The World of Layonara
The Layonara Community => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: Nehetsrev on March 13, 2007, 06:40:04 PM
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Okay,
I guess I can do this, though I usually avoid such posts. About me: I'm 35, married with one child. I live in Oklahoma, though I was born up in Minnesota and grew up there. I miss snow...but maybe not too much. Still it's better than the ice-storms we get around here. Anyway, enough about local weather, back to me.
I love drawing, painting, reading, writing, and playing on Layonara (obviously). Throughout my life I've played numerous PnP RPG's the biggest two or three include D&D, Star Frontiers, and Gamma World. I also love sci-fi/fantasy in the forms of literature and some sellect TV/movies. These might include Stargate SG-1, Fireflies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek: TNG, and a few other programs. Some of my favorite authors are Larry Niven, Jerry Pournel, David Drake, Piers Anthony, Alen Dean Foster, Fred Saberhagen, Kieth Laumer, Robert Jordan, Robert R. McGamon (way better than Steven King any day), and many others.
I found Layonara back in April of 2006 and have been hooked here since. My characters here are listed under that handy drop-down under my avatar, but I'll list them again here for convenience. First there was the short-live Nehetsrev Llun, a character I'd used in a Star Wars based forum RP/Freelancer community and tried converting for use here on Layonara...he didn't fit well with the world and I eventually opted to have him deleted Next came Treana Min E'Zoenna, my longest lived character to date, she's still going though her life has often been rife with tragedy. After playing Treana for a while and during a very depressing time in her life I came up with Lyle Underroot as a way to escape the depression Treana had come to embody. After getting Treana out of her depression for the most part, and getting Lyle into some seriousness of his own (finding out his great-grandpa isn't who he thought he was, and dealign with a rough relationship with Lillian and their eventual break-up after coming close to marrying), I decided to make yet another character and Melanna Jin'Daern was born. A hardliner from the start, and found abrasive by most, Melanna carved out her own niche in Layonara with the help of a friendly Ogre and a few others who became close friends, sadly though, her own lack of self-worth would become her undoing and she permed foolishly in Storan's Crypt trying to prove to herself she was someone special. After her death I was hesitant to create another character, and I wanted to concentrate more again on Treana and Lyle for a time, which I did for a month or so. However, eventually my creative ideas got the better of me and from them was born my latest character, Emwonk T'noduoy (whose name I had used before in that Star Wars forum RP/Freelancer community mentioned previously, but who in Layonara bears no relation to his namesake). You can, of course, read all about my characters in their CDT's if you choose, and hopefully if oyu do you'll enjoy the writing I've tried to make as believeable and entertaining as possible.
If you've got more questions about me, the player, feel free to ask here. There's no harm in asking, but if I'm uncomfortable answering I'll let you know that too.
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I know just how you feel, I usually avoid this, too. But I'm happy to know a bit more about you and your gaming background. Of your characters, I've only met Emwonk in game, needless to say I think it's a brilliant character concept! He says so many quotable things... :P
But I'm telling you, you have to get into DS9. Believe me, you won't regret it! TNG is an incredible classic, of course, but it's so black and white!
"[D]rawing, painting, reading, writing" - a fellow after my own heart!
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I can only agree with MJZ regarding DS9. Might just be the best series ever made. ;)
It's always a pleasure to play with Emwonk, and you seemed from the start like a great player, which is why it's always interesting to hear a little more about the real man/woman behind it all! Naturally, I understand it's not always easy to share personal matters with a bunch of strangers, but I'm glad you decided to, anyway.
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I'd probably have liked DS9 too if I'd seen more of it. I did manage to catch the odd episode or two here and there and it seemed decent enough. Voyager wasn't too bad either, and Enterprise was decent enough from what I saw of it as well. But then, I also enjoyed Andromeda, as cheesy as it could be.
Generally speaking, if it's sci-fi and at least moderately well-done and entertaining, then I like it. Sadly, all-too-often, when Hollywood makes a movie from a great sci-fi book they screw it up royally. A few examples off the top of my head: The Running Man (the only things in the movie that were the same as the book were a few names of the characters and the fictional corporation that was involved, and I mean that quite litterally), Battlefield Earth (turned an epic, world-spanning story into an epic piece of dung that barely ressembled the book it was based upon), The Incredible Hulk (the recent movie with all it's split-screening was the worst directed movie I've seen in a long time (though the old TV series and subsequent TV Movies with Lou Ferigno and Bill Bixby were pretty good)). And now that I've ranted on a few screw-ups in Hollywoods efforts, I suppose it only fitting that I do bring up the fact that Hollywood is beginning to get better at the sci-fi/fantasy genre in some cases. For good examples of what Hollywood can do when it doesn't loose sight of the artists conceptions of the original authors I'll point to the recent Spiderman movies, as well as the awesome job done with the Lord of the Rings movies.
Ooops, I guess this post kinda turned into a bit of a rant. *shrugs* Sorry about that. I get kinda passionate about my books & movies.
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DS9 is definitely a bit more demanding on the viewer, than the previous Star Trek series. Once you get to know and understand the crew (the actors are simply amazing, all throughout), you are really quite hooked. Not to mention that the main plot is very epic, and full of gray lines regarding good and evil. It is more realistic, in a way, while still maintianing a pure Star Trek feel to it.
Rants about sci-fi/fantasy is perfectly alright! I agree with the screw-ups, and I can't believe I managed to suffer through the entire Battlefield Earth movie. It is true that things are getting a lot better. Lord of the Rings there's no need to discuss, and I do love the Spiderman movies (the sequel is even better than the first one), and looking forward to the third one with great anticipation. I was also pleasantly surprised when I watched Batman Begins for the first time. It appears the movie-makers are taking these old classic characters and stories, much more serious nowadays, like you say. I also enjoy the latest X-Men movie, although I am not much of a reader of comics.
One thing that is getting a bit tiresome, though, is this fad of creating prequels to long-old classics. The movies almost always turn out great, so it's not that, it's just that I would rather further discover the stories ahead, than to see what happened before the stories, if you know what I mean. I hear the new Star Trek movie, for example, will explore the early lives of Kirk and Spock, while I was somewhat hoping for an interesting, intertwining story of TNG and DS9. In any case, the prequel fad has produced a lot of excellent movies, but at the same time, I would rather go forwards for a while.
See? Ranting is inevitable when there are interesting topics at hand.
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See? Ranting is inevitable when there are interesting topics at hand.
As Emwonk might put it, "Visualize? Agressive assertive dialogue imminent when inclusive of stimulating subjects on the manipulative digits." *nods knowingly*
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Haha, poor Battlefield Earth, it was really quite something painful, wasn't it? I think one obvious issue with transforming Sci-Fi books into movies is the assumption that they have to be labeled into the 'action' genre. Atmosphere and presentation tend to suffer to make room for tense battles, etc. I've always been a big fan of ALIENS for a simple action alternative, but I wish they wouldn't try to push everything in that direction.
What about good ol' Dune? :B Though I normally can't stand anything where the main character has an average-Joe name like "Paul," I think everyone found something to impress them in that book. I never really find a Sci-Fi (or fantasy, for that matter) world enjoyable without the political and economic detailing in place, so Dune definitely pleased me there.
And DS9 is magnificent. It has an incredible cast, a Captain who isn't a goody-two-shoes All-American-Man (no offense but you get the stereotype), not to mention Garak and Dukat!! Politics are carefully orchestrated and character motivations strongly established. It has awesome intrigue, firefights, continuing development until it gets quite epic indeed, and of course, heavy doses of phenomena. I'm extremely critical and still, I can't find any flaws to point out in the series! :)
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What about good ol' Dune? :B Though I normally can't stand anything where the main character has an average-Joe name like "Paul,"
Well, yes, but "Atredies" kinda makes up for it, don't you think? And he DOES correct it quickly enough, with Muad'ib. As a word of advice; if you liked the book (possibly (s), but really, the first is the best), but hated the movie, check out the Dune 2000 mini-series that Space put on. Six hours, enough time to really address the points covered in the book, and it's done SO much better. (Paul's sister is downright creepy.)
...a Captain who isn't a goody-two-shoes All-American-Man
Picard? All-American? Really?
.... I can't find any flaws to point out in the series! :)
*clears throat* Seasons One and Two, perhaps? *grins mischievously*
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Season One and Two are important. They establish all the characteristics of the cast, set up their dynamic so in future seasons, one quick comment from one of them brings back several episodes' worth of info and laughs from previous seasons. The characters would feel empty without it.
And about Picard, of course he's more than a bit special, I was referring more to Kirk and Bakula. Don't get me wrong, TNG is wicked stuff, but yeah, to me Picard is still rather on the black-and-white side. The fact that he's "Jean-Luc" doesn't change that feeling too much. After all, all of Star Fleet has that American-ish-ness to it, so! (Once again, nothing derogatory intended, just personal opinion.)
Ever heard the Picard Song? "There are four lights!!" >D
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Honestly people! I leave you two alone for a few hours and you hi-jack my own 'about me' thread... Oh the inhumanity! I'm desparaged, distraught, in mental anguish....
And no one's even brought up Babylon 5 yet, another of my favorite sci-fi series... Gotta love the Narn/Centauri dynamics there... and those Shadow ships...Sweet!
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My apologies. Did not mean to jack anything, really.
To get back on topic: So, how about them Dodgers, huh? Pretty slow season this far. Are you a fan?
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Ah yes, and once again the sarcasm of my previous post goes misunderstood due to the inability to properly emore through simple text on a screen. I was kidding about the hi-jacking of my thread, I really didn't mind.
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haha, Ds9 good tng awsome, Enterprise my favorite by far. yo uforgot eh x-man those 3 movies wer concistant with the old and new episodes and comics. And yaeh Emwonk is realy a nice piece of work.
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Ah yes, and once again the sarcasm of my previous post goes misunderstood due to the inability to properly emore through simple text on a screen. I was kidding about the hi-jacking of my thread, I really didn't mind.
Ain't the Internet a treat? :)
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I usually sound *nicer* on the internet than I intend - honestly! Missed sarcasm in the reverse direction... haha :P
**Boos Hellblazer** ;)
I definitely enjoyed X-men, the sequel not so much, and (blasphemy, I know) I haven't seen the latest one yet. Go Magneto! Well cast, despite the fact that Rogue can be quite irritating.
And I can hardly recall watching Babylon 5... shadow ships do sound familiar..
I haven't really gotten into the new Battlestar: Galactica series, but a rather reliable source of mine has high praise for it. Is it worth the time?
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Man how coudl I forget about babylon 5
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It was the rampant idealism in TNG that made it great! I never perceived it as American Flag-Waving as they extolled new culture and what could be learned from it rather than the blind pariotism that Flag-Waving implies. Ta boot, Patrick Stewart is the best actor to have ever graced a starshipi and he brought tons of depth to Jean-Luc. Chain of Command, Parts 1 & 2 anyone? Best of Both Worlds, and my personal favourite for JL storylines... The Tapestry. He rules and makes Sisko look like Private Pyle.
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We just recently watched the episodes you speak of, gilshem, and sure there are great performances by Patrick Stewart there, but it is still very shallow and bland compared to Benjamin Sisko. When that character goes through emotional experiences, it strikes so much deeper than anything in TNG. It is a lot more realistic and believable, and can then be seen in every subsequent episode. Sisko's experiences in DS9 help mold and shape him, while anything that happens in TNG to Picard is forgotten the next day. Not to say it's not an awesome character, and possibly one of the strongest personalities in Star Trek history, but everything in DS9 is so much more than all other Star Trek combined.
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I have not watched all of DS9, so you may be right, but the first three seasons were for me not on the same level. I will have to watch more.
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We just recently watched the episodes you speak of, gilshem, and sure there are great performances by Patrick Stewart there, but it is still very shallow and bland compared to Benjamin Sisko. When that character goes through emotional experiences, it strikes so much deeper than anything in TNG. It is a lot more realistic and believable, and can then be seen in every subsequent episode. Sisko's experiences in DS9 help mold and shape him, while anything that happens in TNG to Picard is forgotten the next day. Not to say it's an awesome character, and possibly one of the strongest personalities in Star Trek history, but everything in DS9 is so much more than all other Star Trek combined.
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YOU dare disagree with me?! *Breathes fire* Roaar!
Naaaw you're taking my words too harshly, I never said it was blind jingoist flag-waving. Yeah, I just watched Chain of Command recently, I even quoted it in a previous entry (there are four lights)! Performance of a lifetime. Trust me, I grew up watching TNG, I've got nothing against Picard. But no, if you've watched Sisko flip out in countless episodes of DS9, you wouldn't be badmouthing him, you'd be in the corner saying "yessir, nosir, yessir." ;)
You should watch the episode "Far Beyond the Stars," DS9 Season 6, episode #13. It's Sisko's equivalent of "Chain of Command," and if it doesn't make your jaw drop you have no heart and stuffing for grey matter! ;)
As for Patrick Stewart being the best actor in the series... again I must disagree. He doesn't have a very complex personality, besides Data, none of the TNG cast have enormous amounts of depth. They have their foibles, their characteristics, sure, but it is weak when you consider characters like Dukat, Garak, Kira, Odo, and Sisko from DS9.
And I must say I find the acting there of a higher caliber, as well. The actor who plays Weyoun in DS9, for example, a fidigty, cloned Vorta who's grimacing one moment, licking a Founder's boots the next, making death threats the next and laughing warmly the next, also does the Ferengi 'Brunt,' FCA. Brunt is a pushy, stupid, egotistical bully with a vendetta against Quark - if it weren't for the actor's name, I never would have guessed in my wildest dreams it was the same actor. THAT'S good acting. Weyoun himself is a marvel, but when you add Brunt - it's quite a feat of achievement.
What about Andrew J. Robinson? If you've heard of "Dirty Harry," you'll know he managed to disturb mainstream viewers once already. But what he does with Garak is again, fantastic. Watch the episode "The Wire" for a pure display of character - how's that, one side-character in DS9 honestly shows much more backstory, moral and spiritual development than main characters (*cough* Riker *cough* T'Pol *cough* Janeway) in the other series. DS9's writers outdo themselves.
There are also a series of episodes in DS9 that explore an alternate universe, where all the characters have different lives and personalities, but are played by the same actors. In that world, Sisko is a thug-ish, unscrupulous mercenary, Major Kira a manical dominatrix, etc. Their performances there are so convincing that you honestly can't see a single trace of the regular characters they have always played. It's some of the most believable acting I've seen on TV series.
Now let's all have a glass of kanar.
Edit: "Sisko's experiences in DS9 help mold and shape him, while anything that happens in TNG to Picard is forgotten the next day" - Kindo
There, forgot to qualify that myself. It's true that despite TNG's wonderful classical appeal, each new episode it's like the slate is wiped entirely clean. For example, yes, Picard goes through that torture in "Chain of Command." But does it disturb him or change his character as it logically should?
I think at the base of the matter is, I'm praising DS9 for its character and plot development, perhaps that's not the same rubric others use. I've also always felt that DS9 didn't attract as many fans as the other series because, as was earlier mentioned, there is never an illusion of "good vs. evil" or "right vs. wrong" in DS9. I attributed this to a strain of the American-ish-ness of Starfleet that began with the original Star Trek (hey, it was the 60's after all); gilshem described it as idealism. Those two aren't mutually exclusive, but regardless of how you put it, it's the clear-cut boundaries of "we're good, they're bad" that aggravate me in any form of media, unless it's artistically intentional. I mean, villains in TNG are usually also quite hideous, for example. In DS9, the plot and characters revolve around conflicting ideas of morality, spirituality, and whether there really is a "right" or "wrong" side to things. Star Fleet often comes off in a bad light, whole episodes in fact are devoted to it, and the questions of morals raised are never brushed aside, but do continue to trouble the characters. That adds a great deal of realism!
:D
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yes Ds9 was a very personal view on the characters of the people. Remember that Sisko lost his wife at wolf. Where to when you look at Picard he was always about duty first, which is an other ball game all together. I loved the conflict him and berverly had about the prime directive, him being all about protecting it, and her about her vows.
There is also the fact that TNG was not linear like DS9 was. Most of the episodes of DS9 followed a plot line as to TNG was more multiple series of separate events.
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At first, I was just gonna come in here and give my vote for TNG over DS9, but the more I read the posts here I remembered all the stuff I liked about DS9 and the commentary about DS9 being way more character driven, or at least character focused is spot on. I'd never really thought about it before though oddly.
DS9 has a darker feel and what I miss in it is the theme of exploration, uncharted space... which is really pretty central to the entire concept of star trek.
I'm still voting TNG over DS9 as my preference but I'm definitely going to aknowledge that there was some good stuff in DS9.
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Oh, and while I was on break this week (spring break) and lounging about in the afternoons I was watching Voyager reruns on Spike (which had previously been rerunning TNG.) It's got some neat stories but sometimes it seems like they can't create an interesting plot without relying on crutches like time travel, or memory loss or adding in something thats "weird." Most of the time it either, still isn't interesting, or feels contrived.
Voyager was the last star trek series I really payed attention to at all. That was what... 1996?
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*points up at TV* What he said.
Honestly, though, Babylon 5 blew all the Star Trek series...es? away in terms of depth of feeling and actual progression of the storyline. I love Star Trek, but it was always so solidly episodic. It followed the main plot even less often than Cowboy Bebop.
Battlestar Galactica, the new one, really reminds me of Babylon 5. I need to go download those...
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I love Star Trek, but it was always so solidly episodic. It followed the main plot even less often than Cowboy Bebop.
Deep Space Nine had eight-part episodes. Unheard of in any other Star Trek series. More than half of season six, and almost the entire season seven is focused on the main plot. The writers really went out of their way to focus on the war and all matters related to it. The way it affects each and every character is portrayed with utmost skill. The progress in DS9 never feels even nearly as sporadic as the one in TNG.
Oh, and while I was on break this week (spring break) and lounging about in the afternoons I was watching Voyager reruns on Spike (which had previously been rerunning TNG.) It's got some neat stories but sometimes it seems like they can't create an interesting plot without relying on crutches like time travel, or memory loss or adding in something thats "weird." Most of the time it either, still isn't interesting, or feels contrived.
I agree. Voyager was... on rare occasions entertaining. Sometimes they explored something interesting, but after having watched almost all of DS9 now, I can only say that Voyager is extremely week in comparison. The characters are almost all, utterly boring and bland. The show had its bright days, but very few of them.
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Well, I might have to start trying to see if DS9 is playing on any of my local stations still or not and give it a go. It does sound more interesting than TNG from what I've read in this thread. And if Battlestar Gallactica is reminescent of Babylon 5 on some levels, that too may bear further viewing (though I'll always have a special place in my heart for the old Cylons and their bouncing red-lights for eyes...).
Now, to something different... Anyone up for a few pole-holes of disc-golf? Hehehehe. Went out to play some yesterday afternoon with my Dad at one of the local parks here (we've got about 4-5 different courses here in Tulsa). Ended up winning by seven 'strokes' despite the fact I put my disc in the water twice and had to go wading or fish it out with a stick. We'll probably start playing on a weekly basis again, which is something I'm looking forward to. I'll have to remember to wear my hiking shoes next time, my loafers weren't meant for scrabling up and down muddy creek-banks and the like. Hehehehehe.
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What is disc-golf?
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What is disc-golf?
It's like golf, but played with specialized 'frisbees' that are generally a tad smaller and quite a bit heavier than normal 'frisbees'. A course can consist of either nine or eighteen pole-holes, which are specially designed 'baskets' that you attempt to throw your disc into in as few 'strokes' as you can manage. Most disc-golf courses can be found at public parks in larger cities across the United States, and are free to play on. I'm not sure about whether the sport is widely known in other countries throughout the world though.
Here's a link to the website of one of the leading manufacturer's of Disc-golf discs: INNOVA Champion - #1 in Disc Golf (http://www.innovadiscs.com/)
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That's pretty sweet... I think I'll check that out.
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You're quite welcome. I hope you're able to find a course in your area. If you do find a course and decide to try it, you can go to the site I linked to in my previous post and see where their discs are sold in your area as well.
Though there are often tournaments for everyone from beginner to pro, I've never entered one myself, though I have seen one of the pro-tournaments as it was being held at Haikey Creek Park here in Tulsa a few years back. The distance and accuracy some of the pros manage is astounding.
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Anyone up for a few pole-holes of disc-golf? Hehehehe. Went out to play some yesterday afternoon with my Dad at one of the local parks here (we've got about 4-5 different courses here in Tulsa). Ended up winning by seven 'strokes' despite the fact I put my disc in the water twice and had to go wading or fish it out with a stick. .
I love disc-golf. -- You should ask Talan about losing discs in the water... *grumbles*