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| Iliya Moroumetz |
Author has written 44 stories for Legend of Zelda, Rurouni Kenshin, Tenchi Muyo, Valkyrie Profile, Evangelion, Teknoman, Final Fantasy I-VI, Oh My Goddess!, Soul Calibur, Castlevania, Serial Experiments Lain, Warcraft, Guilty Gear, Sailor Moon, Twelve Kingdoms, Shadow Hearts, Naruto, Mai HiME, Fire Emblem, Mass Effect, Portal, Valis, and Tron. A writer that may not know how to write good stories, but he sure knows a bad story when he sees one. Nearly twenty years of fanfiction and Mystery Science Theater 3000 gives you a unique perspective for writing and stories in general. I'm always up for a chat. If you want to talk, by all means, send me a PM and we'll work something out through Skype/IM/whatever. I also have a Tumblr where I post shorter stories: http:// paladincomplex. tumblr. com/ I'm often on Skype: IliyaMoroumetz and if you want to speak via googlechat, PM me. We'll talk. :) Current Project: a Prequel to Ubi Venenum, Ibi Evaqua Character Creation Treatise: I know, it's another Mass Effect treatise, but it's such a fertile ground for ideas and story creation. So, you've made your character. What now? Backstory! You want your Shepard to be unique and something you can take some pride in, regardless of if people can appreciate it or not. So, where to start? Well, Mass Effect has three choices on where your Shepard can start. A farm kid on Midnoir, a Spacer Military Brat, or an Earthborn street rat that once ran with the Reds. Ok. We got that as a basis. Let's take it one step further with each example. Let's try being just a bit more detailed on one level. What kind of family did each of these Shepards have? (specifically, the colonist family.) What kind of people was Shepard's family like? Simple hard working people? People wanting a better life on off-world colonies? Perhaps, for example, a preacher woman mother and a farmer father, like E.W. Shepard's was in PMC65's 'A Thessian's Whisper'. What kind of relationship did she have with her parents to color her perception of them as she grew up? Did she have any friends? See? So many background questions you can keep in the back of your mind or jotted down on a note or a wordpad to give your Shepard a bit more character. And you needn't go into excruciating detail either. Just make an off-hand remark, like, 'This reminds me of my parents' cooking back on Midnoir.' It shows that Shepard still thinks about her family fondly, even though they're not there anymore. Now, another thing to note in crafting characters is a balance of what kind of person your character is. You have to make sure that the kind of person Commander Shepard is, is mentally stable enough to be an N7 Marine and a Commander. While bad events can help shape character, just focusing on those alone put the emotional stability of the character into question. You don't need to 'beat the rat', as PMC65 once told me in one of our many conversations, to make a character interesting. Honestly, from what I've been told, the kind of dark and brooding individuals that permeate comic books, video games, and some fanfiction would never, EVER, become N7 Marines, let alone officers. They'd either be mercenaries, locked up, or lower ranked grunts. If you must give your Shepard a dark past, balance it out with good things. Case in point, in Melaradark's 'Dark Energy' trilogy, Delilah Shepard is a hard-lined, foul-mouthed, easily angered, neanderthal. However, she had her source of light, Nan, a volunteer worker, to show her that everything's not all bad and give her hope. It'll give her something to strive for. Use that as an example. Let there be something to balance the light and the dark in someone's life. Going to extremes is neither realistic, nor exciting. Endings and Closure Treatise: (MASS EFFECT 3 SPOILER WARNINGS APPLY!) Objectively, and creatively, Mass Effect 3's ending is bad. First off and something you should be aware of; endings in stories are never an easy thing to write. On paper, it's easy. You wrap up the threads of a story, give closure to the characters, and conclude. However, in these simple steps, there are so many variables in which things can easily, and quickly, go wrong. One of the mistakes made in the end of Mass Effect 3 was the sudden, and inexplicable, inclusion of the Catalyst AI. What could they have done? I don't know. However, to suddenly have this ancient AI, one older than the Reapers themselves, to come out of nowhere and present a choice that pretty much unravels everything you have done from the previous two games is poor story-telling in its worst form. You do not introduce something so potentially pivotal so close to the end. It's another version of the Architect from the second Matrix movie. There was so much time spent on exposition, a bad move so close to the end, that it grinds the pacing to a complete halt. That is something you never want to do when you're in the middle of an intergalactic war between the native races and Space Cthulu monsters. As a side note; the fact that the Catalyst admits that it is the source of the Reapers themselves, takes away the mystery of the Reapers themselves. Sovereign's speech from Mass Effect 1 was enough backstory we needed on the Reapers. Nothing more. If you need to explain what makes something terrifying, then it's no longer dangerous and terrifying. And so, the agency that the player enjoyed for most of the entire series is taken away in a trio of non-choices that more or less unravels everything you have done. You want to know what a good ending is? Old Yeller. Yes, 'that' Old Yeller. The defining moment of the story is when the dog sadly contracts rabies and since this is post-Civil War Texas, there isn't much change for treatment. So, to the sorrow of Arliss, he is forced to shoot his now rabid dog. Yes, the ending is dark, but there is closure. There is continuity. There is a sense of completing a journey and the reader is not left feeling robbed of a conclusion. Want a less downer of an ending? Read the last Calvin and Hobbes comic. It's Calvin and Hobbes, walking through a snow covered meadow, with Calvin saying, “Let's go on another adventure.” From there, no more comics were ever made. These, my friends, are good endings. Ask questions on what it means. (Partial credit given to Malaradark for her assistance) Original Character Treatise: In fanfiction we place original characters that add our own original flavor to the overall story, and possible theme. However, whenever original characters (OCs) are introduced, a great amount of care must be taken into consideration. The reason why I say this is because far too many times I have seen 'original' characters that have come out of nowhere and have not only usurped an already established character, but the purpose as well. The one great pearl of wisdom when it comes to original characters is to make sure that their involvement is not intrinsically linked to the main story. The fact is, people read fanfiction stories to read about characters from that particular franchise. Not your 'original' characters. While they do have their place, their importance should never override the importance of established characters. Granted, there are outliers; like World of Warcraft, where many characters write their own stories that can exist in parallel to the overall written story (as poor as it is, but I digress). Case in point; in Malaradark's story Dark Energy, there is a character by the name of Gellian Osco. (Used with author's permission) Mentally unbalanced and sick, but unbelievably intelligent. However, her involvement in the overall story is all behind the scenes. Here are a few facts about her; (Spoilers for ME1 apply) She was taken under Benezia's wing and considers her a friend, if not the only friend she has. She was there on Therum when Shepard and Co. saved Liara. She was there on Noveria when Benezia was killed and tried to kill Shepard for it (but failed, obviously) and is still trying to do so, indirectly. Her presence was instrumental on Virmire when Saren was trying to clone Krogan without the Genophage, however, it still ended up being destroyed. See the pattern? It's all in the background and doesn't change the established canon of a story. As Malaradark and I spoke, she noted that had Osco's presence been on Virmire and both Kaidan and Ashley could have been saved because of it, it would have turned Dark Energy into an Alternate Universe; which was not the author's intention. OCs can add some interesting flavor and in universes such as Mass Effect, there's so much potential. However, take care. Remember, OCs are icing on the cake of the adventures of canon characters. Eating nothing but icing is not only bad for your tummy and teeth, there's not much substance. Anti-Self Insertion Treatise: If you or someone you love writes Self-Insertions into your favorite fandom. Here's a word of advice: Stop! Or stop them. I'm serious. Stop. I'm talking to you. Yes, you. The one with the hair. You know whom you are. Why should you stop? Well, ask yourself the single most important question that any and all SI authors should ask themselves before the embark on this madness: What makes you, John or Jane Q. Public, more interesting than the characters in the fandom you are writing in? And be honest. Really. The answer, for all intents and purposes, is nothing. And that's not a searing indictment of your person. You, like I, am a regular person, with problems and strengths that do not, and will not, fit in a world of fiction, ever. Unless you are one of the screaming masses that runs helplessly as the giant monster attacks the city. The franchises that you insert yourself into, regardless of how little or much events are changed by your presence, would murder you dead in your sleep. And for a normal person like you or I, to insert themselves into a story, such as Mass Effect (A fandom littered with SIs), and pretend that you would have an effect on events or, Heaven Help Us, be able to romance any of these*FICTIONAL* characters is egotism and wankery of the worst kind. Again, this is not meant as a criticism of you as a person. No. This is a criticism of the *idea* that you are more interesting than Commander Shepard, or Link, or Harry Potter, or Bella-whatsername. It's ok. You can join a support group when you come to the realization of the horrible, horrible thing you did. Then, you can pick yourself up, analyze yourself, and get to writing new stories involving your favorite characters either saving the world, getting it on, or just being friends. Never give up, folks. You can do it! And if you ever feel depressed about your ability to write, just take some advice from Destructoid's own Jonathan Holmes. http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz172/supaklam5000/TGNAOJH1.png | |||||
1. Fractured but Functional: The Nora Shepard Biography » reviewsWritten by Khalisah bint Sinan al-Jilani. Takes place in the same continuity as 'Panacea' and 'Ubi Venenum Ibi Evaqua'. After the war with the Reapers is over and as a galaxy rebuilds, Shepard vanishes. So, it's up to Khalisah and Varicia S'Tonu to find her so she can tell her story. Rated M for potty mouthings, asari melding, and icky blood fights! Note: Takes left turns at canon.Mass Effect - Rated: M - English - Adventure/Sci-Fi - Chapters: 11 - Words: 56,552 - Reviews: 12 - Updated: 6-18-13 - Published: 6-7-13 - Complete2. Thorns on the Rose reviewsWritten for the Tron Female Character Ficathon: Quorra experiences her first day in our world. [Post Legacy]Tron - Rated: K+ - English - Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 1 - Words: 821 - Reviews: 1 - Published: 2-11-13 - Quorra & Sam Flynn - Complete3. Panacea » reviewsSurvival was the only story an unknown girl from Old Los Angeles knew until she met a girl named Nora Shepard. Earthborn Background origin story. Prequel to 'Ubi Venenum, Ibi Evaqua'.Mass Effect - Rated: M - English - Sci-Fi/Spiritual - Chapters: 21 - Words: 50,511 - Reviews: 5 - Updated: 11-10-12 - Published: 10-21-12 - Shepard (F) - Complete4. The Fun Filled Adventures of Reaper Lord Shepard » reviewsInspired by Makani's tumblr fanarts, the Control Ending. Only with some much needed lulz. So, what is the most important thing to a Control minded Shepard after she becomes the God Reaper of Reapers? Why, getting good and wasted, that's what.Mass Effect - Rated: M - English - Humor - Chapters: 11 - Words: 13,200 - Reviews: 25 - Updated: 10-31-12 - Published: 9-7-12 - Shepard (F) - Complete5. Where Credit is Due reviewsIn politics, it's never about who did the right thing, it's about what is the right thing to whom. It's the creed that Councilor Tevos has lived by throughout her career. But what happens when the right thing is wrong? Tevos and Liara fill for the kink meme.Mass Effect - Rated: K+ - English - Hurt/Comfort/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,028 - Reviews: 6 - Published: 6-15-12 - Liara T'Soni & Councilor Tevos - Complete6. Dae Ex Machina reviewsThere is no hero too virtuous, no paragon too pure, no exemplar too selfless that can't be seduced by the lure of ultimate power. It comes to show just how human they are.Mass Effect - Rated: T - English - Drama/Tragedy - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,710 - Reviews: 1 - Published: 6-6-12 - Shepard (F) - Complete7. The Richest of Them All reviewsWhile Matriarch Aethyta never wanted for money, it took only a few individuals to realize how fortunate she truly was.Mass Effect - Rated: T - English - Family/Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,746 - Reviews: 11 - Published: 6-1-12 - Aethyta & Liara T'Soni - Complete8. Red RainOnly a thin veneer of civility separates the man from the monster inside all of us.Valis - Rated: M - English - Drama/Tragedy - Chapters: 1 - Words: 6,947 - Published: 5-22-12 - Complete9. Hands Off! reviewsSometimes, people just don't seem to get the hint that someone's already taken and need a gentle reminder. Liara T'Soni is determined to make sure people understand that. Rated M for implications of sexyness and meta references.Mass Effect - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,947 - Reviews: 15 - Published: 5-8-12 - Liara T'Soni & Shepard (F) - Complete10. The Snowflake that starts the Avalanche reviewsStraight-as-an-Arrow Jane Shepard never gave much thought about Liara and the asari in general. However, things change. Kink meme fill. Rated M for implications of sexyness, bad jokes, and obscure references. Especially the bad jokes.Mass Effect - Rated: M - English - Humor/Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,106 - Reviews: 6 - Published: 5-6-12 - Shepard (F) & Liara T'Soni - Complete11. Transhumanism's a Big, Fat Crock reviewsScience is Science, GLaDOS is GLaDOS, and Chell is Chell. No matter what form they take.Portal - Rated: M - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 5,156 - Reviews: 10 - Published: 5-1-12 - GLaDOS & Chell - Complete12. Ubi venenum, ibi evacua » reviews'Where there is venom, evacuate it', or so the term goes. Kelly Chambers finds the adage a bit more difficult in practice than in theory. Voted 'Most Emotionally Touching Story' on the Mass Effect Kink Meme.Mass Effect - Rated: M - English - Hurt/Comfort/Drama - Chapters: 30 - Words: 45,698 - Reviews: 78 - Updated: 3-2-12 - Published: 1-4-12 - Kelly C. & Shepard (F) - Complete13. Points of Breaking and Hypertrophy » reviewsEven under righteous indignation, revenge done against friends carry heavy repercussions. And it will cost nothing less than everything you have and are to mend the wounds. Approved by a professional Psychologist.Mass Effect - Rated: M - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 2 - Words: 9,384 - Reviews: 2 - Published: 2-20-12 - Ashley W. & Shepard (F) - Complete14. Munitions or Munitions? reviewsWhen Mess Sergeant Gardner is on sick leave, a relative is called in to take over his duties for the time being. One-Shot.Mass Effect - Rated: K+ - English - Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,081 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 2-2-12 - Complete15. One Side of the Coin reviewsKasumi invites Jacob for a bit of post-Reaper War celebrating. One-Shot. Sequel to Foundation of Promise.Mass Effect - Rated: T - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,138 - Reviews: 1 - Published: 12-26-11 - Kasumi G. & Jacob T. - Complete16. A Foundation of Promise reviewsWho said nothing good ever came from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?Mass Effect - Rated: T - English - Humor/Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,811 - Reviews: 3 - Published: 12-7-11 - Kasumi G. & Jacob T. - Complete17. At Freedom's Expense » reviewsChapter 17: Even alone, there are those looking out for you.Guilty Gear - Rated: T - English - Adventure/Drama - Chapters: 17 - Words: 102,518 - Reviews: 51 - Updated: 5-21-11 - Published: 8-24-04 - Dizzy & Ky Kiske18. Enmity Spares None reviewsMany know the consequences of revenge, yet they desire to achieve it nonetheless.Fire Emblem - Rated: T - English - Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 9,321 - Reviews: 6 - Published: 3-29-06 - Complete19. Wake Up and Smell the Ashes reviewsOtome One shot. AU. Nagi de Artai knows what it takes if you wish to obtain that which your heart desires... Episode 17 spoilersMai HiME - Rated: T - English - Tragedy - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,019 - Reviews: 3 - Published: 2-8-06 - Nagi H. - Complete20. Shadow's Respite » reviewsFinal Fantasy IV Chapter 6: The corruption of the best, becomes the worst.Final Fantasy I-VI - Rated: T - English - Drama/Mystery - Chapters: 6 - Words: 40,330 - Reviews: 31 - Updated: 6-1-05 - Published: 11-5-02 - Cecil & Rydia21. The Wounded » reviewsChapter 9 - It's quite often you find the oddest of allies at the least expected times.Soul Calibur - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 9 - Words: 47,372 - Reviews: 27 - Updated: 4-6-05 - Published: 9-16-03 - Sophitia & Siegfried22. Family Portrait reviewsWhen you think you know someone well enough, they have a nasty tendancy to surprise you.Soul Calibur - Rated: K - English - Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,500 - Reviews: 4 - Published: 3-7-0523. Hues of Belligerance reviewsChapter 1: The love of Belldandy can qualm the rage and hatred of all those around her - except for one.Oh My Goddess! - Rated: T - English - Drama/Angst - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,082 - Reviews: 2 - Published: 2-5-05 - Belldandy24. Cousins reviewsHate between families is not an easy thing to overcome, but not impossible.Naruto - Rated: K - English - Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,661 - Reviews: 6 - Published: 1-25-0525. For But A Moment reviewsIn the First War to End all Wars, Karin Koenig comes to learn the meaning of 'peace'.Shadow Hearts - Rated: K+ - English - Spiritual - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,336 - Reviews: 4 - Published: 12-22-0426. Monster in the Mirror reviewsFriedrich Nietzsche once said, "Be wary when you hunt monsters, lest you become one yourself."Twelve Kingdoms - Rated: T - English - Supernatural/Horror - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,694 - Reviews: 3 - Published: 7-4-04 - Youko Nakajimaukao - Complete27. Overkill reviewsCrossover spamfic With great power comes greater responsibility... so who's bright idea was it to give that kind of power to a ditzy middle-school student?Sailor Moon - Rated: K - English - Humor/Parody - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,010 - Reviews: 2 - Published: 6-22-04 - Usagi T./Serena/Bunny/Sailor Moon - Complete28. Quadrivium reviews(Prologue) Those who move in light must be wary of those that lurk in the shadows.Teknoman - Rated: K - English - Adventure - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,281 - Reviews: 1 - Published: 6-22-0429. Silent Severing reviewsSilence is the only thing they can give as the Dragon and the Fox seperate.Rurouni Kenshin - Rated: K - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,554 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 5-22-04 - Kenshin & Megumi - Complete30. Becoming Human reviewsIt's amazing just how much Seishino Baiken can miss when she is blinded by her own hate.Guilty Gear - Rated: K+ - English - Spiritual - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,864 - Reviews: 4 - Published: 5-5-0431. Inner Vision's Perspective reviewsHeroes, regardless of size and shape, know that the greatest battle lies within the self. Jaina Proudmoore is no exception to this rule.Warcraft - Rated: K+ - English - Spiritual - Chapters: 1 - Words: 7,487 - Reviews: 14 - Published: 3-6-0432. Of Presence and Existence reviewsIn reality, Lain was a shy and timid girl. Deleted from existence, Lain was no one. In truth, Lain is remembered. (Crossover)Serial Experiments Lain - Rated: K - English - Spiritual - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,486 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 2-27-0433. The Extent of Ardor reviewsCotM Though gone largely unknown, Sypha Belnades was more than Trevor Belmont's wife or a demon hunter.Castlevania - Rated: T - English - Supernatural - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,213 - Reviews: 6 - Published: 1-14-04 - Sypha B. - Complete34. The Force of One » reviewsChapter 5 Uploaded and Chapter 2,3, and 4 updated. Though little changes on the outside at Link's departure for the east, much more goes on than he realizes.Legend of Zelda - Rated: K - English - Drama/Adventure - Chapters: 5 - Words: 46,161 - Reviews: 25 - Updated: 7-17-03 - Published: 6-16-01 - Zelda & Link35. Shades of Malice reviewsNo matter how brilliant a source of light may be, there is always a shadow lurking beneath the surface.Oh My Goddess! - Rated: T - English - Supernatural/Suspense - Chapters: 1 - Words: 5,945 - Reviews: 4 - Published: 7-5-03 - Belldandy - Complete36. Patience reviewsZelda and Link, amist a drought and during merciless summer night, find the company of each other is the only thing that can help keep their patience and sanity...Legend of Zelda - Rated: K - English - Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,919 - Reviews: 10 - Published: 4-16-03 - Zelda & Link - Complete37. Fox's Prey reviewsKenshin and everyone else has left for Kyoto and Megumi is left behind to take care of the Dojo, only to find someone waiting there...Rurouni Kenshin - Rated: M - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,611 - Reviews: 8 - Published: 5-1-0238. Contempt reviewsA short introspective look at Megumi Takani as she visits the Kamiya dojo to bring Kaoru to her senses...Rurouni Kenshin - Rated: K - English - Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,115 - Reviews: 10 - Published: 3-8-0239. False Martyr reviewsWithin a moment of silence, Darkon finds temporary solace in the snow...Teknoman - Rated: K - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,859 - Reviews: 4 - Published: 2-28-0240. Returning In Exile reviewsThe short span of a life Shinji knew before his father summoned him to Tokyo-3 in a few pages...Evangelion - Rated: K - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 5,302 - Reviews: 3 - Published: 2-12-02 - Shinji I. - Complete41. Innocent Corruption reviewsVersion 2.0 Final At the end of Ocarina of Time, Ganon has been defeated and all is well... or is it?Legend of Zelda - Rated: T - English - Mystery - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,767 - Reviews: 11 - Published: 1-20-02 - Zelda - Complete42. Destiny, What Art Thou? reviewsWhether 'tis nobler for Belenus to bear the arrows and spears of life, or give it, so that another may live... 'tis DestinyValkyrie Profile - Rated: K+ - English - Drama/Angst - Chapters: 1 - Words: 5,603 - Reviews: 4 - Published: 12-18-01 - Complete43. Shinkou No Michi reviewsAnji, the Miyou Oh, has returned to where he had lost his way in hopes of finding the right path.Rurouni Kenshin - Rated: K - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,067 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 10-29-0144. Define Happiness reviewsThe definition of happiness for Kiyone Makibi? Whatever it may be, it's out of her reach.Tenchi Muyo - Rated: K - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,797 - Reviews: 3 - Published: 10-29-01
