The Interview
1. What is the biggest challenge being a Junior Storyteller? Talk a little bit about the perks and downfalls of being in this very unique contributor position.Hm… well, part of the challenge, I must say, is in being in such a different group from the rest of the STs. JrSTs have their own forum, where we work with our DS/RS, do projects, grade, that sort of thing. However, it does make it hard to work with others on things- say, a quest, or development- in groups larger than two. I’ve done a bunch of plotting with Baldy, on chat, or through PMs, but I haven’t really gotten to work with anyone else… and I felt a little like I was missing out. Though Lullaby and I were in the same region, at the same time, we both never really worked together, so I missed out on that chance. It’s a little more challenging, especially when, say, a grade has to wait a while for someone to check it over (I didn’t really have too much of a problem with this, but I know Lulls does), but other than that things generally work out…
A big perk I like is that you’re not immediately thrust into a serious leadership position. Starting with someone keeping an eye on you is actually a really good thing, since if you’re unsure about grading, or development, there’s always someone to poke you in the right direction. Though I’m sure it’s the same for normal ASs, I have certainly heard a lot of people being uncertain about applying, since they think they’ll screw up. As a JrST, there’s basically no chance with that, since your DS/RS checks over your stuff before you make it public, so you don’t make as big a mess as you would do. It definitely gets rid of the worry factor in that section.
2. Talk about your favorite plotline so far on Mizahar. This can be something that you are involved in with a PC, wrote as a Mod, or enjoyed as a reader. What do you think goes into making a great plot? How do good plots really contribute to Mizahar’s joy for you?Well, I’d have to say my favorite plotline is the Lhavitan seasonal quest for Fall. I’ve just been following it for the fun of it, but, honestly, it’s amazing. Elysium seemed to have put a lot of effort into planning it, and there’s quite a lot of suspense, actually. I loved the way she made it work for all the PCs involved, so everyone’s certain skill set is shown to be useful. There’s scholarly parts, parts for magicians, and (probably) parts for the fighters, and though that hasn’t been focused on yet… I know it’s coming. It makes a really enjoyable to know that every character has a special part in the quest, rather than feeling left out.
On top of the diversity part, the plot itself is… amazing. Though the quest has yet to finish, all the things are building up… I mean, living cavern? I can’t decide if this is architectrix, or a Qamur. Either way, It’ll turn out good. It started off as such a mundane, simple exploration, then you get this deadly warning, and then stuff collapsing, and… all that jazz. It’s feels pretty original to me, and is amazingly well planned out. The planning is something I really respect in a plot as well… and is something I haven’t quite figured out yet. However, I do know it makes a quest seem a lot more realistic and detailed, of course making it more fun.
Now, for the last part? I guess every PC is always looking for that epic quest. They write solos honing their skills, but for what? The final battle, or major event that will of course come around… as a moderated quest. It’s sort of a drive, and an entertainment, and really adds a bit of flair to everything. Back to Elysium’s quest, I always loved coming up and seeing what amazing thing happened next, what new twist she would throw at the PCs. When you start, you always see those veteran PCs with their epic quest rewards and the like, and… it always makes you (well me) really jealous. It sort of made me want to keep going, make it into one of those quests, and get that kind of reward. Even though it might not be physical, the excitement of the plot is the whole thing! It just makes all of Mizahar so much more epic..
3. We ask this a lot, but we never get tired of hearing the answers. What turned you on to Mizahar and why are you still here?Well, I might as well start with a short story? My friends and I started a minor (really bad) private RP thing together. It started nicely, but there was a lot of overplaying, and it quickly turned to plotting… stressful plotting. Irritating plotting. Plotting against eachother’s characters. Eventually, I decided I simply didn’t like it anymore. So I stopped. But I still liked the concept of a role play. So… I started searching stuff up, and I eventually found Mizahar…
I loved the lore, and though it was a little overwhelming… it all seemed so cool! Each of the races were simply amazing, and though I liked Kelvics at first (I was going to start with one), I eventually started with a Vanta. Their whole concept seemed pretty cool. All of the concepts seemed amazing, and as I kept reading through the lore… I wasted a whole weekend on this (I shouldn’t call it ‘wasted’)… everything just seemed so… awesome. I can’t describe it any other way. I quickly got hooked, and kept going with Mizahar.
Now… at the beginning, I was pretty sure I would eventually disappear. I’d done it with a lot of other things before. I knew of people who simply left, and was sure I’d be one of them. I thought I’d eventually grow bored, and drift off. But I didn’t. Mizahar never became boring, and I kept going. It’s still not. I still find the world as amazing and intriguing as before. It was funny how that happened, and still amazes me. I have rarely put this much dedication into something, and it was sort of… satisfying, to know I wasn’t that much of a fickle person, and I could seriously stick with someone if I wanted to… I’m still here because I love the world, I love the people, and I have so many commitments to people that it would kill me if I left. I keep thinking ‘I’ll leave someday. I will. It’ll just happen. Look at everyone else’… but that never comes. I think I should just give up on that… I’ll stick here, and forget about what’ll happen later. It’ll come when it comes.
4. Do you think age has a factor in writing, plot, and even contributing to Mizahar’s world? If so how come and if not why not?
Yes… and no. For some, it does make it harder, or makes them simply less reliable, when contributing. It’s mostly maturity, really. Those who are immature (not complaining about that, some immature people are pretty cool) may find it hard to keep a commitment, or stick with something. But… I’ve never found myself feeling like my age. I’ve grown up with a bunch of overachievers, people who seriously act like adults. So… I’ve begun to think like one. It doesn’t matter if you’re 13, 16, or 52, you can still have the same mental state. So… for some, age means little. For some, age means a lot. It really depends on the person.
Now, for the people where it does make a difference, things probably will be different. Maybe they’ll be more creative ( I have no idea), or be incredibly annoying. Who knows. It all depends on the person, really. You can probably find people who have trouble with writing, or plotting, in younger age groups, but you’ll still find them in older groups too. Age is a factor, and it isn’t. Overall, it just depends on the person.
5. You are also an artist making box codes, avatars and signatures. Talk about this with us. What got you started and what keeps you being artistic? Do you find creating code for yourself and others challenging?Art has always been something I was into. I love pretty things, aesthetically pleasing things. Though I’m not the best artist, I still love trying. I like the satisfaction of knowing you’ve created something beautiful, and though there may be flaws… it’s still pleasing. It’s that feeling that keeps me going most of the time, especially when I find something new that works. I like trying new things, and though they don’t work half the time… I love it when they do. I ignore the flaws at first, pleased with myself, but I always look back and criticise myself. But… that’s another thing that keeps me going. Seeing the problems behind me, I know I do better, and I can keep improving. Though it might not be noticeable in the long run, it’s still amazing for me.
Creating code in general… I’ve never learnt any code before the BBC stuff before this. Honestly, I was clueless. It took me a while to figure it out, but I got the hang of it. At first, the boxes I made for my PCs were pretty bad… though I still like that aurora one I made at first for Spirit. My photoshop-like-thing wasn’t the best either, though I figured out how to use that more effectively as well. I started making more box codes, and eventually decided I wanted to try making them for others. It gave me more chances to try new things, rather than being restricted by my PCs’ own needs. I try to challenge myself, partially with aesthetics, like picking a background, a border, and partially in the photoshopping itself. I’ve begun erasing borders, and after a while of being terrible with a mouse… I’ve figured it out. Some boxes are challenging to make for me, especially when the editor is being… picky… but most aren’t incredibly hard. I spend half the time looking for pictures, and the other half actually doing things. I like seeing if I can make a new style work… or if it simply crashes and burns.
6. If you could develop or have developed by someone else, one skill on Mizahar, what would it be and why?… This is a hard choice. Honestly, I don’t know what to pick. There are a lot I’d love to see developed. But… I think I know one. Medicine. The basics, especially the levels, on that are very… iffy, and with a PC with medicine, I’ve found it pretty complicated. I don’t know what to learn, or train, and my few searches on medicine of that time have been unfruitful. It would be nice to know exactly what’s possible, and how I can deal with certain situations. I have a training solo sitting from Summer, on hold since I simply don’t know what else to add. In real life, I have minor first aid training (working on that), so most of my things have been based on that. However… there isn’t much else you can do. You can only wrap a wound so many times before you stop earning points. You need to keep challenging your PC to level up, and… I don’t know how to challenge them. So having a full blown medicine article to use… that would be simply amazing. It would probably take ages, but it would still be incredibly useful.
7. How do you juggle your volunteer hours on Mizahar with your PC hours on Mizahar? Do you have a system or is it one of those things where you let your whims and the winds drag you from pc to mod and mod to pc at will?Well… this is a complicated one. I have a list of things I need to do, every day, for Mizahar. It has replies, and grading is always stuck on there. I uncross it every day, to remind myself as something to work on. I try to reply to modded threads on time (unless I need time to plot), and I generally keep things on track. I try not to start too many threads at once… in order to keep myself from being overwhelmed, so I’m able to generally get a reply in within a day. It’s more personal restrictions than complete organization, but… I don’t keep it even all the time. For example, recently, I was stuffed with about 4 pretty active threads. However, one of the thread members has taken a pause, another’s on holiday, one is finished, and the fourth is in a minor limbo stage. So… I’m left with fewer things to reply to. And more time to work on mod stuff. It kind of fluxuates, though I try my best to keep it even.
8. Talk about some of your favorites on Mizahar… race, region, city, etc. Tell us why these things appeal to you and what makes them so special.Uh… lemme think. A lot of cultures in Mizahar really appeal to me, simply because I’d love to be with them. Though with a number I can identify similar real life civilizations – like the Mongolians for the Drykas, or Inuit for the Vantha – they’re never exactly the same, and the original aspects are lovely. The Vantha I’m not so sure on the example… I can’t seem to figure out where their darker skin comes from especially, as most northern cultures have pale ones. Well… it adds a bit of interest to things. I might as well go on about Vantha and Avanthal, since I know the place quite well.
I love the tight-knit community of Avanthal… how everyone in a hold is somehow a relative, and all the rooms are really connected. Though this is probably an advantage insulation wise, it also creates a closeness between residents. During a storm, they can gather together and talk, tell stories, rather than being stuck out on their own. Their whole love for stories is also amazing, and the tales I imagine they come up with. I can always see some elderly grandmother telling a staring gaggle of children an exciting tale, sorta like those story-book readings you get in primary school… except the kids are actually really interested…
The whole Icewatch idea is pretty cool… I mean, giant polar bears to face dire animals… makes sense, right? I always forget that their mounts are Kelvics… but they really are. It’s basically a whole bunch of elite pairs… except on member of the pair can double as a massive, rideable carnivore. Their whole concept must make survival so far north much easier for the Vantha, as their able to tackle the dangers of the Wastes much more easily. It also makes Avanthal seem so much… safer… than it really is. True, inside the city might be a haven, but outside the walls? Dire wolves, tigers and bears oh my! Though I changed lions for wolves there… the Wastes seriously have all that. Though maybe the tiger thing I’m talking about is really a lion. I’m not quite sure. Still, it’s seriously dangerous, and just gives you a raw image of what real wilderness can seriously be like… also like the Sea of Grass in Cyphrus. The two places are quite similar in retrospect, both mostly abandoned plains full of animals that really, really want to eat you….
9. We’re always curious about people outside of Mizahar. So tell us one aspect about yourself – a hobby, a job, a dream – you have that you haven’t brought up on Mizahar at all. For instance, are you a closet lover of chia pets and have every one ever made growing and healthy in your room? Let us in and give us some secrets!Hrm… what to pick. Well, I guess I’ll pick something I’ve been meaning to mention, but never have. In real life, I do Tai Kwon Do. It’s a sort of generic form of martial arts… but it does have something special to it (in my mind) that I really like. It focuses on kicking. What I guess some people don’t realize, is that the most efficient way to fight unarmed (other than avoiding it in the first place) is by kicking. Your legs are so much stronger than your arms, and they have a much futher reach… so if you’re fighting someone trained to punch, you can keep them at bay, still getting some hits down… and they’ll never land a single thing. Though I’ll probably fail miserably in a real fight, I’m not too bad at sparring… basically a one on one fight, with pads and targets and stuff. The things you see in the Olympics. Honestly, though it isn’t too hard at first… kicking gets tiring. After you’ve fought three or so people in a row, for two minutes each… you’re exhausted. And though it is fun, I have had multiple fights where both you and your opponents are too tired to do anything… and it really doesn’t end up much. Still, the whole watching and waiting for an opening is fun, and recently… I’ve figured out how to tell when the person you’re fighting is about to attack… sometimes. Usually it’s when you want to attack, and kicking at the same time isn’t unusual.
Anyways, small rant about that… just a fun thing I wanted to mention!
10. How has Mizahar helped you in your real life? Does this site give you anything back to pay you for all the time and effort you spend on here?Actually, it has helped me. A lot in English class, of course, though it isn’t really a creative writing thing. Just basic English. However, before Mizahar… I was terrible at explaining things. I had a problem with detail. Writing stuff came hard to me, and the few creative writing things I did… were always not as good as I’d liked. However, after writing here for several months, I certainly feel like I’ve improved. Writing essays, for one, are so much easier than before. I feel like I have a real writing style, and flow. Though my marks haven’t exactly picked up (picky teacher), I feel better.
Another thing is… a real sense of ‘drive’. Before, I honestly had no idea what I spent my time on. Here, I feel like I’m accomplishing things every day, and the more I write, or grade… the more I’m doing. Though it probably seems to my family like I’m being a hermit and playing games all day, I’m honestly not. I feel more like I have a purpose, and less like… a kid. Like I’m ‘working’, but not really. I certainly feel a lot more mature as well, more... responsible, if that makes sense. It certainly has made quite a lot of change, to me, and my life… and honestly… I really appreciate that.
11. Anything else you’d like to talk about? If not, answer us this. Good or Evil. You have to pick one side or the other to write about. Which would it be and why?This was a hard one. Good or Evil? Good question. Or Evil question. Or… whatever. I’d have to pick good, simply because I never understood evil. Just never clicked with me. Now… when I talk ‘good’, I don’t mean heroic hero who saves the day with his shiny heroic sword. No… I’m talking about the normal, good people, with decent morals… but who simply don’t take ‘good’ to the next level. In real life, there isn’t really good and evil… but there are people who understand the decent side of life, those who don’t go out of their way to hurt people. The average people… but a little more than average. The people who will help a person for no reason, just for the sake of helping them. They’re the people who make up our world… and who generally make up our characters. As Goss puts it, the ‘Plain Jane or Joe’ characters. Those are the characters I really love… and who I try to play, as well.
But that’s me going off topic on ‘good and evil’ there. For final words, writing this was incredibly fun, and I’m glad I got the chance to! The questions were actually quite good, and a few in particular… go Mizahar! I hope it continues to grow and prosper, and all that jazz… yep…. Thanks!
by Balderdash on November 1st, 2013, 7:17 am 
