December Contest - 1st Anniversary of the Ballad Contest! Huzzah! - Choose Your Own Prompt
Deadline: January 7, 2018 at 11:59 P.M. eastern time.
Entry Fee: 100 Points
Minimum entries required: Five valid entries or contest is moot.
Basic Rewards: 25 Points (entry fee returned + 25 points) for successfully submitting a story that achieves a minimum of 3.00/8.00 rating.
Additional Rewards: 100 Points for 1st Place; 50 Points for 2nd Place; 25 Points for 3rd Place
Restrictions: No co-authors. No recycled stories.
Format: CYOA
Requirement: Post a thread in the Writing Workshop and update twice a week on your progress.
Note: The entry fee is high to discourage people from taking prompts they don't intend to finish. Don't be an ass. If you take a prompt, finish it. Because someone else may very well have wanted that prompt.
Instructions:
A) Choose a prompt.
B) To claim a prompt, reply with the number you wish to select and the description of the prompt.
C) Edit lock your selection so you cannot change it.
D) Bucky will confirm your prompt within 24 hours.
E) FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CHECK TO SEE IF SOMEONE TOOK THE PROMPT YOU WANT FIRST.
Prompts: *** Prompts are binding as far as the plain language suggests. Beyond that, author creativity reigns.
1) In 100,000 B.C.E., a boy from a Neanderthal tribe meets a homo sapien girl for the first time, changing the fate of their tribes for all time . . . for better or worse.
2) In a rewrite of history, Patton survives the car wreck at the close of the war in Europe and goes on to beat Harry Truman in the 1948 presidential election. His first year in office, Patton takes war to Russia, to rid the world of the communist threat.
3) A nuclear winter grips the Earth. Tell us a tale.
4) This is not a tale of kings and queens, but a song of sorrows where the poor peasants muck their pigsties as the countryside burns in the wake of civil war.
5) A sci-fi taking place on a terraformed Mars, Venus, Titan, Europa, or Earth's moon. Take your pick.
6) Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water. But when they came down, Jack soon found that he and Jill had a daughter.
7) An arrogant prick of a man, a godless heathen, but not quite an outright cunt, you find yourself on the periphery of hell. True to your nature, the only reasonable option left is to kill the god of the underworld and fight your way to FREEDOM!
8) The emperor sends you to a faraway land to capture exotic beasts for his zoo. But a spreading plague, a witch-doctor, and a brewing feud between local tribes presents . . . difficulties.
9) An open world CYOA in a Tolkien inspired land with a focus on characters, plot, and story. Must be more story than game. *Note, Tolkien inspired means the world must not be modern or futuristic. And the world must have an element of magic, arcane, or mysticism.
10) A story set in the Ming Dynasty.
11) Crap-sack world.
12) The world just keeps kicking you in the dick. Your house burns down. Your daughter dies of typhoid. Your whore wife runs off with a British privateer. Things can't seem to get worse, so you head to a tavern in downtown Port Royal to drink away the last of your money before you hang yourself. Only . . . it's June 7th, 1692 and your watch just hit 11:30 A.M. Shit is about to get real.
13) A society on the verge of a Golden Age experiences a cataclysmic disaster.
14) The protagonist is an orc.
15) From train robberies to cattle rustling and Indian wars, tell a story from the Wild West.
16) A horror romance.
17) Make up an entirely new world, including, species, religion, economy, and culture. The plot is up to you.
18) Your story takes place in the ancient city of Babylon and it's beautiful hanging gardens.
19) The protagonist is a literal dragon.
20) The protagonist is a (trope) dragon-in-chief.
21) A Halloween or horror ballad.
22) A Christmas ballad.
23) Vikings raid the British isles during the 9th century. Tell a story of a Viking raider.
24) Vikings raid the British isles during the 9th century. Tell a story of a British islander.
25) A fantasy story fit for children.
26) A love story between an English knight and a Flemish wool merchant's daughter. The story starts in 1335, two years before the start of the Hundred Years War.
27) Breath fresh life into the tale of Robin Hood.
28) A historical fiction with one of the main pathways being true history (edutainment).
29) A story set in an Australian penal colony.
30) A puzzle, mystery, or riddle game.
31) Mystery Box. Bucky will only tell you what it holds after you open it.
32) EndMaster's Game. EndMaster pick's the prompt.
33) Write a story about the Dullahan.
34) The protagonist is the village whore. But she's also a witch!
Edit lock.
I’m winning this time. I’m going to knock three birds with one stone while I’m doing it.
1st Stone: Winning a contest, and therefore a contest trophy.
2nd Stone: Getting featured by kicking something out of the Edutainment.
3rd Stone: @Steve24833 Enter this contest so I can beat you. This is, by way of contest, a challenge from me.
I've already done 9, 11, 14, 16 and 25. Make something that beats those.
I already beat two of your games with the one I have. Not that Dawnwood, and The Only Light You See in the Darkness is Fire are your best works, but my story isn't the best I can do either. Let's not forget that if I were simply trying to beat your other stories, then I wouldn't do it through a contest. A contest in the middle of the busiest month of the year no less. I'd be a fool to challenge The Path of Death with 3 weeks of time. Put simply, these are the perfect circumstances in which to wager a challenge. Same deadline, and same time allotment, with us choosing our topic from Buck'ys set list.
I didn't see you saying that you accept, so I can only assume you think you can't beat me. If you want to wager stuff on this challenge, assuming you accept, then we can add terms. As of now, the only thing on the line now is reputation.
None of the ones I just mentioned, you down syndrome retard. Good try though.
I can’t believe you actually read all of that, and that’s what you had to say. I already pointed out the reasons why it would foolish compete with stories that were created not under the circumstances of this contest. Obviously you either can’t read, or have lost brain cells since the last time you were raped by a man from Northern Ireland. Probably the real reason you don’t like that part of Ireland tbh.
Don’t worry though. I understand. You’re trying to get out of losing a challenge, but it’s understandable. I do have mountains of points, and a heap of featured story games.
Your fear is understandable.
*gets the popcorn*
I just realized I said understandable way too many times in those last few sentences. Oh well.
Among the Trees was written in three days, plus as the horror-romance it's one of the actual examples I gave, so you're golden there's that. Anyhow, I don't know if you've been paying attention, but I joined the contest. Not because of what you said, you're just kind of there shouting, but coincidentally because I was talking to Bucky in the Lair, but... I don't know, good try again?
Eh. I suppose I was kinda shouting, wasn’t I? Well it was obvious you didn’t join from me challenging you. If you had, then that would’ve been obvious.
You have absolutely no interest in participating in a mini-contest between the two of us? That honestly sucks, and I suppose I’ll stop pestering you about accepting it.
I guess my only question is why not? If you’re already doing the contest with the intention to win, then adding beating me surely wouldn’t be any skin off you’re back. Plus it’d be more fun.
I like how insanely quickly your aggression and hatred deflates pathetically into you just shrugging and talking about how fun it would be when you realize I don't know who you are.
Anyhow, I've accepted the contest, thus I plan to beat everyone here, including you. So I'm already going to beat you.
Edit: Ooh, thought of a good analogy. It's like if a dude's trying to rape you, but he prematurely ejaculates, and his angry erection becomes flaccid and sad.
Well I was trying to follow the flow of things. You insulted me, I insulted you back, and then you were completely docile. Thus, making me look like I was shouting at some defenseless snake. Also, since I was trying to provoke you into accepting a specific challenge from me. When I realized that wouldn’t work, I had to change tactics. The alternative was to continue the aggression, and that would’ve turned out even worse since I would essentially be yelling at a stranger. Losing the aggression was obviously the better alternative.
Also, I was trying to work it into a situation where you decide that you’re going to crush me specifically which I would then turn into an opportunity for me to get more points. Obviously that didn’t work, AND you didn’t even argue back. Altogether a disappointing 3rd bird.
Trying to follow the flow of things? Jesus, you are an antisocial fucker if that was your goal. Seems to me you called me out for a challenge for some reason, even though I have no idea who you are and we never really interact, and you expected me to be as pumped as you are for some reason, because you do know who I am, and well enough that you want to challenge me.
Anyhow, I don't know what you expect me to argue with, here. What points do you have to argue with that I haven't already?
Yeah. Looking back, it was a plan with many flaws. One of which was not going to the table with something to wager. Well, actually I guess I could bet my account if I wanted. (And assuming that’s allowed in these contests anymore)
Actually if you want to make a bet like that, then I’m down. You bet like 1,000 points, and if you do better than me, I’d be banned.
Never mind. You’ve already demonstrated no interest in it. So, @anyone with a lot of points to lose, that also will get a kick of me being banned. I’m open to make a bet with my account on the line.
*quietly locks this just in case*
I think Bucky was just going for a regular contest. The crazy bet thing was more due to the theme of the Chaos Contest at the time.
Still, up to him I guess.
@Bucky
Many thanks. Although no ones taken my offer, so there’s that.
1000 points means nothing to Seto and Thara with their numbers, either of them would be a interesting mini contest.
Indeed. Except Seto has already posted in this thread several times without entering, so he’s off the list until further notice.
Thara, on the other hand, has a perfect opportunity to claw herself out of End’s cell. Submitting an entry is one thing, but if she manages to get me banned then I’m sure End will be doubly proud of her.
@TharaApples
Why would I necessarily care about getting you possibly banned? No thanks, but thank you, I suppose.
Apparently, we chatted in the tranny thread, where he admitted he was factually incorrect, but said he was going to continue using words wrong. A fascinating skill for a writer.
Well I feel like an idiot. That’s supposed to say first, second, and third bird. Oops.
To answer your question mizal. I don’t really have to wager anything else, but if you have suggestions then I’m open. If only to make this a tad more exciting. I’ve pretty much blanked on more things to wager. I mean, I barely even have 100 points after all.
I agree. Wholeheartedly in fact. 'Tis part of the reason I'm entering this contest, and challenging Steve. Gotta do something to make up for all of that lost time.
I for one am sure you're just a slow burner.
Expound please.
Your near two years here have been a gradual build up to whatever amazing thing you're about to pull out of the bag.
I certainly hope so.
Thanks. I'll need it.
Speaking of, it's been like a week or two, and Dini still hasn't finished beta-reading my story. Someone please tag her full name so I can yell at her.
Steve's certainly more important than you Mizal.
Bam! Take that, Mizal, you fucking mean bitch!
Steve, beat their fucking asses. I put my faith in you, and I'm rooting for you!
I'm always here :^)
Is that a genuine offer? Because I'll happily take you as a beta-reader. I can race you against Dini.
It is a genuine offer, I can probably get it to you in a day or so(?), depending on the length :)
Finished a week ago, but I couldn't find that much time to message you guys as I'm busy with school and yeah. I'll get back to you Steve.
I'm just as bad ;-;
*stares at all the time I've been here* *stares at 0 published stories*
Ohh I didn't read that right. And no, my precious. >~>
Wouldn't it be three birds instead of stones?
But if killing stones with birds is your thing, go ahead!
Hey Sherlock, Steve is already in the contest. Thus, he will make all attempts to beat the others regardless of a challenge from you.
I already addressed my typ in an above post, but if replying to already addressed issues is your thing, go ahead.
Ah, my apologies, was just skimming through.
32. Endmasters Game. Endmaster pick's the prompt.
lock
If i do fail im really hoping my title gets changed to ulitmate failure. Anyway I'm putting all my harem stories on hold, im winning and getting featured, all of you might aswell give up.
I was orginally going to ask for something romance or highschool related but knew I would probably get shat on by other entries. Scifi stories are really fun and expressive so that was my next pick.
...you can literally do the same thing as Digit with your prompt.
Yeah but she actually has to world-build to a extent and that can get cumbersome.
Fixed.
4.
Nah, I'll be surprised if he finishes a story anyway.
Contest Participants So Far:
AzBaz 27
BlueThread 5
Chanbot (Ford) 14
Digit 32
Doodled 15
Ebon 28
Malk 11
Mizal 17
Mynoris 34
Nekocat 3
Ogre 8
Orange 31
Romulus 22
Sentinel 25
Spartacus (coins) 9
Steve 4
I won't be a participant in this one though it looks spectacular. I'm currently on a quest for a shiny silver trophy. :)
Digit has his prompt: Villain protagonist terrorizing a space colony on an alien planet.
Hmm I like to live dangerously so I'll go with: 31) Mystery Box. Bucky will only tell you what it holds after you open it.
Edit lock
Baloo and his gay Caribbean friend visit the Festival of Baal, and also there's a frozen river.
I'll take 11
22. Don't have much time to write this month, but a CYOA-ballad should be doable.
Lock.
Yee-haw.
Hee-yaw. (Edit lock.)
From the far-away time of five years ago, my friend.
Fancy meeting ya here, person from five years ago.
I do have a question, since I'm new to these contests - is item-based interaction allowed?
Number 9.
Quick question, what's a clear definition of Tolkien-esque?
It has to be based primarily about a universe where a majority of characters are J. R. R. Tolkein. Hard one, but good choice.
So it could be dark fantasy as opposed to Tolkien's "good guys win" setting, correct?
Could I have the 5) Sci-Fi one please, friend?
Quick question about the Writing Workshop requirement.
When we update it, can it be something as simple as, “I added one page today,” and then be done with it? Not that I’m going to do that. Just in case it’s midnight on some Saturday night and I forgot the second update that week.
Just making sure.
Depends how harsh they are. King Charles I didn't survive a single one.
I think someone should combine all the prompts into one story. Would be a pretty crazy read if you ask me.
Anyway, good luck to the contestants, also don't forget about this: Requirement: Post a thread in the Writing Workshop and update twice a week on your progress.
Fucking hell, missed that.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, since you technically also missed: B) To claim a prompt, reply with the number you wish to select and the description of the prompt.
You just said '4.' and still got it, so maybe you won't need to do the whole updating a thread thing.
Also didn't lock it, Just sayin'.
@Bucky Am I kicked out of the contest yet, or do I, as the greatest, get a free pass from those stupid rules?
Wait, all these might need to be ballads? Fuck sake, I am not in the mood to forfeit 100 points.
Not confirmed yet, bud.
25 points, prompt 25, so I'll finish the vague outline I have by the time I'm 25.
So no fanfiction?
Why wouldn't there be?
I was interpreting what "No recycled stories" meant.
Mkay. Thanks you guys ^_^
Paavheavic defeaav, avhen nauk-avreaavaumn avo avhe ukhadowuk.
Speak English you asses. x'D
Irish really is a beautiful language.
Tá tú ag beo toisc mar bhí do mháthair ag fáil fucked san acht, bhí cuid den chorp ag gabháil isteach ina babhta, agus bhféadfadh do mháthair a bheith in ann tú a ghearradh amach an bolg, agus ní raibh crogán cóta sa na teach mar tá tú an-an-bocht.
Did you fall asleep on top of your keyboard?
A quick Google Translate:
"You are living because your mother was getting fucked in the act, some of the body was in a round, and your mother could be able to cut off your belly, and there was no coat hanger in the house as there are you are very poor."
Well then.
Disregard this. I'm being dumb.
You're only alive because when your mother was getting fucked in the ass, some of the cum went into her vagina, and your mother couldn't afford to cut you out of her belly, and there was no coat hanger in the house as you're really, really poor.
Since we're not religious conservatives over here, or have an American healthcare system, abortions are actually free of charge. So shame on you for your inaccurate insults.
Couldn't afford to get to one.
We get it, you want my attention so you're doing the vague equivalent of ponytail pulling, but it's getting a bit too far.
Are you going to do a Marxist Robin Hood? I'd personally do a gritty gangland rendition, but only because I'd consider Robin in da Hood to be hilarious.
A Klan rendition of the Men in Tights would be another good one.
Updating the list
Crash 16
Crescentstar 10
Fluxion 1
Frank 18
10) A story set in the Ming Dynasty
@Alekos You pressured me to join; if you don't join yourself, there will be consequences.
Lol. I was deciding between Ming dynasty and Babylon Hanging Gardens
Sort of surprised nobody took the witch whore one yet.
It'd be fun to see the outcome! :p
Glad you're still alive, Mister Man. Best of luck with your shit, hope to read something new from you soon.
Unfortunately, I would've taken prompt 30 but then there a lot factors that are hindering me from doing so.
If Bucky would let me in for free I'll choose 30. (I have negative points because I undermined the dueling system T_T)
As far as I know you can still go ahead and join, you're just going to be further 100 in the hole and still probably not going to dig yourself out unless you win first place and write something so well that you get a story featured.
Can you at least let me get 0 EXP? And not a negative? Gimme back my points T^T
That'll take too long to reach 100 points though
That's too much T_T
There's nothing stopping you from just taking the idea and running with it without entering the competition ... I think.
I thought that someone would take 34.. x'D
I'm tempted; I just don't know what this 'edit lock' is...or if I'm even up for it. I wouldn't want to take up a slot and not follow through.
Edit lock is replying to your own post after you make your choice so you can't change it.
And taking up slots and not following through is probably what most are doing in this thread anyway.
Thank you for the response; I'll give it a try. It doesn't seem anyone else has claimed the number.
16) A horror romance (assuming I'm still allowed to enter due to my negative points)
Edit locked
I'd like this one, please and thank you.
Edit locked. (Hopefully this is all I have to do.)
You also have to: Requirement: Post a thread in the Writing Workshop and update twice a week on your progress.
Just in case you didn't notice that part.
I saw that, but I'm not sure how detailed the update has to be, or if there's a specific format for it. (Also I think it said you're supposed to make the thread after you have been confirmed.) But thanks for the reminder. :D It's better to tell someone something they already know rather than have someone miss out on information.
Also, shameless plug for that poetry prompt thingy I hosted about ballads.
P1 7
Resistor 19
Stillwater 6
I think we have a solid amount of people who will actually turn out a story this time. I expect the battle to win will, consequently, be closer than the last couple contests.
Good luck to everyone.
I'm just glad to see the SHAME system works despite James bitching and moaning whenever I suggested it should be implemented over here.
In my defense, I just got back. :)
For me I just wasn’t quite in the mood to write a children’s story, not an inclusive story. I’m sure I could, but the allure was virtually nonexistent for me.
Writing about my favorite historical figure, on the other hand, gives me quite a lot of motivation. That, and it seems that these contests are more official, and therefore carry more bragging rights.
To be fair, Alexander was Macedonian.
Also, he might not have been gay at all, and the people he was speculated to be gay with probably won’t be in the scope of my story.
Any possible relationship in my story will not feature a pedophilic protagonist. Among the possible relationships of Alexander’s that could be considered pedophilic, none of Alexander’s partners were pre-pubescent. (Or if they were, please provide evidence)
Let me emphasize that my story will barely extend past pubescence, so any sexual relationships that might happen will be between him and someone of similar age.
Ahh shiat Morally perverse :P
Do all paths in the story have to follow the prompt, or just the majority of them?
I'm looking forward to read this one.. A whore witch sounds very intriguing.
Well I'm not sure I can do it justice, but it was the one that jumped out at me that wasn't already taken. I haven't even got to the witch part yet; I'm doing the smaller paths first.
Maybe a whore develops into a witch on some paths. but on others she doesn't.
Alternately, maybe being a witch just isn't paying like it used to.
Alternately, maybe being a whore just isn't paying like it used to.
The pay usually rises proportionally to inflation, but the job tends to suck more when people get older.
Or maybe the witch develops into a whore because witchcraft doesn't provide strong enough spells and she becomes a whore to tap into whore magic as well.
That would be an interesting take on it. Though why they would think she would curse herself could be a puzzle.
She could take the Typhoid Mary approach: being immune to the disease herself but spreading it to others.
Most people are neither a whore nor a witch as a child, though I suppose either could be debated. I'm starting with the character young and exploring some early paths.
Prompt 18
Ohhhh. This was the one I would've chosen had I not chosen something else.
I wonder what you'll make from this! :D Another historical theme taken
I'm looking forward to this one. There's something enchanting about the hanging gardens.
Is it too late to enter?
If not, could I have prompt 7) An arrogant prick of a man, a godless heathen, but not quite an outright cunt, you find yourself on the periphery of hell. True to your nature, the only reasonable option left is to kill the god of the underworld and fight your way to FREEDOM!
edit lock
Thanks. Yeah, I'm surprised it was still there. Seems like one of the easier ones.
I suppose 'easy' depends on who is writing it. Some styles and subjects just come easier to some folks than others. But I guess that's kind of an obvious thing to say. I just know I wouldn't have done well with that prompt. Then again, a lot of people probably won't like what I'm doing with the prompt I DID choose, so there you go.
Well there's still time to write about Atlantis with prompt 13 if anyone so desires.
I'll take #6, the Jack and Jill one.
I was wondering if anyone was going to take this one. It seemed one of the odder ones to me.
IAP 33
Jeffrey 30
There's always SHAME
Heyyyy, we got 14/15. Even if we adapt your math to the additional entries after you posted this, it's still more than expected (12-13 if I understood it right)
I'll take the puzzle, mystery or riddle game. Be warned that I will probably take plenty of creative liberty with the word "mystery."
Edit Lock: Can I still enter if I don't have 100 points? I mean, negative points is possible, right?
Even more wonderful people :D
Hey, last time there was mention of an early bird prize. For people who didn't submit their stories last minute. Is that in place for this contest, or is that a no-go on reward for submitting early?
I'm a week late and have no proof I'm a decent writer, but I do have more than 100 points for some reason.
I'll take 19 (protagonist is a literal dragon). Surprised no one took that because dragons are AWESOME.
To be fair, seven of those are shit. Perhaps adding a smattering of more would encourage a few more entries, plus piss off everyone who hasn't started yet and sees one they'd prefer up for grabs.
Not this beautiful bastard. Just got to introducing the Black and Tans, bitches, and people are already getting brutalized.
I thought it just meant that only 34 people could join. If 36 had been interested, would more prompts have been made?
Well, I figure first 48/72 hours to make way for people who just couldn't get logged in on time. But what you say makes sense. All in all, you seemed to have picked a good number of prompts.
Updating the list Contest Participants So Far
Fluxion 1 Nekocat 3 Steve 4 BlueThread 5 Stillwater 6 P1 7 Ogre 8 Spartacus (coins) 9 Crescentstar 10 Malk 11
MysteryParticipant 12
RoyalGhost 13 Chanbot (Ford) 14 Doodled 15 Crash 16 Mizal 17 Frank 18 Resistor 19
Eric 21 Romulus 22 Sentinel 25 AzBaz 27 Ebon 28
Mr.Ace 29 Jeffrey 30 Orange 31 Digit 32 IAP 33 Mynoris 34
Can you explain what you mean by "dragon-in-chief" in #20? I'm not that well-versed on TvTropes.
Funny you should ask, I was curious and can now half certainly say it is one of two things: 1. Bad guy serving a less dangerous bad guy. OR 2. Less dangerous bad guy who has a more dangerous bad guy serving them.
Look I was mostly skimming and the article was really long. Here is a Link.
As a fun fact, there are lots of ways to go about doing this, so the prompt likely gives a lot of room for creative liberties. With that said, just figure out if the dragon in chief is the more dangerous person or the less dangerous one (since I somehow failed to figure that out >->).
This is what the laconic is for.
Haha; if only.
Hmm interesting...
Guess I don't know what a dragon-in-chief is then. However I would say laconic sounds better, being one word and all. Yeah that's it!
Ah I get it now. Yeah I was just being an idiot. Times like these I wish I was an admin for them useful editing powers. >->
Now I know a new word at least.
*struggles climbing the bar*
I am a little late to this because I have not been checking the website lately when I should have. But I am here now and since I didn't participate in the original ballad contest, (and most of the prompts are taken) here I go!
EDIT LOCK ACTIVATED
I just gotta say, it's really weird being this far in with the contest and I haven't banned Negative at least twice yet.
Don't expect a fully fledged story, this hobby has taken a back-seat to producing, but ahhh I have too join I'm to tempted and don't want to get my prompt taken.
Entering as soon as I get the points.
I'm pretty sure you can enter even if you don't have 100 points. It'll just take you down to the negatives.
Oh shizzles that's scary
Lol.
Edit lock.I shall win.
Was not much left. Lol should have seen this earlier.
Contest Participants So Far
Fluxion 1 Nekocat 3 Steve 4 BlueThread 5 Stillwater 6 P1 7 Ogre 8 - Safe Spartacus (coins) 9 Crescentstar 10 Malk 11 MysteryParticipant 12 RoyalGhost 13 Doodled 15 Crash 16 Mizal 17 - Safe Frank 18 Resistor 19
Comply 20 Eric 21 Romulus 22 Sentinel 25 AzBaz 27 Ebon 28 Mr.Ace 29 Jeffrey 30 Orange 31 Digit 32 IAP 33 - Safe Mynoris 34
SHAMED so far
Chanbot (Ford)
any page the future is now, old man!
Yeah, might as well.
Why?
hold it right there.
I may be an amateur and I may be new, but I, too, request entry.
I'd like to enter for prompt 20: The protagonist is a (trope) dragon-in-chief.
editlock
yes, well...
the school-based and everything else categories usually have an end game link in two pages or less. very low-quality content in those ones...
We're talkin about Ford, right?
Who?
Decided you didn't like your Quaylon5 name?
a. not mysterious enough
b. admin or no, it's creepy to look at people's ip addresses
point still stands though, who's ford?
Yes, because now that I have access to your IP, I’m totally going to be bothered to track you down in real life and murder you in your sleep. You could have easily been one of the many trolls/spammer we got on this site trying to sneak back in. There’s one guy who does that for every contest. Need to check the noobs that just suddenly show up announcing they’re entering.
that seems like a moot point. couldn't someone easily just use an onion router and sneak back in? though i suppose you'd see a new IP address each time they logged in if that was the case, with no consistency.
Our spammers/trolls usually aren't that intelligent. Lol.
Can we have un-coauthored beta readers?
Yeah if we can't have a beta reader I'm totally going to be fucked.
What's a beta reader?
How do you let them read it without co-authoring them?
But then other contestants can see my work, too.
hm
No, I think that if they're intimidated in any way by my writing, they'll try harder to beat it. Specifically the older members on this site, since they pose the most competition.
Mkay. Thankee.
Don't understand why anyone would do a majority of their story in some Doc. Would be a complex mess with paths.
I do mine first in the editor, then copy it over to word. The way it copies over, I get headings made automatically which makes it easy to find.
I plan out my stories using pencil and paper, then write them using Word. After that, I copy and paste the finished product to CYS, do a proof read, and publish.
Woohoo, you're a life story-saver Bucky!
Thank you!
Merry christmas my dudes
On the first day of Christmas Grandpa Bucky gave to me: A Story in a Story Tree.
On the second day of Christmas ?Grandpa Bucky sent to me: Two Stern Words and a Story in a Story Tree.
On the third day of Christmas Grandpa Bucky sent to me: Three Nude Steves Two Stern Words and a Story in a Story Tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas Grandpa Bucky sent to me: Four Scripting Tips Three Nude Steves Two Stern Words and a Story in a Story Tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas Grandpa Bucky sent to me: Five Golden Trophies Four Scripting Tips Three Nude Steves Two Stern Words and a Story in a Story Tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas ?Grandpa Bucky sent to me: Six Newbs a Laying Five Golden Trophies Four Scripting Tips Three Nude Steves Two Stern Words and a Story in a Story Tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas Grandpa Bucky sent to me: Seven Day Extension Six Newbs a Laying Five Golden Trophies Four Scripting Tips Three Nude Steves Two Stern Words and a Story in a Story Tree.
"Three nude Steves"? You're not my type, doll face, you creep me out. Also, get back to work on your story rather than whatever the hell that was.
Three nude Steves? I think one nude Steve would be too much for me to handle, let alone three of them.
Cute little song re-write though. I approve.
Thank you kindly Bucky. While there's a chance I could have finished on time, frankly my prospects were poor. I have been working on this, but I'm rusty in my writing and battling distractions and fatigue at every turn. But now I feel that I will be doubly shamed if I don't finish it.
Oh fuzzles. Ogre's and Mizal's are good if the comments and ratings so far mean anything. See, @Steve24833 , Mizal is competition too. RIP me. xD
Well, short stories give readers time to actually view the whole thing and give a comprehensive rating of it. Some stories are so long I fear to rate them at all in case I somehow keep finding the paths that are missing the main point.
Fluxion 1 - Safe Nekocat 3 Steve 4 - Safe BlueThread 5 Stillwater 6 Pending P1 7 Ogre 8 - Safe Crescentstar 10 - Safe Malk 11 - Safe MysteryParticipant 12 RoyalGhost 13 Doodled 15 Crash 16 - Safe Mizal 17 - Safe Frank 18 Resistor 19
Comply 20 Eric 21 - Safe Romulus 22 - Safe Sentinel 25 AzBaz 27 - Safe Ebon 28 - Safe Mr.Ace 29 Jeffrey 30 Orange 31 Digit 32 - Safe IAP 33 - Safe Mynoris 34 Pending
SpartacusTheGreat (coins)
Yeah, I noticed before, but I just said fuck it, because I'm too lazy to change everything now.
Everyone who submitted something gets an extra bonus this time. Enjoy.
I feel forgotten.
*freaks out*
Yeah... oops.
About 2 hours left.
Given CYS' tendency to skip/not rate longer stories, Steve might also have broken the Edutainment section for the foreseeable future. It'd actually be really nice if 3J could fix the bug that kills the storygame list if a story doesn't get enough ratings.
Just a little over ten minutes left. More then enough time to create a story game Id say
About 10 minutes left.
Personally I'm hoping for SHAMING at least half of you.
AND THAT'S TIME!
THE REST OF YOU HAVE BEEN SHAMED!
Have we not made exceptions for Stillwater's case in the past? I think I recall a situation where the game was finished beforehand, it just couldn't be published, so it was just put on sneak preview. I feel it's a bit unfair that it's a relatively new site r. I mean, it's a proper bitch for Mynoris as well, but that was her own undoing. I'd say it should be put down to a vote among contestants or something, because, I'm relatively certain no one would actually be opposed to Still being included amongst the eligle.
I'd be fine with keeping Stillwater's story eligible, especially since (if I recall correctly) the two-day publishing thingy was ignored in certain previous contests. I'd also be fine with keeping Mynoris' in by the way, though she arguably has less of a justification for her tardiness.
It was pretty much the usual for me. I was doing decently well, then my sister was in ER for two days. To be honest, I'm much more concerned with avoiding shame, than being able to win.
Technically it was both. My sister was in the emergency over 2 days. I was 2 minutes late at the end, because of a poorly timed bathroom break.
Well, technically I wasn't cooking, my mom was. But she also had to do some venting, and as much as I wanted to finish my story on time, I owe a lot to my mom, so I wasn't about to say, "Sorry, but I can't listen to your troubles right now, I'd much rather finish a story on a deadline that I'm not being paid for." She doesn't often get to that level of persistent agitation, so I didn't want to dismiss her outright.
So, while I accept non-entry into the contest, I do reject being shamed for putting my family first in a few incidents.
That being said, I should have known that my life always has these interruptions (which I often resent) and been more cautious. Or, as you described it in the other thread, maybe it comes down to self- sabotage. I do tend to indulge in that. Perhaps not purposely, but I'm sure a psychologist could have a field day with things.
Everyone starts out being concerned solely with winning, but when procrastination kicks in...well people start to feel End breathing down their neck. Thus they transform their goal into simply finishing.
I was never actually considering I would win in the first place. I was just doing it to make myself write. It seemed the best way to do that was to have a deadline.
You required us to make an update thread in the writing workshop, right? Doesn't that prove I didn't do what the 48 hour prerequisite to publishing aims to avoid? I'm grateful for escaping shame, but if I'd seen the warning I wouldn't have avoided it.
This has been fun. I used classic editor for the last story I wrote, and I now, having used advanced editor this time, can say the AE is much superior. Even if you are trying to make a fairly simple game, it really helps expedite the process.
@the judges
That being said, this is the first time I’ve used it, so there may be bugs. Please notify if there is.
So who was the mystery participant?
Check the shame thread Cres.
Stupid question, but curious: Can I make a short walk through for my entry?
Yay! Is it just three of you who are weighing in? I'm not sure how many admin there are, to be honest.
You just love tempting people into trouble, don't you? ;)
I want to tag Killa so bad right now, but mizal said that was cheating xp
Yeah, and we're all such honest people here.
Oooooo. So honest indeed. If only I'd been a moment faster.
Some of us are. To some extent. I guess.
Think there's only a couple ballads.
Two down, one to go.
Yeah I still want to go over some of them again to hammer out the final placements.
I'm just being lazy right now, though I'll probably get them in before Bucky.
Oh, I thought you’d already submitted them after reading them. I feel like this will be the fastest a contest has had results if Bucky gets his in on schedule. Like others have already said, this contest has been good in so many ways.
You’re good to take your time btw @Bucky I don’t think anyone will die if you take a couple extra days to do it.
