Jul
5th
2015
A Minute of Madness 1: Q&A · 6:51pm Jul 5th, 2015
Hello everyone! I've been receiving more questions lately than I have received... possibly ever... so I thought it would be fitting to open a Q&A session in blog form. If you have any questions for me - or perhaps even my characters - then feel free to put 'em in the comments and we'll get back to you when we're able.
I have to say that it's been extremely exciting to continue writing. I was reflecting on it the other day, and I've come to realize that this is the 3rd longest story I've written on my own. Certainly, I've had roleplay experiences that have become literary epics, but that isn't quite the same feat. That being said, ask away!
Hmmm... I'm still catching up, but I find myself very intrigued by the magic bullets and the weaponry in general. How did you come up with all these ideas? I'm not normally much of an action-intrigued person, but even the more graphic scenes of violence have me enthralled with the way you describe the way the weapons and bullets work.
Also, not a question, but... I just started on Installment 9, and in 8... wahh! The ending made me tear up. Not a lie. I legitimately teared up.
3212198
Ah, you've reached a glorious moment Crystal. :P
So... the weaponry thing was a huge part of the roleplay universe for Wing and Trigger. Trigger wields the revolvers nearly exclusively. The issue with writing a story - for me - anyway was that I didn't want the guns to be a catchall for everything. It's like... alicorns could just come save us at any moment, why don't they? sort of crap. I'm a huge believer in avoiding potential bypasses, so the weaponry needed some thought.
Conventional bullets in Equestria would be utterly useless - and I think Wing even comments on them in later installments - at least he should have.. unless I forgot. I totally did forget. So... conventional bullets when you have unicorns around are pretty dumb. They could be hijacked by magic and hurled around, which means the only protection is to rheostat guard every single round. That isn't very efficient. The other option is to use magic from the start, which goes hoof-in-hoof with Wing's research. However, there has to be a catch to balance the crazy power of the shells against the pitfall of them becoming the answer to everything, and resonance was my answer. The wielder is forced to have some sort of connection with the magic; hence why the A&W round reacts impressively strongly with Wing; why Trigger (a creature of reverie) would prefer a Luna shell, etc...
The other way to think about it is with waves. If the shooter's frequency is in phase with the magic in the shell... you get an amplified effect. If it happened to be out of sync, then it cancels or does something devastating. This serves as my needed balance, which allows me to move around standard Equestria without completely and utterly breaking it. At least, that is the hope. lol
As for where those ideas originated. Trigger is a revolver kind of stallion, and well, try living with him. There is just no hope in denying. ;)
3212253 (two hours later, I realize I never got a notification for this reply?? I was sitting here wondering, "Wow, he must be writing an awful long response..." ... and now my rereply is going to seem so short for having taken so long to get back here)
All those little things I did pick up here and there, but seeing it written out all in one spot just makes it that much more impressive. It does show that you put a lot of thought into all the angles regarding technology vs. magic and the binding of the two, which is part of the reason why I can read the heavier stuff and not get (too) weighed down. Which just goes to show how good your story is. I favor all things happy and fluffy, so that I can still enjoy your story given the grit is impressive, to me.
(That and the non-grit parts are just so... wonderful, too!!)
3212797 Well, I8 and I9 are drowned in love. Then again, it's impossible for Wing not to love the Laser Cinnamon Pony, so it just flows with ease. :)
I'm certainly glad you're enjoying it despite the preference shift. :3
3212923 Despite sounds so negative... I enjoy it in spite of. I spite thee, my usual preferences! I spite thee and show you that there are wonderful things that can interest us outside of your limitations!
3212930 I just evil laughed in my office because of that. :P