Practice Chat

Will

I avoided the punches to the face but the one to my stomach got me. I gasped for air, having the wind knocked out of me and stumbled backwards. Glaring at the little punk, I regained my breath and threw a few punches toward his head and a kick aiming for his ribs.

Damian
Well, he recovers fast, and has come backs ready even faster. Arms up to defend against the punches, his kick hitting me again. I hide a wince, as if it didn't even have an effect on me, dashing to the right and aiming a punch for the nose. Let's get a bit more blood from you...

Will

His fist made contact with my nose and pain and crimson red liquid flowed forward. I staggered backwards, clutching my nose.

Damian
Distracted. Easy, too easy.
I grab his arm and turn sharply, leaning forward and bringing him over my back. Stepping on his neck as he looks up at the ceiling, pressing down on his throat. "I win." If I had my katana it'd be through his heart by now, or slicing his neck. Not smirking, just studying him as blood goes down his face. And he calls himself a soldier...

Will

I gave a cry of pain as my back hit the floor and gasped for air when his foot was pressed against my throat. I was dizzy...and my head hitting the floor had probably given me a concusion. Blood gushed from my nose down to my lips, and I coughed and sputtered choking on it.

Damian
I roll my eyes, taking my foot off and squatting by him. "Can I go yet?" I call, looking over to the one way mirror. Simulation ends, the parking lot scene fading away.
No answer from the control room. Crap.
I look back down at Will. "You suck at hand to hand," I tell him, pretty much stating the obvious. If he hasn't learned that by now this was all pretty hopeless...

Will

I did suck at hand to hand, it was never my strong point. We relied on things like powers and weapons. I could manage at hand to hand if I had what I normally did....but I didn't. I glared at him, a small groan escaping my lips. Gosh...it hurt...the brat fought well..I had to admit.

BW
I nod. "Alright then. Let's talk writing before they talk strategies and whatnot..." I think a moment. "Look back on the fight, post by post, reading carefully, and answer me these questions. FOR THOSE STALKING THIS: This would be the time to put in any tips or things that you noticed can be worked on. For me or for gh, if anything I do bothers you as well."
From my notepad I rip off the front paper, handing it over to gh.

1) Notice any differences between my posts and yours? What? Be specific please~
2) What made you write that Will was hit or not with an attack? Was it just at random or were there specific reasons?
3) Notice any of Will’s weakness or strong points that can be elaborated upon?
4) Are you working in Will’s quirks as well? (Those things discussed that make him a well rounded character)
5) Anything you realized about your character as you reread the fight? Any epiphanies?
6) Is there an equal balance of actions, thoughts, feelings, and maybe dialogue in your posts?

"Consider your answers carefully. The more you put into them the more I can understand what you're talking about."

1) Er...mine were shorter....first person isn't my strong point. And I pped once...sorry bout that (was distracted by things irl..)
2) yeah...it was random -.-"
3) He isn't good at hand to hand combat, he relies heavily on his other skills.
4) no....
5) Nope.....I need to balance that

I frowned, handing BW the paper. "Yeah, sorry bout the PPing...my mind was kind of...foggy....I wasn't thinking clearly....."

BW
Pfffttttt, endeandIdoitallthetime... “Er....no biggy...” I look over the short replies to the questions. “Alright...info dump number two....”

What I noticed:
You do reveal that Will is stubborn in the beginning, one of his quirks. How I interpreted it as is that he doesn’t care for authority, however, which may not be the image your going for if he’s going to be a part of the Coxes, following daily orders and going to be a part of a ploy to take over the world. Is he not disciplined? Shouldn’t he follow orders no matter who gives them?

Hand to hand is any warrior’s fall back without weapons. Its a /must know/, and if he received training all of his life he more than likely /should/ and /would/ know it. Taaakkkeee....The Matrix as an example. They have all the guns and weapons in the world at their disposal, but they always fall back on hand to hand. And is it not always reserved for the most exciting fight? Anyone can shoot a gun, after all. It’s true skill if they can fight with their hands well.
So what if his weapons are taken away? What if he can't use his spells? What sort of use would he be to the Cox family then if he can't fight without those things?

Details again, missy, details~ As the reader, I couldn’t really picture what Will was doing, had to guess what he was doing half the time. Were the kicks high or low? How’s his stance? The pace of his attacks? Were they fast, slow, surprise hits, suddenly...? THAT is what you should go on, deciding whether or not Will should be hit or not. Those that say ‘surprise’ or ‘suddenly’ would be less foreseen by the other character, and therefore have more of a likelihood of hitting.
Keep in mind that all of that fight lasted probably less than five minutes. Even if posting and reading seems slow, you have to keep the character’s sense of time in mind too. And in a fight, every second counts - as Damian will explain to Will shortly in a ….different wording...
And as you pointed out in your answers, there should be an semi equal balance of thoughts, feelings, and dialogue mixed in with actions. Otherwise it’s just ‘I did this. I did that’ and reading that many sentences starting with ‘I’ gets boring.

And speaking of the answers: 1st isn’t your strongest POV, why write in it? If you can describe things better in 3rd then do such. You don’t have to follow my style if it makes you uncomfortable. I’m most adapt at writing 1st, so I write in 1st. March to your own drum, girl! Be an original!

BTW: Does he have any limits on his spell casting?

Any questions? Don't be afraid to ask 'em!

"Gah BW, you're info gives me brain overload," I said. I understood it, but it was SO MUCH INFO. @.@ Makes ma brain want to spazz. "Yeah he's got limits....consideringIhaven'tfinishedmakingsomeofthespellsyet......"

what are the limits given to their magic abilities?

BW
"Just take it in steps, ask questions if you need to on anything. You'll get it all under wraps soon enough.
"okai, if there aren't any questions, then characters can talk fighting now." I nod in the direction of the one way window, looking back out to the two of them in the simulation room.

Damian
Still frowning down on him coolly, eyes narrowed bored. Jeez, gonna get up or just be an upside down turtle... What was I supposed to say exactly... Couldn't /teach/ someone fighting, it was all experience. And it would get fucking old if BW made me fight him a dozen times...
Alright, fine....no other damn options than just sit here and talk to this guy... "Besides showing up... What'd you do wrong?" I ask him, wondering if he knew any of the mistakes he made. Probably not...

"Well for certain spells they can only hold it so long, or it may take two or more people. Like ...Even with the mind torture....you can counteract it. Blocking your mind or causing a distraction, they have to be focused. Also...another thing about the Coxes, they don't plan for the unexpected it's their tragic flaw (for those of you who are stalking this and don't know what that is, it's a trait that will eventually bring out a character's downfall)."

"I left my defensises out in the open and didn't focus on blocks. I retalliated too quickly and pulled back too slowly." Will answered.

Damian
I scowl, flick him in the forehead. Yeahwhateverpowerplaying....shut up...
" 'What defenses' is right... What /retaliation/, though? Those lame sissy punches? Spent half your time taking care of your looks instead of paying attention to me." My hand stays over him, I give a few quick snaps. "Fighting should be quick! Fighting shouldn't be hesitant, shouldn't pause between opponents! Attack, defense, counter. Don't waste time with whipping blood away, or making sly remarks - your not badass enough to do that yet!" I lean back again with a sigh, then add under my breath: "If you ever succeed in /getting/ to BE badass..."

God, would this kid even get it... I was going to be here for eternity... "Doing those things allows your opponent to think, to plan, to get ready for another attack or counter. You shouldn't take an open invitation for an attack unless you've got some surprise in your sleeve, otherwise you're just falling into your opponent's trap! Shouldn't take the first punch because your opponent will be ready for a counter if you're too obvious. Why do you think Batman always smashes through the windows instead of walking through the front door?"

I stand up, cross my arms as usual, but allow my usual smirk to come back. "You let your anger affect you, and that shouldn't be your motivation in a fight. It makes you act stupid, stupid. Makes you irrational and do risky things. If you're /going/ to fight, you need a motivation. Something to take your mind off emotions and drive you to win. Figuring that out is the most important thing.

"Next is determining whether or not you're really into the fight. You don't have any desire to fight, you're going to suck. How important is winning to you, whether or not your heart is /in/ the fight. Your author doesn't have to actually say it either; its all revealed in your actions. The beginning, with just the post-it note...you were fucking depressing! What the hell sort of spirit is a damn sigh?! You're a SOLDIER, stupid! Start acting like it! Winning is determined in blood for people like us - your own or your opponent's!"

Will glared at Damian, what gave him the right to even down talk to him?! Oh that's right...cause Gh said said so. /Screw this/, Will thought to himslef, /I'll show this brat I can kick his butt. If it's the last thing I do./ "Fine then. What now?"

Damian
"Fight again, duh. See if you and your author paid attention." My smirk widens slightly. The stage resets, injuries are healed from the last fight. We return to the parking lot simulation. "Come on, get up, stupid."

Will got up and took a step back, putting enough distance between him and Damian. He held up his hands into fists and made sure that his ribs were blocked. "You can start."

Damian
I step back a couple of steps just in case, take my original stance again. Defense is better looking, in tight and not flailing about. Me start? How polite of him...
I give a little smirk again. "What about you?" I ask, but run in the next second, winding up for a right punch to the side of the face but pulling in quick in a fake attack, twisting with the momentum and bringing my right leg up for a kick instead.

((Sorry I haven't been keeping up with this... Is there still time to contribute as far as fighting strategy goes?))

yeah, go ahead.

Winter

"You know," I say, turning to Gh, "balance and momentum are integral parts of fighting. You have to know where the balance is at all times and where the momentum is going. There's no fight without motion. One thing to keep in mind is how realistic the moves are. Could a character really kick there in his current position? Could this action flow into this one, or will the character need to right himself first? And in that vein, a character should always be sure of his balance. You never want to be caught off-balance in a fight; the enemy will take advantage of your weakness and quickly disable you.

"Additionally, knowing about balance and momentum will help you decide whether a blow landed on your character or not. If the character isn't in a position to dodge, it's going to hit. If the character has no opening to counter, it's going to hit. Of course, reaction time, speed, and agility play a role, too. A character that isn't quite quick enough might get grazed by the blow. A character that isn't quite agile enough might not be able to change direction in time. And of course, a character with a slower reaction time is going to have a smaller window for movement. Oh! Another thing to keep in mind is that the longer the fight goes, the less stamina characters have. After too much nonstop fighting, they'll start to get a little sluggish.

"Back on the topic of movement. Physics, physics, physics. If you swing your fist, it has a certain velocity. Every time another move is played in a fight, the general velocity changes. And since you're obviously connected to your fist...I hope...it's going to carry you with it. Think about the momentum of the blow and how you'll move accordingly. There's a lot of weight being thrown around here, which is one thing you can take advantage of. So now say your opponent is the one throwing the punch. There are plenty of ways to alter their momentum to your advantage. For example, you could grab their wrist with one hand and force it to go in a slightly different direction. While their core is open because of this action, land a blow on it with your other hand. Did White Angel go for that before? I think she did. But see how the momentum worked there? I'm not going to tell you everything you can do, though; that's something I'll let you figure out on your own.

"Wow, I've kind of talked a lot. I'll just finish with this: Remember to always keep balance and momentum in mind in fight scenes. That's how you make them flow."

Distracted by the fake punch, Will stumbled back. Regaining his balance, he raised his arms in a defense position and kept his hands in tight fists. Lifting his leg and keeping his knee bent, he spun his body forward and snapped his leg out. (>.> not sure how well I explained this, he's preforming a roundhouse kick)

Damian
My kick not landing much of a severe blow. My eyes always on him though, I read his movements. More skilled then last time but... "Still too obvious," I tell him as I squat down to duck, moving my leg out to sweep him off the one foot he has all his balance on.

Will fell backward at Damian's trip. He landed on the ground with a thud, pain hitting his spine from he hard floor. Giving a low moan, he lay there for a minute before slowly trying to roll out of Damain's way as not to be hit again. No doubt he had looked sequoia tree when falling...even he had to have some grudging respect for this kid. His (Damian's) height provided him with alot more advantages.

Damian
Bringing my leg back in for a crouch, I smirk at his sound of pain. "Too slow," I comment again, jumping at him as he slowly rolls away, trying to catch his arm to put him in a pin down again.