Recent content by LordFalco

I just dusted off and reread the story [head smack]. It was an outgrowth of the story world. There are a few reasons to quantify: an empire needs an accurate estimate as to how a threat rates; a magic school uses it to put history lessons in perspective; students debate their legendary icons...

For Greg: Those are the pins, not the spells. But yes--you retain all lesser spells, like having the option of how far to throw a football. Thus a wizard sublimator can heal a paper cut with a tiny spell. True, it's complex. I wanted a faster advancement to avoid the stereotyped white-beard...

Ever had a story delayed because some facet wasn't fleshed out? Creating these plug-and-play guides is half the fun; you can't wait to use them. For your approval: The Standard Academy Rating System is a means for comparing strength of magic users--human or not. Applicants must cast a...

First you'll want to nail down your own specialty. Worldbuilding? Spellcraft? Fey creatures? In related forums you'll find practitioners to bounce ideas off of.

I'm strictly a low-tech type, still using the ancient Corel Word. I specify to Windows to make it a continuous file I can add to when time permits. If you have a cover available, about 1500 x 2500 pixels or so, Amazon has a separate upload for that. They make it extremely easy. Just go to their...

My female characters benefit from this observation by a master in the field: "In all my years of practice, I have never precisely deduced what it is that a woman wants."---Sigmund Freud.

You'll like the worldbuilding forum. There are some talented thinkers there with ideas you've never considered.

Take your wackiest character, put him somewhere he can do the most damage, and turn him loose. Talk about fun writing.

The sorceress Valkris, hair leeched white by her blistering magic, takes leave of the team and starts life anew at a Viking settlement on the outworld.

Nah. I should have clarified that better. The rioters are just the horror element, which is why they're so vague. They're anything from occupy protesters to a flash mob to an out-of-control sports crowd. The satire is putting a warped code of justice in a superhero outfit, with predictable results.

That's a great point, Jabrosky. Because comedy material is overwhelmingly on the left, you have to be careful not to alienate potential buyers. When my horror hostess wiped out a crowd of rioters, I made no mention of the town, the reason, or the rioters' appearance. Similarly, I avoid words...

I could be a dinosaur, but I still paint with acrylic by watercolor technique. It's much easier, in my view, than all the button pushing. Of course, loading it into a program like Paint lets you crop the desired part, along with making last-minute improvements. A work with this much detail would...

I second the word "artificer". It's the one I use for an expert on talismans and scrolls, etc.

Wow. That sounds like a combination of all magic systems. Maybe it's just too broad a category. Your mention of ectoplasm reminds me of a third class of magic in my world:ethereal. Think Samantha on Bewitched. Of course, such a character needs plenty of restraints to avoid being an outright...

You could go with "gadgeteer" for a more video game feel. Those guys always gave me fits down in the dungeon.