  Hello Mizahar!
Our featured contributor this month is Gale! Having started out contributing aesthetically, Gale has helped out in just about every place you can imagine during his time here, and has done it with a cheery attitude and great insight into the world of Mizahar for new and experienced players alike. We thought it was high time he got some love after spreading it around for so long, so join me in congratulating October 2013's FC!! |
1. So let’s warm up with the standard question: what brought you to Mizahar? What has kept you sticking around?
What got me to Mizahar... Well, like most other role player's here, I was searching for a place to settle down for role play. Before Mizahar, I did a lot of jumping between official role play forums and little 'private' forums, all of which were horrible, now that I look back. I left them all looking for an in-depth, serious forum where I can find other dedicated role player's who cared more about storytelling rather than making your character be awesome and beat the snot out of everyone.
I was also looking for a place with my brother, since we both loved role playing but we never found a forum we both liked. So this time we decided we would definitely find a place we both liked and can stick to. Naturally, my brother was more dedicated to the research than I was and was actually the one who found Mizahar. Now, I was hesitant to join because the Valterrian thing seemed rather basic of a back story for a world and such. But as I started looking into it, I realize just how much effort was put into it all and that the Valterrian wasn't the main plot of the entire forum or some other crazy thing. As a result, I gave it a try.
Now, what kept me here was probably the player base. I hung in chat a lot so I got to know the players fairly quickly and they were all extremely friendly and more than willing to help me get started. Most of everyone here are wonderful writers with so much creativity it was astounding. I'm a huge creative freak and love to watch people be creative. Seeing a lot of that here mixed with the friendly atmosphere created a sort of glue that I got caught it. And here I am today. Happy as can be writing with all the people who roll along in Zeltiva, creating a unique story along with everyone else.
2. So one of Gale's major features as a PC is his artistic leanings. Quite often the artistic folks trend away from having their PC’s actually do artsy stuff in game, can you tell us a little about your thought process for Gale during creation?
My thought process for the creation of Gale actually starts in chat. I think I mentioned being a creative freak. I love original stories and all that wonderful stuff, so in order to satisfy this desire, I thought I had to create some amazing starting character that's so awesome and spectacular that everyone would think it's gnarly and fabulous and totally unique. (I was horribly scared of cliche's) But I hung in chat for a while and by eavesdropping a little, I heard stories of people starting out with basic characters then watching them grow and become the character they had today. After hearing that, I figured it wouldn't hurt to wait to have this original character.
I decided I would start with an extremely basic character. As basic as I could think of. Being me, the first thing I thought of is a poor artist. Artist's usually aren't anything fancy, right? At least to start out. I would still be able to leak in that creativeness with his drawings and such, but he'd still be a fairly normal guy. Of course, I added that "Gale flair" and gave him a sob story for a history. I pieced together a quick artistic looking chap and then molded a personality based on his history and boom! I got Gale.
3. So you’ve done it all from art for the site to WD reviews to helping out new folks in chat, what inspired the plunge into contributing on your PC account?
This is a little hard to pin point. I guess I would say it started off site, for I am always for helping others and tutoring others in things they don't understand. I help people with their homework, I teach them how to do certain dance moves, I tour them throughout the school, I do all sorts of things. I just love helping out. I would guess that it lingered into Mizahar when I saw the opportunities. You ST's are always promoting for people to help out, so I have just been trying the best I can to do that.
4. What has been your favorite aspect of contributing to Mizahar so far?
My favourite aspect in contributing would have to be the results. It's the main reason why I help out in anything to begin with. Showing someone how something is done or helping them get around is the start of something new. In Mizahar's case, it's a new character, a new creature, a new idea in general, all sorts of things. I always find it enjoyable to see a character stick around and grow through their threads and seeing lore pages I reviewed in the lore. I get a sense of accomplishment for them, in a way. Like, I feel like I've succeeded when they succeed and are proud of their results. Just one of those bubbly feelings that I get and adore. It just feels good, and be honest, who doesn't like feeling good?
5. Give us the low down of how you spend time with Gale. Is there certain times for helping folks out in chat or scrolling through the WD to lend a hand with articles, or is it more of a mood strikes you sort of deal?
I've never been good at remembering to do something at a specific time. I can't remember for the life of me. This is one of the many reasons why I help out based on my mood.
Also, mood affects many things, especially for me. If I'm angry or upset for some reason, my advice and overall tone with be bad or seem harsh. When I'm generally sad, I get lazy and don't explain myself enough and often give false information, etc. So, as a result, I usually only help when I'm in a good mood to prevent someone being offended, someone doing something wrong, or any confusion.
6. If you could head one development project on Mizahar, your choice, what would it be?
To be honest, I would develop diseases, illnesses, and disorder's, actually. I see that it is a fairly underused topic, despite the circumstances of the world in general. Developing that aspect I think would be very beneficial, because it brings more variety to what you can do and just makes the overall atmosphere of Mizahar more realistic and how it's intended to be. Dangerous. Not every person in Mizahar dies of old age or by a wild animal. Disease and illnesses play a pretty big part too. I believe that since Mizahar is unique, it should have it's own illnesses and diseases as well.
7. Do your artistic interests and Gale’s vary at all? What is your favorite thing to draw, and if it’s different what’s Gales?
Yes, actually. They do vary a lot. I've always been a fantasy person. I draw my own creatures, items, and I like making things up. I also like making things look pretty and perfect and flawless. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to it looking clean and well done.
Gale, however, is more logical and tends to draw things that he sees, such as plants, people, and buildings. He focuses more on what it looks like physically and the anatomy of the person or object rather than the emotional aspect of the overall picture, person, or item. Because of the difference it makes it difficult to write him drawing at times, but that's part of the fun.
8. Pirates vs. Ninjas, who wins and why?
Aw, com'on! You can't ask me that! No matter what I answer, half of the player base will hate me!
Fine, fine, fine. If I HAVE to give an answer, I would have to say pirates. I watched that show Deadliest Worrier for a bit and I remember watching their Pirate versus Ninja episode. It was really close, though! I think their research and studies seem accurate enough for me, so why not? That is, until I see a real ninja and Pirate fight.
9. As a PC contributor you have a unique perspective outside of the ST realm. Do you think this has benefited you when helping out new players?
I would like to think so, yes. Being a player, I believe, generally makes the atmosphere less official in a sense. When people go to ST's for help (At least for me) they tend to be a little reserved or stiff and try to give a good impression by being official or formal. However, when getting help from a peer, that being other players, I would like to think it relieves them of that sense formality and let's them just ask questions without worry of them feeling stupid for asking it. Heck, I know I felt stupid for asking an ST a question before. It happens to everyone.
10. Here’s you soap box, is there anything you’d like to belt out to the player base? Advice to the newcomers, or words of wisdom for the veterans?
This is for the new players: I hear people say that there is so many things that you want to do with your character but everything seems to be too difficult. I would like to say that that is the exact attitude that makes people rage quit. If you're here to write, have fun, and tell an interesting story, then do that. Don't waste your time on the things you can't do.
If it's something really difficult but it's possible, don't think that just because you're starting from scratch that you can't do it. Everyone had to start from scratch. It just takes time. As long as you're willing to stick around, whatever whacky idea you had in mind may happen one of these days. You just need patience.
Now for the veterans: First off, I wanna say you guys are awesome. The new guys are too, but I just wanted to get that out of the way.
My one and only piece of advice for you all is to watch your wording a bit when talking to a new player. Especially new players. One word difference can sometimes make a simple piece of advice to a demanding instruction and I know, I've felt like some of you guys were beating on me at times when you really weren't. It happens in chat especially. Because it's text and not your actual voice, people interpret it differently. You might have read your statement as sarcastic but the other person might have read it rude. Because it's text. Make your words positive instead of your tone. We all have different ways of reading and that can affect how we interpret tone so I would like to ask that you Veterans (And everyone for that matter) Just try and keep tabs on that.
This first thing is to all of the players: Never reheat french fries. I don't care if they were delicious pieces of heaven before, reheating them is never worth it! Never!
11. Alright, as a frequent chatter, give us your best chat quote, I know you have one to share with everyone.
That is not a valid question! There are too many quotes! It's not fair! Why do you do this to me?! Alright, fine, I'll give you one. I'm sorry for the self quote, I know a lot of you hate that, but it's not me that I think is funny, it's Valo's response. You have no idea how hard I was laughing.To give you context.... there was no context. We were just chit chatting and I brought the question up because I was playing Sim's the other day.
(13:54:37) Gale_McCenry: (whispers to Valo) Man, how embarrassing would it be if you were clumsy enough to drop your engagement ring while proposing ? 
Valo: (whispers) ... I did just read that as "whilst peeing" and XD rather embaressing why ;P?
(13:56:30) Gale_McCenry: (whispers to Valo) O-O Well then. I was just looking at sim traits and saw clumsy, looked at it, listed a few things they do and that was one of them
(13:56:41) Gale_McCenry: (whispers to Valo) Though dropping it while peeing would be embarrassing too
(13:57:08) Valo: (whispers) XDor peeing your self whilst proposing and then dropping the ring into the puddle D: I LOVE sims! best game ever
(13:58:20) Gale_McCenry: (whispers to Valo) You don't do that!
(13:58:27) Gale_McCenry: (whispers to Valo) Who would eve- oh my gosh
(13:58:40) Gale_McCenry: (whispers to Valo) I don't think I'm going to have my sims propose ever again because of that
(13:59:03) Gale_McCenry: (whispers to Valo) Peeing themselves...then dropping in in th- oh my gosh |
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by Eida on October 1st, 2013, 5:33 pm 
