Allamorph

[quote name='GuyYouMetOnline']As I said in the Underground thread, the action's started, so feel free to jump in.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]Soon as I get time to think of something. By the way, is it all right to call you simply Gymo? :p[/FONT]

[quote name='Odin M Yggdrasi']It cannot be classified as anything more than puppy love untill it hits at least the three month mark- starting at the date you confessed your feelings for each other.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]This is why people like us should never [I]ever[/I] enter threads like this and attempt to give advice. We want to classify the durn thing, and that's not what you do with it. I mean, I'd try and everything, but the best thing I can tell you, [COLOR="DarkRed"]Venge[/COLOR], is to completely ignore most any words from us Logic machines. We suck at this stuff; all abstract emotional and empathic responses are redirected through that stupid quantifying matrix, and it all comes out wrong.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I just noticed this: on the Who's Online screen, the IM service symbols all have little white pixel-bits around their edges. Nothin' serious, just an aesthetic thing.[/FONT]

Quoted for the sexy 'r' trill. Time trravel is always complicated, milady. However, it's also incredibly fun, and opens very amusing avenues for frilling with things. And Lord knows I love to frill with things. I have a lot of time this weekend; I'll see who I can come up with. (*still overshadowed by iceman Eddie*)

[FONT=Arial]I love how James and I just said basically the same thing. :p All right, look. The difference in the words is simple. In "theater", you pronounce the "r". In "theatre", you don't. :D (Ain't I a stinker?) [B]Edit:[/B] So, did this new skin just happen, or have I missed something for the past...however long I usually miss stuff for? Kinda cool. Like OB Negative version. [B]Edit 2:[/B] Oh, duh. There's an announcement. :p[/FONT]

[quote name='Konata']And is also still on the list, which causes it to be somewhat significant.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]And now you're just being silly. :p We could probably end up going at each other like this for hours on end, and I bet neither of us would get the least bit bored. Hooray. (^_^) [QUOTE][I]But if someone helps you without thinking of it as a burden at all, then you're left with an impending burden of being fair and returning the favor when they miss. [I]//snip//[/I] In order to avoid such conflicts, the better solution would be to attend school and be a burden on oneself rather than others.[/I][/QUOTE] So then you [I]are[/I] one of those peculiar people who think catching someone up is a burden. Pardon me if I'm missing something, but the rest of us humans like to help a brotha' out. Ya know? It's like you're doing everything in your power to avoid other people. You're not overly phobic, are you? :animesmil [QUOTE][I]I meant the meaning of it. Examples and what not =P Because I'm curious to what wrong things could replace knowledge.[/I][/QUOTE] Misinformation. Incorrect procedures. You haven't spoken with me before, so I'll forgive you for not expecting to have your metaphor turned back on you. ;) [I]Ho,[/I] there, [COLOR="DarkRed"]indi[/COLOR]-girl! Ease up. Ain't no need for us to have on o' them cat-fights in this here thread. [COLOR="DarkRed"]Konata[/COLOR] and I is just banterin', is all. (I want to add "stop being so literal".... :p) Actually, if my absence cost the school money, I wouldn't shed a tear.[/FONT]

[QUOTE=Konata]And I'm not saying that you're saying it's not a good thing to strive for =P I wouldn't say it's pointless though, because there is a point, otherwise they wouldn't even have a Perfect Attendance award.[/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]Semantically, you're right; the point is to say "Hey, you've been here every day. We should probably recognize you." I rank it slightly higher than the Participation Award. ...which is pretty low down on the list, to be honest. :animesmil [QUOTE][I]But you're relying on more than just the teachers to fill that bowl, and that means you'll be a burden on more.[/I][/QUOTE] It's only a burden if nobody wants to do it. And there's nothing saying you can't return the favor and do some catching up of your classmates when they miss. That argument actually sounded more antisocial than anything else. :p Funny, because I get mistaken for that type all the time.... [QUOTE][I]The problem with that method is that some of the information (a large majority of it in some cases) might not be from the book. Some teachers find it better to teach more than just what's required reading. So, absence will not ony leave you without the required knowledge, but some other knowledge that may benefit you =P After all, as Wlliam A. Ward once said, "the mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." And if your teacher is superior or great in Ward's terms, it's unfortunate to have missed such a time.[/I][/QUOTE] True. But then again, if I'm only semi-coherent, I'm probably not going to catch the unique connection or material anyway. I love how philosophical we're both waxing, here. It's moderately amusing. :animesmil [QUOTE][I]But what exactly are those corn kernels? (´・｀)ﾌ[/I][/QUOTE] Stuff you don't want in with the rice. (Like, duh. :p) I was just extending the metaphor there. I'm tired. I go sleep now. (I'll read the article milady Beth linked us to later this weekend.)[/FONT]

[SIZE="1"][align=justify][B][U]Name:[/U][/B] Matthew Collins (Maitiú ó Coileáin) [B][U]Age:[/U][/B] 27 [B][U]Gender:[/U][/B] Male [B][U]Appearance:[/U][/B] [URL=http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs24/f/2007/320/d/6/d61f5679d43040ed.jpg][U]Matthew[/U][/URL] [indent]Matthew Collins generally possesses a calm, thoughtful, gentle air in almost everything he does. Depicted above is Matthew?s standard [I]Crossover[/I] outfit, along with a sturdy pair of black leather boots; the jacket, made of good, tough leather, is somewhat more weathered than shown in the photograph due to constant wear in the outdoors. If Matthew expects to enter combat during his excursions, he will also wear a short [URL=http://www.mwart.com/images/pl/_Crusader_Sword_DAH3304_7358.jpg][U]sword[/U][/URL] at his waist and a leather [URL=http://www.mwart.com/images/p/_Tristan_Leather_Jerkin_M100764_4266.jpg][U]jerkin[/U][/URL] over his shirt, but his only permanent items are a self-made [URL=http://www.petersfieldarchery.org.uk/images/niya_recon.jpg][U]bow[/U][/URL] and a hunting [URL=http://www.mwart.com/images/pl/Hunting_Knives_Buckskin_Trader_Stag_H_1011_743.jpg][U]knife[/U][/URL].[/indent] [B][U]Personality:[/U][/B] [indent]Matthew is soft-spoken, and a little on the reserved side, but he can speak eloquently if he needs to, albeit with a slight brogue. He loves the outdoors, especially the woods. It was discovered, shortly after he joined [I]Crossover[/I], that he is a master strategist.[/indent] [B][U]Crossover Experience:[/U][/B] [indent]Matthew entered [I]Crossover[/I] after its first year had successfully passed, drawn in by the ravings of the game?s current players and the possibilities offered by an alternate reality. Like many others, it was a sort of escape for him; Matthew was feeling ever more hemmed in by his job as a corporate programmer, and [I]Crossover[/I] allowed him the opportunity to rekindle his childhood dream of becoming a woodsman while still earning a living. Since his entrance he has become an accomplished hunter and tracker, and his skills are respected, and occasionally sought out, in the places where he is known. In the game, Matthew goes by the Irish version of his name, Maitiú ó Coileáin. Originally he wished to rediscover his heritage, and meant to use the name as a starting point, but now it has almost become a second identity.[/indent] [B][U]Etheria:[/U][/B] [indent][B][U]Áed:[/U][/B] This fire-spirit Etherian is one of Matthew?s starters. Immaterial in form, Áed typically manifests as a small tongue of fire that hovers about five feet from the ground, or fourteen inches from Matthew?s left shoulder; all of its attacks are based on rapid changes in its shape and size. It is one of the more serious Etheria in the game, and it pulsates when it speaks. [B][U]Conrí:[/U][/B] Conrí is an anthropomorphic Etheria, more commonly recognized as a werewolf. Matthew and Áed encountered him unexpectedly during an ordinary forest outing, and Matthew tracked him for two days before outwitting the wolf into surrendering to him. Conrí is a melee-based Etherian, and can to battle in either wolf or humanoid form; his name is Irish for Wolf-King. [B][U]Uilleag:[/U][/B] This Etherian takes the form of a small, blond, devious boy. Matthew named him ([I]playful spirit[/I]) for his personality and the nature of his skills; Uilleag is a master of illusions. He speaks somewhat naively at times, and it is unclear whether he finds combat a game, a sadistic pleasure, or a mixture of both.[/indent] [B][U]Note:[/U][/B] Though he fits in easily with other players in [I]Crossover[/I], Matthew is a recluse in real life, and he never plays on the same server as the people he knows. (Author?s aside: Naturally this will change, seeing as the intro is setting up real-world drama and actual human interaction will definitely be necessary.)[/align][/SIZE]

[quote name='Konata']I know it's relatively menial, but if I'm missing a Perfect Attendence Award listing on the resume, it makes me disappointed because it just shows that I didn't do my best. It's sorta like when you get a 99% out of 100%. It just shows that the 1% is what you could have also gotten to make it 100%, but you didn't.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]If self-satisfaction 's-what floats your boat, then sure. Go for it. Ain't like I'm gonna lose any sleep over your decisions. :p And I'm not sayin' its not a good thing to strive for. I just find it ultimately pointless. Kind of like Valedictorian. [I]Waaay[/I] too much stress on those people. (I know. I'm friends with our class's Salutatorian, and she gets two hours of sleep a night as well. She thought it was natural. :rolleyes:) (She was surprised at how good she felt after she got nine hours for a week.) [QUOTE][I]That is a good reason, but in my opinion, I can't agree with that because I don't think you're necessarily learning and unlearning. Also, if you were absent, it's like you have an empty bowl to put grains of rice in. [U]And you have to rely on others to fill the bowl up, by going to group study sessions or after-school tutoring[/U]. Whereas, if you attended school with your sickness, you might be "impaired" but you might still get some grains.[/I][/QUOTE] You're relying on others to fill your bowl no matter what you do. That's what the teachers are doing there. ;) To be honest, I have never done either of the options I suggested. I always taught myself the material I'd missed in class, [I]based on[/I] how that teacher had been leading up to it and how the textbook was directing itself. And even then, someone had to write the book.... Anyway, what I wanted to say was this: when I learn while significantly sick, I risk putting in corn kernels in with the rice, and once my bowl is full I have to go back, pick out the kernels, and replace them with grains of rice. It's inefficient and bothersome to me, especially when I have to track down those pesky kernels that hide lower down in the bowl...erm, those procedures I mislearned or misunderstood. Odd about those school system information snippets. I should really look that up....[/FONT]

[quote name='Konata']But if you don't go, then you're not only taking away money from the school, but you are also eliminating a part of your resume =([/quote] [FONT=Arial]As far as I am aware, I pay the school at the beginning of the year, and not every day. If you're thinking of federal money based on total enrollment, then I'm pretty sure you're off as well; the school isn't penalized for one student's two- to three-day absence. And perfect attendance weighs very little on your résumé, believe it or not. Sure, it shows dedication (or mild psychosis :p), but extracurricular clubs, leadership positions, awards, recognitions, and test scores ? i.e., ACT, SAT, AP ? count for much more. And once you get into college, perfect attendance is worth basically nil on a résumé. [QUOTE][I]Besides, you won't have to catch up if there's nothing to catch up on (if you go to school regardless of health). And ultimately, you'll learn more =P[/I][/QUOTE] If you attend classes in a fog, then both your memory and your notes are unreliable. In that situation, you're still essentially catching up, and I prefer not to risk entering unreliable procedures and information into my head. Learning, unlearning and relearning is more time-consuming than delayed learning, and incredibly inefficient besides. After-school tutoring is a workable option if necessary, as well as group study sessions. [QUOTE][I]I mean, I know my limits though. If I'm so sick, I might literally die if I go to school, I won't go to school. That's sorta the reason why I didn't get a perfect attendance award last year, since I had to go to the emergency room >_>[/I][/QUOTE] My heart bleeds for you. :D Mind, I'm not saying I crash in bed the instant I catch a cold. I'll even fight through migraines. (Two straight days worth of band camp one year. I was moderately aggravated.) 43.68% impairment generally includes noticeable fatigue, mild loss of directional sense, occasional nausea, and a vocabulary limited to [I]"Uurghh..."[/I]. You know what I mean: it's called feeling like ****. :p[/FONT]

[quote name='haku877']If I say so....[/quote] [FONT=Arial]Only if you say so? :p [quote name='haku877][spoiler']I just dont get why king dee dee is in there though? I mean hes cool and all but seriously why!?! hes not so much of a main character, a somewhat major villan ( less popular then meta-night) and kinda crappy attacks[/spoiler][/quote] That website is linked in the thread's first post. We're all goin' there already. :whoops: And I'm pretty sure that the oversized penguin will get a fairly decent set. You just gotta know how to use it. [B]Edit:[/B] Oh snap. Dark Link, Dark Fox, and Goth Zelda.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]The funny thing about predestination is that, if it is true, no one can know that they are actually preordained. To me, religious discrimination in this light makes no sense. I know the verse(s) this doctrine is based upon, but the truth of the matter is a temporal issue, and not many laymen think about temporal issues all that much. Paul, the guy who wrote the letter, was a scriptural genius, and getting to his level of "mental-ness" is a feat in itself.[/FONT]

[quote name='haku877']On opposite day![/quote] [FONT=Arial]Oh, wow. I almost just slaughtered you, but now I can't stop laughing. That was one of the best-timed jokes I've ever seen. Hooray. [B][CENTER](^_^)[/CENTER][/B][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Why would the contest be rigged? More importantly, how would NYAF and Del-Ray go about rigging it if it was? And what purpose would "rigging" serve? The criteria for the judging was not revealed to the public, aside from the requirements put forth in the announcements for the [URL="http://www.theotaku.com/news/view/epic_theotaku.com_anime_art_contest_announced/2686/"][COLOR="Blue"]art[/COLOR][/URL] and [URL="http://www.theotaku.com/news/view/epic_theotaku.com_fan_manga_contest_announced/2690/"][COLOR="Blue"]manga[/COLOR][/URL] contests. However, since the pieces had to make it through critiquing by all three involved parties (Del-Ray, NYAF, and theOtaku.com), the judging process should have been free of any unseemly bias, and I'm fairly certain that "rigging" would have been rather difficult to pull off. Naturally there is a small element of bias called Personality to contend with any time judging is done, since art can only be appreciated by biased humans; but I fail to see any legitimate reasons either Del-Ray or NYAF might have for rigging their own contest, and the judging by the other party, as well as the representatives from theOtaku.com, should have eliminated the possibility for unfair bias. It's understood that as spectators we will see entries that we feel should have placed higher. Our opinions will not necessarily line up with those of the judges, and to expect otherwise is unfair and foolish. Personally, I do like the first linked image better, basically because the artistic style is more obviously original. The texture in the second image was fantastic, and certainly all three were very well done, but I think the style may have had somewhat to do with the selection. 'Tis only my opinion on that count, though. [B]Edit:[/B] Also remember, these were [I][U]finalists[/U][/I], NOT winners. There is still another round of judging to go through before a winner is declared. And there was no rule stating that entries were required to be drawn in the anime style. The guidelines simply said [I]"work of art"[/I], which applies to more than just anime.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]All right, I've got a person, who I'll be working on 'til I sleep, and I have three final questions. 1.) Do Etheria have to have a shape, or can they be mostly amorphous? (Within reason.) 2.) To my mind, it follows logically that any skills a player gains in [I]Crossover[/I] carry into the real world. In other words, since this game is straight VR, not only would skills and trades have to be directly learned by the player, but because the player learns them directly he/she also knows how to employ them in the real world. Does that follow? (Kind of different from the Matrix, where skills were "uploaded".) 3.) Is clothing inside [I]Crossover[/I] specific to a certain time period, or are players free to wear what they will? Thanks. (I tell you what: pulling a personality from a photograph is [I]so[/I] hard. Or I'm just not used to it. :p) [B]Edit:[/B] Thought of another one. When Etheria are captured, do they retain the form that [I]Crossover[/I] predetermined for them, or do they reshape themselves to their new master's imagination?[/FONT]

[quote name='Konata']1. Perfect attendance. Main priority. Important. VERY important.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]You are a fool. :animesmil My guidelines: [list][*]If you can function, go. [*]If function level is impaired more than 43.68%, don't go. Anything attempted past this level of impairment will be distinctly less than best quality.[/list] The material is of much more importance than the attendance. I will gladly sacrifice a day or two for recuperation, rather than spend three or five at half-capacity. As for what I do while recuperation? Chicken soup, books, and sleep. My body heals faster when it does not have to worry about sustaining brain activity. :p[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I'd assume she's just trying to keep up. Nathan didn't tell [I]her[/I] to bug off, even though he's noticed her, and since he doesn't currently find her to be useful or in any serious danger (though that could change), he's not going to worry about her all that much. It seems like it'd be less of a conflict this way, actually. Before, Nevril had Astera, Aeru, [I]and[/I] Joe ? who's been conveniently forgotten about lately ? and now it's just Astera and Nathan. If you'd like to make something of the situation, Nathan would probably make some remark about Tag to her, since he's going to be doing some wall-bouncing for the moment, shooting as he goes. As for the creatures, he'll only kill them if they become a threat or are in his way...or one of the others needs their backs covered for a split second. He's trying to get that failsafe activated as quickly as possible. (Finger pistols FTW. :p) Funny: [I]I[/I] want more action, and [I]he[/I] wants less. :rolleyes: Darn temperamental actors.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Aye. On that we agree. However, from the tone of Des's posts, it seems like his opponents aren't exactly trying to learn...at least, not to the same level. I'm sure you know of players like that, who just don't care about mastering their characters, who just wanna have a silly free-for-all at a weekend party. If they're actually trying to get good, then sure, by all means trash 'em. If they just wanna play, though, that's a different story. Personally, I get tired of winning all the time in those types of situation, so I let myself slack off, or I drop out for a half-hour. I will agree on the stock match bit. Timed just doesn't make you try as hard, and takes strategy completely out.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I never said you go easy. I said you don't go all out. I understand perfectly that if you just half-*** a match they won't learn jack; but by the same token, if they don't have time to learn jack in the first place, what good does that do? Give 'em an inch, take back a foot, and make 'em work to even it up.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Dude, what part of "lesser skilled players" did you not understand? With weaker people you don't go bloody full-out. If all you do is rape them, they [I]will not[/I] get better. They won't have the time. The point of playing more laid-back is to let them get better, so you can play harder, so they can get better, so you can play harder, etc., etc. It's not all about showing the tiny people how much they suck. That's not fun at all.[/FONT]

[quote name='BlueYoshi][color=darkred']That's the general consensus on OtakuBoards: give a little and you'll get a little in return.[/color][/quote] [FONT=Arial]Surely you jest! SoulCal is one of my favorites. (Jays, I wish I owned more games. :() I mean, I enjoy unarmed combat and all, but there's something about fighting with more than just your own limbs that draws me in; and besides, I get to pick up on some really gorgeous styles, like Raphael's and Xianghua's. Never been a big fan of Ivy, though. She feels like a button-masher to me, even though I know she's got a pretty painful set when you know how to use her. I can usually shred her with Talim (I can usually shred [I]anybody[/I] with Talim), who is my hands-down mainstay. I suppose I'd be better off with Cassandra or Sophitia, since those characters always manage to have my number somehow, but I just can't feel how they flow together. I typically stick with Talim, Xianghua, and Seung Mina, though I have been experimenting with Yun-seong and the Assassin. Obviously I've only played 2; I've been meaning to give Tira and Setsuka a whirl. Dunno why I'm drawn to the chicks....[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]All righty, then. The theory [I]there[/I] being a failsafe for vampires who might have accidentally triggered the "alarm", or in cases where the Count might have wished a shinigami to gain entrance. (Ooh, [I]there's[/I] a thought. Internal system drama. :naughty:) Also, I have a good reason why the creatures are spawning faster than normal. Oh, and to be clear: yes, Nathan let the Shade through. He's a jerk.[/FONT]

The blue shinigami sauntered casually over to Aeru and the petite vampiress, still engrossed with the new arena. “Hey,” he started, placing his hand on Aeru’s shoulder. “You look like you could use some stress relief. How about you let me look after your little friend there while you go fight?” Aeru hesitated, looking slightly confused. “But–” Nathan smiled at her. “Don’t worry,” he said soothingly. “She’ll be fine.” He looked up again at the growing throng of foul creatures. “After all,” he added, “I’m not that heartless.” Aeru glanced back at Nevril, still wavering; Nathan’s gaze drifted to Joe, who returned it searchingly. “Trust me,” mouthed Nathan. After a second, the cat nodded and flew over to his companion, hovering by her head. “Let’s go, Aeru,” he agreed. “The more people we have fighting these things off, the faster we can keep moving.” “All right,” Aeru finally consented with a sigh. “It’s okay,” she told Nevril. “Nathan will take care of you for now.” She glanced worriedly at Nathan again, who smiled again, and then she and her familiar took off towards Lucia and Alex, who by now were locked in combat. The little vampire shrank away at Nathan’s approach. Sensing she might actually take flight, he cleared the distance between them in two strides; already Wraiths and Shades—the Wraith’s older, stronger relative, capable of assuming bestial forms—were appearing on all sides, their murky bodies seemingly absorbing light from the room. Nathan doubted Lucia had anticipated that they would have spawned so quickly, and he turned in a half-circle, drawing Nevril firmly in front of him. “I think it’d be better for you to stay with me for the moment,” he advised. Nevril sent her new ward a timid look. “You – you don’t want to kill me?” she asked, a fearful tremor in her voice. “Well, of course I do,” answered Nathan happily. “In fact, I’d probably want to finish you off even more than Mr. Grouchy over there does. But like I said….” he flexed his elbows “…I’m not heartless, and someone around here thinks you’re still of use. So just rest easy.” A Wraith charged from his left, and he threw up his hand towards it, his first two fingers extending into a false gun. Three tiny darts of blue flame leapt from its tip and ripped through the Wraith’s body; the creature disintegrated into ash. “They can’t touch me,” he told Nevril, as a swarm of the enraged creatures started to descend on them. “What have you got to worry about?” He began to move his arms in quick, rigid patterns around his body, locking into each position for a bare instant and moving with familiar precision to the next and the next, the rest of him remaining utterly motionless. Blue fire streamed from his fingertips like bullets, shredding the vaporous onslaught one after another. His eyes followed none of his movements, still searching over the surface of the room. “Come on,” he whispered to himself. “Just give me something.” His head jerked up in time to see a Shade plunging straight down at him. “Move!” he shouted, shoving Nevril roughly forward and dashing to one side. The Shade crashed into the floor, and Nathan riddled it with fire. Unprepared for the sudden thrust, Nevril shrieked and stumbled ahead. A raised stone caught her toe, and she pitched to the floor. Four small circles of red letters appeared where her right hand had touched. Nathan was on her instantly, scooping her up with his left arm. “Interesting,” he murmured in her ear. “I thought as much. It seems someone was right; thank you, little one.” He sprinted forward, clearing his path with a spray of fiery ammunition. “Now,” he told her, as he ran straight up the wall, “time to find the other keys. Hang on.”

[quote name='Aceburner']You can't go gay for a thread. You're going "Threaderosexual!"[/quote] [FONT=Arial]Good for you, [COLOR="DarkRed"]Ace[/COLOR]. That was almost like humor. :animesmil[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Dude. You spend [I]way[/I] too much time thinking about this. :animesmil[/FONT]