Community Event / Creation To The Frontier - A Comic

Selezen

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For better or for worse, I've put a webcomic online that taps into our little community and takes the mick a little bit. I'm not sure it's ART, but it's certainly an attempt at it... ;)

http://www.daftworks.co.uk/frontier/?id=1

The links under the post take you to the next, previous and current comics...

I started drawing it as a "chill" thing when writer's block hit, and it seemed like something that was worth sharing.

The stuff posted so far is a kind of "preview" to the main story, so if people like it then I'll keep drawing it on a random schedule (since I have other more important priorities!). If not, then I'll just leave it as a writer's block "hobby".

Either way, let me know. Hope you enjoy it. :)

I haven't fully finished the site design (comic navigation in particular) and it's in a simple blog style.
 
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Darren Grey said:
Hah, pretty cool :)

I think the navigation buttons should be directly below the comic.
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I agree, but I'm constrained at the moment by the CMS design. If I want to add navigation buttons I have to add that directly into the HTML manually with each comic.

If the feedback is positive, then I'll consider a more integrated navigation system.

Mobius said:
love it, when does the issue with the mugs come into it:D
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Probably never - given the train of events so far... ;)
 

Allen Stroud

Allen Stroud
I like the original artwork. I think you should avoid niche humour though. "T-Shirtgate" only really appeals to people who were part of the pledgers for the T-shirt and didn't like it.

Currently we're a small group huddled around a game that doesn't exist until next year. We need to broaden our appeal. Criticism is justified and has its place, but this feels a bit like a cheap shot and would be difficult for people to "get" if they weren't part of the reaction. If you have to explain, it hasn't worked.

Other successful online comics work because they find something we can all identify with.
 

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Allen Stroud said:
I like the original artwork. I think you should avoid niche humour though. "T-Shirtgate" only really appeals to people who were part of the pledgers for the T-shirt and didn't like it.

Currently we're a small group huddled around a game that doesn't exist until next year. We need to broaden our appeal. Criticism is justified and has its place, but this feels a bit like a cheap shot and would be difficult for people to "get" if they weren't part of the reaction. If you have to explain, it hasn't worked.

Other successful online comics work because they find something we can all identify with.
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One man's cheap shot is another man's satire. ;) :D

I think you've kind of missed the point, Allen. Read the "precis" for it again (maybe the About page would be a good start).

This "prologue" is a precursor to the main story. The "hook" of the t-shirt is just an excuse to get the characters in position for the main arc of the story. This part of it was written mostly with the denizens of this forum in mind as the readership.

The first strip makes it accessible enough for people to understand the hook if they weren't involved in the conversations and (using the oft-repeated mantra of "less is more") doesn't go into unnecessary detail. Reason for going to Frontier: didn't like t-shirt. Nuff said. :) The fact that the two go to the lengths they've gone to is characterisation...

Is this written for a mass market? No. Is it written to be a big hit? No. It was a doodle between sections of the RPG. If the members of the forum "get it" then mission accomplished. :) If they/you like it, then so much the better, and I'll keep sticking them online. If not, I won't.

Hm. Maybe I should have made this a poll...

Thanks for the feedback, though - very valuable as always from you, Allen! :)
 

psykokow

psykokow
Like it....

Who did you suggest was under house arrest...?

Love it, its a great way to poke fun at the goings on in here..
 

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psykokow said:
Like it....

Who did you suggest was under house arrest...?

Love it, its a great way to poke fun at the goings on in here..
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Y'know, the last two posts (Allen, Kow) couldn't BE more polar opposites. ;)

Just in case, the character representations are NOT meant to represent anyone on the forum. With the exception of explicitly lampshaded personages.

:)

TRIVIA: they were actually designed with another purpose in mind, but the doodling pointed in this direction first. ;)
 

Allen Stroud

Allen Stroud
Selezen said:
I think you've kind of missed the point, Allen. Read the "precis" for it again (maybe the About page would be a good start).
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Well, read them three times (before, after, after to see if I missed anything), still feel the same. However, as you said, you're still looking for the voice as yet, so I'll keep checking back.
 

Selezen

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When the t-shirts came out (the ones that people had pledged for) and there was a big ruckus about it, that gave me the hook to start the story. So I drew up the first couple of strips.
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The highlighted bit. It's just about the hook. I could have used the mug, or the lack of Elite IV or something else, but the t-shirt seemed like a good one - something that would motivate a "fan" to go to the office and be in the wrong place at the wrong time (or the right time depending on your point of view). You could call it a MacGuffin if you like. :)

If nothing else, all it really does in terms of the comic is nail down the rough time I started coming up with the plotline and the decision to write a linear story rather than a series of doodles.

<jest>So a thumbs down from Allen. Again. Jeez, the shorter and simpler the format, the more he hates it. ;) ;) ;) :D :D </jest>
 

Susimetsa

Susimetsa
I quite liked it and look forward to seeing more of it! I've enjoyed The Noob Comic in the past and if this lets us have something similar but in the world of Elite, I'm all for it!

And even if that is not the direction this is going, I'm still interested in seeing more. :)
 

Minti2

Deadly, But very fluffy...
Minti2
Have to disagree with Allen although i respect his view, found it funny and relevant to those of us in the here and now.

Understand what he means for others not involved, and wanting to appeal to a broader market, but i thought it was great art and the light humor spot on!

I want more! and please do have people from the community as characters, if they are happy to be used! would add another element to the humor, just a thought. :)
 

Mobius

Mobius
The Lone Gunman said:
Have to disagree with Allen although i respect his view, found it funny and relevant to those of us in the here and now.

Understand what he means for others not involved, and wanting to appeal to a broader market, but i thought it was great art and the light humor spot on!

I want more! and please do have people from the community as characters, if they are happy to be used! would add another element to the humor, just a thought. :)
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I agree with the Lone Gunman on this.
 

Allen Stroud

Allen Stroud
LOL Dave, didn't say I hated it. Just gave you my view on what I did like and a suggestion about what I wasn't so keen on and why I wasn't so keen on it.

I understood the point on the hook the first time I read it, thanks. That's why I commented on it directly.

My personal preference and reasons do not however, in any way, make for a ticket to awesome. You have to have a vision and go with it. Which is why I'll check out some more episodes later when they appear.
 

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Allen Stroud said:
LOL Dave, didn't say I hated it. Just gave you my view on what I did like and a suggestion about what I wasn't so keen on and why I wasn't so keen on it.

I understood the point on the hook the first time I read it, thanks. That's why I commented on it directly.

My personal preference and reasons do not however, in any way, make for a ticket to awesome. You have to have a vision and go with it. Which is why I'll check out some more episodes later when they appear.
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Fair comment.

Your preferences and opinions are quite influential - to me, anyway - as the most learned person I know on matters fiction and story related. Hence the need for justification and explanation in the face of your comments. :)

However, the reaction so far (both here and on the site's comments) seem pretty favourable so far. Good to know, and it means that if the trend keeps up there may be more content soon. How soon I can't guarantee. :)

Thanks for the comments so far. Keep em coming if you like, each opinion is a good indication of what the "audience" want... :)
 

Philip Coutts

Volunteer Moderator
Philip Coutts
Well for what it's worth (and it ain't a lot) I had a good old chuckle at it. I thought that T-shirt gate was a perfectly valid starting point.
 

ianw

I
Liked it.

On the t-shirt question I think even if you didn't know the whole story it's kind of right there - waiting three months for what is clearly a wearable billboard on polycotton.

Anyone can feel his pain! :D
 
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