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A Cappella Part 49 - Cleaning Up


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#21 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 11:16 AM

> "Meanwhile, back at the motel..." ;)

*grin*

> Heh... The director of a play I was in some time ago took the weak script

> and actually managed to make it worse... He re-wrote parts of it to try to

> make his own political statement. In the most basic terms - it sucked.

> Big time.

> Totally.

Ack. Sounds like the first season of Star Trek: TNG (sorry, Weyoun). Roddenberry did every political statement he'd been saving up since the original show.

> Never underestimate the superstitious nature of an actor. Consider the

> reasoning behind break a leg "break a leg"... ;)

Hehehe, true, very true.

> True, you'd think that there would be someone else that could handle

> these quests. But then, that is kind of the point - the PC and his/her

> party is a group of extraordinary people. Consider everyone's stats and

> how many individual scores are at least above average, and you have a

> veritible superhero-group of people.

Adventurers are supposed to be extraordinary people. Your average person isn't going to face a dragon or go explore crypts full of undead. They want to go home to dinner after a day's work. That's why people either admire them or think they're complete lunatics. And adventurers without at least some above-normal abilities would probably have a high mortality rate.

> Oh, Jarran... Wrong words to use... Yes. It can hurt.

> Woof.

> The hair won... Actually she's gone to get Jan's newest invention. a

> weed-whacker.

> Here, let me help you dunk your head!

I think during this part I was channeling my mother. I remember many similar scenes when I was a kid.

> I know it's been said before, but... Poor Keldorn.

Right about now he looks like twenty miles of bad road.

> So much for that stealth ability of his. Kinda hard trying to sneak around

> wearing armor that glows in the dark.

I know he has the ability but I frequently have a hard time associating Minsc with anything subtle like stealth.

> ...And nobody clued in that this could be bad?

*grin*

> Sweeny Todd has some competition...

Jaheira: If you are calling me a demon... *looks menacing*

> Ahem... "...entertaining than having..."

*Silrana gnashes teeth over missing another one*

> Inspire Minsc and he gets hungry.

LOL! Well the poem is about food... among other things.

> Another good installment. I hope you get a handle on RL quickly so you can

> get the next part done. I haven't seen an interpretation of the Eyeless

> dungeon, I'll be looking forward to this. (Even more than I usually look

> forward to these parts. ;) )

> The Mutant Plebian.

> "To be... or what... dude..."

Argh, first the dragon, now the eyeless. I'll do my best, honest.


#22 Weyoun

Posted 09 October 2001 - 11:26 AM

> Hmm. That gives me an idea....

Sounds good to me!

A question though, what actually happened when the Sythillisians rose to power? Did they overrun Amn or started a long war?

---Weyoun

TnT Enhanced Edition: http://www.fanfictio...rds-and-Tempers

---
Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.

Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!

---

"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi

#23 Weyoun

Posted 09 October 2001 - 11:42 AM

> Ack. Sounds like the first season of Star Trek: TNG (sorry, Weyoun).

> Roddenberry did every political statement he'd been saving up since the

> original show.

Oh, no no no no no! We are in complete agreement here! The first season (and the beginning to the seconds) were very, well, openly preachy. In TOS he managed to (and had to) hide those political statements well enough so the network censors didn't catch on, but he was given free reign with TNG, which, well, basically hurt the show.

There was this famous conversation in 'Star Trek, TV memories' between Gene and Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), where she said : "Oh, I see it now. You're writing morality plays..." On which Gene responded: "Shhhh, they (network, censors, parents) haven't found out about it yet..."

The first season of TNG was very shoddy. Characters weren't properly formed (Just compare seaon 1 picard with seaon 3 picard), others were kept in the background too much (Like Troi, Crusher and LaForge), and don't get me started on Wesley *snarls*! They wore those spandex suits, which gave the cast all kinds of health problems, etc... It wasn't until the third season, when things started to go right...

Did you know that Gene Roddenberry was only third choice to produce TNG? The network went to Leonard Nimoy first, since they'd think he'd do a better job that Gene...

The debut and 1st season of DSN was way better set up for sure!

---Weyoun

TnT Enhanced Edition: http://www.fanfictio...rds-and-Tempers

---
Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.

Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!

---

"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi

#24 Guest_Mutant Mike_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 12:03 PM

TNG didn't really improve until they picked up a writer (I don't rememeber his name) until a few shows into the 3rd season. His first script he was given to flesh out and complete was The Enemy (LaForge trapped on a planet with a Romulan have to work together to get rescued). He then wrote The Defector and several other excellent shows from the 3rd season.

I was very glad when they finally got rid of Wesley. Michael Dorn talked about the... idiocy of the situation with "the boy". Basically, he said, "Here was a crew with how many years of experience between them, they get stumped on a problem, and Wesley says 'Turn left'... (smacks forehead) Of course! Why didn't we think of that?!"

I do get frustrated with shows where the 'moral of the story' is not even remotely disguised, where you walk away from the show with bruises about the face and neck by being beaten with "the message", and TNG had several instances of this. But I think the best shows came out while GR was still around and had his influence on them.


#25 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 12:06 PM

> Oh, no no no no no! We are in complete agreement here! The first season

> (and the beginning to the seconds) were very, well, openly preachy. In TOS

> he managed to (and had to) hide those political statements well enough so

> the network censors didn't catch on, but he was given free reign with TNG,

> which, well, basically hurt the show.

Ah, good, you're the reasonable type. I've run into too many Trek fans over the years that think Roddenberry should be nominated for sainthood.

> The first season of TNG was very shoddy. Characters weren't properly

> formed (Just compare seaon 1 picard with seaon 3 picard), others were kept

> in the background too much (Like Troi, Crusher and LaForge), and don't get

> me started on Wesley *snarls*! They wore those spandex suits, which gave

> the cast all kinds of health problems, etc... It wasn't until the third

> season, when things started to go right...

Hehehe, speaking of the first uniforms, have you ever heard Patrick Stewart talk about the origin of the "Picard tuck", that funny little pull he does whenever he is about to sit down? My husband was at a convention that featured him, and someone asked about that. He said that the first uniforms were like cheap hotels - no ballroom.

> Did you know that Gene Roddenberry was only third choice to produce TNG?

> The network went to Leonard Nimoy first, since they'd think he'd do a

> better job that Gene...

> The debut and 1st season of DSN was way better set up for sure!

> ---Weyoun

*grin* TNG did get better, but I must admit Carl and I's greatest love is still for TOS.


#26 Guest_Mutant Mike_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 12:20 PM

> Ah, good, you're the reasonable type. I've run into too many Trek fans

> over the years that think Roddenberry should be nominated for sainthood.

Yeah... They are the ones that give us regular fans a bad name. I mean, I like to go to conventions dressed in a costume because it is fun for me - the same reason I dressed up for Rocky Horror, I suppose... Closet thespian... But the foaming-at-the-mouth rabid fans have made the rest of us targets for ridicule.

I like GR's concept and treatments of a lot of the shows he has produced, as long as he controls his urge to beat people over the head with "the message" it's usually pretty good.

> Hehehe, speaking of the first uniforms, have you ever heard Patrick

> Stewart talk about the origin of the "Picard tuck", that funny

> little pull he does whenever he is about to sit down? My husband was at a

> convention that featured him, and someone asked about that. He said that

> the first uniforms were like cheap hotels - no ballroom.

...ahem... I can speak from experience... There wasn't much room for dancing, that's for sure. :

And I think everyone in the show referred to that move as "The Picard Maneuver".

> *grin* TNG did get better, but I must admit Carl and I's greatest love is

> still for TOS.

I liked TOS and TNG better than DS9, and I never could get into Voyager, even after they brought Seven of Nine in... Jury's still out on Enterprise.


#27 Weyoun

Posted 09 October 2001 - 12:35 PM

> TNG didn't really improve until they picked up a writer (I don't rememeber

> his name) until a few shows into the 3rd season. His first script he was

> given to flesh out and complete was The Enemy (LaForge trapped on a planet

> with a Romulan have to work together to get rescued). He then wrote The

> Defector and several other excellent shows from the 3rd season.

Well, the 3rd season really took off due to the efforts of two people : Rick Berman, who more-or-less took over Roddenberry's job as executive producer, and Michael Pillar, who became senior Story editor (Also known as the Klingon-guy ;) ). They (And to a lesser degree, Melinda Snodgrass, who wrote the brilliant 2nd season ep "The measure of a man", and left when she and Pillar finally had one too many arguments...) But basically, those two people made Star Trek what it is today... Berman and Pillar created both DSN, Voy and St : Enterprise...

> I was very glad when they finally got rid of Wesley. Michael Dorn talked

> about the... idiocy of the situation with "the boy". Basically,

> he said, "Here was a crew with how many years of experience between

> them, they get stumped on a problem, and Wesley says 'Turn left'...

> (smacks forehead) Of course! Why didn't we think of that?!"

Wesley was the ultimate Mary Sue... Wesley was Roddenberry's middle name, after all... ;) God how I hated him... I once voted for him in a ST-poll : Which ST char would you love to see in nasty a shuttle-accident. Wesley beat favorites like Gul Dukat, Crewman Jonas, Lore, Admiral Necheyev, Kai Winn and Weyoun (ahum...) by miles!

> I do get frustrated with shows where the 'moral of the story' is not even

> remotely disguised, where you walk away from the show with bruises about

> the face and neck by being beaten with "the message", and TNG

> had several instances of this. But I think the best shows came out while

> GR was still around and had his influence on them.

Yeah, I quite agree. GR had to be kept on the background though, since those 'moral stories' basically try to tell you what to think, instead of eps with a subtle message, where the hidden moral makes you think instead, like in "Drumhead". Then there are the morally ambiguous stories, like the 6th season Dsn episode, "In the pale moonlight" where Sisko participates in a deception toward the Romulan Empire to convince them to side against the Dominion...

---Weyoun

TnT Enhanced Edition: http://www.fanfictio...rds-and-Tempers

---
Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.

Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!

---

"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi

#28 Weyoun

Posted 09 October 2001 - 12:36 PM

> Ah, good, you're the reasonable type. I've run into too many Trek fans

> over the years that think Roddenberry should be nominated for sainthood.

Well, I'm always reasonable. A lot of fruitful and friendly discussion can come out of Star Trek... But I do tend to get a bit iffy when people say bad things about Captain Kirk, though... ;)

> Hehehe, speaking of the first uniforms, have you ever heard Patrick

> Stewart talk about the origin of the "Picard tuck", that funny

> little pull he does whenever he is about to sit down? My husband was at a

> convention that featured him, and someone asked about that. He said that

> the first uniforms were like cheap hotels - no ballroom.

Yep. Did you know those uniforms were several sizes too small? Stewart's chiropractor warned him about permanent damage to his bones, if he didn't get out of that one-piece jumpsuit...

> *grin* TNG did get better, but I must admit Carl and I's greatest love is

> still for TOS.

Ditto! Although I feel many love for Dsn is growing by leaps and bounds... It's close to becoming my new favorite soon... ;)

---Weyoun

TnT Enhanced Edition: http://www.fanfictio...rds-and-Tempers

---
Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.

Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!

---

"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi

#29 Guest_Mutant Mike_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 01:11 PM

> Well, I'm always reasonable. A lot of fruitful and friendly discussion can

> come out of Star Trek... But I do tend to get a bit iffy when people say

> bad things about Captain Kirk, though... ;)

Yeah! Capt Kirk is Da Man! Who else here thought it absolutely sucked the way they killed him of in Generations?

They handled that poorly to say the least. They should have had him die in a starship battle, not in a brainless fist fight.

> Yep. Did you know those uniforms were several sizes too small? Stewart's

> chiropractor warned him about permanent damage to his bones, if he didn't

> get out of that one-piece jumpsuit...

Well, the way they had to be cut in order for them to look good caused a lot of problems in the upper back. And after several hours on a cold set (spandex does NOT keep you warm), their backs would cramp up - not to mention the discomfort for the men.

BTW, I think the best thing they did for Troi was to put her in a regular uniform - much more professional looking.

> Ditto! Although I feel many love for Dsn is growing by leaps and bounds...

> It's close to becoming my new favorite soon... ;)

> ---Weyoun



#30 Guest_Oyster Girl_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 01:12 PM

> Promises, promises.... ;)

At least this idea just fleshes out an existing story outline instead of starting an entirely new one. ;)


Blue Screen

#31 Guest_Oyster Girl_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 03:27 PM

> Sounds good to me!

I am writing these days, believe it or not. But I'm also working these days, so my already snail-like pace has slowed even more.

> A question though, what actually happened when the Sythillisians rose to

> power? Did they overrun Amn or started a long war?

They overran southern Amn, destroying two forts and two cities, Trademeet and, IIRC, Imnescar. (Esmelteran as well? I don't have my books with me right now.)

They also beseiged Murann, a major port to the south of Athkatla. The war has settled into what looks to be a lengthy stalemate.


Blue Screen

#32 Guest_Oyster Girl_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 10:03 PM

>> Remember, too, that most adventurous Amnians have left to go to Maztica.

>> At the time of BG2, just before the rise of the Sythillisians, the Council

>> is using mercenaries to patrol its borders because there's not enough of

>> an Amnian army to do the job.

>> Hmm. That gives me an idea....

> Be afraid.. Be very afraid... ;)

Of what?

*blinks innocently*


Blue Screen

#33 Guest_Oyster Girl_*

Posted 09 October 2001 - 10:29 PM

Yeah, I know, I'm responding to myself. I'm back among my books. Ah, home. ;)

> They overran southern Amn, destroying two forts and two cities, Trademeet

> and, IIRC, Imnescar. (Esmelteran as well? I don't have my books with me

> right now.)

Esmelteran was occupied by the Sythillisians but not destroyed.

> They also beseiged Murann, a major port to the south of Athkatla.

Murann fell between 1370 and 1373, and it is now (in 1373) a pirate haven. One of the Council of Six is trapped in the city.

> The war has settled into what looks to be a lengthy stalemate.

Between the humanoids and the Cyricists, there are just too many enemies in Murann to retake the city with anything less than an army. Some believe, however, that should key leaders within the monsters' organization be assassinated, the whole "empire" would collapse. The Council will undoubtedly be using Shadow Thief assassins.


Blue Screen

#34 Daedalus

Posted 09 October 2001 - 11:42 PM

> Between the humanoids and the Cyricists, there are just too many enemies

> in Murann to retake the city with anything less than an army. Some

> believe, however, that should key leaders within the monsters'

> organization be assassinated, the whole "empire" would collapse.

> The Council will undoubtedly be using Shadow Thief assassins.

We might get all of this resolved come Lords of Darkness next month. The Shadow Thieves and the Church of Cyric are two of the seven major organizations detailed there. Although the Cloak & Dagger type historical material will be less of a focus than in-game examples to run in a campaign. We'll see...

Daed





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