Sandy

All I can say is that this is [I]totally[/I] nifty! ;D Oh, and I think I know an answer to one... [b]#4[/b] [indent][i]Thanks to me, I made the forums Safer[/i][/indent] Answer: [B]Sephiroth[/B] (member and an ex-supermod)

[COLOR=DarkGreen][FONT=Century Gothic]Enough is enough, [B]stay(sic)[/B]. You've been urged several times to read the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=44318][B]sticky[/B][/url], but obviously you haven't taken the effort to do so. You had your chance, sorry. - Sandy *thread closed*[/FONT][/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Dragon Warrior]Yes, but SIS is a family-friendly comic. We try not to swear ;) [/QUOTE] Typical American... Cut-off hands are totally okay, but the word [I]damn[/I] is a big no-no. ;P Sorry, just had to reply to sarcasm with sarcasm.

Well, this turned out to be a strange debate. :/ People are offended by those who oppose swearing, when it clearly says in the OB rules that all type of swearing is prohibited here. That includes deliberately surpassing the censors, [color=red]Delta[/color]. Now I don't mind swearing in real life, really. I do it myself, mostly when I get pissed off though. And in my opinion people should be sensitive about the company they are in before they start cussing. Otherwise, words can't offend me. [I]However[/I], in OB I go by OB's rules. It wouldn't be a bad thing to make it an option to allow swearing in PMs, but as of now, swearing is not allowed here so I don't do it.

Ahem! *puts on moderator uniform* [font=Century Gothic][color=darkgreen]I'm not going to close this one just yet (although if any one of my dear colleagues want to, I do not object), because this has a rating and all that obligatory stuff, but I just want to notify you both, [B]beckywilford[/B] and [B]onetrueewok[/B], that you both constantly start new games here that are either of very poor quality or just barely fulfill the satisfactory criteria. This type of threads are [I]not[/I] what we want to see in the Arena, and I now strongly urge both of you to shape up! Invest more time and thought to the games you create and they just might have more support (like more people joining in, wouldn't you like that?). These boards are all about quality over quantity, but your actions are on the contrary. Creating new RPGs almost every day is unacceptable, even in the case where the old ones were closed. I feel I've given you a fair chance now. Take my advice and put more effort to your games, [I]please[/I]. I think you both have what it takes in you. - Sandy[/color][/font]

But what about the situation when some jerk sends you a PM that's littered with insults and swearing? The censoring is meant to protect us from being offended by words, so in my opinion it should extend to PMs as well. If you want to send aforementioned stuff to each others, why not use other methods such as e-mails?

Why settle for one? ;D Why not use them both? To my knowledge, many "Ancient Asian Wars" were fought between China and Japan, and if you throw some mythological influence into the mix (like secret ninja skills and river dragons and such), you'll surely have one epic package right there.

On reason I changed from [B]Sage[/B] to [B]Sandy[/B] was to try to leave my past mistakes behind and begin from a moderately clean table. Of course most of the people knew of my name change, but still I felt refreshed. I believe I'm acting differently here now, although most of it is due to me growing up instead of the new user name, but still I think there's a difference. I can't see myself changing my user name anymore, not for a long time at least, because I really feel comfortable being Sandy. It describes me in so many levels it's hard to put into words.

I will most likely buy PS3 when it has some great games for it that I really want (I'd imagine FF XIII and such), no sooner. I hope that the price has dropped by then (because there isn't any games to my liking revealed to be published alongside the console on the launch). Before that, I'll settle with my PS2 with it's upcoming treats such as FF XII. ;D

[QUOTE=Jokopoko][color=teal][size=1]This is a good example of the sort of general discussion thread I'd like to see in the Underground so lets try and save this before it falls into obscurity. [/size][/color][/QUOTE] Why don't you stickify this, then? I do agree that this thread is an excellent guide to new members who are eager to start their own games but don't really know how it's supposed to work. People should also remember that this is only a base formula from where to advance further when they feel comfortable to do so. Trying new things that deviate from the usual is always welcomed to this section, I feel that sometimes games in the Arena get so repetitive and stale that a fresh of new air is almost obligatory at that point. Be brave with your games, everybody!

What's the deal, indeed? Why are there prejudice against Mormons? Or Jehova's Witnesses? Or Scientology? These are all small religions in comparison to e.g. Christianity or Islam, but there are certain other thing that connects them as well. There's a wide (mis?)conception that the followers of these religions are a bit cuckoo from their heads, blind in their belief and arrogant in their ways to force others to believe the same. As an atheist, I'd dare to say that many Christians and Muslims are the same way, but when that type of behaviour comes from a member of a smaller religion, it's easier to label the whole institution as a bunch of like-minded crazies. I [I]personally[/I] think it's stupid to believe in Great Alien Zorg (or whatever the alien-guy from Scientology was called), or that only some specific amount of believers will fit into heaven (which leaves the question why do Jehova's Witnesses still recruit more followers when that amount has been full for a long time now). I also find many questionable things from Mormon religion (as well as other religions as well), but [I]still[/I] I don't judge people on basis of their faith. I might make some rather innocent fun of religions, but that's just my humor and it shouldn't be taken as a personal attack. On that note, the movie [url=http://www.latterdaysmovie.com][B]Latter Days[/B][/url] was great! ;D

[font=palatino linotype]Bellerophon helped Lucas to move the shards of the vase aside from the balcony's floor. "So..." Bellerophon asked, bracing himself, as he crouched down. "Where are you from, Lucas?" "From around here, France", Lucas asked trying to sound casual, but his nervousness shone through. "And you, you must be somewhere from the Mediterranean, right?" "Yes, from Athens, Greece", Bellerophon replied with an encouraging smile. Their eyes met, deep blue gazing into dark brown. As by chance they reached out for the same shard, and their fingers touched. They both flinched. "Uh, excusez-moi!" Lucas uttered, blushing. Bellerophon quickly stood up. "It's... alright. Heh,[I] if you were a girl[/I] that would've been like a scene from a lame love movie!" Bellerophon smirked nonchalantly, stressing just the right words to avoid any unintended signals. He then wiped the dust from his white tuxedo pants and walked to the edge of balcony. His face got serious again. "This is insane, you know? I mean... How did we end up here?!" "I'd rather not start asking those questions just yet", Lucas muttered as he joined Bellerophon. Bellerophon felt a strange sensation, standing there on the balcony of a strange building in a strange city with this strange, this... [I]interesting[/I] man. He felt both confused and charmed by the situation. Everything was so [I]different[/I]. He felt different himself, as well. Suddenly the hubbub behind them rose. Bellerophon turned around and saw everybody gazing at the same direction, towards the doors. "We should go back in, Lucas", he said to his companion. "It seems that the Supreme Chancellor himself has graced us with his appearance."[/font]

[quote name='Farto the Magic'] Babies aren't sexual. How many babies have you seen getting down and dirty? None. People get that way from having a personal view on something that is skewed (gender roles, parenting, w/e) and they run with it. They can stop being gay, as is evidence by the numerous ex-gays out there.[/quote] Of course babies and children aren't sexual in [I]that[/I] way, but they have different methods of "pleasing" themselves (putting things to their mouth, touching, relieving themselves etc.). Those things are all connected to the budding sexuality. I for once had my childhood "sex plays" and experimentations with girls and boys alike - although even at that point I was more into boys, I just didn't realize that consciously until later. I've been out to myself and other people for only three years now, yet I know I've been gay for my whole life. To list some stereotypical stuff I've always hated fighting (except in videogames), as a toddler I liked to dress up in my sister's gowns, I have an upbeat and positive personality, and most importantly, vaginas disgust me. Doesn't that sound gay to you? My point is (again), that [B]unless [I]you[/I]'ve had these sort of experiences, [I]you[/I] can't claim to know [I]anything[/I] about being gay.[/B] What comes to "ex"-gays, don't you think there's a chance they are only faking it because society has oppressed them to do so? I know [I]I[/I] would hide my true orientation if somebody threatened my life for it!

[quote name='Retribution][size=1] Usually those folks are called the [i]antagonist[/i'], certainly not the protagonist. [/size][/quote] Nope, those are called [I]anti-heroes[/I]. Like Donald Duck, for example. ;P Hmm, stripping down a legendary hero from all heroic traits is interesting, although it's not unheard of. I'm just worried on what kind of story are you going to pull with those characters. Will it get over their new personalities, or get stuck in them?

[QUOTE=Retribution][size=1] I guess it's not too huge a deal, but I guess I thought that an RPG of Kill Adam calibur would begin ... differently. Please pardon me.[/size][/QUOTE] I know it maybe not what you were referring to, but I don't believe James ever meant this game to be like Kill Adam in [I]any[/I] way. This is not a game of harsh realism built from scenes of gore and lust. This is more like a journey to a fantastic dimension where everything looks similar to our world from the top, but inside they really aren't. I personally won't even try to go into huge scientific explanations on how my character was transformed and why he is in the place he is now. I'd imagine if I'd be in a similar situation, I wouldn't go into a rampage of denial (although I believe many people would), I'd observe the situation and see where it would lead me. The ball scenery reminds me much of Eyes Wide Shut, which also had some unexplainable elements in it (although it wasn't a sci-fi movie to the least). In that movie Tom Cruise's character just entered the ball without much hesitation and just went along.

Don't take it too realistically, Retri! My character for one is in a dreamlike condition at this moment, not fully understanding the vastity of the events or the strangeness of all that has happened. Besides, if this was a realistic situation, none of our characters could even move after being in a coma for a few hundred years. ;P Just go with the flow, let the story indulge you!

[font=palatino linotype]A waiter brought Bellerophon a glass of fresh water with ice on Liane's request. Bellerophon gulped it down in one go. "Are you feeling better, non?" Liane asked, holding her slender hand on his shoulder. "Yes, mercí beaucoup. Uh, excuse me, I need to get some fresh air now." Bellerophon stood up and walked to the other end of the ballroom, leaving Liane sitting on the armchair with a worried expression on her face. The headache and the spinning sensation were gone, but now he felt anxious with the masses of people around him. He had noticed that there was a balcony at the other end of the hall, just outside the tall windows that streched from the floor to the ceiling. On closer inspection, each tall window had a small door leading to the balcony, which was fortunately empty. Bellerophon opened the door and went outside, getting the first taste of the air of Paris 2. It was chilly and dark outside, it was probably autumn already. Bellerophon wasn't used to coldness, even the winters in Athens were mildly cool at best. He wrapped his arms around him and watched his breath steaming. The lights of the nocture city flickered in front of him: monuments, buildings, some sort of vehicles that were like the evolved versions of cars, streetlamps... Then he noticed that there were no stars on sight, only the round pale moon partly covered by misty clouds. The air had a peculiar taste in it. "Fresh" wasn't exactly the word he would use to describe it. How he longed for the sea![/font]

My line might sound silly to you guys, but it got me where I am now, going steady for over a year now with the cutest guy around: [I]"Could I have some transparencies and pens?"[/I] It's a direct translation from Finnish, and it was preceeded by four months of mutual oggling in my school's lobby (he worked there in the reception at the time). ;P

[font=palatino linotype]Bellerophon didn't feel comfortable that he had already lied to the French woman about not knowing how to waltz when they had just met. But in this case, he assured himself, the end justified the means. It's not that the woman wasn't attractive, on the contrary she was very beautiful. Bellerophon was just so dazzled by everything that he had seen and learned during the last hour that he didn't feel like socializing with the woman. He even felt his forehead starting to ache. He looked at the woman again, and she smiled at him. "Would you like something to drink? I could ask a waiter to bring us something..." "No thanks, mademoiselle", Bellerophon replied with phony politeness as he couldn't bring himself to remember the woman's name. She wasn't really his type, either, although he didn't really know [I]what[/I] was his type. Subconsciously he knew, but he didn't want to jump on [I]that[/I] train of thought. "Oh, just call me Liane", the woman said and giggled in a sophisticated way, gently pressing her palm against her mouth. Another wave of pain went through Bellerophon's head, forcing him to close his eyes. To his amazement, he still sensed Liane's presence as if he could see her. He even sensed her putting her hand down, although it didn't make any sound. He opened his eyes, and saw Liane looking at him with a worried expression on her elegant face, [I]with both hands down[/I]. "[I]Ti[/I]...?!" Bellerophon asked out loud in Greek. He felt like his head was spinning. Suddenly he became very aware of everybody in the room, although his eyes were still fixed to Liane. The music on the background was suddenly very loud, as were all the hubbub of discussion, and his mind pictured every person and piece of furniture in the huge ballroom. Then it suddenly stopped. Liane had stood up and placed her hand on Bellerophon's shoulder. "Uh, I think I could use a glass of water, thank you", he said to Liane weakly.[/font] [size=1][B]OoC:[/B] Hopefully it's alright to start showing off some of my character's skills at this point.[/size]

Heh, I remember signing up in several RPGs as Sandy, back when my user-name was still Sage. They'd all have a different last name, though. I love creating characters, and I love naming each of them differently, so all my characters are pretty much different name-wise and look-wise. I hate to admit it, but there are certainly a few too many pretty boys among them... XP

[QUOTE=Lan][size=1] I'm planning on applying to a few places. [/size][/QUOTE] Isn't it a little too late to start applying to summer jobs in [I]June[/I]? I don't know about US, but here all summer jobs are gone by the end of May, the best ones being reserved for those who've worked there in past summers. I was really very lucky to finally get a proper summer job, and I owe all thanks to my classmate who works at the same place. It's a service complex for mental health rehabilitators. I work there as a director/counselor of sorts to the tenants. It's quite a large unit in comparison, it has 48 appartments with well over 20 directors working there. What I do there is very varying Counseling and supervising is only one of the tasks. Aside that my work involves helping the tenants in their every day lives, giving them their meds and cigarettes to some, going with the tenants to take care of businesses like shopping and going to different hospitals, health care centers and offices, and of course offering them some stimulating activities to pass the long days. There are also several tenants that can do very little by themselves. We directors have to shower them, clean up their appartments, take care of their laundry etc. It's quite a hard work, but nothing too physical or stressing. I'm more worried about having to deal with hard mental issues, with the residents being mostly schizophrenic or depressed, and there've been many suicides and attemps of them in the past. Also, I have to be extra careful with the meds and locking up cabinets with sharp objects, toxins and such in them. But the co-workers there are really nice and supporting, so I have trust that even if I'd have to encounter something nasty, I'd get over it. The biggest plus in it is the pay, of course, which for a poor student like me is enormous.

[quote name='Bombu][color=darkred](though Tales of Symphonia threw me when [spoiler]I found out that Kratos was Llyod's father[/spoiler']).[/color][/quote] I haven't played the game, but I've read a humorous recap of it at [url=http://www.videogamerecaps.com]videogamerecaps.com[/url], and I was amazed by this twist as well - especially since [spoiler]the two characters seem to have only 11 years between their ages.[/spoiler] XP But to me a great story isn't all about unbelievable twists and out-of-the-blue revelations, it's also about focusing on each party member (and some of the most important NPCs as well) and giving them detailed history and a distincted personality. To me, the little things in the story mean more than big things - although it's nice to have a few shocks during a game.

[FONT=Palatino Linotype]Bellerophon's eyes widened as he stepped into the ballroom with the American guy and the French woman he had encountered in the hallway. The room was certainly something he wasn't used to. Gold, crystal and velvet [I]everywhere[/I], with warmly-smiling waiters and waitresses walking around just [I]waiting[/I] to get a chance to serve them. "Mon dieu!" the French woman gasped in awe. The American man, Bellerophon remembered his name was Miguel, aimed instantly to the buffet table filled with luxurious treats. Bellerophon didn't feel hungry, so he headed to the soft cushioned armchairs that were placed along all four walls. The French woman followed him. "This is all very exciting, n'est-ce-pas?" she asked him as they sat down. "I don't know, I still have a hard time to believe all this", Bellerophon replied with disbelief. He felt uncomfortably tense and he kept squeezing his hands into fists and opening them again. Other people started pouring in, all dressed for the occasion. Bellerophon was actually quite surprised by the amount of people. Had they all been in a coma? "Listen", Bellerophon said to the woman sitting next to her. "Did you...?" But he didn't have the chance to finish because suddenly music started playing. It was some old waltz, Bellerophon didn't really know it's name. But the French woman got excited and immediately bounced up. "Ah, musique! Come on, pretty boy! Let's dance!" the woman said laughing and grabbed Bellerophon's arm, almost lifting him up. "Wait! Uh..." Bellerophon tried to resist, but in vain because they were already in the middle of the ballroom, hands in hands, bodies close to each other, [I]waltzing[/I]. Bellerophon felt more and more uncomfortable, and at that moment he didn't wish anything more than that he wouldn't know how to dance waltz.[/FONT]

Oh... I always thought Dominique was a female name. Well, I guess it's a neutral name, then. [B]A request:[/B] could you post the list of characters and who's active to the first post of this thread, James? It would make things so much clearer, at least for me. I think Shy's system of listing players in the Legionnaires Underground thread is great and fitting for this game too.

[QUOTE=Up4anime] Anyways the newer episodes are better the host got into a fight with one of the contestants.(lol)[/QUOTE] Oh, the tricks they pull to get higher viewer ratings... *rolls eyes* The thing with reality-tv is that you can't trust it being "reality" at all. From the very beginning of the genre there has been scriptwriters, directors and producers dictating what should happen to these "real life people who are NOT actors". I don't mind it, though, as I still find Amazing Race and Survivor very interesting, but I've also seen a local reality-tv competition where everything was for real, and there was only one thing to describe it: [I]boring[/I].