Voice of the Brotherhood Report #14
The weather outside is frightful, but the Dark Brotherhood is so delightful, and since I've no place to go, I'll write my 14th report as your Voice!
Congratulations to everyone on the completion of the Dark Crusade. It was a long year of competition and our participation numbers were excellent. I'm extremely appreciative for everyone who submitted to the fiction events.
I'll cover a few updates in this report and then rehash ongoing competitions and provide a reminder of the Voice Poll:
- ACC SA Exam
- Fiction: Shared Universe Concept
- Fiction: Archive Updated
- Dark Council Leadership Poll
- Competition: Ugly Sweater
- Competition: ACC Venue
- The Voice's Word (Stolen from Jac)
The ACC
The ACC Shadow Academy Exam is going through early testing and we have received a considerable amount of feedback on the test. I'd like to publicly thank all of the testers for taking the time to read through our notes, sample character sheets, and the beta version of the exam. The feedback has been positive and has also provided new ideas on how to proceed. We should see the tests in the near future.
The upcoming launch of the ACC is going to bring forth a familiar system, but one that is markedly different. We have minimized the focus on write by numbers/system and increased the focus on writing an entertaining combat event. These changes will not be the only differences that everyone notices. We are also looking at changing the way you qualify for the ACC, the ranking systems, and even how you submit match making. I'm excited to finally get the project completed and greatly appreciate the years worth of effort from all of our ACC/Voice Staff Members.
Finally, just a reminder of what is already completed:
- ACC 101 Userguide (Updates ongoing: based on feedback)
- Force Powers Quick Reference Guide
- A New Grading Rubric that will be published for all to see
Fiction: Shared Universe Concept
I have submitted a rough draft of the Shared Universe Concept to Muz and he has provided initial feedback. I'll continue to work on this document as we head towards the holiday season.
We are writing this document to help provide a frame of reference for what exactly the Dark Brotherhood universe is and how exactly we exist within the Star Wars Universe. A lot of people have asked over the years how we have these huge fleets, control these huge systems, and avoid getting crushed from the Big Star Wars universe. Hopefully the new document will explain some of that.....or at the very least I'll provide a deus ex machina to magically explain it all :p
Fiction: Archive Updated
The Fiction Archive has been updated with Trouty and Shad's Gold Nova winning entries. These were AAA documents and are worth the read.
DC Leadership Poll
Reminder: I am running a Leadership Poll in order to build the backbone for a future SA Course. Please take the time to participate.
Poll: Take Me!
Competition: Ugly Sweater
I will be hosting our second annual ugly sweater competition on G+ on 13 December at 2000. This event was a smash hit last year and saw one of the most horrific Xmas sweaters on record: http://i.minus.com/jW5JRTuNMSygt.JPG.
This year's event will also allow competitors to submit images of their horrific sweaters via the website prior to the 13 2000 DEC event. I have done this because some of you are shy and don't like to be on camera and berated by drunk GMs (fair enough). Your image must show you in your horrific sweater. Sweaters on hangars will not be counted. I'll destroy the evidence following the competition in case you are scared of other humans seeing you look ridiculous.
You can find additional details for the competition here: https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/competitions/7336.
Competition: ACC Venues
The ACC is nearing an open beta test and we are looking to expand upon our old venues. We have decided the best method to do this is to launch and ACC Venue Writing Competition.
This is your opportunity to write a venue for the upcoming ACC. You can utilize iconic Star Wars locations, DJB Locations (Codei.....Codei...Codei...), or make up new locations.
You can find the details for this event here: https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/competitions/7335.
The event is live now and will run until the end of the year. Please take this opportunity to help shape the future of the ACC (and get promotion points, and maybe earn some swag).
Who do you write like?
A Special Thanks to Locke and the CNS Mailing Group for this little Gem. Take one of your fiction entries and enter it at the following website: Who do you write like. Post in the comments who you write like!
The Voice's Word (:p)
The Dark Brotherhood is an amazing place. We have seven different independent units with different cultures and methods in which they go about their business. Within these independent units we have members with different religions, different nations of origin, different sexes, different educational backgrounds, and different outlooks on life.
A lot of us look at these differences and often they divide us. This might be a natural part of human nature and quite frankly it is a lot easier to surround yourself with like minded individuals.
Unfortunately, hanging out within closed circles and groups of like minded individuals have a serious chance of limiting your experience in the DJB.
I encourage everyone to really start working at stepping outside of your comfort zone and working with as wide a group as possible in your efforts to make the DJB a better place. Don't worry so much about your feelings, don't marry your ideas, be open to change, and be kind.
I'm going to give it a try and see how it works. Ten years of being an asshole online is tedious. I think I'll try something else :p
Conclusion
Report complete. Enjoy NFL Sunday.
Darth Pravus
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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle....really? lol
One entry returned David Foster Wallace. Another returned Arthur Clarke.
Dan Brown or Harry Harrison, as I already said on the CNS mailing list I expected getting "You write like an idiot" :P
Dan Brown... Guess I write bad but still get 2 movie royalties and lot's of money :P
Oh, and a second one gave William Shakespeare
Arthur Clarke; I accept that.
David Foster Wallace then Arthur C Clarke... Looks like me and Trout write in the same way!
First take is Douglas Adams. I'm good.
I write like Stephen King. I'll take it.
Also...nice report.
David Foster Wallace for me too. :D
George Orwell.
Sampled two different documents. First was Margaret Mitchell... Second was Mario Puzo. Sort of a big difference there. :P
Arther C Clarke for me too. I sampled a couple of different RO posts, so that doesn't really help me too much.
I write like: Arthur Clarke. I don't even know who that is. :P
You may have heard of this little-known book called 2001: A Space Odyssey. He wrote that :P Sheesh...kids these days :P
Kurt Vonnegut? I'll take it.
I tested out a couple a different ones, both from light and dark side perspectives. All my Raiju/Dark Side fiction gave me H. P. Lovecraft while Lyze/Light side gave me Arthur Clarke.
Pretty happy with this.
I put in 5 different pieces I used during the Crusade and got 5 different answers. Dan Brown on my Bronze winning Chronicle, Asimov on my latest entry, and Clarke, Wilde, and Shakespeare on other entries. I wonder what that says :P
Too many Clarkes. I don't feel special anymore.
Yay ACC! :D
New grading rubric? :P
Dan Brown. However! I shall learn to write in the style of LeCarré.
I noticed lots of different ones for other people's posts, but so far all of mine have returned Edgar Allan Poe. I've only tried about four of my posts, though.
On a different topic, I really can't wait to see that Shared Universe document. That sounds really interesting.
Since a couple of different paragraphs of my writings gave me always a different author.. I simply say:
I write like ... me.
Oh and on a sidenote:
A lot of people have asked over the years how we have these huge fleets, control these huge systems, and avoid getting crushed from the Big Star Wars universe. Hopefully the new document will explain some of that.....or at the very least I'll provide a deus ex machina to magically explain it all :p
Simply blame Trev. That should usually work. ;)
Actually, Trev pretty much covered all that years ago by creating the Shroud and saying we're just waiting the rise of the Dark Lord who would fulfil the Final Way (coughDarthKraytcough) so for once there's a problem Trev actually solved rather than caused :P
As for big fleets? shrug In the 1990s that'd have bothered me, nowadays there's so many hidden fleet stories in the EU I just shrug :P
The only problem with relying on the Shroud, which was made infinitely cooler by Raken, is that the majority of our independent units no longer reside within it. Take a look at the Goat DGM era galaxy map (I think that is when it is from) and you'll see our units spread across the galaxy and out in the open.
I think we will stick with the Shroud concept, but maybe enhance it beyond the physical. :p
Yeah, after the Exodus the Clans basically got to pick where they set up shop, and as DGM I made that map which shows them... everywhere :P
Expanding the concept sounds fun though, yeah. (Weirdly enough, I came across a description about the Shroud's origins on the Dark Jedi Orders wiki page last week that I don't think I'd ever read before, talking about Tiamat having wanted to black out all stars, not just Antei... I'd certainly be up for finishing what she started :P)
Yeah, after the Exodus the Clans basically got to pick where they set up shop, and as DGM I made that map which shows them... everywhere :P
Expanding the concept sounds fun though, yeah. (Weirdly enough, I came across a description about the Shroud's origins on the Dark Jedi Orders wiki page last week that I don't think I'd ever read before, talking about Tiamat having wanted to black out all stars, not just Antei... I'd certainly be up for finishing what she started :P)
Three different pieces of my Crusade writing all returned Edgar Allan Poe. At least I'm consistent.
As far as the fleet "problem", that's one that never bothers me. In canon, the New Republic (and its successor the Galactic Alliance), didn't maintain a large, centralized armed force:
A good illustration of this would be the massive buildup of ships belonging to member worlds over Bothawui during the Caamas Document Crisis. This situation would remain somewhat unchanged until the Second Galactic Civil War (which we're still a few years short of).
I got James Fenimore Cooper, and Arthur Clarke for a different post.
Arthur C Clarke for a fiction I won a Voice comp with.
We're both from Somerset...hmm.