Elder Scrolls Community competition Options

[Geraldduval]

so, I had just a quick question. I wrote a story for another bord that was set in the 5th era. obviously some things were a little different as it was set a couple hundred years after oblivion, but it was still within what i thought as the bounds of the TES word. is this ok to submit or should I stick with the times portrayed in the current games?

[Burnt Sierra]

so, I had just a quick question. I wrote a story for another bord that was set in the 5th era. obviously some things were a little different as it was set a couple hundred years after oblivion, but it was still within what i thought as the bounds of the TES word. is this ok to submit or should I stick with the times portrayed in the current games?

Could you possibly send me a link via pm to where you've posted it before, so I can have a look? If it fits within the lore and feel of TES then it should be fine, but I think we're a little nervous about spaceships, plasma guns and BFG's suddenly appearing in Balmora

[Geraldduval]

haha, certainly. If one were to pretend that the 3rd era is he middle ages, the 5th would be the renaissance...


This post has been edited by Geraldduval: Apr 8 2008, 06:22 PM

[minque]

I think we're a little nervous about spaceships, plasma guns and BFG's suddenly appearing in Balmora

Muhahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa great sweet BSD....you absolutely made my day! That comment was priceless.

Anyway, I'm seriously thinking of coming up with something, although it might be a dark, sad story, because my thoughts are a bit that way at the moment...


Let's just hope I'll manage to go through with it....

[0rimus]

I just jumped in on this one earlier today with no idea what version (short, medium, long) I was going to go with. I was aiming for short or medium, but I checked my word count and I was already up to 5600+ words. And my story has barely kicked off. So I think I'll be aiming for the big one now, my only fear is that I won't finish it by the deadline, even working a couple hours every day (unlikely) I won't be able to finish it. I must decide upon telling the story unaltered, or cut it off (which will probably ruin it). Can the end date be extended? Lol, i wish. Anyway, I was wondering about speech. Obviously people in ES don't say dude or things of that nature, and was wondering how much this would affect our score. And names. There are obvious traits of names for a given race, and would straying from these unspoken guidelines affect the score? And what about violence? I'd assume it'd be pretty liberal given that Oblivion is a mature rated game, but are you laying down rules for going too far?

[Burnt Sierra]

Can the end date be extended?

No, I'm afraid not.

Anyway, I was wondering about speech. Obviously people in ES don't say dude or things of that nature, and was wondering how much this would affect our score.

"Yo, my main man Helseth, what's happening dude?" It doesn't quite fit does it? How would that affect your score? Lets just say I wouldn't recommend it...

And names. There are obvious traits of names for a given race, and would straying from these unspoken guidelines affect the score?

The simple answer to both of those is stick to the lore as much as possible. For example, if you really want your lead character to be called Bob and your villain Bill then it's up to you....but it doesn't really seem to fit. I would stick to TES type names if it were me. There are plenty of name generators around if you're stuck. This is the one I tend to use the most:

http://www.tamriel-rebuilt.org/?p=modding_data/ngen

And what about violence? I'd assume it'd be pretty liberal given that Oblivion is a mature rated game, but are you laying down rules for going too far?

Good question, and one we haven't discussed. Truthful answer is it depends. Violence is an accepted part of Tamrielic culture but I'd tend to avoid excessively gratuitous - for the simple fact that it's held on a site which younger viewers can read.

[Alexander]

And names. There are obvious traits of names for a given race, and would straying from these unspoken guidelines affect the score? And what about violence? I'd assume it'd be pretty liberal given that Oblivion is a mature rated game, but are you laying down rules for going too far?

I agree completely with BSD-IES there. Though would like to mention two small things.

I'm not sure if it's in any of the games, but I can imagine a character with a name very unnatural for the race he/she belongs to. In such a case, a good background explaining it could do wonders. However like BSD-IES said, probably best to keep it genuine and at least somewhat lore friendly, though that doesn't have to be the ultimate guiding lines.

Violence, no rules against it, not even a rule against the most gruesome violence, however again you could ask yourself if it serves your story, that is if it adds something to the story, or if it's just violence for the sake of violence, In which case, it might be better left out.

[LeTren Thundakk]

Can I submit a story that is stand alone, yet other stories I've written involve the main character?

As in, multiple stories telling different times in the character's life, but I just submit one of them. Or is that bad?

This post has been edited by LeTren Thundakk: Apr 14 2008, 04:45 AM

[0rimus]

I was also wondering about what Thundakk brought up. And if not, what about other sub-characters? Can they break off, and I make another story about that character? (Sorry, horrible grammar, I just couldn't think of a better way to word that, tch, and I'm supposed to be a writer.) Also, how do specify the catagory we're trying for; put long/med./short in the subject part of the e-mail? P.S., Now I'm on 12,000 words! And that was what, 2-3 days? Impressive snake. Found a way to shorten the story within reasonable limits without sacraficing too much. And thanks for the name generator BSD-IES.

[Sephary]

ooooh. interesting. I shall have to see what I come up with...

[Alexander]

Can I submit a story that is stand alone, yet other stories I've written involve the main character?

As in, multiple stories telling different times in the character's life, but I just submit one of them. Or is that bad?

I was also wondering about what Thundakk brought up. And if not, what about other sub-characters? Can they break off, and I make another story about that character? (Sorry, horrible grammar, I just couldn't think of a better way to word that, tch, and I'm supposed to be a writer.) Also, how do specify the catagory we're trying for; put long/med./short in the subject part of the e-mail? P.S., Now I'm on 12,000 words! And that was what, 2-3 days? Impressive snake. Found a way to shorten the story within reasonable limits without sacraficing too much. And thanks for the name generator BSD-IES.

A stand alone story about an existing character, or sub character from one of your on going stories would be just fine to enter. Just so long as it isn't simply an extract from a longer story.

[LeTren Thundakk]

That's good to hear, as I sent it in before I even thought of that question.

[0rimus]

A stand alone story about an existing character, or sub character from one of your on going stories would be just fine to enter. Just so long as it isn't simply an extract from a longer story.

Cool. I started this story for the sole purpose of this contest, but now I've found myself attached to some of my characters.

[0rimus]

Okay. It's been awhile and things are for the most part running smoothly. But I ran into another problem with names. I was using my spellcheck and it didn't like the name of my orc character. Not being too computer saavy (AKA retarded) instead of adding it to the dictionary I used a place holder with the intent of coming back to change it. Now I've got over 20,000 words and the spell check isn't picking it up because I altered it. Now I'll probably have enough time to go back and change it, but if I don't am I stuck with the place holder? The gist of my question is this: Will someone edit our stories before they are entered for people to read on a large scale? Knowing myself I'll have a few typos not picked up by spellcheck. Also even if and when I do go back to change things there'll be a few Fred Groh' Cash's mixed in with the proper Fred gro-Malag's. I don't want to confuse people (at least not in this context), but like I said, I'll get around to it.

[Burnt Sierra]

Okay. It's been awhile and things are for the most part running smoothly. But I ran into another problem with names. I was using my spellcheck and it didn't like the name of my orc character. Not being too computer saavy (AKA retarded) instead of adding it to the dictionary I used a place holder with the intent of coming back to change it. Now I've got over 20,000 words and the spell check isn't picking it up because I altered it. Now I'll probably have enough time to go back and change it, but if I don't am I stuck with the place holder? The gist of my question is this: Will someone edit our stories before they are entered for people to read on a large scale? Knowing myself I'll have a few typos not picked up by spellcheck. Also even if and when I do go back to change things there'll be a few Fred Groh' Cash's mixed in with the proper Fred gro-Malag's. I don't want to confuse people (at least not in this context), but like I said, I'll get around to it.

Sorry, but no - nobody will be editing it for you. Whatever you send in as your submission will be what's shown. Warts and all

Can you not do find and replace?

[0rimus]

Finished and sent in. Whoooo. Long catagory with 3 days to burn. Went back and fixed what I could. I left the ending open for a contuinuation (maybe). Anyone aiming for the longest catagory, 20000 words +, good luck. You and I will be fighting for the top spot. I put alot of work into this one, and I think it turned out fairly well, guess we'll find out in a couple days. May the best Argonian win!

[The Metal Mallet]

I sent in "Bloodlust" today after fixing the tense issues I had with the beginning of the story. There's bound to be typos here and there, but the story was just too damn huge for me to catch em all.

Hopefully the judges will enjoy it. It's gotten a good reception here from what I've seen.

[0rimus]

I sent in "Bloodlust" today after fixing the tense issues I had with the beginning of the story. There's bound to be typos here and there, but the story was just too damn huge for me to catch em all.

Hopefully the judges will enjoy it. It's gotten a good reception here from what I've seen.

So I'm assuming it's in the long catagory right?

[jack cloudy]

Sent it in yesterday evening. (Well, it was like half an hour past midnight, so I should say this morning.)

Medium length and for as far as I can see, most typos are out. Except there is a small continuity flaw at the end, which I noticed five minutes after sending. Oops.

[The Metal Mallet]

Yes, Orimus it is. It was a story that I had worked on for a year and a half before finishing. I did have a few lengthy breaks getting close to the end though. According to the Word document, it is around 270 pages though I have a feeling the borders of my pages might be the cause of that. I was pretty sure that when I finished it, it was only around 200.