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First of all, is this a plea for attention? Hell yes! I really do want more people to read and critique my work, so have at it!
Archmage - The World-Building Thread
Depression has been a major factor in my not doing much at all for ages. Every once in a while, I have a spark of an idea and I start on it. However, that spark fades very quickly and I soon fall under the weight of ennui once again. This makes it extraordinarily hard to finish anything, since the willingness to work comes only in brief spurts.
I think I've developed a means to mitigate this, but it's not something I can do alone. If someone expresses interest in something I am creating, my motivation is sustained longer than usual. I feel like I'm weak for needing others to keep myself working, but I can't deny the truth. I am crippled without the support of others interested in what I'm doing.
I want to finish Archmage, but more often than not I spend the days lying on the floor doing nothing but wallowing in misery.
So, if you are willing, please help.
Note: This is a request for help motivating me to work on Archmage, not for help dealing with my depression. I'm already being treated and arguably, this state is better than how I used to be by a long shot. It's still not great, though.
Follow the link above, read, and post your thoughts! Criticism (constructive, naturally) is just as good as praise. In fact, it may be even better.
I'm continuing to update the thread in small pieces when I can manage. Latest post is some brief overviews of the paladin orders!
Please comment and ask questions. There may be things I've overlooked, and asking me about things helps me fill in the gaps. Please comment on previous posts as well! I appreciate feedback on any of the stuff posted so far.
Come on, guys. Anyone?
How prominent are firearms gonna be? Bullets? Lasers? Is it anachronistic with swords everywhere like He-man?
As someone who sometimes gets stopped completely by depression, I can sympathize.
However, I am currently at work and not feeling too well, so I will have to check this later.
Also, kudos to people like you who have the creative drive to actually make things. That's always inspiring to me.
How prominent are firearms gonna be? Bullets? Lasers? Is it anachronistic with swords everywhere like He-man?
Replied in the main thread.
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You're not weak at all, you're brave for figuring out something that helps and pursuing it. Inspiring post. Can't wait to read about the world you're building.
Also, kudos to people like you who have the creative drive to actually make things. That's always inspiring to me.
Thanks, although I only have the creativity, not the drive. That's where the encouragement helps. I'm crippled by depression right now, so it's hard.
Just popping in as a regular reader and sometimes poster on UR's thread(s) - there is some damn fine creativity going on in her brain.
UR, while you characterise yourself as "crippled" I would say your on-line expression is empowered, engaged, engaging and inspiring.
I want to know what the plot secret school of magic is.
Thanks for the support, everyone. :)
I want to know what the plot secret school of magic is.
Here's a sneak peek:
* The Primordials weren't the only things to escape the destruction of the Prime.
* The Krodanoi were not the first intelligent life on Deutero.
The secret path of magic is related to one of these clues. ;)
Heheh I like that it was the wealth god who spilled the beans to Mevyann. That's deep.
As someone currently struggling with my own motivation due to depression, I can only sympathize and say "keep on at it". Some days tend to be better than others, try to do what you can when you can, and try not to beat yourself up too much about the times when you can't.
Don't give up. Looking back at a time you just gave up only makes things worse. Looking back at a time you kept on plodding away until it was finished, even if it took four times as long as it should have, will give you something to be proud of.
Everyone's depression is unique. I can say what helps me, but it might not necessarily help you. One thing I find that helps me though is growing to accept the fact that sometimes I'm just going to be a vegetable, and working around it rather than trying to fight it. Longer-term I know I'll have to find better ways, but some days being able to deal with getting up in the morning and eating something has to take priority, which means letting everything else go while I focus on that.
Finally, the fact you are working on something, no matter how slowly you may have to plod through it, is fantastic.
I want to know what the plot secret school of magic is.Here's a sneak peek:
* The Primordials weren't the only things to escape the destruction of the Prime.
* The Krodanoi were not the first intelligent life on Deutero.
The secret path of magic is related to one of these clues. ;)
I have a guess.
Feel free to speculate!
And thanks everyone; this is really helpful. Please keep the comments and questions coming!
Does it have something to do with binding the demons?
Umral Reaver, I HIGHLY recomend a book titled The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
This little book is a major help for anyone who is dealing with creative roadblocks. It can help you identify the enemy, how to defeat it and put you on a path of productivity.
I wish you great success.
-M
Does it have something to do with binding the demons?
Nope! That's death magic. :)
Umral Reaver, I HIGHLY recomend a book titled The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
This little book is a major help for anyone who is dealing with creative roadblocks. It can help you identify the enemy, how to defeat it and put you on a path of productivity.
I wish you great success.
-M
Unfortunately, my depression is caused by faults in my brain. My problem is not one of creativity, but of energy and motivation. I have a million ideas and rarely the will to execute them.
Does it have something to do with binding the demons?Nope! That's death magic. :)
Dang!
Ok, last guess. Is it for going ethereal to survive in the Maelstrom?
Nope. That's 'Prime' magic, which is universal. Although, only the Primordial archmages had access to it at that level (as far as we know).
Here's another clue:
The Primordials don't know about it. ;)
A brief summary of the schools:
Holy: Light, instant healing, protection, auras, banishing, smiting, calming.
Arcane: Illusion, charming, telekinesis, spell-manipulation, gravity, space, time.
Death: Darkness, undeath, binding, curses, vampiric healing, fear, despair, affliction.
Chaos: Fire, lightning, ice, sonic, rage, insanity, passion, destruction.
Nature: Animals, plants, poison, natural healing, earth, water, strength, toughness, shapeshifting.
Prime: Basic utility, dispelling, generic wards, Prime or Maelstrom stuff.
Secret: Not telling. ;)
Most PF spells could be put into one or more of the above categories. Certainly, some spells would fit into several.
I don't know then. Something to do with genetics?
That's arcane+nature.
A post on differing standards of beauty posted in the main thread.
My problem is not one of creativity, but of energy and motivation. I have a million ideas and rarely the will to execute them.Umral Reaver, I HIGHLY recomend a book titled The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
This little book is a major help for anyone who is dealing with creative roadblocks. It can help you identify the enemy, how to defeat it and put you on a path of productivity.
I wish you great success.
-M
And that is why I recommended the book. :)
-MD
My depression is due to brain problems, so I'm not sure how relevant it would be.
I hope you get better, Umbral. I'm sure you've read this comic, but on the off chance that you haven't...
That seems silly to remove my post.
The book was about writers block and being a modivated artist. Something the OP specificly asked for.
This is a request for help motivating me to work on Archmage,
Your post was phrased in an inappropriate way. And this is not the place for discussing moderation decisions. Take it to webmaster@paizo.com or the Website subforum. Don't derail this thread to discuss it.
Thanks everyone. And yes, I have read that comic! I won't get better (brain errors), but thanks anyway.
And huh, what got removed? Did I do something wrong?
Nothing you did Umbral.
Carry on...
I don't think you've understood what's going on here.
There are three unrelated settings, all being built upon the same base system.
The system is Infinity. It has the three reserve pools (health/energy/stress) and stuff built around that.
Mechanism is a setting. It adds cybernetics and psychic powers to the Infinity system.
Awakening is a setting. It adds space travel and mechs to the Infinity system.
Archmage is a setting. It adds magic and fantasy to the Infinity system.
Although they use the same core mechanics, they are not connected to each other at all.
And Archmage at least has some Pathfinder conversion in the works it looks like.
Yep. The goal is for it to be playable in Pathfinder, although best suited for Infinity.
Added a small bit about special materials. Probably not going to use the standard Pathfinder bunch.
Looks like I was right again. The depleting interest combined with my fatigue and depression sapped me of the will to work on this.
Right now, I am attempting to force myself to write some fiction set in the world of Archmage to motivate myself, but chances are I will just burn out and stop again.
Hey. Just seen this. Will check it out properly later.
Please do. Anyone is encouraged to comment on the stuff so far, or inquire about parts of the world yet to be covered.
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I, too, am a highly creative individual with endless ideas, but who also suffers from depression and also suffers from a lack of energy or motivation to get the ideas down.
If I may recommend a trick I have discovered, which helps me. Don't know if it will help you, but here goes...
I noticed over the years that I tend to want to work on my ideas when I am supposed to be doing something else. In fact, on occasion, when nobody was looking, I would waste lots of time meant for one thing, doing the creative thing.
I've found I can sort of trick myself into working on creative stuff by beginning something else. Something lame and boring, like cleaning the house or organizing supplies, or going out to run a few errands or something. Doesn't cure the depression, of course, but it can get me to WANT to work on stuff, which can result in short spurts of actual productivity.
I've tried similar. It doesn't work.
I start trying to do something useful... then end up lying on the floor lamenting my existence instead.