Haven't we had the '...in the available light' debate going ourselves? I seem to recall at least one Trademasters post about it. In the end, I am unsure how much this will ultimately affect designs, after the initial time investment to clear old designs using contractions. I tend to maintain a distinction between Luce's cadence and vocabulary and the one I use for designs, because I think designs straddle IC/OOC lines. You aren't just describing an item your character is producing and consuming/using, you're also describing to the player what it's like to experience that item.
EDIT: Actually, this point reminds me of a tangential idea I had for a thread or something (probably just a GooDoc) to record random imagery or impressions I want to evoke in designs, spawned from a non-Lusternia related project I had where I wanted a way to describe dragon wings using words and concepts the character in question was familiar with. He'd never seen open sky, so he couldn't well know the word 'aurora', and I'd already used 'nacreous'. Regardless, it might be an interesting project. /hijack
As for me, I'm respectfully of the opinion that one shouldn't make rules simply because you can. If this was a pervasive problem in designs, I could see how this is a good idea. Otherwise, I don't see how it matters either way.
If something failed inspection because it has contractions and the reviewers are uncertain as to how to proceed, that's not the designers' fault. If this was a rule that has always been in effect and simply not documented, that isn't the designers' fault either. A lack of documentation by the people who write the files is at fault. I realise @Charites come and go, and I especially realise that "this is how we've always done it" is never a good excuse, but there's simply no way this will make designs or designing better IMO.
Everiine said: The reason population is low isn't because there are too many orgs. It's because so many facets of the game are outright broken and protected by those who benefit from it being that way. An overabundance of gimmicks (including game-breaking ones), artifacts that destroy any concept of balance, blatant pay-to-win features, and an obsession with convenience that makes few things actually worthwhile all contribute to the game's sad decline.
I don't design much here, and I never used to design too much in my other IREs as well, but personally, I get irritated when I see things like a mix of british and american spelling in different designs, or even within the same design.
Now, that's a personal pet peeve that has to do with the education system I was brought up in, but the underlying concept is that of standardization: it's the same thing as when I get irritated by things like 759 as maximum tattoo weight. Creativity can be expressed regardless of consistency, however, there is a point when the inconsistency shadows creative work and just makes everything look sloppy. Regulation can stifle creativity, but it can also add value to the quality and reputation of a group of work as a whole.
Not everything needs to be standardized, but there is no harm in some kind of standard aimed at neatness and quality control, and a healthy dose of it can certainly help improve both credibility as well as aesthetics.
Honestly, I'd just love if all the little rules that the design reviewers follow/look at were publicly available. HELP 21.5 is obviously outdated, as it doesn't hold this latest decision in it. For anyone who doesn't own a cartel, as unlikely as them using a contraction would be, they have no clue if they don't frequent the forums.
My biggest gripe with the current files is lacking a reference on what comm can be used in place of what else. A definitive list would be a nice thing to have. Along with all the other things that have accumulated as best practices over the years. Perhaps a style guide wouldn't be a bad idea.
The fact that it wasn't in the HELP file is my fault, as I had gone to bed when the Charites announced the change. Sorry about that! It has now been rectified.
This is a funny joke, right? You all didn't just spend over an entire page in quotes complaining and railing against something which affects virtually nothing and changes the style of virtually no one did you?
6
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Maybe a helpful mod (@Oneiroi?) can move this conversation into its own thread? I forgot for five seconds that this was Quotes!
To stay on topic:
(Clan): Tekora says, "A'wE neeexerm be *hic* en WhIsh drunnt bvqfore,,, eerer."
(Clan): Shedrin says, "I can't make that out at all."
(Clan): Tekora says, "I shoouhld proobablo hh *hic* eaaXtstop."
(Clan): Tekora says, "Sredrrrin, meeT mp at AgengeR areda."
(Clan): Shedrin says, "Wut."
(Clan): Tekora (from the Prime Material Plane) says, "SnzDdliZ *hic* zzz AR *hic* ena."
(Clan): Tekora (from the Prime Material Plane) says, "ARENnA."
(Clan): Shedrin says, "I'm roleplaying, you'll have to continue suffering."
"Oh yeah, you're a naughty mayor, aren't you? Misfile that Form MA631-D. Comptroller Shevat's got a nice gemstone disc for you, but yer gonna have to beg for it."
This is a funny joke, right? You all didn't just spend over an entire page in quotes complaining and railing against something which affects virtually nothing and changes the style of virtually no one did you?
Yes, we did. You must be new here.
Everiine said: The reason population is low isn't because there are too many orgs. It's because so many facets of the game are outright broken and protected by those who benefit from it being that way. An overabundance of gimmicks (including game-breaking ones), artifacts that destroy any concept of balance, blatant pay-to-win features, and an obsession with convenience that makes few things actually worthwhile all contribute to the game's sad decline.
1
Cyndarinused Flamethrower! It was super effective.
edited July 2015
Who knew the peaceful designers were as sassy and gruff about grammar as the PKers are about envoy reports. Is this how I get the Glom non coms to help in raids? Seren is taking away your personal pronouns! TO ARMS! Use your quill and aim for the eyes!
Edit: "AAAGGGH they are coming!" "THEY'RE! He didn't use a contraction! Get him!"
Who knew the peaceful designers were as sassy and gruff about grammar as the PKers are about envoy reports. Is this how I get the Glom non coms to help in raids? Seren is taking away your personal pronouns! TO ARMS! Use your quill and aim for the eyes!
Edit: "AAAGGGH they are coming!" "THEY'RE! He didn't use a contraction! Get him!"
They may take our lives, but they can never take apostrophes from our Crow tongue!
*Glomzerg in kilts*
Okay, so the only thing I will say about the removal of contractions (or the confirmed rule that we cannot have them, whatever you'd like to say) - is that while I rarely used them, from what I can remember (gawd, has it been that long since I made a design?) is that I think I would occasionally use it to fix a strange flow in how something was read, or if I felt like it was overly long, or if I was feeling repetitive in my description. I try to avoid repeating words wherever possible, not only because synonyms, when used correctly, are great, but because I'm just weird like that. But then again, it was very rarely. I just liked that I had the unofficial option of using it. But if so few people were using it, then essentially, yes, it should be a non-issue?
Now, to return to the relevant topic at hand, @Celina I'm really tempted to put this in my signature, as hands-down that's one of the best things I've seen in a long time.
Who knew the peaceful designers were as sassy and gruff about grammar as the PKers are about envoy reports. Is this how I get the Glom non coms to help in raids? Seren is taking away your personal pronouns! TO ARMS! Use your quill and aim for the eyes!
Edit: "AAAGGGH they are coming!" "THEY'RE! He didn't use a contraction! Get him!"
"You are so much bigger than you think you are," She says, fervently. "You are a beacon of hope that shines through the world with every step you take. You are My beacon, Gabriella, and you shine even into the darkest of nightmares."
--------
The air sparkles with silver motes of light as a silken voice says, "You will see growth and strength where others will see weakness. You will walk with Us as a paragon of Serenwilde's power, for you have already walked this path before."
"You are so much bigger than you think you are," She says, fervently. "You are a beacon of hope that shines through the world with every step you take. You are My beacon, Gabriella, and you shine even into the darkest of nightmares."
--------
The air sparkles with silver motes of light as a silken voice says, "You will see growth and strength where others will see weakness. You will walk with Us as a paragon of Serenwilde's power, for you have already walked this path before."
"You are so much bigger than you think you are," She says, fervently. "You are a beacon of hope that shines through the world with every step you take. You are My beacon, Gabriella, and you shine even into the darkest of nightmares."
--------
The air sparkles with silver motes of light as a silken voice says, "You will see growth and strength where others will see weakness. You will walk with Us as a paragon of Serenwilde's power, for you have already walked this path before."
You feel suddenly as if your throat is thickly blocked, and attempt to
clear it with a cough, only to discover you can barely rasp and have
lost the power of speech altogether. An abrupt insight tells you that
this must be a punishment from Manteekan, the Nightmare.
You have
emoted: Lavinya scribbles frantically on a piece of parchment then
holds it up for all to see, "Perhaps He silenced me because my words
were too close to the truth."
You have emoted: Lavinya writes hastily again, "I hate being unable to speak."
Leolamins mimes for no real reason to Lavinya, "I prefer you this way".
You thump Leolamins on the forehead.
Silvanus nods his head sagely at Leolamins.
Silvanus quickly ducks down, looking at you in alarm.
You peer at Silvanus unscrupulously.
With righteous fury, you place a sharp kick upon the shin of Silvanus.
"Ooowwwww!", Silvanus whines.
You glare about you, upset with the world.
You
have emoted: Lavinya scribbles frantically on a piece of parchment as
her eyes flicker to a pale white then holds it up for all to see, "Or
perhaps He just tired of my endless chatter."
You shift your eyes suspiciously from side to side.
Delphas smirks.
Sahmiam chuckles long and heartily.
A wry smile spreads across Leolamins's face.
You have emoted: Lavinya scribbles again quickly, "everyone loves my prattling. Right? RIGHT???"
Red
Penitent Delphas n'Kylbar, Of the Red Masque whispers to you, "Dear
sister, I am certain none could tire of your scintillating conversation.
Perhaps it was merely a mis-aimed curse?"
You beam broadly at Delphas.
Silvanus gives you a peck on the cheek.
Leolamins d'Murani, the Undead Axe says to you, "We have all had that feeling at some point."
You beam broadly at Silvanus.
With righteous fury, you place a sharp kick upon the shin of Leolamins.
Deadly Vixen Dahlla, Harvester of the Flesh says, "Well her aim is still good."
Delphas slaps his thighs and guffaws like an old man.
You nod solemnly.
Warlord
Silvanus d'Murani, Voice of Doom says, "Do you see hwo fat Leolamin's
shins are? They are probably wider than Sombre Lane at this point."
Deadly Vixen Dahlla, Harvester of the Flesh says to you, "Although a little higher will drive the point home."
Warlord Silvanus d'Murani, Voice of Doom says to Dahlla, "He needs more children before we can begin that."
Ur'Marshal
Marcella n'Lochli, The Queen's Own Torturer says, "I had to engage in
an entire game of charades with Maligorn when my voice was taken."
You have emoted: Lavinya scrawls in a manner
that is barely legible so fast does she write, "I will maintain my
first assumption was correct, else why deprive anyone of my delightful
voice?"
Dahlla chuckles long and heartily at Silvanus.
Silvanus gives Leolamins the once-over, eyeing him suspiciously.
You have emoted: Lavinya writes in capitals, "GOOD LUCK."
You peer at Leolamins unscrupulously.
Manteekan's curse upon you has been lifted, you have the use of your voice once again. Manteekan, the Nightmare lifts His novoice from you.
You
feel a wrenching in your gut as the world around you spins, yet it
quickly subsides and you find yourself filled with an unyielding
adoration for the benevolent, wonderful and truly awe-inspiring
Manteekan, the Nightmare.
Your burning adoration for Manteekan, the Nightmare swells up inside you, and you can contain it no longer. You say, "I am not worthy of my great God, Manteekan, the Nightmare!"
"Ugh!", you say in disgust.
Leolamins utters a deep, rumbling laugh.
You say, "Oh, the cruel irony."
Manteekan's curse of unyielding adoration for the Gods leaves you. Manteekan, the Nightmare lifts His adoration from you.
Leolamins
d'Murani, the Undead Axe says, "Yeah that does not sound like Lavinya.
It appears Manteekan needs to take control of mortals to get
compliments."
You say, "Lord Manteekan, I will say I appreciate Your sense of humour, even if it is at my expense."
Maniacal
whispers come in bursts as a hazy mist chills the air with its cool
embrace. Amidst the frigid fog, two pale eyes glow as the incorporeal
form of Manteekan, the Nightmare slowly coalesces within.
Manteekan leans close to you and gently lays a kiss upon your forehead.
The
incorporeal form of Manteekan, the Nightmare, dissolves into a cool
mist which creeps hauntingly away into the distance, leaving behind
naught but an eerie silence and an unsettling chill.
Comments
EDIT: Actually, this point reminds me of a tangential idea I had for a thread or something (probably just a GooDoc) to record random imagery or impressions I want to evoke in designs, spawned from a non-Lusternia related project I had where I wanted a way to describe dragon wings using words and concepts the character in question was familiar with. He'd never seen open sky, so he couldn't well know the word 'aurora', and I'd already used 'nacreous'. Regardless, it might be an interesting project. /hijack
Estarra the Eternal says, "Give Shevat the floor please."
As for me, I'm respectfully of the opinion that one shouldn't make rules simply because you can. If this was a pervasive problem in designs, I could see how this is a good idea. Otherwise, I don't see how it matters either way.
If something failed inspection because it has contractions and the reviewers are uncertain as to how to proceed, that's not the designers' fault. If this was a rule that has always been in effect and simply not documented, that isn't the designers' fault either. A lack of documentation by the people who write the files is at fault. I realise @Charites come and go, and I especially realise that "this is how we've always done it" is never a good excuse, but there's simply no way this will make designs or designing better IMO.
Estarra the Eternal says, "Give Shevat the floor please."
They may take our lives, but they can never take apostrophes from our Crow tongue! *Glomzerg in kilts*
Estarra the Eternal says, "Give Shevat the floor please."
Mukyu Tohma says, "I will just proceed down the path I am now."
Trooper Sedanas, Blade of Ambition says, "Just do what feels right."
Mukyu Tohma says, "If I don't like it, suicide is always an option."
Tohma cackles hellishly.
Mukyu Tohma says, "I never claimed to be a decent person."
Magnagora. Where even the novices fear not death.
Ixion tells you, "// I don't think anyone else had a clue, amazing form."
497.
o The Barktouch attack will now correctly function for Wyrdenwoods.
o People of all genders may now celebrate their sizzlin' hot buns.
EDIT: Added bonus:
Original text:
"People of all genders may now celebrate their sizzlin' hot buns."
...10 translations later, Yandex gives us:
"People of all races, now, to see a very sexy cake."
...Is that the cake that @Portius jumps out of?
:-\"
You have emoted: Lavinya scribbles frantically on a piece of parchment then holds it up for all to see, "Perhaps He silenced me because my words were too close to the truth."
You have emoted: Lavinya writes hastily again, "I hate being unable to speak."
Leolamins mimes for no real reason to Lavinya, "I prefer you this way".
You thump Leolamins on the forehead.
Silvanus nods his head sagely at Leolamins.
Silvanus quickly ducks down, looking at you in alarm.
You peer at Silvanus unscrupulously.
With righteous fury, you place a sharp kick upon the shin of Silvanus.
"Ooowwwww!", Silvanus whines.
You glare about you, upset with the world.
You have emoted: Lavinya scribbles frantically on a piece of parchment as her eyes flicker to a pale white then holds it up for all to see, "Or perhaps He just tired of my endless chatter."
You shift your eyes suspiciously from side to side.
Delphas smirks.
Sahmiam chuckles long and heartily.
A wry smile spreads across Leolamins's face.
You have emoted: Lavinya scribbles again quickly, "everyone loves my prattling. Right? RIGHT???"
Red Penitent Delphas n'Kylbar, Of the Red Masque whispers to you, "Dear sister, I am certain none could tire of your scintillating conversation. Perhaps it was merely a mis-aimed curse?"
You beam broadly at Delphas.
Silvanus gives you a peck on the cheek.
Leolamins d'Murani, the Undead Axe says to you, "We have all had that feeling at some point."
You beam broadly at Silvanus.
With righteous fury, you place a sharp kick upon the shin of Leolamins.
Deadly Vixen Dahlla, Harvester of the Flesh says, "Well her aim is still good."
Delphas slaps his thighs and guffaws like an old man.
You nod solemnly.
Warlord Silvanus d'Murani, Voice of Doom says, "Do you see hwo fat Leolamin's shins are? They are probably wider than Sombre Lane at this point."
Deadly Vixen Dahlla, Harvester of the Flesh says to you, "Although a little higher will drive the point home."
Warlord Silvanus d'Murani, Voice of Doom says to Dahlla, "He needs more children before we can begin that."
Ur'Marshal Marcella n'Lochli, The Queen's Own Torturer says, "I had to engage in an entire game of charades with Maligorn when my voice was taken."
You have emoted: Lavinya scrawls in a manner that is barely legible so fast does she write, "I will maintain my first assumption was correct, else why deprive anyone of my delightful voice?"
Dahlla chuckles long and heartily at Silvanus.
Silvanus gives Leolamins the once-over, eyeing him suspiciously.
You have emoted: Lavinya writes in capitals, "GOOD LUCK."
You peer at Leolamins unscrupulously.
Manteekan's curse upon you has been lifted, you have the use of your voice once again.
Manteekan, the Nightmare lifts His novoice from you.
You feel a wrenching in your gut as the world around you spins, yet it quickly subsides and you find yourself filled with an unyielding adoration for the benevolent, wonderful and truly awe-inspiring Manteekan, the Nightmare.
Your burning adoration for Manteekan, the Nightmare swells up inside you, and you can contain it no longer.
You say, "I am not worthy of my great God, Manteekan, the Nightmare!"
"Ugh!", you say in disgust.
Leolamins utters a deep, rumbling laugh.
You say, "Oh, the cruel irony."
Manteekan's curse of unyielding adoration for the Gods leaves you.
Manteekan, the Nightmare lifts His adoration from you.
Leolamins d'Murani, the Undead Axe says, "Yeah that does not sound like Lavinya. It appears Manteekan needs to take control of mortals to get compliments."
You say, "Lord Manteekan, I will say I appreciate Your sense of humour, even if it is at my expense."
Maniacal whispers come in bursts as a hazy mist chills the air with its cool embrace. Amidst the frigid fog, two pale eyes glow as the incorporeal form of Manteekan, the Nightmare slowly coalesces within.
Manteekan leans close to you and gently lays a kiss upon your forehead.
The incorporeal form of Manteekan, the Nightmare, dissolves into a cool mist which creeps hauntingly away into the distance, leaving behind naught but an eerie silence and an unsettling chill.
You give a trillingly melodic laugh.