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Nor do they need, our hospitable care, Removed in kindness from their glassy Cell To the fresh waters of a living Well-- An elfin pool so sheltered that its rest No winds disturb; the mirror of whose breast Is smooth as clear, save where with dimples small A fly may settle, or a blossom fall. -- William Wordsworth, "Addressed to a Friend" Lawman has been an upstanding member of the FPL community for well over two years. He has made many a popular character, won the Main Event with Felicity, and currently in the ME queue with Tamara Ellis. Well known for his courtesy and patience with troublemakers and regulars alike, Lawman often serves as a calming influence on the community, when needed. Here he takes time to answer a few questions from myself and several others. *** Abdiel changes topic to 'The Law of Man is Harsh but fair... yet we're giving Lawman an Interview anyway' Abdiel Thanks for appearing today to answer a few questions for us, Lawman Lawman It's an honour. :) Abdiel Not to shirk tradition, which of your characters do you feel is your greatest "success", and why? Lawman Eh... success as in the satisfaction of creating, or number of wins? Abdiel however you choose to define it: you can give multiple answers Lawman Well, as far as technical success goes, I guess it's Felicity - she's after all won the ME. Lawman But if we were to talk about my "true" success, I guess it's Ma Xiaoling. Abdiel how do you define "true success"? Lawman True success would be the satisfaction you get from creating... at the end of the day, after writing the character, you can't help but smile at yourself and feel like giving yourself a pat on the back. Abdiel do you feel like most creators in the FPL create to gain satisfaction in this manner, or do more of them tie satisfaction to wins and "technical" success? Lawman It's a transitional period we go through as creators... when I first started out, I used to associate "success" with the number of wins... and that's the way quite a number of new creators think. Abdiel and yet we see many creators pining away for an ME win... do you still think of your first victory as a genuine accomplishment, or more of an afterthought? Lawman I'd say victories are but fruits of your accomplishment. If you've created something good, it should do well on the kill floor. :) Abdiel do you think newer creators would actually make better characters if they stopped obsessing about wins, then? Lawman Possibly. My advice is to start small; don't go around thinking that you can play with the top dogs right from the start. Try a more diplomatic approach; get on good terms with some of the established creators first before making your move. Abdiel With the creations of those 'top dogs' in mind, what do you think separates 'good' characters from truly classic/great characters? Can you give us an example or two of each type you think demonstrates this difference? Lawman Ahh... a "good" character is one that has good writing and an original concept, but it doesn't leave as much of an impression on me as a "great" one. One example of a "great" character would be vK's Uberman. Not the most original concept if you ask me, but his IC involvement and solid writing leaves a lasting impression on me till this day. Abdiel To touch on another remark you've made, how important do you think 'diplomacy' is in the FPL? Do you think that someone who never went on the boards or into chat could be successful here? Lawman Well, it varies with the individual... for me, I think it's paramount. Abdiel You have a reputation for being one of the most courteous and forgiving members of the FPL community. Is there anything you want to say about your perceived role as the FPL's "overly nice guy"? Lawman Hee hee... all I can say is that I'll go on being the "good cop" that I am. MrGraves cheers Lawman After all, it's a chaotic world out there, and the people are dying for love. Abdiel So you think being kind to people is a more constructive way of helping them mature as creators and members of the FPL community? Lawman Well, it's a case by case basis... if soft tactics fail, we do need some tough love. That's when people like Rookie and John come in :) Of course, anyone here - including myself - can be tough when the situation calls for it. Abdiel What inspires you when you create FPL Characters and IC works for the FPL? Do you have any strong sources that have had a particular influence on your work? Lawman Music. If there's music in my heart, I know things can't go wrong when I start creating. :D Abdiel what kind of music seems to bring out the best characters? Lawman Ehh... for my case, it's mostly soundtracks. Anime and movie OST and the like. Limp Bizkit's "Crushed" was playing in my mind when I created Rogan White, for example. Abdiel What's your take on the age-old Powers vs. Writing debate? Do Powers matter? Lawman Powers... powers are but a means of expressing your creativity. And since I said creativity, so yeah, writing is paramount, but powers play quite a role as well. Abdiel Can a cool combo or a clear powers advantage influence your vote, then? What other criteria do you use when determining who should win a match? Lawman Well, when I look at a match, the first thing I do is to establish an IC conflict situation based on the terrain and the fighters' abilities. There must be a reason why they fight... All the better if there's a scenario, but otherwise I can always try to imagine the conflict. That being said, I vote for who I think *should* win the fight. But then, a character who leaves a significantly deeper impression on me gets my vote because it's a character that *deserves* to win the fight. Powers come into the equation when both characters are equally well-written or likeable; same levels of "coolness" so to speak. Yeah, that's about it for my voting principles. Abdiel Roughly what percent of matches do you vote on? Lawman Most of eem. I vote on matches that seem like an interesting IC conflict... But then, I always read through every fight before I decide whether to vote or not; and sometimes, that's when "mercy votes" come in. Abdiel In that vein, what do you think of fiction actually written based on FPL characters and Khazan? Are IC elements an important part of the FPL community? Any particular works to recommend? Lawman Oh sure; Khazan is one of the most interactive, free-for-all universes I've ever seen next to Marvel or DC. I'd say that IC involvement does play a part in character success. I'd say it's also IC works that make the FPL community stick closer together than other online communities I've visited. As for IC works I'd recommend... Apocalypse is definitely two thumbs up. Also, don't miss Mr. Graves' "Shadows in the Empire" and any of red's IC works. Landon I think we can edit in "Apocalypse roxxors" into all future FPL interviews. Lawman Ha ha ha... There's a lot of 'em, and I'd say Xyex's IC works are often underrated. I'd recommend them too, along with Soberguy's works. Go visit Xyex's Omega Chronicles... Abdiel Apoc incorporated a lot of different FPL characters. Do you like it when ideas from different creators come together in collaborations? What do you think of the tournaments, groups, etc, from the FPL's past? Any particular favorites? Lawman Well, collabs are a good way of leaving one's mark on the IC continuity of Khazan, as well as bringing the community closer together, bridging the newbie-vet "generation gap". As for my favourite collabs... I think it's the current tourney, even though I bowed out. Also, Twisted had much potential too... Abdiel For most of my interviewees, I ask them what their favorite characters are, or who their favorite creators are. But for you, Lawman... something more sinister lurks. Lawman Oh? Abdiel you have to name at LEAST two characters or creators you feel are BAD, or simply overrated. I'm not letting you leave without saying something mean =) Lawman BAD, eh? Abdiel and no naming VMers, either, too easy Lawman Well, if you insist... there aren't many "bad" characters in my sight, just "good", "great" and "okay", but yes, bad characters exist. Now, I wonder where I left my list of "bad" characters? Abdiel will wait >:) Lawman Okay, I'd hate to step on other's toes, Landon's second version of Turkeyzilla is somewhat overrated. The first version's cool and such, no argument about that, but his current version is just too gimmicky for my liking... Abdiel ooh, bonus points for dumping on someone actually present. heheh. Landon Aww... that doesn't count 'cause even I think it sucks. Heeheehee Lawman Now, let's see... another one... I guess the creations of Son of someonewhosenameIrathernotmention all sucked. Devi heh Abdiel hmm... that's a bit of a cop out, since we all pretty much hate him anyway... but we'll take it ;) MrGraves Top 3, Ah, Creators and/or Characters, whichever you feel like answering Lawman Uhh... I guess it's impossible for me to answer the top 3 creators. But for top 3 characters, excluding my own, would be Chronomancer, Uberman and Hitokiri Shinigami. MrKite Oh hey, since you mentioned games, got any favourites, and have you ever based a character on something from one? ^_^ Lawman Uhh... I think Felicity is based remotely on Final Fantasy 7... I got the idea for her power set from Cait Sith's "Slots" limit break. Well, if you look at the power names of many a FPL character of mine, you'll see some vague references to old-skool games and cartoons. Check out Rogan White's "Sight Beyond Sight", for example. I got the line from Thundercats... :p Abdiel Okay, for answering the tough question, you get a softball: What were your first impressions of the FPL when you came here 2 years ago, and how have they changed over the years? How has the FPL changed? Lawman Ah... how it brings back memories. I dunno, but the FPL hasn't changed at all in my opinion. And I'd say "hao" (good) in general. It's as humane as an online community can get. I feel inclined to say that the FPL was nearing the end of the golden age when I came in. There's been a bit of turbulence, but I say we've settled into another good age. Devi when was that again? Lawman Back in Autumn 200, that was when I first chanced upon the site. (Editor's Note: I'm sure he means 2000) MrGraves Over 1800 years ago... man, we HAVE been around for a while... j/k :D Abdiel Autumn 200, heh, sounds like when Cao Cao was about to defeat Dong Zhuo ;) MrGraves Whee! Three Kingdoms Abdiel so you feel that the current crop of characters is particularly good? Lawman My current characters? Sure. I create with a progressive attitude... so I always personally feel that my next character is better than the previous. Abdiel You've invested a lot of energy into the creation of an FPL based fansite, Lawman's Ling Ling Hall. First off, what's with the name? Can you explain to us in a sentence or two what the main purpose of the site is? Lawman It serves primarily as a gateway to FPL by introducing the basics of the game. The character review, for example, tells the newcomers what's hot on the FPL and such, while the guide tells them how to play. As for the name, LingLing was named after my FPL character turned personal mascot, Ma Xiaoling. "Cleaning Services" because she cleans out the scum of the netherworld. :) Abdiel care to break down "Ma Xiaoling", for those of us who can understand chinese? and the meaning of the characters for those who can't of course? Lawman "Ma" is her surname, and it's the word "Horse". "Xiaoling", if you translate it directly into english means "little bell". It suggests she's the hyper and energetic type... Abdiel thanks. What direction do you want to take Lingling Hall? Any plans for different features in the future? (as an aside, Ma is my paternal grandmother's family name =) Lawman I'd like to add in a music dedication section in the future, and possibly a fanart section for FPL character fanart... Devi oh, whilst I have your ear, I'm still very much against the midi on the Char Review page. at least, if it were optional... Lawman I have since removed it... Devi oh good fer me then, heheh MrKite awe, I loved that midi. Shining Force, right? Lawman Yuppers! Lawman LOVES Shining Force. MrKite Good man. Lawman I always liked old-skool videogames... can't seem to get used to new-fangled stuff... Abdiel Are there any dream matches involving your characters that you'd like to see sometime in the future or that you wish had happened? Are there any matches you've had that you wished you could "do-over"? Lawman There's plenty, but I'll just name a few for Pete's sake... one match I'd love to see would be a free-for-all involving the unFA-able characters. Abdiel which include? Lawman Rika 822 the Character vs. The Dead Man in Dean's Fridge vs. The Evangelist... It's impossible to FA any of the fights these characters are in, so why not put them against those who're in their same league? :) Also, the FPL ice-users showdown at the Frozen Wastes would be cool. (pun intended) Well, if I go on like this, it'll take a 1 MB word document to list down all my dream matches, so I guess these are the ones off the top of my head. Abdiel Which do you enjoy reading more: a really good serious character, or a seriously funny humor character? Lawman I'm into humor, really. But if the character is written solidly, both can catch my attention equally... Abdiel Is there any one creator in the league who has a skill you'd like to steal or borrow? Like, you wish you had person X's ability to draw, or person Y's ability to write a good humor character? Lawman Personally, I'd wish I could draw like YuPing, and as for writing, if only I had red's literary talents... *drool* MrGraves wishes he had anyone decent's ability to draw Lawman If I can make a decent anime CG, gone are my days of internet pic hunts... Abdiel Do you think you'll still be creating in two years? Lawman You kidding me, of course it's hell yeah! Abdiel Have you ever created under an alias? Lawman Well, Lawman hasn't always been "Lawman"... Abdiel care to explain? Lawman Back when I first started, I went under a different name, "Charizard", but realizing how stupid of me to go by a Pokemon name, I changed my name to "Lawman", and has remained as Lawman ever since. Abdiel nods Abdiel If there were an "FPLCon" where all the creators meet, and money/transportation were not an issue, would you go? If so, who do you think would be the most fun to meet in person? Lawman I'd most certainly meet all those who frequent #fpl and #fplnewplayer,and apart from chatters, I'm also keen on meeting red, Xyex, Ren, DMOD and YuPing Abdiel Do you have any plans for future characters you feel like sharing? Lawman I'm probably expanding on the IC aspect of Chris Cullen, expect some characters related to his past sometime in the future... It goes hand in hand with an IC saga, too. Abdiel it'll be good to see more fic writing from you, Lawman. Lawman Creating the characters aren't a problem, but maintaining the consistency to keep writing fics are my problem... :p Abdiel What is your favorite Dish, and where do you get it (family cooks it, from a certain restaurant, etc)? Lawman I love homecooked dishes. I guess fried eggplant with sambal prawn is one of my fav's... MrGraves ... Lawman Is it me, or do most people dislike eggplant? Abdiel not me, one of my favorite dishes is yu xiang qie zi. =) If you could travel to any one country in the world for a vacation, which would it be? If you had to live and study/work there for a year, would your answer be different? Lawman If on a vacation, I'd want to visit Canada. I'd love to say "hi" to vK, Soberguy and Rookie. If I have to study or work there for a year, I guess I'll still enjoy Canada... In fact, as long as I can leave the tropics, it'll be great. Abdiel Okay, I'm going to test your Chinese culture here for a minute. I'm going to tell a joke, then you tell me the punch line. =) Lawman Go ahead. :D Abdiel A young Chinese man is getting ready to go and study in America. The day before he leaves, his father takes him aside and warns him: "Son, you must be very careful in America. American women are very bold. They will try to seduce you! You must always be on your guard!" Son: "Yes, father." On his first day in America the boy goes into a diner. A pretty young waitress comes over. "I'll have the special, please," says the young man. "Tea or coffee?" asks the waitress. "Tea, please." Waitress: "Yes, Sir, with pleasure." and the young man said... Lawman ?! Abdiel aww... haven't heard it... Devi young man yells "hoor of babylon"? Abdiel heh, the punch line is, the young man says: "No, no, no! No pleasure!" Lawman Oh, I think I've learned something... :D The young man reminds me of myself... Abdiel If you could kill someone and get away with it scot free, who would it be? Lawman Buddha, I guess. :p Abdiel why Buddha? Lawman Well, I'm trying to be annoying. (Doesn't that sound familiar?) Landon AAAA! Lawman is SoL! RUN! Abdiel dies Devi hehs, aheh-heh-has Lawman NoNoNo! MrGraves ARRGH! Abdiel What's the best classic work of writing we should read? MrGraves kills Lawman for that one Lawman Jokes aside, I'd recommend "Journey to the West" and "The Water Margin". Abdiel both good selections. Lawman Fact is, I've been very tempted to do classic Chinese literature character on the FPL for quite a while. Abdiel Do you really think SoL is coming back? MrKite *crowds rush to kill Ab for even mentioning the idea* Lawman Mark my words, he will be back, but this time I'll put a restraining order on him. Abdiel What should everyone do before they die? Lawman Believe in God. Abdiel Why did Constantinople get the works? Lawman I got no idea; this ain't my cup of tea. Abdiel What's your worst habit? Lawman Nose-picking; in public. Ick. Well, speak of the devil, I just picked my nose... Abdiel if you could have one power as described in the FPL at standard, what would it be? Lawman Ahh, easy... eldritch blast Abdiel Who is your hero, if you have one? Lawman Umm... real-life or fiction? Abdiel either Lawman Real-life: (historic) Huang Feihong, Fictional: Yuki Saiko (from Silent Mobius) Abdiel good choices =) MrGraves Mind telling us a bit about who Huang Feihong is? For those who don't know Devi Jet Li, hehehehehe Abdiel ha Lawman Huang Feihong is a Chinese martial arts expert of legendary status. But he's also a doctor. Devi Kong Ming/Zhuge Liang or Sima Yi? Lawman Zhuge Liang all the way. Devi ah, a knave indeedy, hehe Zhuge Liang: Here's a dress, since you're so timid Sima Yi: Thank you, it's a nice fabric MrGraves hehe Devi Zhuge Liang: Gark *heart attack* *dies* *owned* Abdiel okay, finally, is there anything you'd like to say to the FPL as a whole while you're still on the stand? The final word is yours. Lawman Sheesh, I'm never one to make speeches, so I guess all I say is that the FPL must be the 8th Wonder of the World. Yub yub! Previous Rants |
