BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
Off Topic and Technical Support => Off Topic => Topic started by: trboturtle on 19 March 2014, 14:28:12
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Well, here's your chance..... O0
I did this a couple of years back, and got a good response from you guys. So, I'm going to do it again....
I have a blog devoted to Battletech --- The Battletech State (Link in my sig file). I post a little bit of everything relating to Battletech, including 'Mech designs, a few AToW characters, and some of my pre-battlecorps author fanfiction. A couple of years back, I opened up a thread on the forum in which people could ask me questions, and I would take those questions (when I got enough of them) and answered them on my blog. So, I'm opening another thread to anyone who has a question about writing for Battletech or anything else related to the gaming universe with a couple of caveats:
First, I am limited by what I can discuss by my NDA with Catalyst Games Lab. So, I can't say anything about what's coming up, or any private discussions about the universe's future. (not that I know too much of the future plans to begin with....)
Second, it may take me a couple of days to answer some questions. I will answer the questions here and take the thread and transpose it to my blog in a future post.
So, ask away!
Craig
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How about a little something more self-serving...like where the fark I can find a game in Hong Kong?
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How do you store ideas for later? I have been thinking about using Evernote to just jot ideas down and expand on them later.
Edit: I am adding more questions for you.
Do you have a day job? When you write do you listen to anything? Where do you write? Do you have set times to write? Is being a full time writer a goal for you? When you sold your first story to BattleCorps how did you feel?
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Can you tell us why they get new Print BT Novels in Germany, but we can't have them here? I realize it's a "Licensing Thing", but they still have to go through TOPPS, don't they? ??? I've enjoyed the 4 BattleCorps Anthologies (numerous typos aside), but with dialup, I CAN'T Enjoy the stories on BattleCorps. :'(
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Can it be arranged for well written fan fiction/fan background that passes an internal test by the developers to be adopted as canon?
We take it as a given that this would be a privilege not a right, and that disclaimers would have to be signed etc, but it would be nice to have this sort of facility open for exceptional work.
It would be good if there was a possibility to arrange for quality in fan input to be rewarded, it would encourage submissions.
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Have any of your stories made it into the anthologies, yet? If so, how does it feel to actually have one of your stories in print in the real sense?
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Are you considering to make serial Battlecorp series in the not so distant future?
How do you go about designing campaigns and so forth that may be chosen to become canon?
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How about a little something more self-serving...like where the fark I can find a game in Hong Kong?
No idea, as I'm in Florida, but I've passed along the question to someone who knows more than I do..... O0
Craig
(Is BT even legal in China?)
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How do you store ideas for later? I have been thinking about using Evernote to just jot ideas down and expand on them later.
I have a list of ideas, as well as a spreadsheet with notes on different things. my list is 30-40 ideas, and another dozen that have something written --- a paragraph, a page, a section or most of the story. I tend to bounce from one story to another as the muse directs.....
Edit: I am adding more questions for you.
Do you have a day job? When you write do you listen to anything? Where do you write? Do you have set times to write? Is being a full time writer a goal for you? When you sold your first story to BattleCorps how did you feel?
Day Job? No.
Listen to anything? Music, either the 80's or something from my CD collection.
Where? I have a computer in my bedroom, and I write there.
Time to write? Sometimes during the day, but mostly at night, before I go to bed.
Being a full time writer? I would like to be, and I'm working toward that goal.
First Battlecorps sale? It felt great! And every time I make a sale, I get the same feeling. ;)
Craig
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Can you tell us why they get new Print BT Novels in Germany, but we can't have them here? I realize it's a "Licensing Thing", but they still have to go through TOPPS, don't they? ??? I've enjoyed the 4 BattleCorps Anthologies (numerous typos aside), but with dialup, I CAN'T Enjoy the stories on BattleCorps. :'(
I don't know any of the details -- that's several steps above me. That's not me hiding behind an NDA --- only a few of the senior people in CGL know any of the details, and we freelancers are not in the "Need to know" group. We're given just enough detail to complete our assignments. Anything dealing with the business side of things never comes down to our level. We're as much in the dark as you guys are.
I do know Randal and the rest are just as frustrated as the fans are. Battletech is a fiction-driven game, and not having novels to put out is one of the most frustrating things as a writer. As to what's going on, I have no idea. But I do know CGL is trying their damdest to get the lack of novels resolved.
Craig
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My understanding is, the novel situation is all about rights. Ulysses had rights to German publication from FanPro, Roc had English language rights from FASA. These rights - like Microsoft's computer game rights - weren't part of any movement from FASA to FanPro, FanPro to WizKids, WK to Topps.
CGL can only work with the rights Topps has to licence to them. And yes, it's intensly frustrating. DO not mix in the affairs of lawyers, because they are subtle and quick to drain bank accounts ...
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Can it be arranged for well written fan fiction/fan background that passes an internal test by the developers to be adopted as canon?
We take it as a given that this would be a privilege not a right, and that disclaimers would have to be signed etc, but it would be nice to have this sort of facility open for exceptional work.
It would be good if there was a possibility to arrange for quality in fan input to be rewarded, it would encourage submissions.
Fanfiction background? No. :(
Outside input, no matter how well-written, is not even going to be looked at, due to legal liability. It would be the same as if you sent an unsolicited script to a Hollywood Studio.
Everything --- Universe direction, Mech designs and images, main characters, major events is mandated to have to come from inside CGL, from people who have NDAs. The Unseens are a prime example of why this mandate came about.
The only thing I can recommend is to submit stories to Battlecorps. Jason's always looking for good stories, and it's a good place to start earning your Battletech cred with the company. That's how I started, and so far it's worked out
If you can show you have a good grasp of the universe, can write good stories, and act professionally, you will have a greater chance of bringing some influence to the table. That said, a freelance writer's influence with the LD is almost nil.... ;)
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful,
Craig
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Are you considering to make serial Battlecorp series in the not so distant future?
I do have a couple of serial Battlecorps series in mind, but the first thing I need to do is write all the parts of each series before submitting it. Jason's not going to take a partially complete serial -- it's all or nothing.
The challenge is to plot out the entire serial before I start writing. With the single stories, it's easier, because I need a beginning middle and end. Serials, because they're longer, need more plotting, decisions on where to end a part and how to pick it up in the next part, and make sure there's enough plot to carry over all the parts. Then it's writing the story.
But I have several serials ideas I'm considering....
How do you go about designing campaigns and so forth that may be chosen to become canon?
I've done a little bit of writing about campaigns,and created several scenarios. The campaign writing was in Total Choas, where I write the sidebar on the Europe and England campaigns during the invasion that ended the Jihad, in part because I'd written a Battlecorps story that took place in England about that time.
But when it comes to designing campaigns, I haven't taken a lot of time to explore that. I'm loking at writing a Jihad-era TP, but that's something down the road.
Thanks for the questions,
Craig
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My understanding is, the novel situation is all about rights. Ulysses had rights to German publication from FanPro, Roc had English language rights from FASA. These rights - like Microsoft's computer game rights - weren't part of any movement from FASA to FanPro, FanPro to WizKids, WK to Topps.
CGL can only work with the rights Topps has to licence to them. And yes, it's intensly frustrating. DO not mix in the affairs of lawyers, because they are subtle and quick to drain bank accounts ...
I'm Guessing the Problem/Bottleneck is with Roc, because they did the MWDA novels for Wizkids? ??? I just looked at To Ride the Chimera, and it's copyrighted "WizKids, Inc 2008". I remember being teased back in '09 or '10, with 2 new BT Novels that were supposedly almost ready to go to the printers . . . then nothing. :'( I wonder if some sort of "Online Petition" pleading with TOPPS to hammer things out would do any good? :-\
As Daemion asked, did any of your stories make it into any of the 4 Anthologies, and if so, which story(ies) and which Anthology(ies)?
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Actually, I do have a couple others.
How does your foot feel, now that it's in the door?
Now that you're part of the writer's stable, do you feel you have more freedom for creativity, or does it feel even more restricted beyond the requirements listed for new-timer submissions?
How many ideas have you had to abandon, and do you expect to recover any in the future?
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Kind of an insider question here: do things feel/work differently now that Herb isn't in the Big Chair?
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I'm Guessing the Problem/Bottleneck is with Roc, because they did the MWDA novels for Wizkids? ??? I just looked at To Ride the Chimera, and it's copyrighted "WizKids, Inc 2008". I remember being teased back in '09 or '10, with 2 new BT Novels that were supposedly almost ready to go to the printers . . . then nothing. :'( I wonder if some sort of "Online Petition" pleading with TOPPS to hammer things out would do any good? :-\
I will defer to WT's post, as I'm not that high on the pecking order. But if it is legal, then it means lawyers are involved, which means any action on that matter is slow down to a near standstill. I really hope they clear it up soon....
As Daemion asked, did any of your stories make it into any of the 4 Anthologies, and if so, which story(ies) and which Anthology(ies)?
Not yet, and I apologize for missing the original question. The Anthologies are done in chronological order --- The stories in Volume 1 were among the first stories on the Battlecorps websites (The first year or so), Volume 2 has stories from the next year, and so on. I'm hoping that one of my first stories appears in Volume 5 (which should be out this year!)
Craig
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You've said before that BC submissions are around 10,000 words. So, I'm curious what the process would be for a serial. Would you submit it all at once, or just send in "part one" and hope they ask for more?
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When you create charactors whats your process? do you ever create AToW sheets for them? dumb questions but its somthing i was gonna ask in the Ask a writer forum anyway :D
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Sorry I couldn't be more helpful,
Craig
A comprehensive answer that explains the situation is helpful.
I fail to see how a piece of work adopted by CGL by mutual agreement could be problematical, but then it appears to be a case of playing extra safe for piece of mind.
As a creative writer I have often been warned away from fan fiction as you write with no goal, even original work is never truly yours because of IP, and due to problems is seldom adopted. Some companies do adopt input, but then those companies didn't have unseen.
Consequently I keep my own ideas entirely to myself unless very specific to IP , this way something that works in my own fan extension to Battletech it can be ported into something else, once attributed it's attributed.
Some companies got the other way. White Wolf being a case example made formal IP claim to all fan fiction based on its IP, including character names. One of the reasons I no longer play their games because it formally interferes with my own creativity.
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You've said before that BC submissions are around 10,000 words. So, I'm curious what the process would be for a serial. Would you submit it all at once, or just send in "part one" and hope they ask for more?
Actually, most of my stories are around 8,000 words. I've had only one story published that was over 10,000 words, and we had the go-ahead to up to 12,000 words, if I remember right. (Blood of Man, in case anyone wondering).
For beginners, 5-6,000 words would be the absolute max, and even I've had to trim a couple of thosand words out of a story before Jason would accept it. Right now, the sweet spot for me seems to be between 8,000-8,500 words, though I must be aware that any story I submit might need to be trimmed down to make it acceptable.
For a serial, I would submit all at once --- and have it accepted or rejected in one shot. On a serial, it's best to show that you're written it all before submitting it. Jason is not going to accept part one unless you can show that you're writtem the rest of the story.
Hope that helps,
Craig
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Kind of an insider question here: do things feel/work differently now that Herb isn't in the Big Chair?
There's some differences, but make no mistake: while Herb may not be the LD, he is still very active in the BT workgroup, and his words still carry weight. Randall's the LD, but Herb is sill around --- he just don't have the acess codes to the Nukes anymore...... ;)
Craig
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No idea, as I'm in Florida, but I've passed along the question to someone who knows more than I do..... O0
Craig
(Is BT even legal in China?)
Isn't that where they make the new plastic minis? Or is it like Jack Daniels, where you can't buy it in Lynchburg because it's in a dry county?
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When you create charactors whats your process? do you ever create AToW sheets for them? dumb questions but its something i was gonna ask in the Ask a writer forum anyway :D
Character creation starts at the beginning. The POV character is usually the first one, than the antagonist, and the supporting characters. Once the story is underway, details come to the forefront and I work them into the story. Sometimes I take stock characters and give them a twist. Precentor Gazael, for example, is an example of a character who, while still a Manei Domini, is far from being the cold-blooded cybernetic killing machine that's been glimpse in the Jihad books.
Character motives are very important to me, as an author. Without them, the story and the characters are flat. The motives can be simple or complex, or multiple, or even conflicting. The motives must be the central reason why a character does something in the story. The motives can be simple as duty, survival, or revenge. And those motives affect the character's actions, which affect other characters in the story, and maybe their motives.
I hope that makes sense....
As for AToW sheets, I've played around with the idea, but I've never actually gone ahead and done one for a character in a story. I don't want to get down in the weeds and break the character down into a collection of stats. Still haven't ruled it out though.
Keep them coming!
Craig
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A comprehensive answer that explains the situation is helpful.
I fail to see how a piece of work adopted by CGL by mutual agreement could be problematical, but then it appears to be a case of playing extra safe for piece of mind.
There was a court case, one I didn't mention in the previous post (because it's in the past and the PTB want to keep it in the past) that involved a mistake with original work being published by WK as canon. Because of that case, the PTB deemed that EVERYTHING be done in-house, to eliminate any possibility of outside work blowing up in their faces. CGL wants to avoid any chance of another legal case over IP.
As a creative writer I have often been warned away from fan fiction as you write with no goal, even original work is never truly yours because of IP, and due to problems is seldom adopted. Some companies do adopt input, but then those companies didn't have unseen.
Actually, Amazon has agreements with several companies to publish fanfiction of certain IPs. If you just jump through the hoops and follow the guidelines (And write in one of the approved series), then you can sell it on Amazon. Jason Schmitzer wrote a Bloodshot novella (Before the RPG project was send to the CGL writers). So, depending on a few things, you could (possible) publish your fanfiction. (But BT won't go that route)
Again, it's CGL making sure that everything is watertight legally.
Consequently I keep my own ideas entirely to myself unless very specific to IP , this way something that works in my own fan extension to Battletech it can be ported into something else, once attributed it's attributed.
Have you look at ourbattletech.com http://www.ourbattletech.com/ (http://www.ourbattletech.com/)? They have several fan-based alternate universes running over there. Not canon, but he do seem popular.
Some companies got the other way. White Wolf being a case example made formal IP claim to all fan fiction based on its IP, including character names. One of the reasons I no longer play their games because it formally interferes with my own creativity.
Fanfiction has always been a gray area. Speaking as someone who has written anime-based fanfiction, there is always a spector of someone dropping the hammer on any of my fanfiction. But I think fanfiction is a way to start writing and get use to crafting stories before taking the next step and creating an original universe. I've always tried to stay true to the series characters I've used in fanfiction, to make it a story that could fit into the universe.
I doubt CGL would drop the hammer on fanfiction like White Wolf did. Having fun with the game is the number one priority, and if that means using some house rules, using your own designs, or writing stories about your unit that's a good thing for CGL.
Thanks for the discussion,
Craig
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Actually, I do have a couple others.
How does your foot feel, now that it's in the door?
It's a good feeling.
Now that you're part of the writer's stable, do you feel you have more freedom for creativity, or does it feel even more restricted beyond the requirements listed for new-timer submissions?
A bit of both. On the one hand, you have parameters you have to stay within. On the other hand, you have freedom within those parameters.
For example, in Total Chaos, I was given the task of creating the background for the Merc unit, Gannon's Cannons. I had the name of the CO (Gannon Deer), the unit name, the description of the CO and XO (for the artwork), Gannon's BattleMaster and the unit's color scheme. I also had a list of tracks the Cannons were involved in that I had to write the introduction and postscripts for. Otherwise, I had free reign to create the XO's name and background, create Gannon's background, and the style and content for the track introductions and postscripts.
In Interstellar Players 3, we had instructions to create small Perphricy states, but not allow them to be major players, or have technology close to the Inner Sphere's. I created the New Delphi Compact, a mostly agroculture society, techonology five hundrd years behind the Inner Sphere, and a reason to stay isolated:The Delphi Curse.
So, as long as we stay inside the lines, we can color the picture any color we want.
How many ideas have you had to abandon, and do you expect to recover any in the future?
Story ideas? A couple. But sometimes, all the idea needs is more time, or a twist to the original idea. Stories are never abadon, just reworked into something new.
Craig
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Do you ever see some random thing, like an odd phrase or name or funny happenstance, and just think "yeah, I need to write that into a story." ?
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Isn't that where they make the new plastic minis? Or is it like Jack Daniels, where you can't buy it in Lynchburg because it's in a dry county?
I think so, but, that's another couple of things over my level..... ;)
Craig
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Do you ever see some random thing, like an odd phrase or name or funny happenstance, and just think "yeah, I need to write that into a story." ?
Not so much funny happenstance, as full-blown scenes will come to me. No story, just a scene between two or more characters. So I have to write down the bones, enough so I can remember the scene when I need it....
Craig
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Any questions about the stories I've written? O:-)
Craig
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Any questions about the stories I've written? O:-)
Craig
Is it hard taking historical characters that were originally featured in the ye old long lost novels and make them your own?
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Are you allowed to tell us which planet you have in mind for the setting of your theoretical Jihad Turning Point?
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Is it hard taking historical characters that were originally featured in the ye old long lost novels and make them your own?
To be honest -- I've only used two canon character, and they were in minor roles. I used Khan Bjorn Jorgesson in The Clawing and Peter Steiner-Davion in the story Thirteen, because their presence was necessary for the stories.
I haven't consciously shied away from using canon characters, but unless I can find a good reason to include one, for their role to be important, I don't go looking for one. If I come up with a story that can use a canon character, I will, and I do have a few story ideas floating around involving canon characters, but nothing sold as of yet.
Craig
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Are you allowed to tell us which planet you have in mind for the setting of your theoretical Jihad Turning Point?
Still a bit fuzzy right now, as it may be more than one planet involved. I will say it's an area that didn't get a lot of exposure during the Jihad era sourcebooks, but was still a lot of fighting. I have to clear a few things off my writing plate first before I can get back to that.
Craig
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Just bumping this up....I'm still open to any questions (Within reason) ;D
Craig
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Sure. Can you loan me ten bucks? ;)
Just kidding.
More seriously:
How hard has BattleCorps been pushing to have fiction that meshes well with MechWarrior OnLine? It seems a very popular thing. Are they really trying hard to tap that market?
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Just bumping this up....I'm still open to any questions (Within reason) ;D
Craig
Ooh, I've got one that's been bugging me, maybe you can help.
Has anyone ever really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
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Sure. Can you loan me ten bucks? ;)
Just kidding.
I had a choice: I could be a writer or rich.....I didn't chose rich.... [tickedoff]
More seriously:
How hard has BattleCorps been pushing to have fiction that meshes well with MechWarrior OnLine? It seems a very popular thing. Are they really trying hard to tap that market?
It's being discussed....Anything more than that, Jason Schmetzer (BC's editor and ruler of the domain, may his name be blessed) is the man to talk to (though you might have a better chance to get blood out of a stone then to get Jason to say anything....) O:-)
Craig
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Ooh, I've got one that's been bugging me, maybe you can help.
Has anyone ever really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
No. >:/! >:/! [whipit] [whipit]
Craig
(no, I'm not mad at him. If I was, I'd drop the Wombat on his resident and let it rampage through the neighborhood, stealing pants and wallets, then buying every can of Inferno chili using his cards. THEN I would plot my revenge..... [skull])
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Jason Schmitzer (BC's editor and ruler of the domain, may his name be blessed)
Blessings probably more likely if it's spelled correctly. ;)
Schmetzer
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I'm a huge nerd for the Clans. Just wan to toss that out there because it pertains to my question:
When writing, how do you fill in gaps in canon where the info simply does not exist? How do you go about filling in information in a way that makes sense and still easily fits within the boundaries of behavior for a particular faction or group? I have a project idea in my head that involves compiling existing info on the Clan Warrior Caste's social and intimate behaviors for use as a guide for those in my group who like to RP and create deep, interesting characters. But the existing information is limited and very...what's the word...basic? All-encompassing? It doesn't account for differences between Clans...there's a word for it...un-detailed?? Yet I want to fill in information that still jives with the way the Warriors think.
Frigging BlueOrange mentality!
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I'm a huge nerd for the Clans. Just wan to toss that out there because it pertains to my question:
When writing, how do you fill in gaps in canon where the info simply does not exist? How do you go about filling in information in a way that makes sense and still easily fits within the boundaries of behavior for a particular faction or group? I have a project idea in my head that involves compiling existing info on the Clan Warrior Caste's social and intimate behaviors for use as a guide for those in my group who like to RP and create deep, interesting characters. But the existing information is limited and very...what's the word...basic? All-encompassing? It doesn't account for differences between Clans...there's a word for it...un-detailed?? Yet I want to fill in information that still jives with the way the Warriors think.
Damn that BlueOrange mentality!
The first thing I do is find out everything I can about that Clan --- attitudes, beliefs, anything that gives me the mindset that a character from that Clan would have. Once I know that, then I can start filling in the unknown areas.
A prime example of this would be my Battlecorps story, The Clawing. It's about the Ghost Bears' ritual in which the Clan warriors will go on a hunt for the totem animal. But I wanted a new twist on the ritual.
I thought, "Wait a minutes, the Bears are moving to the Inner Sphere, lock, stock and barrel. How can they have the Clawing ritual when the nearest Ghost Bear is a year away, travel-wise? There's one mention in a DA novel that there was Ghost Bears in the Inner Sphere. It was clear to me that the Bears wouldn't give up the Ritual --- they would bring in Ghost Bears, put them in a reserve somewhere on their turf and continue the Ritual.
I also wanted to play up the tensions between the Clanners and the local population. I found a planet where the fighting had been extremely nasty, where the wounds would still be fresh. Then I thought, "What happens if a Ghost Bear got loose on the wrong planet?" From that point on, it all fell into place. I used the Ghost Bears Clan background to create something new, that was both reasonable and made sense. It also allowed me to show the tensions that still existed between conquerors and conquered.
So, take everything you know about the clan, and look for logical extensions that can be made from that canon knowledge. Use that as the frame of your idea and build from there.
The problem is that all that data is scattered across a few sourcebooks. It takes time, or you can ask on the clan sub-forum --- there are experts from all the clans who can answer any queston you may have.
Hope that helps!
Craig
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How much of your published work is stuff you were told to write and how much was something you wrote and submitted and it was accepted? And have you found that the relation between these two have shifted as time went on?
Also glad you still get the same thrill doing this as when you first started. Keep living the dream. O0
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Big help, hanks!
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How much of your published work is stuff you were told to write and how much was something you wrote and submitted and it was accepted? And have you found that the relation between these two have shifted as time went on?
Also glad you still get the same thrill doing this as when you first started. Keep living the dream. O0
We writers don't get too many orders about what to write and what not to write. We can't write beyond the current in-game year, certain subjects are off-limits, no graphic gory or sex scenes, and no super technology, aliens, or anything that doesn't fit into the Battletch universe. Other than that, it's fairly relaxed.
If Jason Schmetzer wants a certain type of story (For an anthology, for example), he'll put an email out that says something like "I need stories set during Operation Rat." We writers then put together pitches and send them to Jason, and he picks out the ones he likes and gives us the go-ahead to write them.
The same thing with sourcebook writing. We pitch for parts of the sourcebook to write, we've given a framework for the part we're working with, and it goes from there. For IP3, there was a requirement for a few small interstellar states beyond the Inner Sphere. Each state had to be small and have a lower technology level than the Inner Sphere. I created the New Delphi Compact, a small, mostly rural state with a reason to stay away from the rest of the universe (the Delphi Curse, a major biohazard)
Looking at my story list, four of them were written as part of a series requested by Jason (Salvage, Family Ties, The Blood of Man, My Father's Sword) a couple of others were written for series that never materilized, while the rest were written with no series in mind.
So, while there is guidence from above, it isn't a heavy hand, and we have freedom to write within the universe for the most part.
Craig
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What do you personally find to be the most challenging part of your writing process?
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I can't count the number of times I've started a story, or had an idea that I wanted to make into a battlecorps submission, but has crashed and burned due to getting hung up on small details. For example, I was once trying to write a story from a Steel Viper point of view during their ejection from the Inner Sphere - but I wound up getting stuck on whether or not they had ATMs available to them during that time. How do you figure out the small details like that?
Also, I know the last time I checked the submission guidelines, it tells new writers to stay on the sidelines of major events - how far off should we stay? And where is the line between a small time story and something that's outright irrelevant?
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Guys, give me another day or two to answer your question. I found out last night that a good friend and fellow Battletech player passed away last week, so I need to get over the shock and most of the grief. I will answer your question, so keep posting them. Just need a day or two to get my act together again.
Craig
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I'm back. Thank you all for your patience....
What do you personally find to be the most challenging part of your writing process?
The details of the plot. I don't outline my short stories for the most part, only the longer ones or stories I'm pitching to Jason. I know where the plot is supposed to go, but sometimes I end up taking a different route then I expected to. Sometimes I have to hammer the plot back into shape because it flows off in another direction or expands beyond what the core plot calls for.
Sometimes the plot comes easy, other times, not so much. The Promise took a long time, because I couldn't get the plot right, but Reap what you Sow prety much came out as I imagined it to be.
Sometimes it's, "I know I'm going north, but oh, here's a path to the east that looks interesting, and....where am I?" I have to retrace my steps and start heading north again. Other times, I head north and have a nice walk through the plot.
Hope that helps....
Craig
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I can't count the number of times I've started a story, or had an idea that I wanted to make into a battlecorps submission, but has crashed and burned due to getting hung up on small details. For example, I was once trying to write a story from a Steel Viper point of view during their ejection from the Inner Sphere - but I wound up getting stuck on whether or not they had ATMs available to them during that time. How do you figure out the small details like that?
First rule of writing: Finish what you start. Get the story down in some physacal or eletronic form that you can see. Once the story is down, then you can worry about details.
As for the details, if they're major details, find out before you start. One of the things I do is start listing the forces I need for any combat in the story. Before I start writing any combat, I know what the forces are and who is piloting what. I try to chose a vehicle that I feel fits the character, so it becomes an extesion of the character. In Thirteen, I chose a Zeus for the main character because the story was set on Tharkad, and the 'Mech is a Commonwealth/Alliance icon design. For The Blood of Man I chose a Highlander because it fit the character. Decide before you do anything what equipment and vehicles your characters will be using.
As for the Vipers having ATMs - unless there is some written somewhere that makes it impossible for the Vipers to have ATMs, you can assume they have ATMs. After all, they did overrun a few Falcon worlds, it would make sense they would have aquired Falcon equipment and supplies.
I just loked up ATMS in Technical Manual. Clan Coyote created them in 3054, which is plenty of time for Steel Vipers to aquire some, either through trial or salvage. When is the story set?
Also, I know the last time I checked the submission guidelines, it tells new writers to stay on the sidelines of major events - how far off should we stay? And where is the line between a small time story and something that's outright irrelevant?
You can run along the sidelines of events, or taking a small sliver of a major event and making your own. Salvage was a coming of age story, with a major event for the main character, but one that doesn't affect the rest of the large narrative. (It also allowed me to recon a mistake the the 4th Sucessor War Atlas, but to do so in character development). the same with Hero's Bridge, using the events of Operation Rat to tell the story.
As I look at my story list I see that Thirteen was in the immediate aftermath of the Word of Blake's attack on Tharkad, Family Ties took place during Operation KLONDIKE, State of Grace took place during the Battles for New Avalon during the Jihad, The Lance Killer during the Fed-Com War, and My Father's Sword took place during the opening of the Clan Invasion. Despite all those stories being a part of those events, the characters have no influence on the great stage.
My suggestion to to use the events as a backdrop to your story. Instead of the Main characters influencing events, have the events influence them. From the stories above, all the main characters have been changed by the events they experienced. From the TerraSec officer fighting a desperate battle against a larger force, to a man who has survived when everyone else around him fell, to the young warrior willing to fight a superior foe to allow his comrades to escape, none of them are the same as they were at the start of the story.
On the other hand, I have a number of stories that aren't set against any documented events, but they don't need them. Yet the characters are still not the same ones as they were when they started.
So, instead of having your characters influence events, have the events influence the characters.
Hope that helps,
Craig
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First rule of writing: Finish what you start. Get the story down in some physacal or eletronic form that you can see. Once the story is down, then you can worry about details.
As for the details, if they're major details, find out before you start. One of the things I do is start listing the forces I need for any combat in the story. Before I start writing any combat, I know what the forces are and who is piloting what. I try to chose a vehicle that I feel fits the character, so it becomes an extesion of the character. In Thirteen, I chose a Zeus for the main character because the story was set on Tharkad, and the 'Mech is a Commonwealth/Alliance icon design. For The Blood of Man I chose a Highlander because it fit the character. Decide before you do anything what equipment and vehicles your characters will be using.
As for the Vipers having ATMs - unless there is some written somewhere that makes it impossible for the Vipers to have ATMs, you can assume they have ATMs. After all, they did overrun a few Falcon worlds, it would make sense they would have aquired Falcon equipment and supplies.
I just loked up ATMS in Technical Manual. Clan Coyote created them in 3054, which is plenty of time for Steel Vipers to aquire some, either through trial or salvage. When is the story set?
Finishing things is definitely something I've just become much worse at since I graduated from college, to the point where I tend to lose interest in story ideas within a week or so. I'll have to try rushing it out next time and treating it like a fan fiction until it's time to edit it, and see if that helps avoiding any roadblocks like that. This particular idea was set in 3060 or 3061, so if the ATMs really were that old then it shouldn't have been a problem - I however don't have access to Tech Manual, so I was just guessing based on FM: Warden Clans, heh.
As for the examples, those actually help quite a bit, thanks!
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In case anyone wants to know what I'm up to, my Battletech blog is here: http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/ (http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/)
Craig
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In case anyone wants to know what I'm up to, my Battletech blog is here: http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/ (http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/)
Craig
That's a wonderful tribute to your friend Rob, by getting his long-lost design canon status with story to boot. Good Show man. Thanks to Mr. Bills for approving it.
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Okay an update and a challenge.... ;)
I have three stories I've started, set in three different eras (Star League, Jihad and post Jihad/Dark Age).Each has a thousand words plus written, and I'm looking at my half-completed stories to see what I can bring forward into the group. (I tend to bounce from story to story, so instead of working just on story A, I have Story A, B, C, D, E, and mybe F that I write in spurts. It keeps me from having writer's block.
So, here's the challenge....
I AM NOT LOOKING FOR PLOTS!!!
What I am looking for is suggestions for eras, events, or characters you want to see more of.
Eras: Do you want to see something set during the Reunifacation War, Amaris Civil War, First and Second Sucessor War, or something set in the Dark Age Era? Let me know.
Are there any characters of mine you want to see more of --- Gazael, Angar, Nigel or any of the others. How about a canon character? No promises here, but I will do the best I can.
Think a faction needs some exposure? There are plenty of them out here, and a lot of places I haven't been to yet.
All I'm looking for is something like, "I want to see a story set during the Dark Age," "I want to see another Gazael story," "How about something from the New Delphi Compact?" or "How about a story with Hansen's Roughriders?"
Keep the requests general, guys, and I'll see what I can do.....
Craig
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I'd like to see a story set in the Dark Age.
I won't hamstring you by dictating characters, factions or whatnot but something DA would be grand! O0
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1) Era: Late Dark Age - Character: Calamity Kell -1) I would like to see Calamity Kell's actions during her reforged Kell Hounds merc unit, while they conducting their revenge raids in the Clan Occupation Zones.
2) Era: Jihad - Unit: reborn Rolling Thunder, Faction: Regulan - I'd like read their campaign of the unit, since they were mentioned to having been reforged during the Jihad and did a end run with unspecify ending. I'd like to see new characters if possible brought to light, perhaps as rough and crazy as those found in the original scenario book.
Thank you sir! Hopefully this meets your challenge's requirements.
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Upfront I'll say I haven't subscribed to battlecorps for new fiction. I keep looking at it and thinking "Maybe..." but I haven't gone and done it yet. Some of this discussion has caused that thought to start rattling around my head again, so "maybe..."
Something I'd like to see would be a story set in the Amaris Civil war era, maybe giving a better idea what Rim Worlders' take on it all was. Of course if this exists already and I can read it from BC let me know and that might just force the "maybe..." over the line into "Done."