reaction -4-

posted 2008.12.11 at 18:09

Raven has a proper thumb now (as well as an ear, lighting, etc) - the rest of the reformatting was a mix of careful tweaks (Tantek's head in panel four, for example) and "awww, fuck it!" (most of the rest of the page, really). The hard split between Raven and Tantek (turning what was panel four and five in the first edition into panel four in this edition) was just that - hard. Unlike the panel split removed from the previous page, this one was laid out that way from the very beginning... so reforming into one panel involved substantial reconstruction.

Mechanical photoshop? I've got some skills. Artsy-fartsy photoshop? Not so much. Fortunately, the Second Edition calls for lots of technical heavy lifting, and not much of the other stuff. :D

Also, just between you and me? Executive Order 571.3 didn't exist until a week or so ago, development-wise. It not only plugs a massive, massive plot hole, it foreshadows a whole bunch of structural goodness that has developed since this scene was first written (a million billion years ago). The WGP "wiggle room" is also new for the second edition... and if I can keep my wits about me for the duration, you'll see how that plays out later in the story.

First Edition Metadata

OPD : 2005.03.08 @ 23:59

20070724 : Type fixes and dialogue tweaks for continuity and accuracy.

The accuracy in this case being that while it's never mentioned that the Cheops has a navigator, it does - and he can't go deep enough to outrun a NASA space probe, let alone a Heirotus warship.

===================================================

01:04 <@_Lasar> Typo in the new comic.
01:05 <@_Lasar> Or what is "The neartest Templar navigator"?
01:08 <@solios> see, xeno is SUPPOSED to check this shit.
01:08 <@solios> but he hasn't bothered.
01:08 <@_Lasar> :)
01:08 <@_Lasar> Also a typo in the text below, but I forgot.

Man, Raven can not handle her drugs.

Anyone who thinks I'm exagerrating the effects of controlled uppers needs to spend a little time with an agitated tweaker. It's pretty intense.

Technically speaking, resigning from the Templar is about as kosher as choking your mom to death with a vibrator. Enlisted Templar lob all manner of indignities at ex-Templar, treat them as second class citizens, go through their mail, humiliate them in public, post nude pictures of them to the internet, etceteras. This treatment is a form of emotional release- behavioural code probibits things like blanket parties and the occasional theraputic beatdown, so if a member is being a complete prick, the tension builds, and builds, and builds, and explodes violently whenever said asshole finally packs it in. Members in good standing (such as West) aren't subject to such treatment, as they've never done anything to piss anybody* off. The worst they might get from enlisted Templar is the cold shoulder. An extension of "Do unto others"- the system the Templar live by is relatively easy to abuse, but the cost of doing so is astronomically high, especially in Templar-dominated areas.

In other news, two pages left of the scene, the polaroid of West in panel one is easily the Dorkiest Image Ever, and this thing took around five and a half hours start to finish. Not all that pleased with the way Greymalkin turned out (I either nail him or don't, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of in betweens)- would probably have come out quite a bit differently if I'd spent more time with the pencils... but as it is, I redid the top shot of Raven twice. O.o

01:13 <@_Lasar> ...
01:13 * _Lasar notices only now that Raven wears NO PANTS

* For certain values of "anybody." West had serious issues with administration. When all your buddies are field ops, admin don't mean shit.