Fields of Challenge · Legacy archive
500 Word NPC Challenge
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500 Word NPC Challenge
#1I like to cook, and I like to watch cooking shows. I don't care for the professional chef in the studio kitchen, smiling through money shots of pasta and precooked fare, I like the cooking competition shows. Your ingredients are limited, and even more so, your time is limited.
I want to create that with the 500 Word NPC challenge.
There are two limitations: The submission cannot exceed 500 words and the NPC in question must be an assassin. (cue groans from the chefs and wild cheers from the audience)
Submissions should use the Freetext NPC500, and Assassin, and I will get with Strolen about making a badge for this challenge.
Let's see those Dual-wielding drow, Ezio clones, and professional hitmen.
(I'll also send the winner a pair of socks, because I work in a sock factory) -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#2If you can figure out how to do it, feel free to use 1 (limit 1) picture in your submission -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#3http://strolen.com/viewing/Elainuk_Parnas_Dark_Elf_Assassin
DARK ELF ASSASSIN
The presence or absence of scimitars cannot be confirmed. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#4If you would like, you flesh out one of these folks http://strolen.com/viewing/30_Assassins -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#5500 words??? *sob*
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Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#6Count me in and I will eventually produce one Chinese assassin specimen. Having said that, I'm still owing 2 on Goss' spouse challenge but I always deliver eventually. So count me in as a participant but forget about me as winner (I prob. won't win anyway). -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#7But... but... 500 words?
Look... by 500 words I've just barely finished the introductory summary of the character. Why doesn't someone make a 5,000 word challenge? -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#8The answer is probably that a sub of such length is running at risk of being under-read. To be honest, I love works of length in real life but reading works of length on a PC monitor is an altogether different matter.
Shorter word limit challenge is also more challenging I think b/c of the word count. Absolutely no room for unnecessary words. Then again, I guess this is not the challenge for developing characters with great complex backgrounds and multi-layered innuendoes. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#9I'm mostly just funning. I know I have developed a rep for long works. :P
I'll see if I can cut 9 words out of 10 for something I was working on and squeeze it to fit. :P -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#10Good for you, I have to start from scratch with just a name and a semi-fuzzy background but at least this challenge merged with one of these idea snippets floating around my head. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#11I had seen this idea but hadn't read it and was considering something. At first read assassin and thought no way. But it totally fits now that I think about it!Challenge accepted! I'm going to do a spin on the Solomon Grundy post(sorry can't remember who wrote that,I think it was a Moon) -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#12 -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#13 -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#14I want to do one too. Can someone select on my http://strolen.com/viewing/30_Assassins for me to flesh out? :)
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Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#15I'm partial to Shooga Moak, but let's see Ildran Motaer under the bright lights! -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#16Used a random number generator for 1-31
http://www.mathgoodies.com/calculators/random_no_custom.html
I got a 22
the grey knight... -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#17I think I had a bright idea for the next 500, what about you have to take an idea seed from somebody else? We could pick a category or open it up to anything
????? -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#18
I think I had a bright idea for the next 500, what about you have to take an idea seed from somebody else?
Sounds fun and also give excuse for mining the idea seeds. Go ahead and open up a new thread with it. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#19
I think I had a bright idea for the next 500, what about you have to take an idea seed from somebody else? We could pick a category or open it up to anything
?????
That'll be something worth discussing once Strolen has this server migration taken care of -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#20Couldn't help myself... started getting inspired from reading the other entries. Blend that with a discussion yesterday with MH and CM about Murder Hobo adventurers (Disney needs to buy up Hasbro and make a "How to Train Your Murder Hobo" movie :P )
I hereby present Mark Greaves, Assassin Hobo for your consideration. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#21BTW, I want to thank you, Scras, for getting me to reconsider what a complete idea means. I've gotten so caught up in making sure that I cover all the bases in my subs that I got a little lost. This was a good exercise, even though part of me was itching to further define the curse, what exact events led Mark into the assassin biz, etc. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#22
BTW, I want to thank you, Scras, for getting me to reconsider what a complete idea means. I've gotten so caught up in making sure that I cover all the bases in my subs that I got a little lost. This was a good exercise, even though part of me was itching to further define the curse, what exact events led Mark into the assassin biz, etc.
I think that in a way we've gotten away from ideas and have gotten caught up in presentation. I don't need to know who made the watch, I don't need to know where it came from, and who owned it before me, those things are nice, but ultimately unimportant when all I need is to know what time it is.
I cannot count the number of times I've gotten bogged down in a submission and just dropped it because trying to hit certain presentation points and answering demanded but unimportant questions I lose the original idea. Backstory is important, but it's not vital. So many characters can have long, overly elaborate and complex backstories that are very easily abridged.
Batman: Bruce Wayne spends his formative years learning how to overcome his fear and how to fight the sort of crime that lead to him witnessing his parent's murder. He balances a daytime life as a Billionaire CEO playboy and a nighttime life as a masked vigilante. He has a bat theme.
Simple, to the point, and you can run with it. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#23
[quote author=MysticMoon link=topic=7185.msg87306#msg87306 date=1422906829]
BTW, I want to thank you, Scras, for getting me to reconsider what a complete idea means. I've gotten so caught up in making sure that I cover all the bases in my subs that I got a little lost. This was a good exercise, even though part of me was itching to further define the curse, what exact events led Mark into the assassin biz, etc.
I think that in a way we've gotten away from ideas and have gotten caught up in presentation. I don't need to know who made the watch, I don't need to know where it came from, and who owned it before me, those things are nice, but ultimately unimportant when all I need is to know what time it is.
I cannot count the number of times I've gotten bogged down in a submission and just dropped it because trying to hit certain presentation points and answering demanded but unimportant questions I lose the original idea. Backstory is important, but it's not vital. So many characters can have long, overly elaborate and complex backstories that are very easily abridged.
Batman: Bruce Wayne spends his formative years learning how to overcome his fear and how to fight the sort of crime that lead to him witnessing his parent's murder. He balances a daytime life as a Billionaire CEO playboy and a nighttime life as a masked vigilante. He has a bat theme.
Simple, to the point, and you can run with it.
There is a lot of wisdom here. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#24Hoping to wrap up mine tmr. will see how it goes..... -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#25Just posted Xue Ren (Snow/Blood Blade Edge). -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#26Good work everyone.
I'm going to wrap this challenge up Monday morning, and will declare the winner then.
I am super pleased with the number of submissions turned in on such a short notice, and was also pleased with the consistent quality demonstrated across all the entrants.
After the winner is declared there will be an announcement for the next 500 word challenge
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Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#27
Good work everyone.
I'm going to wrap this challenge up Monday morning, and will declare the winner then.
I am super pleased with the number of submissions turned in on such a short notice, and was also pleased with the consistent quality demonstrated across all the entrants.
After the winner is declared there will be an announcement for the next 500 word challenge
7 submissions in just over a week, with a fairly stringent set of limitations. You have done me proud, Citadellians.
None more so than Dozus with his Buluc, and the Cult of the Rope Woman. Congratulations, you have won the first 500 series challenge.
http://strolen.com/viewing/Buluc_death_priest_of_Rope_Woman
I'll see about getting you proper compensation for your well earned victory. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#28Well! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :) I love the limited word challenge, and look forward to more. -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#29Congrats, Dozus!
I am very pleased with the results on this. It amazed me just how much setting information was conveyed through those 500 words. I managed a character, while Suzod managed a couple religions, a culture, a priest, etc. May your prize socks keep your feet warm throughout the winter :)
Also, thanks for inspiring me to write, Scras. At first I didn't think I'd have any ideas, with the limited word count and the topic. But, reading the other entries, something just kind of bubbled up to the surface. Looking forward to more of such challenges :mace: -
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#30Dozus, I'll need you to PM your address and shoe size -
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#31PM sent. Finally, my feet will be warm again! -
Re: 500 Word NPC Challenge
#32Congrats, Dozus. It was an enjoyable read, your entry was.