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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Jan 30, 2011 12:17:15 GMT 1
Yeah, I may be sounded too harsh, but I could have gone more critical and snarky.
You're right, it's not the worse fan fic. It's quite readable and funny enough to be a snark bait. At the same time, it's not a fic that make you wanna reach over for another dose of Brain Bleach. Still I'm quite pissed off how the author derailed EDI. While I can handle a few characters that went OOC in most fics, dropping a few IQ points/algorithms from EDI is a good way to push my berserk button in the fan fic area.
I don't wanted to be harsh on that fic but EDI... oh man, it made me loose my zen.
One other thing, I may not like it but I can also deal with OOC with EDI as long she kept her intelligence intact. So yeah... If you're going to make her go Kerrigan to the whole crew on the Normandy, at least let her do it the smart way.
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Post by Mister Buch on Jan 30, 2011 14:53:23 GMT 1
I think this site has taken your zen, and dragged you into the world of angry rants that... some of us here live in.
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Post by Mr. Glow on Jan 30, 2011 17:40:49 GMT 1
It milked the 'word' siha for all it was worth. siha this and siha that. Thane's argument with his son had them both use siha about five times in two lines of dialogue! (not to mention siha seems to be every third word in Thane's inner monologue.)
I did NOT need to see the second chapter either.
And as for what they did to Kaidan, that was just plain funny. Even if the proper Kaidan tried to kidnap Shepard because she had an affair, he'd probably just let her go if she told him to.
I can't take Shepard just playing the part of the distressed damsel, either. This is a woman who headbutts seven foot tall aliens made of armour.
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Post by Mister Buch on Jan 30, 2011 19:54:08 GMT 1
Oh yeah, the second chapter xD
I forgot about that bit. Okay it is very bad lol
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Jan 31, 2011 2:16:05 GMT 1
And as for what they did to Kaidan, that was just plain funny. Even if the proper Kaidan tried to kidnap Shepard because she had an affair, he'd probably just let her go if she told him to. Or just pull a tsudere and punch some sense into him. That kinda reminds me, I was about to do a one shot story about a loyal Shepard reuniting with Kaidan... only to have her slap him over the head and start ranting angry how he just left her like that, in a middle of a suicide mission all alone... played for laughs of course. But Mr. Buch wasn't too happy about it for some reason. But yeah, I've gave up at ch. 4 where Kaidan started to go psycho, because it's kinda mind boggling. I think I should take your advice Glow and look at it as a comedy. I can't take Shepard just playing the part of the distressed damsel, either. This is a woman who headbutts seven foot tall aliens made of armour. You and me both. Also quite a coincidence that we're bitching about damsel in distress Shepard, while atm I was writing my own Shepard laying some smack down at a punk in some bar. Overall, it's bad but good enough to have a great time MSTing it. |
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Octo
Commander
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Post by Octo on Jun 15, 2011 0:28:58 GMT 1
I've admit that, but personally writing a 'in-character' of Commander Shepard is hard, especially if the player character in the question was designed to be vague enough so the player can fit their shoes in. I'd disagree and even say the contrary: Especially since Shepard is the player character, there is no "in-character" Shepard. Which in turn means you just cannot mis-characterise him/her, and that he/she is open to whatever characterisation you want. Of course, that doesn't apply to any other character... Anyway, that's my opinion about Commander Shepard in fanfiction. |
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Post by jklinders on Jun 15, 2011 0:51:29 GMT 1
I've admit that, but personally writing a 'in-character' of Commander Shepard is hard, especially if the player character in the question was designed to be vague enough so the player can fit their shoes in. I'd disagree and even say the contrary: Especially since Shepard is the player character, there is no "in-character" Shepard. Which in turn means you just cannot mis-characterise him/her, and that he/she is open to whatever characterisation you want. Of course, that doesn't apply to any other character... Anyway, that's my opinion about Commander Shepard in fanfiction. That reminds me, I really need to get writing again if I ever intend to complete my own hac-er fic. After ME 3 comes out who is gonna give a crap about my (incorrect) fan theory. |
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Post by Mr. Glow on Jun 15, 2011 2:04:35 GMT 1
Gotta disagree with you, Octo. There are always major elements of Shepard's character that stay the same, whether she's male or female, paragon or renegade.
She's always the galaxy's premier badass, always a committed, hard-working leader respected by most of her underlings. And you'd better believe she doesn't like being jerked around/kept in the dark.
You can't characterise her as like, a pacifist or as a helpless woman who'll cower if she gets captured, because there's (rightfully) never a choice for the player to make her do those things.
I'd say there's more leeway with The Warden or any of BioWare's non-speaking protagonists than Shepard.
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Post by CAPT Issac R. Madden on Jun 15, 2011 2:19:13 GMT 1
Well I'm hoping Halo of Flies doesn't get nominated for this thread, lol.
On a more serious note, during my research into the ME world prior to starting my story, I ran into a metric fuckton of SI fics devoted to Talimancers living out their fantasies. Granted my own story is a quasi-SI since Ian is based on me as far as appearance and interests (guns, martial arts, and guitars/heavy metal) go, but I try to make him unique enough to not be considered my ME clone. (Currently I'm trying to figure out where to go from where I left off. I know how I want the story to eventually go, but that's at least ten or more chapters ahead of where I am now.)
That said, probably the worst fic I've ever read, I couldn't even finish the second chapter. The writer (and I'm using this term loosly) essentially made Twilight: Mass Effect with FemShep as Bella, Garrus as Edward, and Wrex as Jacob. Need I say more? *hurls*
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Post by Mr. Glow on Jun 15, 2011 2:40:29 GMT 1
On a more serious note, during my research into the ME world prior to starting my story, I ran into a metric fuckton of SI fics devoted to Talimancers living out their fantasies. Granted my own story is a quasi-SI since Ian is based on me as far as appearance and interests (guns, martial arts, and guitars/heavy metal) go, but I try to make him unique enough to not be considered my ME clone. (Currently I'm trying to figure out where to go from where I left off. I know how I want the story to eventually go, but that's at least ten or more chapters ahead of where I am now.) Want my advice? You should kill Ian off in the next chapter, purely for shock value. I mean, who would see that coming? A good story, by it's very name, nay, by it's very definition, can survive without any one character, anyway. Failing that, there are many other plot twists you can employ to ensure your story is of a similarly fine quality to mine. For example, you could imply Ian has been dead all along, ever since he woke in Mass Effect, or for bonus points, he's been dead before the fiction even began! Secondly, you could also have Ian's twin brother have been frozen, and corrupted by the Reapers, leading the pair to have a deadly battle sometime in the future! But yeah, Dead All Along or Evil Brother are pretty much the only two narrative devices I know. |
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Post by CAPT Issac R. Madden on Jun 15, 2011 3:19:21 GMT 1
On a more serious note, during my research into the ME world prior to starting my story, I ran into a metric fuckton of SI fics devoted to Talimancers living out their fantasies. Granted my own story is a quasi-SI since Ian is based on me as far as appearance and interests (guns, martial arts, and guitars/heavy metal) go, but I try to make him unique enough to not be considered my ME clone. (Currently I'm trying to figure out where to go from where I left off. I know how I want the story to eventually go, but that's at least ten or more chapters ahead of where I am now.) Want my advice? You should kill Ian off in the next chapter, purely for shock value. I mean, who would see that coming? A good story, by it's very name, nay, by it's very definition, can survive without any one character, anyway. Failing that, there are many other plot twists you can employ to ensure your story is of a similarly fine quality to mine. For example, you could imply Ian has been dead all along, ever since he woke in Mass Effect, or for bonus points, he's been dead before the fiction even began! Secondly, you could also have Ian's twin brother have been frozen, and corrupted by the Reapers, leading the pair to have a deadly battle sometime in the future! But yeah, Dead All Along or Evil Brother are pretty much the only two narrative devices I know. I'm planning on Ian eventually becoming a bit of a powerhouse. Not on the level of Shepard's crew or even Aria/Eclipse/Blood Pack/Blue Suns level, but definately not to be trifled with. Gorvar mentioned that Ian had a roguish feel to him so I'm going to run with that and see how it goes. Just about every other fic I've done has my main charry being a good guy; might as well play the flipside and see how it goes. |
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Octo
Commander
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Post by Octo on Jun 15, 2011 9:56:54 GMT 1
Gotta disagree with you, Octo. There are always major elements of Shepard's character that stay the same, whether she's male or female, paragon or renegade. She's always the galaxy's premier badass, always a committed, hard-working leader respected by most of her underlings. And you'd better believe she doesn't like being jerked around/kept in the dark. You can't characterise her as like, a pacifist or as a helpless woman who'll cower if she gets captured, because there's (rightfully) never a choice for the player to make her do those things. I'd say there's more leeway with The Warden or any of BioWare's non-speaking protagonists than Shepard. I don't know, glow. If a fanfic made Shepard like that, I would say it's a bad fic with an unrealistic characterisation, given that Shepard is supposed to be an N7 marine, but I wouldn't call it OOC. I still think there is no such thing for Shepard. The game of course gave the player only a limited amount of choices, but the reason for that is technological - there can only be so and so many choices in a game. In fiction, though, that's different. Fiction is limitless. So, just as the player is free to define Shepard within certain limits, I'd say fiction authors are free to define their Shepards just as they see fit, without any limits except for standard realism. But then, of course I'd say so. My fanfic!Shepard does go off the game tracks quite often, heh. Ugh, yes. I never click on those abominations, of course, but I see them in the ff.net listings. And it's always the same - guy gets sucked into ME, ends up romancing Tali, always the damn same. It's so uncreative and corny and creepy, and I really wonder what's up with that? |
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Post by jklinders on Jun 15, 2011 14:04:19 GMT 1
It's the "great mystery" of what's behind the mask. I guarantee that even if they made her face drop dead beautiful it would not have generated that much intrigue if her face was shown.
Otherwise ...*shudders* some folks are too young to get what a proper relationship is in the first place. Then they try to write about one...*shudders*
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Post by Mr. Glow on Jun 15, 2011 14:25:19 GMT 1
It's the "great mystery" of what's behind the mask. I guarantee that even if they made her face drop dead beautiful it would not have generated that much intrigue if her face was shown. I imagine she looks like a mixture of David Hyde Pierce and some sort of reptile underneath her mask. |
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Jun 15, 2011 14:54:31 GMT 1
I see what you mean Octo, but as glow said, in every Shepard you play, there's only one defining character that stands out in all Shepards...
She's an all-round badass who is not an apologist. That goes double for femsheps.
This is one of the reasons why some fans rebuked at the idea of a submissive!Shep, especially most female demographic. The only time the female fans wouldn't mind it from my observation so far is a smutty fic that involves a BDSM session... even then, that's kinda rare.
However, you are right at one point that you can define your Shepard character in your own personal preference, however, it's limited. So It's more of a yes and a no answer about Shepard's canon personality. I do admit, I kinda dance on the limit line with my Shepard in the White Rose fic.
Honestly, for me personally, I like my Shepard as a type who likes to take charge, whether on the battlefield or in bed. It's a all depends on personal taste.
And speaking of that other cookie cutter fics that involves mixing sappy twlight romance in ME... ugh... that sounds awful Meiron. I need to cleanse the platte with another fan fic up my sleeves I'm starting to work on. White Rose of the Normandy isn't enough. I think I go something like Zakera Noire or something... something Neo-Noir...
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