MTG Salvation

From the "Adventurer's Academy" in 'news.LESSON 1: Reality of Post Content

Yes, the colosseum is mainly fantasy and science fiction, but there is some reality to what goes on within these bounds. There may be dragons and space ships, yet there are still physical laws and mental laws.

Modding: This is when a character is hurt or affected against their player's will.

Example: Tim kicks Bob square in the junk.

This was a direct example of physical modding. Tim's player never gave Bob's player a chance to retaliate. The correct way to go about posting this would've been:

Tim attempts to kick Bob in the junk.

Although this does not mean Bob can't take the kick, which I will touch on later. There is another kind of modding which I like to call Dialogue Modding. The following is an example post.

Tim and Bob stand in the arena, sweating and breathing heavily. Bob is heavily injured.

Tim: Do you agree to forfeit?
Bob: Yes.

Now, Bob, yet again, got the short end of the stick. The post, while unoriginal for the sake of time, was great up until Bob's dialogue. Tim should've merely asked Bob if he'd like to forfeit and wait for Bob's player to see the post and reply.

Power Limits: Now, for a different problem I've been seeing in reality of post content is that people think there are no limits or boundaries to their powers. Not to be picking on this particular individual, but he posted in a battle with multiple participants that he could pick out one individual combatants with scent. Although he was a dragon with very keen senses, keen senses would've also picked up the other combatants savage B.O.

Something else much like this is the fact that some people never seem to take hits. No matter what you throw at them, they just seem to do a handspring to the side or barely move their neck. Remember, Folks, it's okay to have your character get hurt every once and awhile, they can't die without your permission. Your characters, although they may be fast, probably can't dodge every single sword swing, fireball and arrow flung at you.

Time and Speed: One of the most common mistakes I see in new colosseum patrons is what I like to call DBZ Syndrome . They feel there is no set speed for anything and no continuous time. While you're sitting across the battlefield surveying your enemy, he is probably not doing the same thing. If you were in a real life fight, I advise you not to simply stand there.

Weight:

Example: Tim picks up Bob and throws him into a wall of burning platypus remains.

Now, suppose Tim is an Elf and Bob is a 400 lb. Golem. This really isn't possible without some major strength enhancement. Do I really need to say much else on this?


Conclusion: Before you hit the "Post Reply" button, think to yourself, How fast was John's arrow really going? Is Leonard fast enough to leap out of it's way, or should he take the arrow in the shoulder?.


When describing actions and stuff, you definitely can keep a lot of the unimportant information out. A good example of description and a bad example, plus a too descriptive example.

Bad:
Joe shmoe lashed out with his sword.
Yeah, woopity do. Anybody can lash out with their sword.

Good:
Bringing the three-foot blade behind him, Joe Shmoe summoned forth the strength, and made an overhead slash that would've cut stone in two.
A little more descriptive, short, and sweet. Good to describe what joe's actions are when he makes his move, and how powerful the move might be by making an ambiguous reference.

Over-descriptive.
Weilding the massive megablade with his super muscular arms, Joe Shmoe screamed out in rage as he brought the grip over his head. The sun glinted off of the blade, shooting a bright ray of light into his opponent's eye, and then Joe Shmoe charged over, his feet tapping against the stone-cobbled ground. When he was about two feet away, Joe's megablade came down over his crowned head in a vicious arc of doom, aimed to dismember his opponent's right arm from his poorly-armored body.

Just a couple of quick and easdy cut and pastes