Robin de Bodemloze's Archive of Scribbles

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Having read Mega Tortas' Tale Project I've decided to pitch my own tent in this haven of creativity. Humble beginnings are these, but I have hopes that one day it will be worthy of the masters who inspired it. Sip a little from the scotch on the table, and read a while. I hope you will like it, and I would be most pleased if you decide to try your own hand at writing.

AARistry

The Wings of Destiny - A FotS AAR

My second attempt at a S2TW AAR - using Fall of the Samurai as the setting this time.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Beppu Shinichi is but a man, trapped in the turmoil of his times. The hills of Kagoshima, the shimmer of the bay, the laughter of children. All seems tranquil now, but whispers of change could already be heard in the shadows. To survive, Shinichi must make sure he and his clan remains at the forefront of a bloody struggle, and remain victorious.

Growing up Shinichi had trained daily to become a samurai, but in these times of uneasy peace, what did it mean to be a man of the sword? What was the destiny of such a man in an age where bean counters and foreign guns ruled the day? Triumph will ensure his legacy, perhaps, but at what price?

Takeda - a Shogun 2 AAR

After 18 months and almost 200,000 words, my AAR is done. The thank you's and sentimental stuff are best read in my afterthoughts thread here. It was my first AAR of any TW game, and I can only say I am utterly humbled by the experience. I'd like to thank everyone who read, commented, and voted for me in four MAARC victories. Coming third in the AAR of the Year Competition was a massive honour and I'd like to thank everyone for making that happen.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The winter of 1544 was a harsh one, and as I travelled through the valleys of Kai, the hardship it must have brought the people was quick to my mind. It was remarkable, then, that the cold spring air was filled not with despair, but an excitable buzz, a feeling of anticipation. The snow was still melting away under my feet, but families had already begun their preparation for the year to come. There was a sense of optimism, hope that in these tumultuous times, big things were destined for the young man who led them and their glorious clan. His clan was the Takeda, descendants of the ancient Minamoto, and his name was Harunobu.

I’d once met Harunobu before when I was sent as a young monk to deliver an invitation to the daimyo of Kai. The young master, who was maybe fifteen summers old, had bow in hand, and was sending arrow after arrow into a target erected outside the daimyo’s residence.

“Minamoto no Harunobu?”

“No. My name is Takeda Harunobu.”

The rest of the conversation is blurry in my memory, and frankly matters for little. However, the assuredness and pride with which he had corrected me of his name, belied his tender years.

Some years ago, Harunobu had become daimyo of Kai, displacing his father as the head of the clan. The Takeda were rightly feared as master horsemen, but years of internal strife and struggles against the Hojo and Imagawa had weakened it to the point where Kai itself was under threat. As I walked through the countryside struggle was nowhere to be seen, however, reflecting the improvement in conditions since those godforsaken years. Word was that the Shinano warlords will come again soon, but the quiet industry of these people seemed to reflect their confidence that the Takeda would be ready, and Harunobu would lead them to greatness.

BAARC
BAARC III: Furinkazan: Rise of a Legend - Winner!

Critic's Quill

Herein lies some of the articles and reviews I have done for the Critic's Quill:

The Critic's Quill: Issue 30
AAR Review: Courland - The dream of an independent baltic state

The Critic's Quill: Issue 31
AAR Review: Land of the Midnight Sun
AAR Review: Una república en Dios
AAR Review: Times full of Distemper
Article: Writer's block

The Critic's Quill: Issue 32
Interview: SeniorBatavianHorse
AAR Review: Filii Martis
Article: AAR Writing - A Technical Study

The Critic's Quill: Issue 33
AAR Review: Liberty or Monarchy - an American AAR
Article: Casting call: characters in AARs
Scriptorium Competition Review: Artistic Representation

The Critic's Quill: Issue 34
AAR Review: Fry those Furballs! A Video AAR for Wing Commander Saga

The Critic's Quill: Issue 36
AAR Review: Ukita no Yabou - A Shogun 2/Sekigahara Campaign AAR

The Critic's Quill: Issue 38
My first issue as editor - link.

TotW

A selection of my TotW entries:

TotW 120: Calm before the storm
TotW 123: The March
TotW 125: Goodbye
TotW 126: Prometheus - Winner!
TotW 130: For the shogun
TWC@10 Special Edition: The Writers' Study
TotW 187: From Another World

Other work

The AARtistry Course

Co-hosted by Radzeer and myself, the course aims to help budding writers enter into the world of AAR writing. I don't hold myself out to be some expert writer, but perhaps some will find the lessons useful.

Lesson 1: Starting out: the dilemmas of AAR writing
Lesson 2: Character development
Lesson 3: Advanced AAR writing techniques
Lesson 4: Visual aids
Lesson 5: AAR Management

Product reviews:

[Android App] doubleTwist

Other random stuff of mine:

Takeda - a work in progress video for my AAR
AAR Anthology - a published periodical of AARs, of which mine is one
A random thing

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

Most impressive indeed, I look forward to reading this. The use of fonts and graphics is alluring... Since your are a Writier's Study Shopkeep, you can add a link to it in the Tale Project gallery listing if you like...



+Rep

[Radzeer]

I agree with Mega, a very impressive selection already with a nice design!

[Boustrophedon]

Oeh those look very stylish! did you make them yourself?

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Thanks all. I will continue to update this for TotW and other things as they materialise.

Bous - yep, the section headings were just quick jobs (emboss, drop shadow) on Photoshop. I think I nabbed the quill image from some place though

[Heiro de Bodemloze]

Wow, very impressive indeed. If you made those in Photoshop you should remove the "learner Photoshopist" on your profile (I'm a stalker... )

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Updated for some recent stuff

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Great idea Looking forward to see more of the stuff you do
Very good formatting by the way, I'm jealous

[Robin de Bodemloze]

With the new Quill being released I thought I'd dust off this old thing.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

It's just reminded me to update mine.

Oh and great work.

[Heiro de Bodemloze]

Great stuff. I know I've said so before, but it really can't be said enough.

[Boustrophedon]

It looks good

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Minor updates..

[Ybbon]

A fine place to stop by. +rep

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Dusted off this old thing - even if it's not really much of an update. Added my final contribution to the Quill and my AAROTY result.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

I'm not commenting on yours until you've commented on mine.

Oh wait, I just did,.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

It seems I must be the first to break, and offer a proper comment on your great collection of... as so aptly put, scribbles.
Oh wait, am I duelling you?

A great set of stuff mate, defiantly the nicest looking collection around.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Just dusting this old thing off. A few updates and edits.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Some updates - new Quill, etc.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Updates - Wings of Destiny, some other stuff.