Post by Cold Shadow on Nov 11, 2011 20:38:08 GMT -8
This thread will serve as a sort of commentary to the WDoN story, as well as something to pad out the droughts between chapters. I will be adding trivia, commentary, and some back story to my thought processes behind the tale being spun. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading it!
What Inspired the Crossover?
My job is boring. Very boring. I often just drift off and think as I do my daily mundane tasks at work. At the time I began work on Nimus Horizons, a re-launch of Stardust City II (a role-playing forum I made years ago), the Dream League was also fairly new. I began envisioning team-ups of Dream League characters and Nimus denizens. For a long time these didn't amount to much, though it did at least lead to me terrorizing Joe and Heffy with gruesome Professor Ein visuals over Messenger (you're both welcome!), but that's an inside joke no one here wants to know about. Trust me.
I concluded that a role-playing crossover would not be feasible, as for the plot I had in mind the thread would take years to conclude, or wouldn't conclude at all. Being set on Nimus, my own world, I would also have to have had heavy direction in leading the plot, which could have been uncomfortable for non-Collin participants. So, in the end, I decided it would best come to life as a story.
I first began writing up the prologue, and no one knew I was working on it - not even Joe. Only once it was posted to the site were my intentions revealed to the community here. The prologue was specifically designed to intrigue, as it takes place in an unknown place, with unknown characters, with absolutely no Dream League elements present for that initial chapter. I'd like to think it succeeded, because Nicole, Joe, and Naomi gave positive feedback stating that it grabbed their attention, which was the point: a lead-in hook.
Passing Grade
The characters who have, and will, appear in WDoN were actually thought out to a large degree. The main characters, antagonists, and many of the cameos were considered for various purposes and how well they would fit in with the story as a whole. For example, the splitting of the group into three teams. Did you notice that each team has a character capable of flight? That is but one example. There was actually deliberate thought into which heroes would be involved, and which characters would be assigned to each team. The Dream League side of it was the most-thought out, with the Nimus heroes coming in as secondary. That's not to say that the Nimus characters were thrown-in willy-nilly, just that the Dream League side was the foundation.
Duck Avenger
Player: Joe
Duck Avenger was a must. In my opinion, Duck Avenger and Masked Mallard are to the Dream League as Wolverine and Cyclops are to the X-Men: staples. Considering Donald Duck is one of my favorite Disney characters, I felt confident that I could capture his personality. His antics and personality also lend a lot to the progression of the plot.
Masked Mallard
Player: Nicole
As previously mentioned, in my mind Masked Mallard is a staple of the Dream League. Omitting his involvement as a main hero was out of the question. He owns a special position in the roster, as his powers are fairly unique amongst his peers. Scrooge has also seen and done a lot of things in his time, and traversed the world from end to end. Having an otherworldly adventure puts even the veteran adventurer into unfamiliar territory.
Sunshine
Player: Joe
The blond beauty was another character I simply had to include. The exchange between her and Sigma was mapped out in my noodle before the prologue was even established, and I have some other plans for her that should interest any Aurora fans out there.
She-Wolf
Player: Heffy
Cold, grumpy, and full of delicious teenage angst. She's quick and excels in close-combat fighting, and is familiar with survival tactics in areas which are far from civilization. This made her a prime fit for a character out in the untamed wilds of Nimus. Chemistry between her and other characters, particularly Nimus characters she encounters, was another draw for including her. I also have other plans for her which have yet to unfold. Plus, Sunshine couldn't very well go somewhere and not have She-Wolf tag along. *Cough*
Dreamchild
Player: Joe
I definitely knew that I wanted Dreamchild and Korbin to meet, and Dreamchild was specifically selected to be on the team that would encounter the Bradshaw family. Powerful psychic from Earth, meet the powerful psychic from Nimus. Dreamchild is also a very prominent member of the team, which helped push her inclusion status further. Being a very curious girl, I liked the prospect (and challenge) of trying to think up how she would react to various Nimusisms.
El Tirador
Player: L
El Tirador was not one of the initial choices. His inclusion came later, once things started becoming finalized. I just love Panchito in general, and he seemed like he would be a lot of fun to write (which he has been!). His relationship with Duck Avenger and his womanizing antics opened potential for some gags and scenarios, and having a lighthearted character who can also hold their own in combat was alluring. El Tirador is not simply comic-relief, or merely present to augment other characters; he's a competent member of the team who can hold his own. You can expect him to shine in upcoming chapters.
Green Bone
Player: Naomi
Like El Tirador, Green Bone was selected during the final stages. One of only two diminutive-sized character included, his powers make up for his lack of physical size. There are specific situations where I felt the character would work well, so he got the green light (heh) into the final cast. I also knew I wanted him to enter the Bradshaw farm.
Bongo
Player: Heffy
Bongo was initially considered, and then dropped (not because I dislike him, but because I initially couldn't foresee him meshing well with what I had in mind). In fact, Bongo was the last character to be finalized, and the decision wasn't even made until just before work on chapter 1 began. I even informed Heffy over Messenger that Bongo would not be included. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that, though I initially discarded him from the DL side of heroes, there was a lot he had going for him in the way of character interaction. I visualized Bongo interacting with Lily while the others talked around a table, and that was when I ultimately decided 'Yes, I want him in.' I understand that part was pretty well received, too. So let's give a round of applause to the bear who almost didn't make it in.
Paradox
Player: Joe
Merlin, the famous wizard from Arthurian lore, in a fantasy world of swords and magic. Need I say more?
Sir Pendragon
Player: Amanda
Sir Arthur Pendragon, the famous knight/king from Arthurian lore, in a fantasy world of swords and magic. Need I say more, x2? What I find humorous is that, with all of the weird costumes the Dream League tend to wear, on Nimus Sir Pendragon's armor is entirely natural, and doesn't even warrant a second glance.
Archimedes
Player: Heffy
Where Merlin goes, Archimedes goes. But no; it goes beyond just that. I love this character, and The Sword in the Stone is one of my favorite Disney films of all time. Personality-wise, Archimedes is proving to be a lot of fun writing for. He's cranky and pessimistic, but also often right in his ranting, pointing things out which are laughably true. As a bit of trivia, I threw around the idea of him winding up on a team other than the one with Paradox. However, Sunshine and Green Bone were cemented into their teams, and thus Archimedes remained with Paradox's team as the flying member of that group. See what I mean? No matter what happens you can be sure that Archimedes can be found alongside Merlin.
Well, that's-that for this post. For the next entry I will discuss how each hero was selected from the Nimus side (those revealed thus far, that is). I will also reveal some character ideas which were ultimately scrapped, as well as go over a deleted portion from chapter 5.
What Inspired the Crossover?
My job is boring. Very boring. I often just drift off and think as I do my daily mundane tasks at work. At the time I began work on Nimus Horizons, a re-launch of Stardust City II (a role-playing forum I made years ago), the Dream League was also fairly new. I began envisioning team-ups of Dream League characters and Nimus denizens. For a long time these didn't amount to much, though it did at least lead to me terrorizing Joe and Heffy with gruesome Professor Ein visuals over Messenger (you're both welcome!), but that's an inside joke no one here wants to know about. Trust me.
I concluded that a role-playing crossover would not be feasible, as for the plot I had in mind the thread would take years to conclude, or wouldn't conclude at all. Being set on Nimus, my own world, I would also have to have had heavy direction in leading the plot, which could have been uncomfortable for non-Collin participants. So, in the end, I decided it would best come to life as a story.
I first began writing up the prologue, and no one knew I was working on it - not even Joe. Only once it was posted to the site were my intentions revealed to the community here. The prologue was specifically designed to intrigue, as it takes place in an unknown place, with unknown characters, with absolutely no Dream League elements present for that initial chapter. I'd like to think it succeeded, because Nicole, Joe, and Naomi gave positive feedback stating that it grabbed their attention, which was the point: a lead-in hook.
Passing Grade
The characters who have, and will, appear in WDoN were actually thought out to a large degree. The main characters, antagonists, and many of the cameos were considered for various purposes and how well they would fit in with the story as a whole. For example, the splitting of the group into three teams. Did you notice that each team has a character capable of flight? That is but one example. There was actually deliberate thought into which heroes would be involved, and which characters would be assigned to each team. The Dream League side of it was the most-thought out, with the Nimus heroes coming in as secondary. That's not to say that the Nimus characters were thrown-in willy-nilly, just that the Dream League side was the foundation.
Duck Avenger
Player: Joe
Duck Avenger was a must. In my opinion, Duck Avenger and Masked Mallard are to the Dream League as Wolverine and Cyclops are to the X-Men: staples. Considering Donald Duck is one of my favorite Disney characters, I felt confident that I could capture his personality. His antics and personality also lend a lot to the progression of the plot.
Masked Mallard
Player: Nicole
As previously mentioned, in my mind Masked Mallard is a staple of the Dream League. Omitting his involvement as a main hero was out of the question. He owns a special position in the roster, as his powers are fairly unique amongst his peers. Scrooge has also seen and done a lot of things in his time, and traversed the world from end to end. Having an otherworldly adventure puts even the veteran adventurer into unfamiliar territory.
Sunshine
Player: Joe
The blond beauty was another character I simply had to include. The exchange between her and Sigma was mapped out in my noodle before the prologue was even established, and I have some other plans for her that should interest any Aurora fans out there.
She-Wolf
Player: Heffy
Cold, grumpy, and full of delicious teenage angst. She's quick and excels in close-combat fighting, and is familiar with survival tactics in areas which are far from civilization. This made her a prime fit for a character out in the untamed wilds of Nimus. Chemistry between her and other characters, particularly Nimus characters she encounters, was another draw for including her. I also have other plans for her which have yet to unfold. Plus, Sunshine couldn't very well go somewhere and not have She-Wolf tag along. *Cough*
Dreamchild
Player: Joe
I definitely knew that I wanted Dreamchild and Korbin to meet, and Dreamchild was specifically selected to be on the team that would encounter the Bradshaw family. Powerful psychic from Earth, meet the powerful psychic from Nimus. Dreamchild is also a very prominent member of the team, which helped push her inclusion status further. Being a very curious girl, I liked the prospect (and challenge) of trying to think up how she would react to various Nimusisms.
El Tirador
Player: L
El Tirador was not one of the initial choices. His inclusion came later, once things started becoming finalized. I just love Panchito in general, and he seemed like he would be a lot of fun to write (which he has been!). His relationship with Duck Avenger and his womanizing antics opened potential for some gags and scenarios, and having a lighthearted character who can also hold their own in combat was alluring. El Tirador is not simply comic-relief, or merely present to augment other characters; he's a competent member of the team who can hold his own. You can expect him to shine in upcoming chapters.
Green Bone
Player: Naomi
Like El Tirador, Green Bone was selected during the final stages. One of only two diminutive-sized character included, his powers make up for his lack of physical size. There are specific situations where I felt the character would work well, so he got the green light (heh) into the final cast. I also knew I wanted him to enter the Bradshaw farm.
Bongo
Player: Heffy
Bongo was initially considered, and then dropped (not because I dislike him, but because I initially couldn't foresee him meshing well with what I had in mind). In fact, Bongo was the last character to be finalized, and the decision wasn't even made until just before work on chapter 1 began. I even informed Heffy over Messenger that Bongo would not be included. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that, though I initially discarded him from the DL side of heroes, there was a lot he had going for him in the way of character interaction. I visualized Bongo interacting with Lily while the others talked around a table, and that was when I ultimately decided 'Yes, I want him in.' I understand that part was pretty well received, too. So let's give a round of applause to the bear who almost didn't make it in.
Paradox
Player: Joe
Merlin, the famous wizard from Arthurian lore, in a fantasy world of swords and magic. Need I say more?
Sir Pendragon
Player: Amanda
Sir Arthur Pendragon, the famous knight/king from Arthurian lore, in a fantasy world of swords and magic. Need I say more, x2? What I find humorous is that, with all of the weird costumes the Dream League tend to wear, on Nimus Sir Pendragon's armor is entirely natural, and doesn't even warrant a second glance.
Archimedes
Player: Heffy
Where Merlin goes, Archimedes goes. But no; it goes beyond just that. I love this character, and The Sword in the Stone is one of my favorite Disney films of all time. Personality-wise, Archimedes is proving to be a lot of fun writing for. He's cranky and pessimistic, but also often right in his ranting, pointing things out which are laughably true. As a bit of trivia, I threw around the idea of him winding up on a team other than the one with Paradox. However, Sunshine and Green Bone were cemented into their teams, and thus Archimedes remained with Paradox's team as the flying member of that group. See what I mean? No matter what happens you can be sure that Archimedes can be found alongside Merlin.
Well, that's-that for this post. For the next entry I will discuss how each hero was selected from the Nimus side (those revealed thus far, that is). I will also reveal some character ideas which were ultimately scrapped, as well as go over a deleted portion from chapter 5.
