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Fanfiction Thread

Started by Numbers, July 29, 2016, 04:49:06 PM

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Numbers

As per KatieHal's suggestion, I've started a thread devoted to any and all things fanfiction related. Feel free to discuss anything you like, KQ-related or not, so long as it's appropriate.

I'll start by repeating what I established in the TSL Updates thread. I'm planning on making a single, cohesive work for the KQ series, taking elements from every official game (whether I like it or not, meaning I'll be employing some self-discipline along the way), along with every good fanmade game; this means elements from KQ 2 1/4: Breast Intentions and Owl's Quest will not make it in. Tragic, I know.

So what are you people planning on writing, or are already in the midst of writing?
I have no mouth, and I must scream.

GrahamRocks!

#1
Oh, I actually didn't know it was going to be one big story! I thought it was going to be separate ones. Huh!

But anyway...

Here's a oneshot I wrote recently (and by that I apparently wrote it 7 months ago, God how time flies!) that's just a "What If?" kind of thing: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11764923/1/Going-Home

A story that's currently on hiatus (partially because writer's block prevents me from writing down what I have in my head, and partially because of Graham's characterization being different) which is a bit of a "meta" fic involving the Sierra characters interacting with their creators and how their worlds change as time goes by: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10196701/1/Meet-Your-Maker

A story I'm currently working on (still awaiting my feedback on chapter two from Orion which is why it hasn't been updated, I actually have chapters 2-3 written already and 4 is in the works, but I still need feedback and critique and rewriting) which deals with my own little Quest for Glory AU that has more than one Hero involved (which isn't original, because it's been done before), and expands on the world: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11476222/1/Quest-for-Glory-The-Three-Heroes

Which is actually a remake of this story, which was made a few years back and I think is awful straight out the gate with the opening line: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8108133/1/Quest-For-Glory-So-You-Want-To-Be-A-Hero

I'll recount my current ideas for King's Quest stories here:

[spoiler]1. Mirror Universe. Graham gets captured by his Mirror self, ending up in a Mirror Daventry. Left is right, up is down, everything is backwards. Good people back home are indomitably evil and people considered bad back home are nicer here. Mirror Graham wants to take over “Daventry Prime” since he’s already taken over his own world as an irredeemable tyrant, most likely taking Graham’s place on the throne. Graham joins a Resistance made up of his former “enemies” along the way and has to find a way home and stop his Mirror self from entering his or at least find a way to make sure he won’t invade again.
2. Achaka Lives AU. Have Achaka survive the Well, become a Knight alongside Graham and have them rise through the ranks together as best friends. Non-Slash fic.
3. Graham Alternate Origins AU. Graham didn’t come from humble origins. Instead he is the only grandson of King Edward and part of the Royal Family by birth. Sir Hereward denied the offer of the throne and continues on with his Knight duties as in canon, thusly leaving Edward with no heirs as Hereward is an only child and Graham is most likely either considered too young or just doesn’t count for some reason.
4. Academy Fic. Antithesis fic to Compassion Begets Caring story. Deals with a young, pre-Chapter One Graham in his days at the academy he mentions. He is not liked there, seen as an annoying weak weirdo always with his head in the clouds.
5. Cavern Quest. Everyone is the cast of Undertale. A very young Graham, in the role of Frisk, ends up down in the hidden caverns under the mountain that dominates the land and goes on an adventure to get back to the surface. Neutral then Pacifist Run. Genocide Run AU possible, but most likely only implied. Frisk!Graham realizes that he can SAVE and RELOAD after accidentally killing Toriel during his first run, getting taunted by Flowey for it, and wanting to prove him wrong.
6. Achaka Lives AU. Achaka once again survives, however, Graham does not. Achaka doesn’t realize this until after they’re both out of the caves and keeps Graham’s Adventurer’s Cap in memoriam.
7. Baby Dragon Fic. Graham gains a new companion in the Baby Dragon he finds in Chapter Two, either it follows him home or he forgets it’s in his inventory until after he’s already home. Hijinks, adorableness, and awesome times ensue as he raises it to adulthood over the years.
8. Knight Tournament Fic. Graham is older and wiser now, and presides over this year’s Knight Tournament and meets Connor MacLyr for the first time. They become friends and Graham passes down his wisdom to the young Knight Hopeful.
9. Lovesick Graham Fic. Taking place after Chapter Two, Graham is lonely and wanting companionship. So, just as in the manual to King’s Quest 2, he plans a party and invites all the eligible ladies no matter their station to Daventry Castle. It doesn’t end well. Humor fic with a dash of heartwarming.
10. Graham in Gloriana Fic. Graham isn’t the future King of Daventry, instead he’s the Hero from Quest for Glory. Starts in Spielburg through Silmaria. Fighter to Paladin run. Valanice is Erana, Achaka is Rakeesh, Whisper is Magnum Opus and so on.[\spoiler]

As well as a Genderswap!AU for KQ.

And actually I have, believe it or not, an idea for a Leisure Suit Larry story. Specifically, what I think a potential plotline for 4 could be. Though all I have is, "Takes place after 3, like a year after or so, Larry and Patti are still dating (though they still obviously live together) and Larry, against his better judgement, is deciding to actually take it slow with her so they can really get to know eachother, and is only now thinking of proposing. Somehow they get wrapped up in some sort of mystery, of which of course Julius is the culprit, and the story ends with Larry and Patti forcefully separated, warped inside and out (think transitioning from EGA to VGA) and having their memories wiped, with Larry shouting to Patti (trying his best to hold onto her hand as well) before said memory wipe fully takes over, "I promise, Patti! I WILL find you, and we'll be together again somdeay!" and then Larry wakes up in LSL5."

EDIT: Speaking of LSL, I just finished Paw's LP of 5, and proceeded to rant about it in the comments (I was going to save my vent for the end of 7, but I felt it needed to be said), and now I kinda want to do what you're doing, Numbers, and do it for LSL of sorts.

Numbers

Quote from: GrahamRocks! on July 30, 2016, 01:47:04 PM
Oh, I actually didn't know it was going to be one big story! I thought it was going to be separate ones. Huh!

I should've clarified: it's going to be separate stories divided up by game, with just my single vision in mind. I intend to make the plots flow more evenly and keep the tone of the stories consistent.

I'll get back to you after I've taken the time to skim through some of your writings.
I have no mouth, and I must scream.

GrahamRocks!

Ah, that makes more sense, yeah!

Numbers

Quote from: GrahamRocks! on July 30, 2016, 01:47:04 PM
Here's a oneshot I wrote recently (and by that I apparently wrote it 7 months ago, God how time flies!) that's just a "What If?" kind of thing: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11764923/1/Going-Home

I feel pretty safe saying this is by far the best writing I've seen from the four stories you've included. Lots of character building delivered without any actual dialogue from the characters themselves, and a backstory for Graham that indicates he has some serious self-esteem issues.

Quote from: GrahamRocks! on July 30, 2016, 01:47:04 PM
A story that's currently on hiatus (partially because writer's block prevents me from writing down what I have in my head, and partially because of Graham's characterization being different) which is a bit of a "meta" fic involving the Sierra characters interacting with their creators and how their worlds change as time goes by: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10196701/1/Meet-Your-Maker

After reading this, I'm tempted to include some kind of mechanic in my stories that allows the characters to die over and over again in increasingly ridiculous ways until they think their way out of their predicaments correctly. Imagine in my treatment of KQ6 Alexander getting some of the more gruesome death scenes, including the Minotaur ripping him in half, and when he finally reaches the Underworld, he slips off a ledge and into the black water below, instantly killing him and putting him back at the gate, upon which the skeleton guard will say, "You died again? I just saw you a minute ago."

Quote from: GrahamRocks! on July 30, 2016, 01:47:04 PM
A story I'm currently working on (still awaiting my feedback on chapter two from Orion which is why it hasn't been updated, I actually have chapters 2-3 written already and 4 is in the works, but I still need feedback and critique and rewriting) which deals with my own little Quest for Glory AU that has more than one Hero involved (which isn't original, because it's been done before), and expands on the world: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11476222/1/Quest-for-Glory-The-Three-Heroes

This stuff, I've gotta say, is a bit weaker. Admittedly, I might just be biased since I'm not as big a fan of QfG as I am for KQ, but it just didn't hook me that much. I don't really care that much about the characters here. It also has some of the problems you've been having for a while now, such as an overuse of exclamation marks; I counted 40. Also...
"I'll be boned, dad!"
Was there really no other way to phrase that?

Quote from: GrahamRocks! on July 30, 2016, 01:47:04 PM
Which is actually a remake of this story, which was made a few years back and I think is awful straight out the gate with the opening line: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8108133/1/Quest-For-Glory-So-You-Want-To-Be-A-Hero

Ooh, you weren't kidding. At least you recognized the problems this one had and discontinued it.

Quote from: GrahamRocks! on July 30, 2016, 01:47:04 PM
And actually I have, believe it or not, an idea for a Leisure Suit Larry story. Specifically, what I think a potential plotline for 4 could be. Though all I have is, "Takes place after 3, like a year after or so, Larry and Patti are still dating (though they still obviously live together) and Larry, against his better judgement, is deciding to actually take it slow with her so they can really get to know eachother, and is only now thinking of proposing. Somehow they get wrapped up in some sort of mystery, of which of course Julius is the culprit, and the story ends with Larry and Patti forcefully separated, warped inside and out (think transitioning from EGA to VGA) and having their memories wiped, with Larry shouting to Patti (trying his best to hold onto her hand as well) before said memory wipe fully takes over, "I promise, Patti! I WILL find you, and we'll be together again somdeay!" and then Larry wakes up in LSL5."

EDIT: Speaking of LSL, I just finished Paw's LP of 5, and proceeded to rant about it in the comments (I was going to save my vent for the end of 7, but I felt it needed to be said), and now I kinda want to do what you're doing, Numbers, and do it for LSL of sorts.

If you're writing something, you probably shouldn't spoil the ending by quoting it word-for-word. Just throwing that out there.

Leisure Suit Larry is actually my least favorite Sierra adventure franchise, so it's just as well that I'm not invested in it. But if you're trying to do a "fix fic" by accommodating every entry in the series, and if you try to make the last couple games not steaming piles of sh*t that even MoE is laughing at, then that would be great.

I have no mouth, and I must scream.

GrahamRocks!

QuoteI feel pretty safe saying this is by far the best writing I've seen from the four stories you've included. Lots of character building delivered without any actual dialogue from the characters themselves, and a backstory for Graham that indicates he has some serious self-esteem issues.

Hey, thanks! I didn't think it was all THAT good looking back on it (I think I did try to make it longer and deal with Graham finally reaching home exhausted and having his mom asking what happened, but I couldn't think of anything to happen after that), because it was written rather late at night, but I'm my own worst critic anyway. That's why I practically BEG for critique from people who've read my stuff.

QuoteAfter reading this, I'm tempted to include some kind of mechanic in my stories that allows the characters to die over and over again in increasingly ridiculous ways until they think their way out of their predicaments correctly. Imagine in my treatment of KQ6 Alexander getting some of the more gruesome death scenes, including the Minotaur ripping him in half, and when he finally reaches the Underworld, he slips off a ledge and into the black water below, instantly killing him and putting him back at the gate, upon which the skeleton guard will say, "You died again? I just saw you a minute ago."

Haha! Feel free to use it!

QuoteThis stuff, I've gotta say, is a bit weaker. Admittedly, I might just be biased since I'm not as big a fan of QfG as I am for KQ, but it just didn't hook me that much. I don't really care that much about the characters here. It also has some of the problems you've been having for a while now, such as an overuse of exclamation marks; I counted 40.

*shrugs* Better weaker writing than awful. To be fair, this IS the first chapter, but I can see what you mean, because this is a long chapter, and I just hope I can get better. That's what rewrites are for!

Still too many exclamation points?! Crap! I thought I was getting better at those.

Quote"I'll be boned, dad!"
Was there really no other way to phrase that?

*sigh* I searched for like thieves language/cant and a term I found for "caught/arrested" was boned. I really regret putting that line in because nobody gets it.

QuoteOoh, you weren't kidding. At least you recognized the problems this one had and discontinued it.

*nods in agreement* Seriously, that opening line is awful. The pacing (and thusly the characterization) goes by WAY too fast, also.

QuoteIf you're writing something, you probably shouldn't spoil the ending by quoting it word-for-word. Just throwing that out there.

Good point. Though that's all going off of memory from a dream. I might go for a completely different ending by the time I get to it, who knows?

QuoteLeisure Suit Larry is actually my least favorite Sierra adventure franchise, so it's just as well that I'm not invested in it. But if you're trying to do a "fix fic" by accommodating every entry in the series, and if you try to make the last couple games not steaming piles of sh*t that even MoE is laughing at, then that would be great.

*nods* It seems like (judging from the comments on Pawdugan's LP of 5) that I'm actually not alone in wishing the series stopped at 3 (like headcanoning that Larry and Patti actually got married post 3 and the rest of the games as well as the remake of 1 are just games that Larry programmed for Sierra) after we were reminded just how bad 5 was.

Numbers

Quote from: GrahamRocks! on August 02, 2016, 06:30:39 PM

QuoteAfter reading this, I'm tempted to include some kind of mechanic in my stories that allows the characters to die over and over again in increasingly ridiculous ways until they think their way out of their predicaments correctly. Imagine in my treatment of KQ6 Alexander getting some of the more gruesome death scenes, including the Minotaur ripping him in half, and when he finally reaches the Underworld, he slips off a ledge and into the black water below, instantly killing him and putting him back at the gate, upon which the skeleton guard will say, "You died again? I just saw you a minute ago."

Haha! Feel free to use it!

I'm not actually going to use a "respawn" thing in my stories, since there would be no tension. Still, it's fun to think about a possible script for KQ5 that involves both Graham and Cedric dying repeatedly for really mundane reasons. For instance, Cedric gets kidnapped by the wolf, and Graham, in pursuit, uses the sled...only to break his neck when it crashes, leaving Cedric to get nommed by the wolves offscreen, and, in a distant land, a perturbed Crispin strokes his beard, sensing something has gone horribly wrong. Then a big title card comes up that says

THE QUEST OF KINGS
I have no mouth, and I must scream.

GrahamRocks!


Numbers

In other news, I'm planning on doing some fanfiction based on Doom, specifically the 2016 game, with elements from the previous games thrown in. Given the sheer depravity of the source material, the content in my stories will be firmly in R-rated territory, possibly even NC-17. My King's Quest stories will be for a lighter audience, and when I'm having a bad day, I'll turn to writing Doom stories to get the heavier stuff off my chest. Think of it as a stress outlet. Obviously, I probably won't be advertising those stories on this forum, lest I traumatize some of the younger, more impressionable forum members.
I have no mouth, and I must scream.

GrahamRocks!

Not surprised in the slightest. Where can we follow you otherwise, though?

Numbers

I don't know yet. I don't have a Twitter, and I don't intend to get one anytime soon. I'm on Facebook, but I've never once participated in any groups composed of fans of a particular franchise. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
I have no mouth, and I must scream.

GrahamRocks!

Aw, darn. I was hoping you had an account on like a fanfiction website or something.

Numbers

Not yet, unfortunately. I've kept my writings to myself, and I intend to continue to do so until I've found my footing. For instance, with my Wizard and the Princess story, I've written the first few chapters already, but I plan on completing the entire story first before uploading the chapters one at a time. The staggered release date gives me a chance to go back through the story and clear up plotholes before releasing it to the general public in its entirety.
I have no mouth, and I must scream.

GrahamRocks!

So long as you're getting feedback and critique from someone besides yourself, that's fine. Good luck, as always!

I_am_so_nifty

Quote from: Numbers on August 02, 2016, 07:42:33 PM
Still, it's fun to think about a possible script for KQ5 that involves both Graham and Cedric dying repeatedly for really mundane reasons. For instance, Cedric gets kidnapped by the wolf, and Graham, in pursuit, uses the sled...only to break his neck when it crashes, leaving Cedric to get nommed by the wolves offscreen, and, in a distant land, a perturbed Crispin strokes his beard, sensing something has gone horribly wrong.

Or Graham makes it down the mountain, his cloak gets snagged on the broken sled and falls off onto it, and a distant Graham is very confused as to why he's suddenly worried about sea monsters in the mountains and who Lisa and O are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXoxa2vXv8Q

Anyway I only have a couple of detached notes from maybe the last few years about ideas for making stories off the series. Some of them expansions of 1-4 especially, but I also thought about maybe a series expanding on the periods between games, extended intros and conclusions, giving characters we don't see interacting much some time together (Alexander and Rosella could have very different views about romance between 4 and 6). And some idea where Cassima talks to the family while they're trapped and actually interacts with Alex so it's not quite so love at first sight. I've also given thought to how the series could be adapted to a musical or TV miniseries (my favorite idea there being a side character-focused sitcom spin-off called "Owl Be There for You").

Haven't had plans to actually write any of this for a bit but I'm on a bit of a nostalgia kick right now (and avoiding some college work, I was in middle school when I posted on these forums before, wild), so I'll admit it's tempting. Some day I hope I'll get around to getting all of my files off of the old-when-I-used it Windows 98 I wrote them on and posting the entirety of my middle school KQ fics somewhere for posterity in all their unedited glory. Trying to make the Black Cloak Society a thing was a mess, my OCs eventually all got magic keys which are uncomfortably close to copying straight from Kingdom Hearts (hey, the villains all have black cloaks, sue me), I was getting into time travel and reincarnation... It was a mess, but it was my mess.
This is Nifty, Royal Heir.

I'm like, an adult now or something? Sounds fake, but okay.

Numbers

Heh, I remember seeing that Easter egg before. Still makes no sense to me, but from what I can gather in the comments, Lisa was the name of the Sierra receptionist at the time of the game's release.

My story that I'm working on right now has been put on hold until I've seen the entirety of both TOG's KQ reboot and the final episode of TSL. I want to know the whole story before carrying on. I have roughly the first third of it completed, though it's still a rough draft, and I certainly wouldn't try to sell it to anyone in its current state. And, I must preface this again, the story I'm writing is not exactly a King's Quest story--it's probably too violent (though not bloody and gory the way MoE is), and it doesn't feature very many characters from the main games; it's simply a story set in the KQ universe. I guess you could place it in spinoff territory.

By the way, I_am_so_nifty, I love your avatar; the opening scene in KQ7 where Valanice's eyes turn into protractors will forever live on in infamy.
I have no mouth, and I must scream.

I_am_so_nifty

Quote from: Numbers on March 09, 2017, 01:46:11 PM
By the way, I_am_so_nifty, I love your avatar; the opening scene in KQ7 where Valanice's eyes turn into protractors will forever live on in infamy.

Thanks! You can really see the terror in her eyes, I think. Glad they linger on that shot for so long. Really gets you into her mindset before you wander around a desert and cry at her daughter's comb.
This is Nifty, Royal Heir.

I'm like, an adult now or something? Sounds fake, but okay.

Numbers

Can't forget this fanart.

I have no mouth, and I must scream.

I_am_so_nifty

Not fanfiction per se, but cross-posting to direct y'all to my post on a script I created for the Winged Ones. Insofar as conlanging is an art it's fan*art* I guess.
This is Nifty, Royal Heir.

I'm like, an adult now or something? Sounds fake, but okay.