Our Hero appears to have an extremely long neck, and very low and thin and hanging shoulders...
I wouldn't mention it, but it's very obvious in the last panel...
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 16, 2008, 03:43:20 PM
Our Hero appears to have an extremely long neck, and very low and thin and hanging shoulders I wouldn't mention it, but it's very obvious in the last panel...
You know, I thought there was something odd about that panel. I couldn't put my finger on it, though.
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 16, 2008, 03:45:40 PM
You know, I thought there was something odd about that panel. I couldn't put my finger on it, though.
Happy to, ah, finger it for you.
So to speak.
Actually, that's an artifact of the scaling, at least to some degree. His neck is actually wider than it appears, because you can only make out the white part:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/pf14_8.png)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/pf14_8.png
...he does still look a little Tinish, though.
No, as a matter of fact, I -can- make out the grey part. Advantage of using a laptop screen. ;-]
And yes, thank you for expanding it for me... but my point still stands.
Actually it's my fault. I kind of did not notice it before, though. :sweatdrop My drawing skills need much improvement still...
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Constructive criticism, nothing more.
Heck, I like the story, and I enjoy seeing what you've done with it, this time around...
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 16, 2008, 05:18:59 PM
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Constructive criticism, nothing more.
Heck, I like the story, and I enjoy seeing what you've done with it, this time around...
I did not get you wrong. In fact I am grateful for you pointing out that thing about the neck. I probably wouldn't have noticed it myself; now I'll be able to improve my skills. :)
It would not be too hard to correct the neck actually, though I can't help but think of the scene from the BBC's Box of Delights where the waterfall boy has his head bashed down into his body.
Quote from: Tapewolf on May 16, 2008, 05:42:29 PM
It would not be too hard to correct the neck actually, though I can't help but think of the scene from the BBC's Box of Delights where the waterfall boy has his head bashed down into his body.
Heh. And
that reminded me of
this (http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1000/fv00999.htm) (and the next one)! :3
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on May 16, 2008, 05:47:44 PM
Heh. And that reminded me of this (http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1000/fv00999.htm) (and the next one)! :3
Yes, that sort of thing, only live-action.
**EDIT**
Is that better?
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/pf14_8b.png
Nice to put another scene to picture outside my mind.
I find the thought bubble with the bird cute.
Even cuter is Yak's eyes in the bottom left panel. His eyes staring directly at the Josh's thought bubble. To those who know where this story is going, it is obvious, but to new readers it will be the type of thing that makes them look back and go "...oh."
Oh, and the neck looks better Tape. Shoulder probally need to be angled up a degree or two too, but honestly that is all just nit picking.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on May 16, 2008, 10:50:42 PM
Oh, and the neck looks better Tape. Shoulder probally need to be angled up a degree or two too, but honestly that is all just nit picking.
I don't trust myself to redraw the entire shoulder. I have just re-spun the comic with the necks fixed, though. Oh, and I'm glad someone noticed what Kris was doing in that panel >:3
On another note, someone on the Alternation forums sent me this:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q240/alincoln_86/weegee/weegee40.jpg
...I'd put it in the outtakes, but I'm not sure it would be legally advisable >:3
I like the pink scarf. It's cute. ^_^
By the way, I wonder if anyone still remembers how Kris promised Joshua a new, better, stronger and much more long lasting body? Well, here's a sorta kinda sneak-peak of it. >:3 (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/EvenindeathIstillserves.png) You will even find it to fit Josh, a mortally wounded soldier, in a way - considering you know what is the Dreadnought (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Space_Marine_Dreadnought).
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on May 19, 2008, 07:06:44 PM
By the way, I wonder if anyone still remembers how Kris promised Joshua a new, better, stronger and much more long lasting body? Well, here's a sorta kinda sneak-peak of it. >:3 (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/EvenindeathIstillserve3small.png) You will even find it to fit Josh, a mortally wounded soldier, in a way - considering you know what is the Dreadnought (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Space_Marine_Dreadnought).
Needs more guns...
Reflecting on the more recent DMFA, re: bunny with re-attachable limbs, I wonder how modular Joshua is--
Quote from: Zedd on May 19, 2008, 10:34:25 PM
Needs more guns...
Indeed...Quote from: Ink on May 20, 2008, 03:20:41 AM
Reflecting on the more recent DMFA, re: bunny with re-attachable limbs, I wonder how modular Joshua is--
I believe modular enough to have his lower body detached to fit him in the armoured sarcophagus of the Dreadnought. But I doubt that he could re-assemble himself like Cuddles did. >:3
Quote from: Ink on May 20, 2008, 03:20:41 AM
Reflecting on the more recent DMFA, re: bunny with re-attachable limbs, I wonder how modular Joshua is--
It's not something I've really explored. With the second generation body, I've been toying with the idea of linking the brain to the body via inductive coupling. In fact, I nearly decapitated Keaton in the parent story, but I decided it would be too much like
Against A Dark Background. Or Hannah, come to that.
But yes, the limbs are hot-swappable with the right equipment. Unlike Feril, they probably wouldn't work when detached.
awe, I was hoping for a new page.
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on May 20, 2008, 12:37:47 PM
awe, I was hoping for a new page.
I'm not sure you'll like the next one anyway - it's mostly dialogue. Page 16 should be fun though.
**EDIT**
This is probably going to be a bit late.
**EDIT EDIT**
This is almost certainly going to be late because Windows bluescreened and ate hours worth of colouring.
It is done. Don't ask me how.
Yay! update.
other than the bizarre fact that the doctor learned human/cyborg/bionic engineering of machine anatomy from robots I find the page rather interesting.
Heh. You're getting a lot of use out of that last panel again. ;-]
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on May 23, 2008, 05:33:11 PM
Heh. You're getting a lot of use out of that last panel again. ;-]
It was actually a last-minute change. The original script read:
6. Joshua looking slightly unhinged JO: [I don't believe I'm hearing this]
In the original artwork, Ren added a jet-powered version of the scarf-hawk, which I will upload shortly
**EDIT**
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/scarfhawk.png)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/scarfhawk.png
Oh nice scarf hawk
Quote from: Zedd on May 24, 2008, 12:01:26 AM
Oh nice scarf hawk
This is no scarf hawk, my friend, no scarf hawk! >:] It's a mecha scarf hawk!!
Page 16 is up. Share and enjoy.
Share and Enjoy! Share and Enjoy!
...One ring to impress them all... :3
one ring to fool them all.
For some bizarre reason, he first thing I thought when I saw the original lineart was "One ring to glue them all". I'm still not sure why.
One ring to be removed in order to employ them.
One ring to sa;diasdsakysadsadasdsagdsgjty
I admit. The panel with Farlane made me laugh. A jet going "Holy mother of fuck!" tickled my funnybone. XD
Also, oh look, a cliffhanger.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on May 30, 2008, 05:05:54 PM
Also, oh look, a cliffhanger.
It is Psycho Mantis sitting in the doorway, and he is f***ing angry. :B (http://www.gigaville.com/comic.php?id=35)
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on May 30, 2008, 05:05:54 PMOne ring to sa;diasdsakysadsadasdsagdsgjty
Good. I was afraid I'd have to resort to violence to stem the tide >:3
QuoteAlso, oh look, a cliffhanger.
Here's a quick spoiler. In the next strip, it
won't end with a cliffhanger!
I've got something related to Joshua's misadventures (as a fridge :3) in my art thread.
http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4158.msg194745.html#msg194745
is the fact the ward looks like a wedding ring to save even further problems?
and -42 is the OUTSIDE temperature right? o.o
Quote from: Jack McSlay on May 31, 2008, 08:02:24 PM
is the fact the ward looks like a wedding ring to save even further problems?
Probably because it's easiest to draw...
Quoteand -42 is the OUTSIDE temperature right? o.o
Apparently the lowest temperature recorded in Earth's Arctic region is -68C. So it could be worse. Needless to say, the door is some kind of airlock or bulkhead rather than a direct link to the outside!
**EDIT**
Yes, that display is showing the outside temperature, not the inside temperature...
um... I have a complaint. The wall color on the third panel in the second row makes the temperature gage look like it's floating off or through the wall.
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on May 31, 2008, 08:32:10 PM
um... I have a complaint. The wall color on the third panel in the second row makes the temperature gage look like it's floating off or through the wall.
Do you want to elaborate on that? I can't see it myself.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/GabrielsThoughts/imaginaryline.png)
the imaginary line and the gauge intersect with the though bubble and the intersection seems to create a sunken wall effect. or, the angle of the floor is also identical to the on one the and creates an unintentional MC Escher effect.
I didn't think of it as a sunken wall. just a section of the wall that's better lit than the rest
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on May 31, 2008, 09:44:34 PM
the imaginary line and the gauge intersect with the though bubble and the intersection seems to create a sunken wall effect. or, the angle of the floor is also identical to the on one the and creates an unintentional MC Escher effect.
No, I still can't see it. I had assumed it was probably the shading effect on the wall, but my brain just can't turn it into a broken perspective effect...
well, the effect is created by the shading. like in a old dos Videogame, the imaginary line that seperates the wall and floor is the back of the wall, whose angle is identical to the cross lines of the tile. As the tile merges into linolium there is is this scoreboard thingy just hovering there in the middle of the wall. It wouldn't take much to fix it just draws your eye to the corner.
Oh, I think I get it - you're extending the lighter section of the wall as though it was part of the floor? I might tweak that.
Holy mother of what? None of the English swear words I know would fit that sentence.
Quote from: Gabi on June 03, 2008, 12:11:39 PM
Holy mother of what? None of the English swear words I know would fit that sentence.
Keaton knows. (http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4232.msg194610.html#msg194610)
Ah... thank you.
Quote from: Gabi on June 03, 2008, 12:15:18 PM
Ah... thank you.
Apparently that's what Abel was originally going to say in strip 537, but Amber decided against it at the last minute.
Okay, the new age is up.
New page, even.
Since it didn't come out very well, the panther has 'L-TRK' on its leg. Make of this what you will.
And here's a little parody (http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/Eatyou.png) of the third panel of this page!
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh121/RentheKnight/Eatyou.png)
This joke originates from the webcomic "Last Days of FoxHound" (http://www.gigaville.com/comic.php?id=11).
I vote the above comic belong as part of the storyline.
Those kittys have looks that would kill
Quote from: Zedd on June 06, 2008, 05:54:28 PM
Those kittys have looks that would kill
Sure, considering how they have eye-lasers! >:3
Just kidding.
Those panthers look fantastic.
Quote from: Dannysaysnoo on June 06, 2008, 06:00:33 PM
Those panthers look fantastic.
Yes, Ren really came up trumps with them. These are actually the second generation panthers - the original ones had a head which made me think of the Smash potato robots.
I redrew the head thus:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/panth_c.png
Colourised it looks like this:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/panth_c2.png
Building them takes about 4 layers, though most of these are backups or staging areas for colour conversions.
In this strip, the only problem we had was with panel 3, where again, I redrew the head:
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/panther_p17-3.png)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/panther_p17-3.png
In the redraw, I worked off a jaguar head, which unfortunately made the creature look slightly different in profile compared to the other frames.
I'm still not sure I should have included the teeth in that frame.
Hmmm.
I think Joshua thinks very differently to the way that I think.
My personal response would be "that's a very limited voice address system. Is that a deliberate choice, or is that as far as you've got?" sort of approach.
Of course, I'd also be likely to brazen out the "not very smart" thing, rather than sweating and hoping like hell it didn't attack.
What the hey. You can only die once... *cough*
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on June 06, 2008, 06:39:01 PM
Hmmm.
I think Joshua thinks very differently to the way that I think.
My personal response would be "that's a very limited voice address system. Is that a deliberate choice, or is that as far as you've got?" sort of approach.
Maybe, but it wasn't really laid for that to work - if you've read the rant, you may have noticed that this was put together somewhat rapidly and thence with very little margin for error.
Note also that Joshua is whispering when he says the "not very bright" line - while the original script had him saying it out loud, it struck me as stretching it a bit that he would just blurt that out after the thing intimidated him in panel 3. Again, I wonder if it would have looked better with the sweatdrops and teeth removed...
**EDIT**
I'm also assuming that Panther L-TRK is leaving piles of snow and footprints everywhere because he was called in by Kris, and that this is not a normal part of the patrol.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying he _should_ think like I think.
How he reacts is how he reacts, and my comparison shouldn't be taken as advice for how to change him - anything but - more as just an explicative of how I see him behaving in ways I don't understand.
Much like the rest of the human race, in that respect...
After many false starts including Mac looking at Kris instead of Josh and a message on the website saying "Don't read this yet", Page 18 is up. I might point out that Panther R-MAC originally had teeth in panel 7. This made him look completely psychotic, as can be evidenced here:
http://www.project-future.org/strips/outtakes/pf18_9.png
**EDIT**
And the speech bubble was coming out of Mac's neck instead of his face. So I've had to tweak it yet AGAIN! Still, I guess it is Friday the 13th.
shapter...that wasn't a chapter, that was a scene. boo. Just kidding. I like the story.
out of curiosity when you were designing the panther droids were you going for a more artificial or a more lifelike appearance?
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on June 13, 2008, 07:01:40 PM
out of curiosity when you were designing the panther droids were you going for a more artificial or a more lifelike appearance?
Tape told me that the panthers should look more robotic than lifelike, so I tried to go for a sleek "mecha" look. But in my first drafts I tried to make them look similar to robots from "Megaman Zero" games, which didn't work out well.. :<
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on June 13, 2008, 06:58:42 PM
shapter...that wasn't a chapter, that was a scene. boo. Just kidding. I like the story.
In some ways I regret chapter 2, but it was necessary to lay the groundwork. Chapter 3 should kick more ass.
Anyway, if you're curious about the panthers, here's the reduced lineart for page 18:
http://www.project-future.org/strips/comic/pf18_lineart.png
the name woudn't suggest the panther runs on MacOS, or would it?
Quote from: Tapewolf on June 13, 2008, 07:56:08 PM
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on June 13, 2008, 06:58:42 PM
shapter...that wasn't a chapter, that was a scene. boo. Just kidding. I like the story.
In some ways I regret chapter 2, but it was necessary to lay the groundwork. Chapter 3 should kick more ass.
...or head. Not going to ruin it by saying more, though I will have a towel ready.
Page 19 is up. I might add that the court scene took days to colour. Bonus points for anyone who recognises the judge's opening line.
The first thing that leaps into mind is Pink Floyd, but it isn't that.
Anything else would be a guess.
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on June 20, 2008, 04:49:57 PM
The first thing that leaps into mind is Pink Floyd, but it isn't that.
It's from a game. In fact, I've put together a few screenshots, though it seems a little premature to post them :3
Ultima 8? I unno.
Quote from: Dannysaysnoo on June 20, 2008, 05:29:49 PM
Ultima 8? I unno.
Spot on.
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/games/screen91.gif)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/games/screen91.gif
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/games/screen92.gif)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/games/screen92.gif
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/games/screen93.gif)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/games/screen93.gif
Basically, if you're caught doing anything questionable, this guy turns up and makes you explode. (Unless you manage to kill him, which is possible, albeit not supposed to happen.)
Ah. So the idea is, don't get caught?
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on June 20, 2008, 06:13:41 PM
Ah. So the idea is, don't get caught?
I think the idea is really "don't do it in the first place", but that works too, yes.
I foresee pr0n. I don't know why.
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on June 20, 2008, 10:50:22 PM
I foresee pr0n. I don't know why.
Nor do I. The closest you'll get to that here is scantily-clad androids, like Joshua in the first chapter.
I still find Josh's sentence hilarious. Cooking, lawl. :B And fruitifixion, because it reminds me of that one Monty Python sketch in which they were all learning to defend themselves from people armed with fresh fruit.
...the mental image of Kris trying to teach Josh and numerous other characters how to defend themselves with fresh fruit will be forever burned into my mind, and you all are expected to suffer with me. Real tears must be shed.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
The concept of fructifixion is hilarious. And scary as hell. :3
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on June 21, 2008, 02:17:00 PM
Real tears must be shed.
I have shed several manly tears.
I didn't know that cooking without due care and attention was a crime.
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on June 22, 2008, 07:53:43 AM
I have shed several manly tears.
I would have shed tears.
But then I remembered
I HAVE NONE.~Keaton the Black Jackal
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on June 23, 2008, 08:53:39 PM
I would have shed tears.
But then I remembered I HAVE NONE.
Ooo, can you slice some onions for me, then? ;-]
Quote from: Gabi on June 23, 2008, 08:35:16 PM
I didn't know that cooking without due care and attention was a crime.
That's why I chose it. There are a few subtle visual clues in this and the coming strip. It'll all make sense in strip 21, though I haven't had the lineart for that one yet.
(And in any case, colouring on a crappy 7" screen is really the way I want to spend Anthrocon...)
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on June 23, 2008, 10:28:17 PM
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on June 23, 2008, 08:53:39 PM
I would have shed tears.
But then I remembered I HAVE NONE.
Ooo, can you slice some onions for me, then? ;-]
I SLICE ONIONS FOR NO ONE!But I can if you ask me very nicely.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
(Okay here's your topic back, Tapewolf. :C)
I think that's the first time I've seen an artist's depiction of Jakob's clan leader.
Quote from: James StarRunner on June 25, 2008, 06:12:27 PM
I think that's the first time I've seen an artist's depiction of Jakob's clan leader.
Actually, Keaton did one a while ago, from a later period. Until Ren, this was the only artwork of Daryil:
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/Keaton_Mask/Scan-Daryil.jpg)
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o15/Keaton_Mask/Scan-Daryil.jpg
Page 20 is up, more-or-less on it's normal UK schedule. Call me obsessive if you will...Page 21 might be late depending on how complex it is. Needless to say I won't be doing any colouring at AC.
Good idea, enjoy AC. Hopefully you won't be as scared as last year. :U
"I didn't order any nuns..."
It took me a moment to catch the pun. The answer to all your problems... and the 42 on the gun. Nicely done. I'm gonna have to use that one.
Heh. It's an old gag.
"They'll listen to Reason."
... turns out Reason is what he calls his minigun...
If there were any references, gags, or puns in this strip, I didn't recognize a single one.
The humor has been lost on me. But it was still a nice strip :)
His shades reminded me of Andrew Eldrich.
There was a reference here? I thought everything was just random hilarity. :B
"I didn't order any nuns" is probably my favorite line in the comic thus far. :3
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on June 27, 2008, 06:13:15 PM
There was a reference here? I thought everything was just random hilarity. Considering it's £$%*&%$*&$%&*$%*$&%^^^$$$$$$$$$$ randomness would be understandable... :B Not to mention because a certain character is involved here.
Naughty Keaton... I was hoping to reveal that in the next page, but whatever. I actually threw the '42' in as an afterthought, which gives Daryil's line something of a dual meaning. The other is that death will solve all their problems...
Quote from: Dannysaysnoo on June 27, 2008, 05:15:07 PM
His shades reminded me of Andrew Eldrich.
OK, that made me laugh. Maybe Ren is a fan of the
Sisters of Mercy, I wouldn't know...
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on June 27, 2008, 05:08:16 PM
If there were any references, gags, or puns in this strip, I didn't recognize a single one.
Oh, they were optional, to see if anyone picked up on them. The randomness is supposed to be the main driving point of these strips.
There is a lot I could say about the past two comics.
What I will say to keep it short:
Daryil is hot.
I know, he is an incubus so it should go without saying, but he is also a clan leader. I've always pictured him as being... older stature. And to thing, in a future chapter we will see him in boxers.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on June 29, 2008, 04:07:41 PM
Daryil is hot.
I know, he is an incubus so it should go without saying, but he is also a clan leader. I've always pictured him as being... older stature. And to thing, in a future chapter we will see him in boxers.
Heh, that did make me chuckle. Originally, he was supposed to be top-naked in this scene, which seems to be the norm for 'cubi, but Ren loves designing clothes and the result amused me greatly. AFAIK no-one has yet remarked on the resemblance (Keaton knows). I'll probably drop a reference to it next time Josh meets Kris.
Quote from: Tapewolf on June 27, 2008, 06:32:01 PM
Quote from: Dannysaysnoo on June 27, 2008, 05:15:07 PM
His shades reminded me of Andrew Eldrich.
OK, that made me laugh. Maybe Ren is a fan of the Sisters of Mercy, I wouldn't know...
Well, I
am a fan of the "Sisters of Mercy". :3 And I also love different shades or glasses in general.
(http://imgcash5.imageshack.us/img91/5228/floodlandyf0.th.jpg)
nice but why so much hate at the nuns?
I hate nuns too
nuns aren't so bad, as a child i befriended a convent of nuns- they taught me how to play cards, make party dip, and the proper way to bet on sports teams. they also made a mean stollen
Quote from: e_voyager on July 11, 2008, 12:07:49 AM
nice but why so much hate at the nuns?
Because they're distinctive, and what the heck are they doing in the courtroom anyway? It could have been clowns or something, but I suspect it was probably inspired by
A Very Peculiar Practice.
Quote from: Brunhidden on July 11, 2008, 03:21:35 AM
nuns aren't so bad, as a child i befriended a convent of nuns- they taught me how to play cards, make party dip, and the proper way to bet on sports teams. they also made a mean stollen
My aunt used to be one, actually.
Anyway. Page 21 will be ready to go this evening on schedule. After that, Ren is being dragged off again for three weeks.
I believe I can do at least page 22, maybe page 23 as well, from existing art to keep the story going (it will be replaced with the official versions when possible). Page 24 will need new lineart, so we'll probably have a guest strip for that.
Quote from: e_voyager on July 11, 2008, 12:07:49 AM
nice but why so much hate at the nuns?
Also, you can never know if a nun is not actually a disguised ninja! And there are also nuns who are both nuns and ninjas at the same time. They call themselves Bene Gesserit.
Quote from: Tapewolf on July 11, 2008, 05:11:26 AM
Quote from: Brunhidden on July 11, 2008, 03:21:35 AM
nuns aren't so bad, as a child i befriended a convent of nuns- they taught me how to play cards, make party dip, and the proper way to bet on sports teams. they also made a mean stollen
My aunt used to be one, actually.
My grandfather wanted me to be one.
No sarcasm intended.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on July 11, 2008, 11:22:10 AM
My grandfather wanted me to be one.
No sarcasm intended.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
:eek I, for one, am very glad you aren't...
its not a bad life, but it takes a special kind of person to have the devotion required or you will get seriously bored.
theres ways around it, the nuns i knew spent every Sunday and Monday glued to the TV with big foam fingers as they cheered for football teams, two days a week was card night as they alternated between sheepshead and a complex game called 'hand and foot'.
however if you want true boredom i tried for a while to join the clergy, specifically to become a monk, a carmelite monk. I didn't really understand how boring a life it would have been until i gave up studying due to a speech impediment. i have no idea how they don't go mad, theres nothing to do except bless things.
then again carmelites are cool- Armageddon is an old word meaning 'hill of bricks' and is a place not an event. today its called mount caramel and the carmelites have a somewhat obscure relationship with it. among the chief duties of the carmelites is the maintaining of a large shrine known as 'holy hill' which is famous for healing miracles, and the upkeep of a large all you can eat Sunday brunch at the same location.
yeah, come eat at the buffet of the apocalypse, weve got black pudding and doom muffins :mowtongue
QuoteWrite it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. No man has learned anything rightly, until he know that every day is Doomsday.
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on July 11, 2008, 02:37:15 PM
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on July 11, 2008, 11:22:10 AM
My grandfather wanted me to be one.
No sarcasm intended.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
:eek I, for one, am very glad you aren't...
She'd be very easy to spot, though. Very distinctive in the bright yellow habit. *grins*
That's also pretty neat, Brun. I think I'm going to have to try and eat there some day... >:3
Quote from: Brunhidden on July 11, 2008, 03:12:58 PM
Armageddon is an old word meaning 'hill of bricks' and is a place not an event.
"Armageddon is
not the final battle
It's just the place where it will be
And it won't be fun for you
And it won't be fun for me..."
-- 'Apocalypse in 4/4', DOUG the Eagle (Pancake Ferret LP)
Anyway, page 21 is now up and entirely free of nuns.
**EDIT**
In case anyone is curious, Joshua is saying:
"Don't hurt my soul... oh my gods... Wait! Stop! I'll do anything! Kill me if you want but... not my soul... please, gods... don't hurt my soul... I'll..."
"..."
"Where did he go?"
I see, the old monster under the bed routine...I'll give 2 points for originality, and that was for the "TA" at the end which made me laugh my head off for some reason.
yes, dance away from the crime scene, and don't forget your straw hat and cane.
what gets me is why did he quick look under the bed? most people are unlikely to see anything more sinister then dust bunnies, elderly sandwiches, and very very flat monsters
QuoteThe trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it.
Quote from: Brunhidden on July 12, 2008, 04:15:24 AM
what gets me is why did he quick look under the bed? most people are unlikely to see anything more sinister then dust bunnies, elderly sandwiches, and very very flat monsters
It depends on the bed but if it doesn't have inbuilt drawers, a person can usually hide under one. (Remember the scene in
Jabberwocky where the Page gets squished...)
Tezkat suggested (WRT
this strip (http://missmab.com/Demo/Cubi03.php)) that an incubus or succubus who wanted to screw around with someone's dreams may well be able to perceive both the dream state and reality at the same time.
Either way, I assumed that if they were going to do this, they would want to hide just in case someone else entered the room or something. Lurking under the bed was the most obvious.
Joshua, as you can probably tell is very scared of 'Cubi on behalf of their soul-eating reputation. So when he wakes up, he wants to be damn sure if there really was an incubus or whether he dreamed it. If he had found nothing under the bed he'd probably have checked the cupboards.
Either way, he's going to mention it to Kris in the next strip.
**EDIT**
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on July 11, 2008, 10:21:59 PM
I see, the old monster under the bed routine...I'll give 2 points for originality, and that was for the "TA" at the end which made me laugh my head off for some reason.
Actually that's one of the less original lines in the strip - it's paraphrased from the game
Stormbringer where a voice in the wishing-well shouts "Ta for the egg, mate!" if you drop the golden egg down it.
come to think of it when i first moved in with Thora i napped under her bed fairly often- she had a bed in the living room instead of a couch so it didn't have much in storage under it. mostly it was good to spook the cat, and one visitor (a friend we met online) was a bit puzzled when the bed/couch spoke to her butt.
you cant blame cubi, messing with people is such great fun, and i bet those souls are just so gosh darned nummy.
QuoteI was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me.
Well, our first encounter with Daryil was interesting to see in color. The expressions on his face while is just precious and completely appropriate when you consider the fact that the dominate emotion of Clan Daryil is fear. I will have to reference the story to remind myself what that sign in the ceiling was supposed to be though.
In any case, take care of yourself Ren. We'll be looking forward to your return.
their emotion is fear? i would almost think that headquarters should be a carnival style funhouse/haunted house kinda attraction, complete with the twisted mirrors
QuoteMay your walls know joy; May every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility.
Quote from: Ryan_Galen on July 12, 2008, 11:15:04 PM
I will have to reference the story to remind myself what that sign in the ceiling was supposed to be though.
It's Daryil's clan mark.
Quote from: Brunhidden on July 13, 2008, 02:14:05 AM
their emotion is fear? i would almost think that headquarters should be a carnival style funhouse/haunted house kinda attraction, complete with the twisted mirrors
It's actually
fear and wonder (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hLfVWdxm0GE). Though fear seems to be easier for them to do. Or at least, easier for me to write.
Wonder is a lot more short-lived, and harder to keep generating; people tend to grow out of being wondrous really easily, whereas it's much harder to grow out of fear.
Sure, it can be done, but people tend not to be wired that way, so...
The poor-man's page 22 is up. As previously mentioned, I'm hoping to update it with the real artwork when Ren returns. Though I'm going to keep the business card, come what may.
..."Available for parties"?
Damn, I want Daryil at my next birthday party. And possibly a pony.
~Keaton the Black Jackal
I like the "You haven't seen an incubus around here, have you?" ... since both of them are, aren't they?
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on July 18, 2008, 06:41:47 PM
I like the "You haven't seen an incubus around here, have you?" ... since both of them are, aren't they?
Whatever makes you think that? :B
... I'm a suspicious person. What can I say?
All of that was old artwork? Where did the watch come from?
Nevermind, found it. Nice edit though.
behold, the awesome and world shattering power of cut and paste!
and yet, i cant think of anything to actually comment about because my brain has frozen with the mental imagery of if keats and i really were clergy.... thats some seriously weird clergy, and it looks silly in a cool way
everyone knows he got in through the ventilation system, why bother asking?
The strip is going to be late. Partly because the lineart was late, but also because of this:
(http://project-future.org/images/a807.jpg)
http://project-future.org/images/a807.jpg
However, I have updated page 22 to use original artwork instead of recycled stuff.
ooo, pretty.
And the new pic is pretty, too. Especially the fishcakes.
The new strip is up, and I now have half a stand for my A807. Titanium drill bits FTW. Also make sure the drill is not switched into REVERSE. But I digress.
Regarding the strip, I had to redo Farlane completely as Ren was in a rush to get it done before he left.
I think I have forgotten a few things - like the glass in Kris' glasses - so no doubt I'll be editing this again in the morning or something.
Right now it's about 2AM and I'm going to bed.
I like Farlane already xD
Aha! Teleportation magic, so that's how the criminals got past security before ventilation systems were invented.
I knew it was either "magic" or "science" but I wasn't sure which until now.
out of curiosity, what does one have to do to become a linked affiliate?
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on July 27, 2008, 01:48:10 AM
out of curiosity, what does one have to do to become a linked affiliate?
I have to find out what it even means, then look into the implications. If you just want a link on the links page, I was sure I already did that after you linked to mine, but looking at it I seem to have forgotten. I'll need a 1-2 line summary as your comic seems to have undergone a number of plot and personnel changes which makes it difficult to describe :B
It's nice to see things get moving, but the question about the time seemed out of place to me, like it was put there just for the joke. Why would Joshua ask for the time at that moment?
In any case, he didn't get the answer to that question.
Oh poor Josh
Quote from: Gabi on July 27, 2008, 04:42:24 PM
It's nice to see things get moving, but the question about the time seemed out of place to me, like it was put there just for the joke. Why would Joshua ask for the time at that moment?
In any case, he didn't get the answer to that question.
If you read back a bit, he was introduced to the first panther with that question. The second, more advanced panther told him it was time for him to get a watch.
In other words, he's using it to see what their AI is like.
As Florence does, although I prefer her query: what does your name smell like? ;-]
Quote from: Gabi on July 27, 2008, 04:42:24 PM
It's nice to see things get moving, but the question about the time seemed out of place to me, like it was put there just for the joke. Why would Joshua ask for the time at that moment?
It's what he did with the panthers. Each time he comes across a new AI he asks them the time, because of the way L-TRK responded in page 17.
<EDIT>Llearch has got it dead right.</EDIT>
I won't lie, I did have problems writing this page for a long time. Anyway, we'll be taking a short detour in the next page (24) - after which, things will start to move very rapidly indeed. Page 26 will be the last page of this chapter.
Quote from: Zedd on July 27, 2008, 04:54:40 PM
Oh poor Josh
Save your sympathies for page 26. He'll need it.
Just a note in advance, I'm going to be away Thursday evening through Friday/Saturday morning (this is unclear) so chances are we'll have a Saturday comic instead of a Friday one.
Quote from: Tapewolf on July 30, 2008, 12:19:33 PM
Just a note in advance, I'm going to be away Thursday evening through Friday/Saturday morning (this is unclear) so chances are we'll have a Saturday comic instead of a Friday one.
Noted and take care whereever you go and/or do
Right, here's the guest page. Thanks a bundle to Keaton for stepping in.
Owing to a few technical glitches on Keaton's end, it has not turned out quite as well as I'd hoped. The main figure was actually coloured from a low-res photograph of the artwork instead of a scan as Keaton's scanner has upped and died.
Hence, this will likely be upgraded later. I'm not so happy with the thought bubble either.
Still, at least you know where Kris has gone.
Hmm...It really sucks for Keats scanner though..hope she gets a new one soon enough
About Kris..He seems like a type I can familiarize with
I have opened the mayor updated the strip. Call it a remix if you wish. I'm a bit happier with it, though it won't work at print resolution until I get the full version from Keaton.
I hope Keaton's scanner gets well soon. I'm looking forward to see the full resolution version of the page. It looks really neat.
Page 25 is up. Page 26 will be stretching the rating a little, hence the warning I've added to the thread title. Poor Josh.
That warp acii is sloppy alright
he just seems so calm while saying 'save someones life' and 'oh, its just an attack'- like it happens every week and has become boring
also, not much family resemblence
Quote from: Brunhidden on August 08, 2008, 04:59:23 PM
he just seems so calm while saying 'save someones life' and 'oh, its just an attack'- like it happens every week and has become boring
While the dialogue was trimmed to fit the strip, Nilson does have something of a 'Scarlet Pimpernel' complex. "I've found another one" should be a bit of a clue >:3
Attacks don't happen every day, but it's a risk Kris has learned to live with. He has strong defences which he has a lot of confidence in. Perhaps too much confidence. Also, he doesn't look as alarmed in the reduced version as he does in the full-size version :rolleyes
Quotealso, not much family resemblence
His mother was a Being.
XD It takes a very special kind of creature to eat something called "Choco crap".
we can only hope its a stool softener or a variant of a 'cow pie'
Quote from: Gabi on August 09, 2008, 11:11:45 AM
XD It takes a very special kind of creature to eat something called "Choco crap".
Something that came up when I was talking to Keaton in June was rather interesting, so I think it might be worth repeating here as it may be a UK-specific thing:
Quote
I don't know whether this happens in the US, but a few years ago UK supermarkets decided to add multiple ranges of various things split by price. So you have for example, 'economy fishcakes', which are cheap but disgusting, 'fishcakes' which are run-of-the-mill, and something like 'taste-the-difference fishcakes' which are really good but about twice the price.
With the cookies, you can either get 5 normal ones for 99p, which are a bit small and nothing special, or 4 larger and more exotic ones for £1.39, which is what I did.
Basically, I was tired (and cynical) of all the euphemisms for cheap and nasty, like 'value', 'economy', 'basics' and so forth. Mine is a little more direct >:3
I'm still not sure which is more remarkable, that they might actually market it with that name, or that people would buy it. In this case, I think they buy the cheap, almost inedible chocolate especially for Kirian to try and keep her from eating the more expensive stuff.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 09, 2008, 11:33:21 AM
I'm still not sure which is more remarkable, that they might actually market it with that name, or that people would buy it. In this case, I think they buy the cheap, almost inedible chocolate especially for Kirian to try and keep her from eating the more expensive stuff.
People will buy anything.
I'm betting the attempt with Kirian is unsuccessful. ;-]
i suggest what i mistakenly thought it was- give chocolate laxatives and wait for cause/effect to kick in
(http://www.project-future.org/strips/outtakes/antattack.png)
http://www.project-future.org/strips/outtakes/antattack.png
I'm probably the only person on the forum who's even heard of this game (heck, it's 25 years old). Still, it amused me.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 11, 2008, 06:32:21 PM
I'm probably the only person on the forum who's even heard of this game (heck, it's 25 years old). Still, it amused me.
Oh wow. I haven't seen that game in over 10 years. Jakob is in for it now, nothing can stop those ants!
You've made me laugh out loud.
First part my mind reacted thought it was a Tardis, If anyone remembers they was used for battle too!
Quote from: Fragmaster01 on August 11, 2008, 06:37:02 PM
Oh wow. I haven't seen that game in over 10 years. Jakob is in for it now, nothing can stop those ants!
Heh. I certainly had problems taking the screenshot - I'd completely forgotten the keys! Now I might have to play it again...
**EDIT**
The way the next page is turning out has made me double-check the rating, and I messed up slightly - NC14 is nearer the mark, same as Abel's Story. That will be all.
Well, the end of chapter 3 is up. Chapter 4 begins next week.
It turned out a lot more violent than I had intended. I feel really bad about doing this to Josh.
For some reason I have always imagined this scene as happening in slow motion, and completely silent, with the end part of I Want You/She's So Heavy by The Beatles as the only soundtrack. This is probably why the dialogue cuts out after panel 5...
Not having read future history, this came as quite a shock. And now I realize why I had never heard of Josh, he was only a sacrficial lamb.
A very, very, very sacrificial lamb.
With a very messy sacrifice.
Holy Christ, That is alot more gruesome than I remember from the story! Well I really do don't wanna be in Josh's boots now
Quote from: Zedd on August 15, 2008, 03:17:48 PM
Holy Christ, That is alot more gruesome than I remember from the story! Well I really do don't wanna be in Josh's boots now
I calibrated it against Devin's death from
Abel's Story. Personally, I think we may have gone slightly overboard on this one. Either way, it's not something we're going to make a habit of. In fact, with the possible exception of when Keaton murders someone (which is years away at our current update schedule) this is probably the single most violent scene in the story.
Fun fact: When I pointed out to Ren that the
Belfry list gave us a 'V' for graphic violence over the court scene, his reply was something like "I'll show them graphic violence when the story gets to page [26]!"
**EDIT**
Oh yeah, I forgot the obligatory Star Wars quote:
"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 15, 2008, 03:26:47 PM
Quote from: Zedd on August 15, 2008, 03:17:48 PM
Holy Christ, That is alot more gruesome than I remember from the story! Well I really do don't wanna be in Josh's boots now
I calibrated it against Devin's death from Abel's Story. Personally, I think we may have gone slightly overboard on this one. Either way, it's not something we're going to make a habit of. In fact, with the possible exception of when Keaton murders someone (which is years away at our current update schedule) this is probably the single most violent scene in the story.
Fun fact: When I pointed out to Ren that the Belfry list gave us a 'V' for graphic violence over the court scene, his reply was something like "I'll show them graphic violence when the story gets to page [26]!"
**EDIT**
Oh yeah, I forgot the obligatory Star Wars quote:
"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
All I have to do is..Good good *rubs hands evilly*
Wow, that was a bit of a shock.
Didn't expect that happening.
Quote from: Sofox on August 15, 2008, 07:23:26 PM
Wow, that was a bit of a shock.
Didn't expect that happening.
Actually, it's a bit of a shock to me, even though I wrote it and coloured it in. Anyway, the next strip will be a bit more upbeat (which considering this one, isn't saying a lot).
So far, the biggest issue I find with the comic is the pacing. In many places the timing and layout is really jarring and doesn't seem to flow all that smoothly...which makes me have to re-read to try to figure out what is happening where. It also doesnt help that it seems at time really forced and rushed in terms of story progression. The latest page as an example. It was only one page ago that an attack was even brought up and then suddenly *bam* its out of the blue violence. There was no real build up so the whole page just feels like its four pages crammed into one.
I think your comic is off to a decent enough start, but in my opinion you may want to ease up on the reigns in regards to moving the plot along. I mean, you are only on page 26 and already are ending chapter three. And even then, I cant quite remember what made up chapter one/two/three in that they required to be separate chapters in the first place.
Sorry if I am sounding like a grade A buttmunch in this. I am terrible at critique and I am not trying to sound like I dislike what you are doing. I think you guys are doing well overall...and truth be told my stance may just be an opinion that is uneeded.
Either way, good job making it past 25 strips. You have already surpassed 70% of webcomics that try to make it on the internet. :U
Quote from: Amber Williams on August 15, 2008, 08:28:27 PM
So far, the biggest issue I find with the comic is the pacing. In many places the timing and layout is really jarring and doesn't seem to flow all that smoothly...which makes me have to re-read to try to figure out what is happening where. It also doesnt help that it seems at time really forced and rushed in terms of story progression. The latest page as an example. It was only one page ago that an attack was even brought up and then suddenly *bam* its out of the blue violence. There was no real build up so the whole page just feels like its four pages crammed into one.
Thanks, I'll try to keep that in mind. There are several reasons why that is likely to be the case here.
Firstly, the original script was a bit like that anyway. The story idea was something I came up with around Nov 2006, and at that point it consisted entirely of Joshua being found dying and rebuilt, and then a month or so later being killed to drive what happens next. When it was written up into the serial, chapter 2 literally had to be invented in order to provide spacing between the two events. In some ways I regret what I did there, but it has since become necessary as part of the later storyline.
Secondly, I'm a little impatient to get to chapter 6 when things really kick off. I don't know if DMFA is planned out to quite the degree that this is - given that PF is adapted from a written series - but there is a certain sinking feeling I get when I look at the script and think "f__k, that's not going to happen until this time next year!"
As a result, when I scripted the comic, a few chunks were left out to help speed it along, and that probably doesn't help with the slightly lumpy progression. There is likely to be a certain amount of that to come, but I'll try to watch out for it and tweak the script as necessary.
There's also the fact that I've never done this before. I suspect I am falling somewhat into the trap you mentioned of making each weekly strip have some kind of impact to it, which helps ease the week-long gap between them but makes it a little strange to read all at once.
And some of it is deliberate. I love to kick off a chapter with something that makes the reader go "WTF?". Chapters 3 and 5 are among my favourites for doing that, but it does have that "Did I miss something?" feel to it.
QuoteI think your comic is off to a decent enough start, but in my opinion you may want to ease up on the reigns in regards to moving the plot along. I mean, you are only on page 26 and already are ending chapter three. And even then, I cant quite remember what made up chapter one/two/three in that they required to be separate chapters in the first place.
Each chapter of the strip corresponds to a chapter of the original story. It looks a little strange in comic form, because it has ended up being with each chapter having around 8-10 strips (*), but I've started doing that so I may as well carry on. I'm tempted to group the chapters into parts or something, encompassing each story arc, though further into it the divisions between story arcs starts to become a bit more hazy.
(*) Some chapters, like chapter 5, had a lot of visual description and background in their original text, which has collapsed them right down. Once I removed the in-depth technical description of how laserdisks work and why Oskar can't call Kris on the watch while he's in the power room, it ended up just 5 pages long :<
QuoteSorry if I am sounding like a grade A buttmunch in this. I am terrible at critique and I am not trying to sound like I dislike what you are doing. I think you guys are doing well overall...and truth be told my stance may just be an opinion that is uneeded.
That's quite alright. As I say, it's the first time I've done this so there are probably many things which I'll look back on and go "hmm..." over.
QuoteEither way, good job making it past 25 strips. You have already surpassed 70% of webcomics that try to make it on the internet. :U
Heh, thanks. I owe a lot to Ren. That he might disappear or have to quit doing it is one of my big worries about this project.
Fair enough...I just wanted to give a heads up on my concerns. :U
Though be sure to be extra cautious when dealing with the desire to get to the "good parts" cause like a good road trip it isnt always the destination so much as the journey. Chapter six isnt going to be nearly as good as you will hope if you spend the first five chapters gunning it.
After all, the original "script" idea I had for Abel's Story had me thinking I would have the whole thing told and done in less than 50 pages. Can you imagine what the pacing and story would have been like with Abels Story had I tried to keep to that and cram all that down?
I honestly didnt realize a month had supposedly passed since the one character was found and rebuilt. The way he acted, his behavior around everyone, and his suprise at so many things led me to think he had only been on this base for a couple days since even after a month he seems to be acting just as wayward and confused as his first day. But then again this may have been intentional.
But really...for me characters are always of severe importance to a good comic. I want to like or know a bit about characters to relate to them...and right now all your characters in a way feel distant outside of generic motions and actions. To me, a strong cast of characters is what makes or breaks a comic. And right now...I confess I have a hard time actually even remembering half of their names. :<
Also, its good to leave impacts, but its also something that one should try to keep from going crazy with. I have seen more than my share of webcomics that make it a point to always try to have some sort of "OMG!" cliffhanger at the end of the chapter or the week...and frankly after a bit of time it starts to get annoying. At least for me. In a way it sort of cheapens the impact since its like "oh hey. Another chapter end. What wacky twist are they going to throw down this time."
Oof. Like previous post, I apologize if this is sounding like I am coming down hard on ya. It is my hope that my comments are more like college professor tough luv and less like annoying jerkhat tearing you down. Cause really I want you to improve and do well.
Quote from: Amber Williams on August 16, 2008, 08:41:53 AM
Though be sure to be extra cautious when dealing with the desire to get to the "good parts" cause like a good road trip it isnt always the destination so much as the journey. Chapter six isnt going to be nearly as good as you will hope if you spend the first five chapters gunning it.
Very true. On the flipside, in several cases the chapters literally do have a lot of padding as I was struggling at little when the series first began. So, in some ways this is a "Director's Cut" version - which may or may not be an improvement over the original >:3
One of the other issues I forgot to mention was that I can be very verbose with the dialogue. The original story, and in many cases the script - after editing - have what would be walls of text, especially from Kris. What I have been doing so far is to trim it down, which does remove some of the character from it. I might rethink this strategy, though it will push things further into the future.
QuoteAfter all, the original "script" idea I had for Abel's Story had me thinking I would have the whole thing told and done in less than 50 pages. Can you imagine what the pacing and story would have been like with Abels Story had I tried to keep to that and cram all that down?
I do remember that the original schedule was supposed to be 6 months or something. I have often wondered what it would have been like had that happened.
QuoteI honestly didnt realize a month had supposedly passed since the one character was found and rebuilt. The way he acted, his behavior around everyone, and his suprise at so many things led me to think he had only been on this base for a couple days since even after a month he seems to be acting just as wayward and confused as his first day. But then again this may have been intentional.
It became a bit more vague in the comic version. The way it was scripted for the comic did flow from one event to the next rather too quickly. What I did in the end was tack the "Weeks later..." caption to the start of chapter 3. Maybe I should have left that out. Indeed, looking back, perhaps we should have had an earlier attack that came to nothing. Still, it's a bit late for that :rolleyes
QuoteBut really...for me characters are always of severe importance to a good comic. I want to like or know a bit about characters to relate to them...and right now all your characters in a way feel distant outside of generic motions and actions. To me, a strong cast of characters is what makes or breaks a comic. And right now...I confess I have a hard time actually even remembering half of their names. :<
I'll come clean - character design is something I am not too great at. Some of the characters who will eventually appear have their origins in minor DMFA characters, even. Having said that, all the characters we have seen so far (apart from the panthers and the aircraft) are being very cautious about their backgrounds. Joshua was sent to
investigate Kris, after all... and what Kris is actually researching in his base is somewhat suspect. 'Kris' might not even be his real name, come to that. Much of this will eventually come out as the story progresses.
There was also a problem with the written series that some of the characters came from an earlier story, and it was written with the assumption that that story had been read first. This is certainly something that PF will try to correct, since it's supposed to be able to stand more-or-less on its own.
At some point I'm going to put up cast pages.
QuoteAlso, its good to leave impacts, but its also something that one should try to keep from going crazy with. I have seen more than my share of webcomics that make it a point to always try to have some sort of "OMG!" cliffhanger at the end of the chapter or the week...and frankly after a bit of time it starts to get annoying. At least for me. In a way it sort of cheapens the impact since its like "oh hey. Another chapter end. What wacky twist are they going to throw down this time."
If it's any consolation, chapter 4
doesn't end with a cliffhanger >:3
QuoteOof. Like previous post, I apologize if this is sounding like I am coming down hard on ya. It is my hope that my comments are more like college professor tough luv and less like annoying jerkhat tearing you down. Cause really I want you to improve and do well.
No, it's very helpful. I don't have a lot in the way of proofreading so opinions like this will help Ren and I decide how to approach things as they progress.
All I have to say about the last page is: "HEADSHOT." Also, I really feel sorry for Joshua.
wait...exactly how long are these chapters, we skipped from two to the conclusion of three in record time for a wbcomic.
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on August 17, 2008, 10:04:27 PM
wait...exactly how long are these chapters, we skipped from two to the conclusion of three in record time for a wbcomic.
The chapters are as long as they are in the source material, but it seems to be running around 8-12 pages each. I took the Gormenghast approach of having lots of small chapters as it makes it easier to read in short bursts. This didn't really lend itself to a webcomic, though. I'm wondering whether we should merge chapters 5 and 6 together...
Perhaps, since you are technically using a visual medium, you could refer to the individual chapters as scenes. People would be less likey to worry about the rushed pace. Since a written scene is only about a minute more or less real time. and it would give the story a more cinematic feel.
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on August 18, 2008, 08:22:08 PM
Perhaps, since you are technically using a visual medium, you could refer to the individual chapters as scenes. People would be less likey to worry about the rushed pace. Since a written scene is only about a minute more or less real time. and it would give the story a more cinematic feel.
I'm not sure 'scene' is quite the right word, but that would be pretty trivial to change.
Other suggestions for what to use instead of 'chapter' are welcome...
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 19, 2008, 07:09:20 AM
Quote from: GabrielsThoughts on August 18, 2008, 08:22:08 PM
Perhaps, since you are technically using a visual medium, you could refer to the individual chapters as scenes. People would be less likey to worry about the rushed pace. Since a written scene is only about a minute more or less real time. and it would give the story a more cinematic feel.
I'm not sure 'scene' is quite the right word, but that would be pretty trivial to change.
Other suggestions for what to use instead of 'chapter' are welcome...
Do something crazy, like 'Track' or 'Level'. Ooh, i know! 'Dimension'!
Quote from: Dannysaysnoo on August 19, 2008, 03:31:52 PM
Do something crazy, like 'Track' or 'Level'. Ooh, i know! 'Dimension'!
'Part' occurred to me, but that is normally used to discriminate groups of chapters. What I have is more like DVD chapters.
I was tempted to call them 'chunks' or 'lumps' >:3
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 19, 2008, 03:42:45 PM
I was tempted to call them 'chunks' or 'lumps' >:3
do you really want a chunky webcomic?
How about a "reel"?
I dunno' Reel makes it sound more like a Grindhouse film or Ultra-P0rn. Considering the comic already features furries, and Incubus, which have a known negative reputations with the outside world. You wouldn't want to turn away readers by making them think of sex or attract the wrong kind of reader for the same reason.
How about "episodes"? Makes it sound more like a series (or serial, which might be more appropriate)...
Quote from: LionHeart on August 20, 2008, 01:38:25 PM
How about "episodes"? Makes it sound more like a series (or serial, which might be more appropriate)...
It sounded a bit strange for a comic, but yes. I think it's probably the best suggestion so far. I'll probably use that on the next page if a better idea doesn't come along.
Incidentally, I'm currently working on the cast pages. These are still in development and liable to change around, but if anyone wants to kick the tyres, the url is here:
http://www.project-future.org/cast.htm
**EDIT**
Suggestions for what to call 'Friends and Family' would be handy. Ideally I'd like it to encompass family, friends and other relationships like Nilson owing Kirian, and Mac being an employee of Kris.
Keaton suggested 'relationship' but when you say that Nilson has a relationship with his warp-aci, it gives a very, very wrong idea.
Connections ?
Facebook ?
Allegiances or Allies, perhaps?
Connections.
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 20, 2008, 02:29:16 PM
Facebook ?
'Connections' is good, but I'm tempted to use 'facebook' out of sheer facetiousness.
'Allies'... well, "Greetings, Allies of Dan!" springs immediately to mind. It also gives a sort of them-against-the-rest-of-the-world feel to it which doesn't seem quite right.
FWIW, I also came up with 'associates', but I'm still undecided.
Accomplices :B
Victims. Targets. Lunch. Troublemakers. Milkmen. Regulars. Schoolmates. Chum.
... I could go on, but I probably shouldn't.
I went for "Facebook" in the end. The cast page now has profiles for all characters listed earlier except Keaton and Ashford who haven't appeared yet, but will before episode 4 is out. I have added ep3 to the archives and will at some point re-spin the title pages to read 'episode' instead of 'chapter'.
The cast page itself has gone live now, so if anyone has questions or spots errors in it, that would be handy.
Quote from: Oskar's cast pageOskar is good at scrabble. He will also cheat if given half the chance.
>:3 *disappears sinisterly into the darkness*
~Keaton the Black Jackal
Slightly early update. Enjoy.
As I'm sure many people know, I've added a cast section containing interesting facts (and lies) about the cast members including various items of background which had to be cut from the dialogue for space reasons.
The terminal was done using an actual DEC terminal font, though probably not the same one as in the VT100's ROM. I want one, but they seem to be collectable :<
Anyway. The SMPTE test card was painstakingly copied from the wikipedia rendition, which was licenced under the GFDL. I do not really want to have to open-source the comic, so it took an hour or so. If anyone wants a copy, let me know.
Also, I've switched all the titles and stuff to say 'episode' instead of chapter.
Oh my... this looks interesting. That cannot be a pleasant memory to have right upon waking up... it's like reliving the worst moment of your nightmare, except that you know it really happened.
Well, I'd say that Josh got a second chance, but really, he should have died back on like page 3 or something. But how much of him is machine now? I mean, there were a couple of headshots, that's got to do brain damage.
Quote from: Pagan on August 22, 2008, 01:19:58 PM
Well, I'd say that Josh got a second chance, but really, he should have died back on like page 3 or something. But how much of him is machine now? I mean, there were a couple of headshots, that's got to do brain damage.
That will be one of Josh's questions. I went with Ren's version of the script, mine was a bit more fast-paced and we'd have the answer by now.
I will point out that the reason Kris is asking about his hands - of all things - is because he's going to give Josh a pen and paper to ask questions etc. until his voice returns.
there have been documented cases of people being shot in the head without so much as a bad headache, let alone brain damage.. usually the bullet either curves around the inside of the skull and out the back, or passes clean between the hemispheres.
Quote from: Turnsky on August 22, 2008, 06:02:25 PM
there have been documented cases of people being shot in the head without so much as a bad headache, let alone brain damage.. usually the bullet either curves around the inside of the skull and out the back, or passes clean between the hemispheres.
I was actually thinking of that when I was colouring this.
However, what has actually happened is a bit more along the lines of
The Turing Option by Harry Harrison (
The Stainless Steel Rat etc.) and Marvin Minsky (MIT).
In that book, the protagonist gets his head blown off, and his memory is recovered by augmenting (what's left of) his brain with a cybernetic implant. They are only able to recover up to his 14th birthday, though.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 22, 2008, 06:14:21 PM
In that book, the protagonist gets his head blown off, and his memory is recovered by augmenting (what's left of) his brain with a cybernetic implant. They are only able to recover up to his 14th birthday, though.
So how much does Josh have? Or are we going to wait a week or two for that answer?
Quote from: Jairus on August 22, 2008, 06:15:39 PM
So how much does Josh have? Or are we going to wait a week or two for that answer?
I'm afraid so.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 22, 2008, 06:37:18 PM
Quote from: Jairus on August 22, 2008, 06:15:39 PM
So how much does Josh have? Or are we going to wait a week or two for that answer?
I'm afraid so.
Damn. Oh well, it should be interesting watching the fireworks when he realizes he's a cyborg. Kettle corn, anyone?
Actually a pass-through head shot not too often makes an instant kill, tho the person may die shortly after due to bleeding/brain not being properly irrigated.
there's a japanese pilot who got shot on the head with a friggin 30mm cannon back in WWII and is still alive (or at least was a few years ago when the documentary I saw was made). He was shot during flight and after fainting for a few minutes, was conscious enough to fly back to the base.
headshots are more certain kills when the bullet doesn't have enough power to exit the skull, meaning it's going to ricochet inside the skull, doing more damage than if it exited
Quote from: Jairus on August 22, 2008, 06:40:31 PM
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 22, 2008, 06:37:18 PM
Quote from: Jairus on August 22, 2008, 06:15:39 PM
So how much does Josh have? Or are we going to wait a week or two for that answer?
I'm afraid so.
Damn. Oh well, it should be interesting watching the fireworks when he realizes he's a cyborg. Kettle corn, anyone?
Since I've actually read and kept up with both CJP and FHJP, I already know what's happened to Josh. But I am forbidden to saaaaaaaaaay! D: Can't even hint! (but that's a limitation on my part because my hints are brick-subtle xD)
I also know the "truth" about Kris, Daryil's "novel method of ensuring clan manageability", and all the other dirty little secrets from the cast pages. >:3
Quote from: Jairus on August 22, 2008, 06:40:31 PM
Damn. Oh well, it should be interesting watching the fireworks when he realizes he's a cyborg. Kettle corn, anyone?
Actually we have a little problem there. Ren wasn't able to complete the artwork before he left. PITA, because he's been deviating from the written script a lot lately - usually for the better. Having an editor is awesome! Um, anyway... this does mean that when he finally completes the page, his version might cover
less plot than my mash-up version will. Ah well, we'll work it out somehow.
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on August 23, 2008, 12:07:40 AM
Since I've actually read and kept up with both CJP and FHJP, I already know what's happened to Josh. But I am forbidden to saaaaaaaaaay! D: Can't even hint! (but that's a limitation on my part because my hints are brick-subtle xD)
I should have said that his being shot was a dream or something >:3
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 23, 2008, 06:58:58 AM
I should have said that his being shot was a dream or something >:3
overused! overused! ;-]
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 23, 2008, 08:01:52 AM
overused! overused! ;-]
But chapter 3
started with a dream! Symmetry, man! Symmetry!
I like it, just one little thing with the cast pages. For your robotic characters, what exactly is p + ^11B? I'm guessing it's electricity, but I've never seen that particular notation before.
Quote from: modelincard on August 23, 2008, 09:35:13 AM
I like it, just one little thing with the cast pages. For your robotic characters, what exactly is p + ^11B? I'm guessing it's electricity, but I've never seen that particular notation before.
It's a nuclear reaction, actually. I was wondering if anyone would realise what it meant. So far, no takers :3
Ah, that was going to be my second guess. But I didn't quite recognize that notation from high school chemistry (which I took last year), either. :B
Quote from: modelincard on August 23, 2008, 09:48:04 AM
Ah, that was going to be my second guess. But I didn't quite recognize that notation from high school chemistry (which I took last year), either. :B
It's hydrogen ion/boron-11 fusion.
... So which strip did that show up in?
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 23, 2008, 12:03:45 PM
... So which strip did that show up in?
It's in the cast pages, not in-strip yet. Strip 6 mentions the power source, but I hadn't settled on an actual reaction at that time. Maybe when Dorcan shows up...
Ah, I should go read those.
Did you want typos listed?
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 23, 2008, 12:42:34 PM
Ah, I should go read those. Did you want typos listed?
Yes, please. I think I spotted a few, but forgot to write them down...
Joshua: "His immediate superior is the somehat paranoid Commander Ashford," ... somehat? Does he change when someone changes his hat? ;-]
As far as Daryil's metabiological experiments, can the heads on the tentacles really be classed as "fake", if they don't have to do anything to trigger them? Not that I expect an answer, but it's an interesting point...
Oh, and the radiation that Mac needs to be bathed in - can he sense it? It'd be a bit of a flaw to be susceptible to something and not be able to tell that someone was pointing at you with it...
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 23, 2008, 01:22:50 PM
Joshua: "His immediate superior is the somehat paranoid Commander Ashford," ... somehat? Does he change when someone changes his hat? ;-]
That was it! Are there any more?
QuoteAs far as Daryil's metabiological experiments, can the heads on the tentacles really be classed as "fake", if they don't have to do anything to trigger them? Not that I expect an answer, but it's an interesting point...
Real tentacle-heads will do things of their own volition, like fetching coffee filters. Daryil heads won't, they just sit there blinking like glove-puppets. You can still see through them, though.
QuoteOh, and the radiation that Mac needs to be bathed in - can he sense it? It'd be a bit of a flaw to be susceptible to something and not be able to tell that someone was pointing at you with it...
I don't know. Probably. It's not likely to come up as a plot point anyway, it's just a piece of trivia. Besides, assuming you could get him to sit still for three hours solid or more, it would simply reduce the stuff to a consistency of steel, so it's not like he'd dissolve.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 23, 2008, 01:47:06 PM
That was it! Are there any more?
Not that I saw.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 23, 2008, 01:47:06 PM
Real tentacle-heads will do things of their own volition, like fetching coffee filters. Daryil heads won't, they just sit there blinking like glove-puppets. You can still see through them, though.
Er.. according to what I understood, "real" tentacles (not just heads) will do that. Since it's your subconscious controlling them, etc. So.. the difference between this and "fake" heads is that "real" heads will show up by themselves, and the "fake" heads will... show up by themselves.
Not that this is a bad thing - I'm thinking it's more along the lines of other Cubi claiming that they're fake, even though the difference in how they showed up is simply that Daryil did it deliberately, rather than purely as a side effect... Sort of a "we don't like you, so we'll claim irrelevant differences are bigger than they really are." kinda thing.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 23, 2008, 01:47:06 PM
I don't know. Probably. It's not likely to come up as a plot point anyway, it's just a piece of trivia. Besides, assuming you could get him to sit still for three hours solid or more, it would simply reduce the stuff to a consistency of steel, so it's not like he'd dissolve.
Depends. You could follow him around, but it's not exactly simple. Bathing the entire area would be easier, but more expensive in terms of required power, and easier to identify, etc etc...
And the idea was, once he's the consistency of steel, a good shot with a Barrett Fifty-caliber would make a mess of him.
'course, that does mean you've got to get him with the first shot.
... and all his friends. Otherwise you'd be toast. Including any of them who might shoot back...
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 23, 2008, 02:31:22 PM
Er.. according to what I understood, "real" tentacles (not just heads) will do that. Since it's your subconscious controlling them, etc. So.. the difference between this and "fake" heads is that "real" heads will show up by themselves, and the "fake" heads will... show up by themselves.
You may be right there. On the one hand, "real tentacles" don't have eyes. When Abel's appear we'll have more information about what those can do, but IMHO a headless tentacle in its subconscious state is going to be somewhat sense-deprived and therefore less likely to move around on its own. On the other hand, even if that is the case, Daryil tentacles (with vision) are liable to behave like Dan's tentacles.
At the end of the day, as you say, it's mostly prejudice more than fact.
QuoteDepends. You could follow him around, but it's not exactly simple. Bathing the entire area would be easier, but more expensive in terms of required power, and easier to identify, etc etc... and the idea was, once he's the consistency of steel, a good shot with a Barrett Fifty-caliber would make a mess of him.
True. However...
Quote... and all his friends. Otherwise you'd be toast. Including any of them who might shoot back...
...taking him down at all would itself set off the alarm. In that situation the others are liable to kill first, ask questions later.
Indeed. Half a second's peace might be all the gap that's needed for an attack to succeed, though...
As you say, all theoretical.
Shot in a way that make it seem like recovery is impossible...
Computer screen detailing said recovery...
Cybernetic organism brought back to life...
Admit it Tape, you've been playing System Shock again!
Quote from: Sofox on August 23, 2008, 04:33:54 PM
Shot in a way that make it seem like recovery is impossible...
Computer screen detailing said recovery...
Cybernetic organism brought back to life...
Admit it Tape, you've been playing System Shock again!
Objection! No jelly mould.
(http://it-he.org/ss/mould.gif)
http://it-he.org/ss/mould.gif
**EDIT**
It was soooo tempting to put an FPS counter in the bottom-right hand corner of his vision, though.
Actually, I recognized the nuclear notation, and was wondering if it had a lower fusion temperature than deuterium-deuterium reactions.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 23, 2008, 09:56:24 AM
Quote from: modelincard on August 23, 2008, 09:48:04 AM
Ah, that was going to be my second guess. But I didn't quite recognize that notation from high school chemistry (which I took last year), either. :B
It's hydrogen ion/boron-11 fusion.
Yep, I see it now. Thanks for clearing that up. :3
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 23, 2008, 05:19:26 PM
It was soooo tempting to put an FPS counter in the bottom-right hand corner of his vision, though.
Do it. I dare you.
Quote from: Dannysaysnoo on August 24, 2008, 04:30:22 AM
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 23, 2008, 05:19:26 PM
It was soooo tempting to put an FPS counter in the bottom-right hand corner of his vision, though.
Do it. I dare you.
It would kind of make sense to have an FPS-style HUD. Which would cause someone to freak out less: having information like that loaded directly into your brain or having that kind of information super-imposed over your vision?
Quote from: Jairus on August 24, 2008, 04:32:09 AM
It would kind of make sense to have an FPS-style HUD. Which would cause someone to freak out less: having information like that loaded directly into your brain or having that kind of information super-imposed over your vision?
I first came up with the artificially-intelligence aircraft thing around 1991. I put a lot of thought into it. My conclusion was that status information like that including bearing, speed, GPS coordinates etc should all go into the creature's short-term memory. That way, they just know.
Quote from: Jairus on August 24, 2008, 04:32:09 AM
It would kind of make sense to have an FPS-style HUD. Which would cause someone to freak out less: having information like that loaded directly into your brain or having that kind of information super-imposed over your vision?
Depends. If it includes a UT style target pointer and kill counts, I'd be a little worried...
Quote from: !KCA on August 23, 2008, 09:29:00 PM
Actually, I recognized the nuclear notation, and was wondering if it had a lower fusion temperature than deuterium-deuterium reactions.
I think it does, actually. Either way, I'm assuming that they have got it to work at a respectably low temperature. They are almost certainly using direct electrical conversion, since the entire power-plant fits in his belly. The motorcycles which will turn up ( in about 5 years :cry ) are electrically-driven and based off the same design of power plant.
Quote from: Jairus on August 24, 2008, 04:32:09 AMIt would kind of make sense to have an FPS-style HUD. Which would cause someone to freak out less: having information like that loaded directly into your brain or having that kind of information super-imposed over your vision?
kind of depends. if the person is used to be a cyborg already, having input direct to the brain in a way to resemble extra senses is better, however when you're immediately turned into a cyborg it's far easier to identify extra information if it shows on your sight.
however, I think "OMFGWTFBBQROFLSTFU!!!!111!??!" when they show a robot driven fully by A.I. having textual information embedded with visuals. it KIND OF makes sense to draw bounding boxes around parts of the image identified as moving objects, but showing a full HUD to a robot is just plain stupid
Quote from: Jack McSlay on August 24, 2008, 03:51:59 PM
Quote from: Jairus on August 24, 2008, 04:32:09 AMIt would kind of make sense to have an FPS-style HUD. Which would cause someone to freak out less: having information like that loaded directly into your brain or having that kind of information super-imposed over your vision?
kind of depends. if the person is used to be a cyborg already, having input direct to the brain in a way to resemble extra senses is better, however when you're immediately turned into a cyborg it's far easier to identify extra information if it shows on your sight.
Agreed. It's hard enough to realize that you're a cyborg: it'd be worse to look at someone and suddenly know every single bit of biological information about them, information about their weapon, where to hit them to kill them, structural weak points in the room... all the freaking time. Plus, the way the human mind is set up, I'd imagine that we'd be more comfortable with an HUD, or at least until you got used to it. Then you can go over to the "directly downloaded" information type.
Quote from: Jack McSlay on August 24, 2008, 03:51:59 PM
however, I think "OMFGWTFBBQROFLSTFU!!!!111!??!" when they show a robot driven fully by A.I. having textual information embedded with visuals. it KIND OF makes sense to draw bounding boxes around parts of the image identified as moving objects, but showing a full HUD to a robot is just plain stupid
Ugh, that annoys me so much in movies. It's one of my little pet peeves. It doesn't make any sense for a robot of all things to be designed that way... I tell myself as I watch Arnold Schwarzenegger moving around shooting things up and pretending to be a robot.
My spell-checker knows how to spell "Schwarzenegger." I hate it.
Quote from: Jairus on August 24, 2008, 03:59:24 PM
Agreed. It's hard enough to realize that you're a cyborg: it'd be worse to look at someone and suddenly know every single bit of biological information about them, information about their weapon, where to hit them to kill them, structural weak points in the room... all the freaking time. Plus, the way the human mind is set up, I'd imagine that we'd be more comfortable with an HUD, or at least until you got used to it. Then you can go over to the "directly downloaded" information type.
I'm not so sure. Leaving aside that Josh wouldn't be loaded up with combat programming anyway - if that is what has happened to him - what he would know comes on-demand, not continuously.
Have you ever read
Stardust by Neil Gaimen? The protagonist in that innately knows where things are and how far away they are, but only when someone asks him.
...the little hairy man ignored him and continued, '--so I was a-ponderin' : you know where your star is, don't you?'
Tristan pointed, without hesitation, to the dark horizon.
'Now then,
how far is it, to your star? D'you know that?'
Tristan had not given the matter any thought, hitherto, but he found himself saying . 'A man could walk, only stopping to sleep, while the moon waxed and waned above him half a dozen times, crossing treacherous mountains and burning deserts, before he reached the place where the star has fallen.'
It did not sound like the kind of thing he would say at all, and he blinked with surprise.
...that's the sort of model I was thinking of, and it's not particularly invasive because something like that has happened to me before now when I remember things long-forgotten. For instance, I was studying a schematic of my mixing desk a couple of years ago, and I suddenly, intuitively realised that the electrolytics on each channel were there to block the 48v phantom power from getting where it wasn't supposed to go. I asked my father about it sometime later, and it was quite correct.
Likewise, if a panther thinks "what's 9 times 9" for some reason, they'll immediately remember that it's 81.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 24, 2008, 08:10:42 AMI think it does, actually. Either way, I'm assuming that they have got it to work at a respectably low temperature. They are almost certainly using direct electrical conversion, since the entire power-plant fits in his belly. The motorcycles which will turn up ( in about 5 years :cry ) are electrically-driven and based off the same design of power plant.
I went ahead and just did some research.
Proton-boron reactions do appear to have a higher fusion temperature than standard deuterium reactions. However, deuterium fusion produces a lot of free neutrons; boron fusion produces only a few, in side reactions (or something). Neutron production tends to make parts of the reactor rather radioactive.
You could always have Kris using proton-boron fusion because he doesn't want to deal with containment issues.
Quote from: !KCA on August 25, 2008, 06:51:09 AM
You could always have Kris using proton-boron fusion because he doesn't want to deal with containment issues.
Yes, I chose it because it was the chief candidate for aneutronic fusion. It seems that it's the reaction that the Focus Fusion, Polywell and various other devices are trying to use.
At the end of the day, it's just background detail, since as far as the comic is concerned, it's a black-box power generator and the inner workings of it don't really come up in the story.
Ok, I'm actually enjoying this conversation (though it's way over my head, for sure) but I felt this was somewhat relevant:
(http://www.missmab.com/WRY/catgirls.gif)
A few details are great, but don't over think them.
*ahem*
NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERDS! :U
Quote from: Mowser on August 25, 2008, 09:18:36 AM
(http://www.missmab.com/WRY/catgirls.gif)
Ah, but I'm a hard-SF fan who hates catgirls.
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 25, 2008, 09:57:53 AM
Quote from: Amber Williams on August 25, 2008, 09:34:19 AM
*ahem*
NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERDS! :U
Yes, and?
and we need to offset the imbalance with dorks and geeks before we hit critical mass and die in a giant startrek reffrence
Quote from: Brunhidden on August 25, 2008, 03:24:56 PM
and we need to offset the imbalance with dorks and geeks before we hit critical mass and die in a giant startrek reffrence
"Oh, no, Cap'n, she cannae taek it anaemore!"
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 25, 2008, 04:09:50 PM
Quote from: Brunhidden on August 25, 2008, 03:24:56 PM
and we need to offset the imbalance with dorks and geeks before we hit critical mass and die in a giant startrek reffrence
"Oh, no, Cap'n, she cannae taek it anaemore!"
"Boxy, I need more power!"
Back on topic, nuclear power? Interesting. I sense potential problems... or at least problems with earlier reactors and prototypes.
Look! Josh with Angel wings!
(http://project-future.org/strips/outtakes/wingjosh_col.png)
http://project-future.org/strips/outtakes/wingjosh_col.png
...nothing to do with the comic at all, but then again, nothing to do with Star Trek either... (http://www.jpmorris.force9.co.uk/stuff/icon_twisted.gif)
Okay, the new page is up. Unfortunately, as I may have mentioned, Ren didn't manage to hand over the artwork, so I've done a makeshift version from pre-existing artwork. Some of which was on the previous page :cry
Well... that's one way to be sure that you're the same person you were before you got transferred over to your new body. Very cool. Poor Josh.
And the artwork is fine. Don't worry about it. Any idea when Ren gets back?
Quote from: Jairus on August 29, 2008, 04:34:55 PM
Well... that's one way to be sure that you're the same person you were before you got transferred over to your new body. Very cool. Poor Josh.
In some ways I envy him. Yes, the transition is rather traumatic, but the benefits are there.
QuoteAnd the artwork is fine. Don't worry about it. Any idea when Ren gets back?
Not really. Some time this weekend, or Monday I guess. If he's away longer than that, it may have to be guest-art time, because the next one is going to be a bear to do from archival material.
Dear gosh Tape, you're becoming an expert at art reusing. The effect comes off so naturally.
And yes, soul stolen, that is quite a situation...
Quote from: Sofox on August 29, 2008, 05:35:26 PM
Dear gosh Tape, you're becoming an expert at art reusing. The effect comes off so naturally.
Thanks. The difficult part in this - aside from removing the glasses - was to ensure that Kris' hairstyle was relatively consistent. I did mean to insert the bed-head behind Josh, which I forgot to do, and I've just fixed a slight typo, but other than that it came out pretty well.
QuoteAnd yes, soul stolen, that is quite a situation...
Needless to say, Josh is about to flip out again over that. One of the things I set out to play with in this series was to demonstrate positive uses for soul-stealing.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 29, 2008, 05:56:46 PM
Quote from: Sofox on August 29, 2008, 05:35:26 PM
And yes, soul stolen, that is quite a situation...
Needless to say, Josh is about to flip out again over that. One of the things I set out to play with in this series was to demonstrate positive uses for soul-stealing.
The ability to insert a soul into an appropriate vessel? A form of immortality? I'm guessing that his memories are digital backups, or does the soul carry memories from the body?
Funny, that's kind of how souls work in my universe as well.
Quote from: Jairus on August 29, 2008, 06:09:44 PM
The ability to insert a soul into an appropriate vessel? A form of immortality? I'm guessing that his memories are digital backups, or does the soul carry memories from the body?
I don't know much about how souls work in DMFA, but I'm assuming that like in
Night's Dawn, the soul contains the memories (or a backup copy thereof) as well. Otherwise, well, yes - assume he did something clever :3
Gah I so don't wanna be Josh now, I like where my body and soul is...
ouch... I actually had a similar concept for one of my stories a few years back, but without the soul stealing...more of a neural copy thing like with the sixth day movie in an artificial body.
A gohlem mixed with Frankenstein idea... which if you think about it is really the same idea.
Heh. I like how he asked him for the time.
Quote from: Gabi on September 03, 2008, 02:06:23 PM
Heh. I like how he asked him for the time.
Thanks. That was actually improvised. Originally Kris told him that he "had a living brain", as in past tense.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 03, 2008, 02:56:39 PM
Quote from: Gabi on September 03, 2008, 02:06:23 PM
Heh. I like how he asked him for the time.
Thanks. That was actually improvised. Originally Kris told him that he "had a living brain", as in past tense.
Sometimes the improvised stuff works better. As it is, the moment is really neat.
i have the following to say- wow, he really does a good 'i just crapped myself' face. its probably good that puppy can no longer poop.
Quote from: Brunhidden on September 03, 2008, 09:41:43 PM
i have the following to say- wow, he really does a good 'i just crapped myself' face. its probably good that puppy can no longer poop.
That'll probably be going away eventually. I've got 90% of the lineart for the replacement page, but it's unlikely to be ready for tomorrow. Also, Ren seems to be kind of busy this week and I don't yet have the line-art for the coming page. Hence that is liable to be late too.
Quote from: Brunhidden on September 03, 2008, 09:41:43 PM
i have the following to say- wow, he really does a good 'i just crapped myself' face. its probably good that puppy can no longer poop.
Like I said, master at Art reuse.
PS. I'm surprised that that "what's the time" line was improvised, given how he himself had asked for the time a few times before I assumed it had been foreshadowing this, as in a "He always asked people for the time. Then, a freak accident led to him being reconstructed in a robotic body. Now, HE NEVER NEEDS TO ASK FOR THE TIME AGAIN!!!"
(in theatres this Summer)
Quote from: Sofox on September 04, 2008, 06:08:20 AM
I'm surprised that that "what's the time" line was improvised, given how he himself had asked for the time a few times before I assumed it had been foreshadowing this.
These things happen. The last line of
The Usual Suspects was a last-minute brainwave by John Ottman, who scored and edited the film.
In my case, "What's the time?" was taken whole from the game the panthers came from. It was a conversation option, and they would respond differently depending on how intelligent they were. A couple of weeks before the strip was due to go out I suddenly realised I'd missed a trick in the original story.
i was not saying there was anything wrong with using the image again, if he makes the same face its understandable, i was just remarking how good of a face it is for the expression needed
also, i really like his ears in the lower left panel, kind of that thoughtful confused look as he is struggling to get things to work. cute confused puppy dog
We're going to be running late on this. In the meantime:
(http://www.project-future.org/strips/comic/outage2a.jpg)
http://www.project-future.org/strips/comic/outage2a.jpg
Darn... I can't find an "applause" emoticon. That is a lovely reuse of lineart and character art, and very funny to boot. Makes me wonder how many times Ren "forgets" to ask for directions...
Quote from: Jairus on September 05, 2008, 03:38:46 PM
Makes me wonder how many times Ren "forgets" to ask for directions...
REAL MEN NEVER ASK FOR DIRECTIONS!! D:<...OK, I have no idea where we are.. :sweatdrop
Kris shoulda got GPS or something.
Quote from: Dannysaysnoo on September 05, 2008, 03:59:26 PM
Kris shoulda got GPS or something.
I don't think Britannia has any satellites (aside from the moons).
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 05, 2008, 04:06:21 PM
Quote from: Dannysaysnoo on September 05, 2008, 03:59:26 PM
Kris shoulda got GPS or something.
I don't think Britannia has any satellites (aside from the moons).
Note to self..Never let warp acii's have the map
Quote from: Zedd on September 05, 2008, 06:11:53 PM
Note to self..Never let warp acii's have the map
... particularly when it's chocolate coated.
By way of a small update, I now have the lineart from Ren - there is a very good chance of it being coloured and ready at the usual time this evening.
Okay folks, page 29 is now live, and it should turn a few heads.
Heh. I already knew this was coming, so my only complaint is that he doesn't seem as recognizable as he should be. He still looks like Kris, mostly because all that happened was a color swap, and Kris doesn't look like...who he's really supposed to be >:3...
So I wonder who might not realize who that is, if there's anyone at all...
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on September 06, 2008, 02:15:09 PM
My only complaint is that he doesn't seem as recognizable as he should be. He still looks like Kris, mostly because all that happened was a color swap, and Kris doesn't look like...who he's really supposed to be >:3...
Actually, I was afraid that it wouldn't look enough like Kris, since he was taken from the incubus and de-headwinged. Maybe if Ren had more time we could have done a full transformation.
People might find this interesting as well. IIRC Sofox and a few others saw this at AC:
http://tapewolf.wildernessguardians.com/future/ProjectFuture_demonology.pdf (8.3MB)
...it is four pages long instead of two.
Aha, THAT'S why I'm having trouble recognizing him in the comic; he's missing his trench coat and red T-shirt :P
I knew something wasn't there that was supposed to be... :giggle
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on September 06, 2008, 02:40:54 PM
Aha, THAT'S why I'm having trouble recognizing him in the comic; he's missing his trench coat and red T-shirt :P I knew something wasn't there that was supposed to be... :giggle
Yes, I think it's the first time we've seen him in formal wear. Another point is that I tried to make him look sinister, and maybe overdid it. Poor Josh is going to have a breakdown. And I... I just know I'll forget what I'm doing and colour him like Kris...
Well now it's easy for you but hard as hell for some peoples *pokes wolfy nose*
PREPARE FOR IMMINENT FREAKOUT! :U
(super droid extraordinaire. Freakazoid. Freakazoid.)
(Runs around in Cyberware. Freakazoid. Freakazoid)
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 06, 2008, 04:51:28 PM
PREPARE FOR IMMINENT FREAKOUT! :U
... I am not liking the look of this at all.
EDIT:
Actually, talking of freakout, my heart sank a bit when Fa'Lina did the emotion-damping thing to Abel. I had that kind of thing lined up for the following page... Josh is going to need it.
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 06, 2008, 04:51:28 PM
PREPARE FOR IMMINENT FREAKOUT! :U
(super droid extraordinaire. Freakazoid. Freakazoid.)
(Runs around in Cyberware. Freakazoid. Freakazoid)
You got the DVD set now don't you...*needs shake fist emote here*
Thanks to the valiant efforts of Keaton, strip 24 is now available in its full splendour:
http://www.project-future.org/strip.php?strip=24
ooo, purdy.
Both of those strips look great, Tapewolf. I had a feeling that something like this was coming up, though since I haven't been following it since the beginning I have no idea what everyone is talking about. Maybe I should take some time and climb through the archives.
Quote from: Zedd on September 06, 2008, 05:20:38 PM
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 06, 2008, 04:51:28 PM
PREPARE FOR IMMINENT FREAKOUT! :U
(super droid extraordinaire. Freakazoid. Freakazoid.)
(Runs around in Cyberware. Freakazoid. Freakazoid)
You got the DVD set now don't you...*needs shake fist emote here*
Might as well shake your fist at me too... I'm watching the first episode with DVD commentary right now.
Quote from: Jairus on September 06, 2008, 07:02:44 PM
Both of those strips look great, Tapewolf. I had a feeling that something like this was coming up, though since I haven't been following it since the beginning I have no idea what everyone is talking about. Maybe I should take some time and climb through the archives.
You're not going to find any hints in the archives. ;)
...I sooooo want to just tell you who that is, but I think Tapewolf might want to say himself more :B
Quote from: Jairus on September 06, 2008, 07:02:44 PM
I had a feeling that something like this was coming up, though since I haven't been following it since the beginning I have no idea what everyone is talking about.
It does kind of explain the strip or two where Kris is looking at Josh's thought bubble, or why Kirian has Daryil's clan mark on her forehead, doesn't it? >:3
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on September 06, 2008, 07:10:10 PM
...I sooooo want to just tell you who that is, but I think Tapewolf might want to say himself more :B
May as well. The only reason I haven't named him yet was because you didn't :3
Anyway, for those who haven't guessed, the incubus is of course, my avatar, Jakob Pettersohn.
I don't quite have enough of the right art to put together a full cast page for him, but that will happen soon (as soon as Ren draws some).
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 06, 2008, 07:18:15 PM
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on September 06, 2008, 07:10:10 PM
...I sooooo want to just tell you who that is, but I think Tapewolf might want to say himself more :B
May as well. The only reason I haven't named him yet was because you didn't :3
Anyway, for those who haven't guessed, the incubus is of course, my avatar, Jakob Pettersohn.
I don't quite have enough of the right art to put together a full cast page for him, but that will happen soon (as soon as Ren draws some).
Oh... sorry I didn't get that. I just don't think I've ever seen your avatar outside of... well... your avatar. That's pretty neat. It's like Ren being a badass quasi-demon swordsman.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 06, 2008, 07:18:15 PM
Quote from: techmaster-glitch on September 06, 2008, 07:10:10 PM
...I sooooo want to just tell you who that is, but I think Tapewolf might want to say himself more :B
May as well. The only reason I haven't named him yet was because you didn't :3
I didn't say because I didn't think you'd
want me to say! :B Not with the last time I accidentally gave away a little spoiler... I was gonna tell Jairus in a PM anyway :rolleyes
But yes, Jairus. They aren't called "the Chronicles of Jakob Pettersohn" and "The Future History of Jakob Pettersohn" for nothing ;)
Hey, so it looks like Mr. Hasselhof finally turned up!
By the way, didn't know he was Jacob, nice surprise!
Quote from: Sofox on September 06, 2008, 10:31:21 PM
By the way, didn't know he was Jacob, nice surprise!
Well, it's pronounced Ya-kob, but yes...
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 07, 2008, 07:45:17 AM
Quote from: Sofox on September 06, 2008, 10:31:21 PM
By the way, didn't know he was Jacob, nice surprise!
Well, it's pronounced Ya-kob, but yes...
Ah right, sorry.
One of the things which made me procrastinate over the cast pages is how to handle it when some of the key cast members have multiple identities.
What I decided to do in the end is have both, adding them as if they are separate characters.
Suggestions would be welcome, though. For instance, I haven't quite decided whether to link between the two identities or not.
I would suggest not, at least, not until their multiple identities are common knowledge in the strip.
And if you do, make sure the cast page notes that "Here There Be Spoilers" type thing...
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on September 07, 2008, 02:20:34 PM
I would suggest not, at least, not until their multiple identities are common knowledge in the strip.
And if you do, make sure the cast page notes that "Here There Be Spoilers" type thing...
The cast index actually has the words "ALLERGY WARNING - may contain spoilers" on it.
However, I have now added Jakob's profile.
EDIT:
I can see Niall and Ashley being a problem, since they're pretty much the same in both of their forms.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 07, 2008, 02:39:40 PM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on September 07, 2008, 02:20:34 PM
I would suggest not, at least, not until their multiple identities are common knowledge in the strip.
And if you do, make sure the cast page notes that "Here There Be Spoilers" type thing...
The cast index actually has the words "ALLERGY WARNING - may contain spoilers" on it.
However, I have now added Jakob's profile.
Is that a sign I should get plenty of meds?
Quote from: Zedd on September 07, 2008, 02:45:00 PM
Is that a sign I should get plenty of meds?
You should, but we can't get anyone to prescribe them for you; anyone sane enough to do so will run miles from you.. ;-]
Just FYI, we're going to be running late on this one again.
No worries. Take your time guys.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 12, 2008, 01:27:35 PM
Just FYI, we're going to be running late on this one again.
How far will it take?
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 12, 2008, 01:36:51 PM
Quote from: Zedd on September 12, 2008, 01:33:44 PM
How far will it take?
I'm not sure I understand.
Oh I ment by..How long will it take you two to complete it?
Quote from: Zedd on September 12, 2008, 03:05:32 PM
Oh I ment by..How long will it take you two to complete it?
Don't know. Probably this time tomorrow, but Ren has to finish the lineart first. Colouring it will likely interfere with my plans to mix down
Three Little Pigs, but them's the breaks, as they say.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 12, 2008, 03:13:17 PM
Don't know. Probably this time tomorrow, but Ren has to finish the lineart first. Colouring it will likely interfere with my plans to mix down Three Little Pigs, but them's the breaks, as they say.
I'm sorry!!! :cry
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on September 12, 2008, 03:15:07 PM
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 12, 2008, 03:13:17 PM
Don't know. Probably this time tomorrow, but Ren has to finish the lineart first. Colouring it will likely interfere with my plans to mix down Three Little Pigs, but them's the breaks, as they say.
I'm sorry!!! :cry
Back to work! *cracks a whip* Then you can draw more SoG stuff!
I must also add this... the Mac which I'm writing this on, and which I use to composite the comic looks like it may be going the way of Amber's system. It wouldn't boot immediately yesterday, and again today, it wouldn't spin the disk up until I powered it off and on again.
I'm copying the user data off the disk right now, but if it falls down and can't get back up, we will have a problem.
Best case: nothing happens. Medium case, I buy a new HDD and reinstall the system. Maybe try out the Win32 version of ComicLife until I can get it back. Worst case, I have to go to Cardiff and get the bugger repaired (if it's the mainboard or PSU).
Either way, I think it might be time to buy a spare HDD tomorrow.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 12, 2008, 03:18:05 PM
I must also add this... the Mac which I'm writing this on, and which I use to composite the comic looks like it may be going the way of Amber's system. It wouldn't boot immediately yesterday, and again today, it wouldn't spin the disk up until I powered it off and on again.
I'm copying the user data off the disk right now, but if it falls down and can't get back up, we will have a problem.
Best case: nothing happens. Medium case, I buy a new HDD and reinstall the system. Maybe try out the Win32 version of ComicLife until I can get it back. Worst case, I have to go to Cardiff and get the bugger repaired.
Either way, I think it might be time to buy a spare HDD tomorrow.
I had Mac problems this week too... I ended up reinstalling from the disks I got with it. Everything works great now! Better than before, even!
I wonder if Safari is working now?
"Upon arriving in London, I discovered they had returned to Cardiff. I followed as Ratty, from
Toad of Toad Hall!" - Sorry, Monty Python interlude.
Quote from: Jairus on September 12, 2008, 03:20:18 PM
I had Mac problems this week too... I ended up reinstalling from the disks I got with it. Everything works great now! Better than before, even!
This is definitely hardware, because it can't find the bootloader and the reason is that the HDD is not spinning unless you power-cycle it.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 12, 2008, 03:21:48 PM
Quote from: Jairus on September 12, 2008, 03:20:18 PM
I had Mac problems this week too... I ended up reinstalling from the disks I got with it. Everything works great now! Better than before, even!
This is definitely hardware, because it can't find the bootloader and the reason is that the HDD is not spinning unless you power-cycle it.
Then I can't help you. Sorry.
*cracks whip at self* Back to work!
I'll add that I only use the Mac for compositing and captioning, e.g.:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/pf_dev.png
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/pf_dev.png)
...colouring is done in GIMP under Linux. I could at a pinch assemble it in that too, but the font would be wrong and the speech bubbles would look crappy.
**EDIT**
We'll be up fairly soon, just as soon as Ren and I thrash out some artistic difference over a circle in one of the panels.
Okay, after many trials and tribulations, page 30 is up and I have a useless recording of half of my album. Right now I can really empathise with Joshua in that last panel...
Yay! For once I am actually around to comment on the new page!
..Poor Josh, he really needed that hug. But Tape needs a hug too! *gives Tape a hug* ..It was my fault that he had to colour the page today, so I have to make up for it somehow..
Don't worry much now Josh, I now share a hug to you and him Tape :hug
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on September 13, 2008, 05:59:44 PM
..Poor Josh, he really needed that hug. But Tape needs a hug too! *gives Tape a hug*
Hugs are much appreciated. OTOH, if anyone sends me a spare set of audio cards for a Studer A807 Mk1, and/or a VTVM, I'll worship them forever...
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 13, 2008, 06:03:31 PM
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on September 13, 2008, 05:59:44 PM
..Poor Josh, he really needed that hug. But Tape needs a hug too! *gives Tape a hug*
Hugs are much appreciated. OTOH, if anyone sends me a spare set of audio cards for a Studer A807 Mk1, and/or a VTVM, I'll worship them forever...
Sorry, all I've got for you is a :hug and my long-distance support. I don't know anything about audio systems aside from plugging them in. The comic looks great though.
AARGH! I've forgotten to introduce the character's name again!
Too many people have seen the thing now for me to reroute the dialogue... I guess we'll have to work it into the next page. That's probably better actually, because it takes place after Josh has calmed down somewhat. There's a great wall of text lined up for that one anyway, though - adding more of it is going to take some fancy footwork.
EDIT:
Fun fact... Kris was originally supposed to be white, but that didn't work out very well because it looked like I'd forgotten to colour him. Then, after doing much searching for photos of Arctic wolves, I was going to make him cream-coloured, but that didn't work either because it clashed with the magnolia paint (used throughout in the base so much because it's the cheapest paint you can get).
when i see the lower left panel all i can think is 'i peed myself' and seriously wonder if theres any consequence to him spending almost the entire comic in his skivvies
also, 'angels can do that too' is an incredibly profound line, i am impressed
Joshua and Jakob is my OTP. To the fanart-mobile! :U
I keed! I keed!
Though I am sorry to hear your compy is also giving you issues. It seems to be a bad month for computers.
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 14, 2008, 05:22:06 PM
To the fanart-mobile! :U
I prefer to just call it Bad-Mobile. :B
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 14, 2008, 05:22:06 PM
Joshua and Jakob is my OTP. To the fanart-mobile! :U
You've given me an idea for a parody song! Now I just need the song to go with it! Must PM Tapewolf for information on Joshua and Jokab!
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 14, 2008, 05:22:06 PM
I keed! I keed!
Too late, Amber! It is done!
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 14, 2008, 05:22:06 PM
Though I am sorry to hear your compy is also giving you issues. It seems to be a bad month for computers.
Agreed. Though in my case it was a fairly simple fix. Wish it was the same for you two.
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 14, 2008, 05:22:06 PM
Joshua and Jakob is my OTP. To the fanart-mobile! :U
I fully expected someone to say something like that. I just didn't expect it to be you...
QuoteThough I am sorry to hear your compy is also giving you issues. It seems to be a bad month for computers.
Since I wrote that, it seems to have been behaving itself. Nonetheless, I'm going to keep a close eye on it.
I still reckon it's the power supply, and I might get another one anyway, just in case.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 14, 2008, 05:28:41 PM
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 14, 2008, 05:22:06 PM
Joshua and Jakob is my OTP. To the fanart-mobile! :U
I fully expected someone to say something like that. I just didn't expect it to be you...
That's only because she beat me to it! :U
*flies away*
I also echo the sentiments about your computer troubles. Hope it gets resolved soon, dude.
Great comic Tape, seems to be coming along great so far.
And best of luck in dealing with your hardware and audio troubles.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 12, 2008, 03:24:37 PMI could at a pinch assemble it in that too, but the font would be wrong and the speech bubbles would look crappy.
You know, you can add a font to GIMP just by copy-pasting the font file into the correct Gimp folder.
As for speech bubbles, I managed them okay for Marty the Platformer. All you do is create a selection area in the shape of your desired bubble, then go "stroke selection" while specifying paint brush (make sure you've already set the paint brush to the type of line you want to make).
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on September 14, 2008, 06:03:26 PM
That's only because she beat me to it! :U
I didn't expect it to be you, either.
**EDIT**
Wait, you're not Ren. I take it back... I
would expect it to be you :P
Quote from: Sofox on September 14, 2008, 06:04:15 PM
Great comic Tape, seems to be coming along great so far.
And best of luck in dealing with your hardware and audio troubles.
Thanks. I've just finished mixing down the rest of the album to my satisfaction, having aligned the machine by ear. I'm disappointed that it had to be done that way, but unless I can get an audio-grade multimeter, it'll have to stay like that. The results are good enough for my ears, anyway. I just wish there was an extra day of the weekend I could use to finish it, after Saturday's wasted opportunity. Maybe if I can sneak off early from work or something, but I have other things that need doing as well.
I suppose this is as good a time as any to point out that most of next weekend will be gone for me - Saturday (and probably a good portion of the week's evenings) will be spent tidying the house for Sunday, when my parents visit. That's actually why I set this weekend aside for the mixdown.
The long and the short of it is that if the schedule slips with the lineart this time, I probably won't get a chance to colour it until Monday. That said, the last two strips of episode 4 have mostly been done already (guest flashback!) - I'm hoping we can use one week of it to sort out a buffer when they run in a couple of weeks time.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 12, 2008, 03:24:37 PMYou know, you can add a font to GIMP just by copy-pasting the font file into the correct Gimp folder.
If it's TTF, I know how to install those. If it's some weird MacOS format, it could be tricky, thogh. Either way, I'll have to figure out where the font actually is first.
QuoteAs for speech bubbles, I managed them okay for Marty the Platformer. All you do is create a selection area in the shape of your desired bubble, then go "stroke selection" while specifying paint brush (make sure you've already set the paint brush to the type of line you want to make).
This is a GIMP speech bubble (one of my first, actually):
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/games/rockon.jpg
It'll work, yes, it just won't look the same. I'm a sucker for consistency :3
"angels can do that too" huh?! but he's a cubi or an angel?
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 14, 2008, 06:33:31 PM
This is a GIMP speech bubble (one of my first, actually):
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/games/rockon.jpg
It'll work, yes, it just won't look the same. I'm a sucker for consistency :3
I'm sorry Tape, you've just challenged me...
*some time later*
(http://sofoxcentral.com/images/TapeBubble.png)
Hmm, honestly not as good as I thought it would turn out, and probably would have been better if I'd used Paths or started in a higher resolution...
...still...
Quote from: Jack McSlay on September 14, 2008, 09:17:43 PM
"angels can do that too" huh?! but he's a cubi or an angel?
The headwings should have tipped you off.
You know, the ones circled in red...
Quote from: Jack McSlay on September 14, 2008, 09:17:43 PM
"angels can do that too" huh?! but he's a cubi or an angel?
He's a 'Cubi, but owing to various circumstances which will unfold in due course, he chose to disguise himself as an Angel. All the stuff about the concealment charm was a bluff, and the ring is purely decorative. If Joshua had tried it on himself, things could have got awkward. That said, Jakob could probably have talked around it, e.g. "It doesn't work because you don't have wings anyway/It doesn't work because your hand is mechanical".
To break the line down, Joshua is terrified of 'Cubi, mostly owing to the soul-stealing business. Probably he heard too many bad stories as a kid or something. What Jakob is saying is basically this: "Angels can also go around stealing souls. Why aren't you afraid of them, too?"
Quote from: Sofox on September 14, 2008, 09:23:41 PM
I'm sorry Tape, you've just challenged me...
Hmm, honestly not as good as I thought it would turn out, and probably would have been better if I'd used Paths or started in a higher resolution...
Yes, working in higher-res would probably do it. If you're interested, there is a full-res draft here:
http://www.project-future.org/pf30.PNG - owing to space constraints I can't guarantee it will remain there, but whatever.
Quote from: Sofox on September 14, 2008, 06:04:15 PM
You know, you can add a font to GIMP just by copy-pasting the font file into the correct Gimp folder.
The font engine in Gimp and (whatever that other app was) are different.
So you may or may not get the same results...
Dun worry. Having been working on a particular individuals commission, the main thing I have been having fan-art wise for ideas was a groupshot of them all playing poker....since 98% of everyone seems to be a canine it just seems to fit.
Though I figure Joshua would be at a tactical disadvantage in a room of Cubi. :U
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 16, 2008, 12:06:43 PM
Dun worry. Having been working on a particular individuals commission, the main thing I have been having fan-art wise for ideas was a groupshot of them all playing poker....since 98% of everyone seems to be a canine it just seems to fit.
Oh, Amber... that sounds
awesome! I can't wait to see that in it's full glorious version!
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 16, 2008, 12:06:43 PM
Though I figure Joshua would be at a tactical disadvantage in a room of Cubi. :U
Maybe they all agree no though-reading the Normal... or maybe, inexplicably, Joshua is actually
winning.
Quote from: Jairus on September 16, 2008, 12:10:14 PM
Oh, Amber... that sounds awesome! I can't wait to see that in it's full glorious version!
Its not really a guarantee I am ever going to get to do it. Work comes first, and sadly fun stuff comes second. :<
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 16, 2008, 12:15:23 PM
Quote from: Jairus on September 16, 2008, 12:10:14 PM
Oh, Amber... that sounds awesome! I can't wait to see that in it's full glorious version!
Its not really a guarantee I am ever going to get to do it. Work comes first, and sadly fun stuff comes second. :<
If you don't do it, I will... >:]
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 16, 2008, 12:06:43 PM
Dun worry. Having been working on a particular individuals commission, the main thing I have been having fan-art wise for ideas was a groupshot of them all playing poker....since 98% of everyone seems to be a canine it just seems to fit.
I concur with Jairus... that would be awesome.
...the others were reading or watching the news except for [Oskar], Dorcan and [Nilson],
who were playing cards with Kirian. They generally did this for the amusement value as the
warp-aci didn't seem to be able to remember which particular game they were playing for
more than about three minutes at a stretch.
QuoteThough I figure Joshua would be at a tactical disadvantage in a room of Cubi. :U
Actually, they do have a mind-shield circuit in development - essentially an enchanted gem which can be turned on and off electronically. That turns up around episode 7.
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 16, 2008, 12:15:23 PM
Quote from: Jairus on September 16, 2008, 12:10:14 PM
Oh, Amber... that sounds awesome! I can't wait to see that in it's full glorious version!
Its not really a guarantee I am ever going to get to do it. Work comes first, and sadly fun stuff comes second. :<
Oh, poor Amber. :hug How's the compy doing?
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on September 16, 2008, 12:16:14 PM
If you don't do it, I will... >:]
*said in a warning tone*
Ren...On another note... Ninja'ed twice! And I'm glad Tapewolf agrees.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 16, 2008, 12:16:41 PM
I concur with Jairus... that would be awesome.
...the others were reading or watching the news except for [Oskar], Dorcan and [Nilson],
who were playing cards with Kirian. They generally did this for the amusement value as the
warp-aci didn't seem to be able to remember which particular game they were playing for
more than about three minutes at a stretch.
This is totally going to be over most peoples' heads, but how about Scrabble? >:3
... O, X, Y, G, E, N ....
"Man, these letters don't spell anything!"
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 16, 2008, 12:16:41 PM
Actually, they do have a mind-shield circuit in development - essentially an enchanted gem which can be turned on and off electronically. That turns up around episode 7.
I wasn't really thinking mind or thought so much as emotion. Judging from what I have seen of Joshua so far, I get the feeling he would need some practice before being able to pull off a good bluff when he sees the cards he gets. :U
Quote from: Amber Williams on September 16, 2008, 10:42:42 PM
I wasn't really thinking mind or thought so much as emotion. Judging from what I have seen of Joshua so far, I get the feeling he would need some practice before being able to pull off a good bluff when he sees the cards he gets. :U
Ah, yes. Though to be fair, Joshua is coming over all bewildered - at least in part - because one of his roles in the comic is to explain the scenario.
Quote from: Keaton the Black Jackal on September 16, 2008, 07:58:23 PM
This is totally going to be over most peoples' heads, but how about Scrabble? >:3
Perhaps. Depends if people have read the cast pages. It is mentioned in Oskar's cast page (FWIW his real name is 'Ashley') that he cheats at scrabble.
Rather than type it all out again, I'll just copy the rant from the site. Basically, we're running late again and while I've managed to mix the entire album down and tidy most of the house for Sunday's 'royal visit', there's still plenty of things which need doing, so the comic might have to wait until Monday. Or, I might cheat and run the B/W version as a stopgap measure >:3
19/09/2008 - We'll be late again
Technically the comic was always supposed to have a Saturday update, Friday was just the de-facto one. Be that as it may, if we're not up by Saturday evening, it'll probably have to wait until Monday (owing to family commitments etc).
On the bright side, I have managed to tape both sides of my album. If anyone knows a good mastering engineer, that would be handy as Chris Shaeffer, who mastered all four previous albums seems to have met some horrible fate. I am actually kind of concerned now as he's not been at his usual BBS since July.
Also, as the intermission says, we're hoping to set up a buffer over the next couple of weeks when the special guest flashback kicks in. After that, we should have somewhat smoother updates. Until then, I guess we'll just have to be patient.
No worries. We can wait... or at least I can. I can't speak for everyone else. Good luck with everything!
Aww, a hug! ^_^
Don't worry about the late update, real life takes precedence.
OK, Ren's now handed the lineart over. I've almost finished the house so I might even be able to start colouring tonight. Hence, we may have a finished page about this time tomorrow. No promises.
Page 31 is live. First person to correctly identify the model of recorder gets a cookie. Ren and probably Keaton already know, so they don't count...
YES! >:D
..Those heads.. They stare.. Silently.. With those smiles.. WHY DO THEY STARE AT ME LIKE THAT?? 'A'
Quote from: Ren Gaulen on September 21, 2008, 03:20:14 PM
..Those heads.. They stare.. Silently.. With those smiles.. WHY DO THEY STARE AT ME LIKE THAT?? 'A'
Those are..The faces of evil...
Also the recorder, If I know you well enough...
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/grinning.png)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/grinning.png
do they scream when shot? if not the very least is to have one of them stick its toung out
Quote from: Brunhidden on September 21, 2008, 03:42:56 PM
do they scream when shot? if not the very least is to have one of them stick its toung out
They're just empty shells. Though as for the tongue, you have no idea how tempting that was.
I could guess at the recorder, but I got a cookie from Aisha just the other day.
What's not to enjoy with getting a chance to shoot things in the head a lot?
No idea on the recorder, but that's a neat bit of info on the Soul-Stone: would that make it easier to fix a broken body or replace one damaged beyond repair, like in Josh's case? Man though, that's gotta be interesting having that process done to you.
"What disturbs me is that I enjoyed it." That cracks me up.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 21, 2008, 03:36:02 PM
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/grinning.png
BRILLIANT!
Quote from: Jairus on September 21, 2008, 03:47:18 PM
No idea on the recorder, but that's a neat bit of info on the Soul-Stone: would that make it easier to fix a broken body or replace one damaged beyond repair, like in Josh's case? Man though, that's gotta be interesting having that process done to you.
Pretty much it's like a parachute, a sort of last-resort.
Quote"What disturbs me is that I enjoyed it." That cracks me up.
That was not quite the idea >:3
**EDIT**
Random trivia - I made Joshua's hands larger. Originally it looked a bit like he was in a straitjacket.
**END EDIT**
If you're interested, this is the original Wall-O'-Text script:
1. In the common room. Joshua and Jakob sitting on a couch. Joshua is almost back to normal and Jakob has an earnest expression on his face. There is a R2R on a table, either a _____ or an Akai GX4000.
Joshua: "So that's how you were able to link my brain to the robot?"
Jakob: "Yes. My race has a natural advantage in neurosurgery as we are able to 'see' the mind working. Without the ability to debug a Being's nervous system, it wouldn't have been possible."
2. As before
Jakob: "Even so, I needed a great deal of help from my clan leader, Daryil, for his skill at mind-reading is far greater than mine. You may remember him, from a dream, perhaps?"
3. Joshua, looking a bit concerned. Jakob shows him the soulstone again
Joshua: "But how did you know you'd be able to steal my soul? It was fluke, wasn't it?"
Jakob: "It was implanted in your skull, with a standing enchantment to trap your soul if you died. Not my idea, though - a military invention, actually. Everyone here has one."
4. Josh surprised, Jakob businesslike
Joshua: "Even you?"
Jakob: "Of course, and there's one in your head now,although it should be more bulletproof now."
5. Flashback of Jakob shooting some heads
Joshua: "Have you tested it?"
Jakob: "Mockups, yes. I tried to execute them with handguns, sniper rifles, AP rounds and so forth."
6. Closeup of Jakob's face with sour expression, almost whispering
Jakob: "What frightens me is that I enjoyed it."
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 21, 2008, 03:36:02 PM
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/grinning.png)
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/projectfuture/grinning.png
XD You crazy sob..This wins the taco of jollies
ha ha!
I like Jakob's expression on the last panel.
Quote from: Gabi on September 23, 2008, 12:52:34 PM
I like Jakob's expression on the last panel.
Yes, it's delightfully evil/untrustworthy. Which suits me to a tee.
Ren must really being going through some kind of bad patch at the moment, because I still don't have the lineart. To keep the story moving I'll see if I can construct it from library art - that's usually pretty quick, and I should be able to drop the real ones in if the lineart does turn up later today.
Okay, Ren's going to be a bit longer with the lineart as he seems to have been hit by some RL issue which threw him off schedule. For now I've put up a construct strip from library art... I'll replace it with the final version as and when it becomes available.
Next week we'll be running the guest flashback so we're unlikely to be late then and it should give us a buffer as well.
happens to all of us..
I just hope you all find a way...
I enjoy the comic much thus far. Keep up the good work. :januscat
While I do appreciate the well-wishing (and I'm sure Ren does too), I'm a little curious that no-one's commented on the strip itself yet. From what Ren's said, the layout isn't too different to the final version, and the background and dialogue will certainly be the same.
Well, I'm just trying to figure out what exactly is going on, but I presume the device that the ball of light is sitting on allow it to communicate? It looks sort of like a containment device, whatever it is. And I guess it also needs the mic that Yak is talking into in order to hear? Is it a soul of some kind, and the prototype is something equivalent to Josh's body (only more powerful), or am I asking questions that were asked months ago? Which makes me think that the ritual would be the same thing that the Soul Crystal does: trap whatever it is in a crystal, and implant it in a new body. The word ritual never gives me a good feeling, though. Or I could just be wildly speculating and be completely off of the mark.
Quote from: Jairus on September 28, 2008, 06:37:13 PM
I presume the device that the ball of light is sitting on allow it to communicate? It looks sort of like a containment device, whatever it is. And I guess it also needs the mic that Yak is talking into in order to hear?
Pretty much. In actual fact the ball of light is part of the communication mechanism - specifically part of the tech-magic interfacing, rather than the soul itself.
(Guilty secret: originally it was just going to be a large, grey box - but the ball of light looked more interesting).
As for the prototype and the ritual, those will remain obscure for the time being.
I'd comment, but having read the story, I'm at a loss to comment without giving everything away...
Suffice it to say that I'm enjoying it, anyway.
This scene (and the others like it) owes a lot to the Dr. Who series The Brain of Morbius (1976). I was hoping that we could duplicate some of the expressions and body language in homage to it, but that looks like it was overstretching things.
I was wondering whether it was one of those sitcom plots where Joshua hears this and panics that the prototype means him and that they're going to do all sorts of horrible things to him... and in the end it turns out to be something completely different.
Of course not. That'd be just silly.
I have the new artwork. With luck, I'll have the revised page up tonight, but no promises.
Quote from: Tapewolf on September 29, 2008, 09:33:48 AM
I have the new artwork. With luck, I'll have the revised page up tonight, but no promises.
"A delayed game is eventually good. A bad game is bad forever."
Now, I can't remember who said that (he worked on some video game I've never played, that's all I remember), but you can apply this to a lot of things. Take your time and don't rush it: barring horrible accidents, we should all be here for a while.
Okay people, the final version of strip 32 is up. Enjoy.
Well it good waiting for