The Neopian Times Talkback Thread

[Moni]

HERE ARE THE NT ARCHIVES.


Weewoos make the sound of a police car siren. Probably.

Welcome to the Neopian Times Talkback Thread! The NTTT is a friendly place for discussion of any past issue of the Neopian Times. Here, you can discuss your old favorites in the Neopian Times, simply catch up on a series of reviews you've been meaning to get to, or drop a comment on something you may have missed in the past!

You may also share your own works from previous issues if you so choose! While self-promotion is NOT a taboo on this thread and is in fact somewhat encouraged, please remember that discussion is a give-and-take situation, and that you may also want to comment on something else while you're here.

Since the NT's search system is a little wonky sometimes, I encourage you to use the Neopian Times Master Index, which searches the descriptions as well as the titles of entries themselves. It's very possible to find entries pertaining to your favorite plots, characters, and site features that you may have missed over the years by doing this!

There are no rigid rules to the thread--your posts may be as short or long as you want, and your comments as frivolous or as master's thesisy as you wish.

A few starter questions for those who do not know what to say yet:
- What are your favorite Neopian Times Stories? Articles? Comics? Series? Authors?
- What are some notable NT "genres" that were significant to you?
- What are your own favorite Neopian Times stories? Least favorite? Most fun to write?

And as always, please be excellent to each other.

[Moni]

I suppose I should be the one to kick things off, pff.

So back in the day, a lot of people read the NT. One of those people was little Moni (who was a wee 11-year-old at the time). Little Moni wasn't around for the Meridell plots, nor was she even allowed to use the boards, but she loved every single character in them, and always read anything that had to do with Lord Darigan, Kass, Jeran, Lisha, etc.

Anyway, I tell this story because a few days ago, I was actually picking up my drawing tablet to show some acquaintances how it worked, and I sketched a few things, among them a small pirate lupess who I hadn't really thought about in a long time. Of course, you can cue all the "lol I never knew you were a furry" comments whenever you draw any Neopet because... reasons (I have a suspicion this sort of thing is among the reasons why TNT never allowed any romance ever).

I did like it a tiny bit, though (mostly because I drew a Lupe and it didn't end up looking like a potato this time), and I took the time to save it.

SPOILER: Click to show

Yeah, so when I was younger I used to be a HUGE fan of the Chronicles of the Court Rogue series. Not an unpopular thing I'd imagine, since basically everyone who I've talked NT too has mentioned that series in some sort of way. I remember being really nervous for Jeran when there was a potion with an only 75% chance of success to cure him of a... Werelupe curse, I think? (Yeah that might be a spoiler but it's been 10 years.) And being really distressed for a whole week. x) So thanks, Nimras, for part of my childhood.

I also was a big fan of a lot of other things that were... uh... of questionable quality, looking back at them. I read a lot of things of a user named ridergirl333 (this doesn't go into the questionable quality category, for clarification), I think they were retellings of the Meridell War plots.

In terms of stories, oh dear I read a ton, but I think the only NT thing I ever showed to someone IRL was The Kass Basher Kass, on Baguettes and other things, by larkspurlane. It was just funny to have something old from the perspective of the actual plushie itself; it took on a site feature that was widely recognized and made it into something unique!

Little Moni did not like articles so much, so she didn't pay much attention to them.

So, yeah, that's a slice of my own NT reading history. It's actually... kind of weird how long this thing has been on, haha.

[downrightdude]

My favorite series so far is There Goes That Man and His Kite by Dewdropzz.

The characters are endearing and I especially liked the lead protagonist, Ben Fitzgerald. It's a nice series and I highly recommend it to those who like heartwarming tales of non-woe! I even wrote a short story featuring two of my fav characters!:

www.neopets.com/ntimes/index.phtml?section=575263&week=802

The author approved of it herself. 0:-)

[Blueysicle]

I don't remember precisely when I started paying attention to the Neopian Times, but I believe it was within a year or two of me joining Neopets. (Which would be 2003, so I think I started reading the NT around 2004-2005ish?) At that early point, me being in my early teens, it was mostly comics that grabbed my fancy. While I've always liked to read, I found it somewhat difficult back then (And still do to this day to some extent) to really get into a written story, particularly if I wasn't hooked within the first few pages. Comics, however, being much shorter and obviously having a more visual aspect to them, kept my attention much easier.

So... in the roughly twelve to thirteen years I've been reading the NT (Off-and-on) and the nearly six years I've been on this website, I'm not sure if I've ever told Komori that Spooky was the first comic -and first NT work period- that I became a big fan of. And I can't imagine that I'm the only one with the same sentiment. Again, this was so long ago that I remember when Tombstones was the new guy. Though I don't know much about what NT comics in general these days are like, back then they could be rather hit-or-miss in both art and humor. But Spooky was (And is) always pleasant to look at and and consistently funny. For some time, the only reason I would check the NT each week was to see if there was a new Spooky comic.

When I did finally get around to reading the written works in the NT, the first series that I absolutely fell in love with were the Windstorm stories by sara_mossflower. I believe that I did have to go back and read Windstorm and Firejewel, since I think it was around the time that Ending Arrow came out that I got into it. But I was just so blown away at the time by these stories that catching up hardly took any time at all. (It's difficult for me to get into a story, but when I do I can read a lot in a short amount of time) And I remember being so dang excited when Shadowchild was published. It's been a very long time since I've read these stories, but I still do hold a lot of nostalgia for them.

Another one that I remember enjoying back then was Tiger 's Avalon and the Emerald Noil Gem. (And its sequels) Though I haven't read it, I do know that you eventually did write another sequel several years after the other ones, which I probably should get around to reading one of these days.

[downrightdude]

For those who remember, there's this petpage that lists a lot of fan-favorite NT entries:

www.neopets.com/~thoguh

[Zoey]

The bright graphics and interactive aspect of Neopets drew me to the site, but the NT was what made me stay. Back in the day, I loved following comics from people like stoneman3x, Patjade, and Komori (would tag their actual usernames but search is kind of wonky right now). A wee sixth grade Zoey tried to submit to the NT once and was rejected, probably rightfully so because my creative writing was atrocious back then. XD I remember one of my favorite series being this set of really funny interviews of famous Neopians; I can't remember what the series was called or who the author was, gosh darnit!

[Moni]

downrightdude I remember that USS story! x) It was cute and you captured Ben perfectly while keeping the scenario logical for your characters. I never knew how you could come up with so many different stories for the same cast.

[downrightdude]

Dec 2, 2017 19:36:36 GMT -5 Moni said:

downrightdude I remember that USS story! x) It was cute and you captured Ben perfectly while keeping the scenario logical for your characters. I never knew how you could come up with so many different stories for the same cast.

I have a boatload of story ideas for the USS series. Many as old as 2011!

[Moni]

Well, I also have plenty of other favorites to ramble about. x)

I really have had a fondness for the late Kristykimmy's comedic series Hannah, Brynn, and Nabile and the We Hate Hanso Club and Hanso, Jazan, and Kanrik and the We Hate Hanso Club. Really all of her stuff was excellent; Child of the Drenched being a favorite of many including myself. All of her stuff was so creative and she wrote so much of it.

The Fall by Breakingchains is one of those stories that I had the rare opportunity to read on the issue it was released (550 I think?) and I always have to be careful referencing something that's both quite old and also not part of the NT canon or "classics" because I have this constant fear of the author knocking on my door and saying "IT'S OOOOOOOOLD, STOP." But I really liked this story when I first read it and I still really like it now. It's just a really vivid description of such a small and iconic moment.

Another favorite of mine is the Cycle of the Moon series by Craig. It's a little meandering but it really kept my attention from the moment it started. I actually didn't know he was a member of the NTWF untill I typed his username in the searchbar; apparently the NT is a small world. x)

And hmm... I'd be remiss not to include Lisha's lament by Carolyn . x) I've always been a sucker for alternate timeline stuff and it left me very sad after reading it, in a way. This is also a person who I run the risk of "but this is ooooold!" and to that I say, too bad.

---

So... uh... who's willing to break the unspoken forum taboo and talk about their own stuff? :-D

[Twillie]

How I first got into Neopets is a mystery to me x3 The site might as well have just always been a constant my life, as that's what it feels like, and the NT goes right with it x3 It's always been comics for me, which were something I'd read as regularly as any novels or Sunday paper comics back then. The first I remember really getting into was Kittylin's And The Meepits Outgrabe, and then shortly after that Komori 's Spooky.

From there, really any comic series that had two or more installments to it, I'd probably read and enjoyed x3 Some notable examples would be buizelmaniac, seiya_from_ashes, and lachtaube. Lol, I've even tried on multiple occasions to write down every single author and series I've liked, but I've never been able to finish x3; When I get the chance, I'd love to go through individual series to give my thoughts on them, but those'll have to come a little later since I can't sink too much time in those quite yet >>

Dec 4, 2017 1:12:15 GMT -5 Moni said:

So... uh... who's willing to break the unspoken forum taboo and talk about their own stuff? :-D

Sure! I'm assuming you mean sort of the history behind our NT stuff?

Hmm, I've talked a bit about Blossoms' history here before, and I'm blanking on what I have or haven't said. Either way, though, I probably won't give a full history lesson right now so as to not ramble, and people might not want to read that x3 I will say that it was 100% the big NT comic series (many already mentioned) that inspired me to make it; ever since I was active as a kid, I wanted to do what those authors and artists were doing, but to also take it a step further with one ongoing plot in my comics.

'Course, back then, I didn't really have the skill or know how to do it, and even when I started Blossoms, that was questionable x3 I definitely feel like I've gotten better since then, but not quite like I've got it all "figure out" yet. Especially the writing aspect of this still has me jumping over hurdles and problem solving. It's basically been an uphill battle since the beginning, but also an invaluable learning experience. Blossoms has given me plenty of grief, but like a mischievous little kid, I still gotta love it x3

Even today, I can't really name many other series that are doing what I am with Blossoms. June Scarlet has Ink, there's @canadianrainwater 's Sloth series, and then a couple others I can visualize that started with what seemed to be a big plot, but never got far. Which, understandable, as it's a huge undertaking, but that just makes me excited still to do this, since I can try and chart more unfamiliar territories in the NT.

Speaking of, though, I'm not really sure if Blossoms is on anyone's "favorites" list in terms of comics or NT stories, or if it'll be something people look back on and remember like other series. It's just very different from some other stuff in the NT, which in some parts is intentional and others not, and my update times aren't the most consistent. Also, it's still at the point where I'm sure most people have no idea where it's going xDD;
Right now, I try not to worry too much about being popular, and mostly just say to make it for myself. I tell myself that if I want to see this story follow through that badly, then that's reason enough to make it xD

[Moni]

Dec 8, 2017 20:18:33 GMT -5 Twillie said:

(snip--yeah I can tag but what's the good in that?)

Aw, man, I remember Buizel's work! Having you mention him is like a blast from the past; I always think of myself as not having read a bunch of comics but I recognize a lot of comic artists you mentioned, so apparently I did read them a lot. XD

Anyway, yeah! I totally am down with people talking about their own stuff and history and things, especially if they still are working on it! I can say that Blossoms is definitely ... ambitious in its scope, to say the least; comic series are really super hard (D:). I think the main problem with Blossoms is as you said, people have no idea where it's going--it's kind of setting up a LOT of stuff without the story really getting started. But I do like it's small-scale approach to story and you are good with characters and their interactions! x) Even your very short comics have an unmistakable sense of... well, personality, I guess.

And I totally feel you. Sometimes I feel that if the NT had never downsized, I probably wouldn't have gotten in because, well, bad. Pfff. >>. For what it's worth though I follow Blossoms. And I will send you very salty mail if I don't at least know what happens. ;;

[Twillie]

Haha yeah, Geraptiku and the Cursed Wave is like the pinnacle of nostalgic NT series to me x3 And yeah, I think it's easy to pick up on a lot of the comics without realizing it; they're just a much quicker read, and there's so many, so you can lose track sometimes of just how many you went through xD That and a lot of the artists have had and do have rather distinctive styles, so it doesn't take too many comics to pick up on them :3

LOL, that's like my life's slogan: definitely ambitious, but questionable execution xDD I hope the story can pick up soon enough, but lol I don't even know anymore. It's also kinda frustrating though in that, at the end of the day, I'm working off of a story based on a fifteen year old's ideas. It's changed a lot from my original vision, but still, the foundation definitely has flaws xD

Sometimes I can feel that way too, because it wasn't really until CQ first took over that I was able to catch a break in submitting, but at this point, I don't really care how NT "worthy" my stuff is. It often seems that I knee-jerk make excuses for Blossoms, like I have to start with a disclaimer for fear that I play it up too much and ultimately disappoint people when they read it, but I don't want to default think of it as bad or not worth reading. I know it's flawed, but I don't see any reason why I shouldn't talk about it in a positive light to others, nor why I should consider it "just passing" because NT standards are lowered.

Honestly, even though it's a Neopets story, I feel more and more like the NT isn't the best format for Blossoms. It's been so slow just because the comic's pacing and NT update times don't jive; in a perfect world, I'd update Blossoms two or three times a week, maybe more. Which, I might just end up doing. It'd probably still be submitted to the NT, but really, once I get this next arc finished, I'm thinking of just posting it on here with better update times, and then moving onto the next arc without worrying if the first is finished over on the NT or not yet.

[Moni]

Twillie

That is definitely true; comics are a lot less time-consuming to... well, consume, I guess. For my part though I'm a terrible comic reader: I focus on words more than I do on pictures unless I really try to slow down lol.

Ah, well, see, the way I look at it is that the nice thing about execution is that it always improves over time even though the core idea is the same. I mean, early Spongebob is one of my favorite shows of all time and tbh the basic idea for that could have probably been thought up by a third-grader. I think it's something every artist is bound to suffer from when they work on something long-form; eventually they feel trapped by their older ideas, at least in part--but I suppose that's a challenge too, because you can work with your foundations and subvert them in some ways, so I guess it depends on the particular story. x)

Ah, no !!! I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about myself. I'm soooo sorry if I said anything to give off the impression that I was trashing your work. Did I?

Well, yeah, that actually might work! The pace is very slow releasing 1x a week; I know I tend to let a few weeks pass and read parts of Blossoms in bulk, so. I know a few people who do that--and besides, that plan might end up working in your favor anyway, because if you hit a creative lull, you'll functionally have a constant stream to your 'Times audience. x) But if it's more Twillie content more often I have no problem with it.

[Twillie]

Moni

I can be that way sometimes as well, when I'm trying to read through a comic quickly x3 Sometimes it can be hard to process both the words and the pictures all at once, so you gotta focus on one or the other, but once you finish reading the words, there's the impulse of "Time to move on to the next panel!" So a couple read throughs of a comic sometimes is how you take it all in x3

Yeah, that's true in that it can take some time getting into the groove of a story. I just often have this nasty habit of thinking that if something starts out either rocky or not quite how I wanted it, then it won't recover x3; That's the more anal side of me wanting to keep things consistent, though, so something I need to work on letting go x3 But yeah, I could definitely believe that that's a trap artists can get into, since people are always changing, so they need to be able to keep their story evolving as well. It's not like even professional work is always consistent with either style or story, so it's encouraging to know that others are forgiving with that.

I didn't get a feeling of trashing, no, but I didn't really know what you were going for at first, admittedly x3; But those are insecurities I have about the comics regardless, so that was less me getting defensive against you, and more just me talking to myself/rambling out loud x3

I'm hoping so, yeah! I've been holding out on making such a thread until I had new comics to update it with, but lol I might as well go ahead and make it so I have it there x3 (and also I can update it soon with a Halloween comic I never fully finished >>). The way Blossoms is written, it really is best to read more than one part at a time. Not every part is made equal in terms of plot progression, and I know it can be frustrating to wait so long for an update, and then have the latest entry turn out to be more inconsequential. That's sort of just how Blossoms' writing is set up, so better update times would make those parts feel less slow going, I think x3
And yeah, I can also be a bit more casual with things and actually give updates, and maybe even post the comics I couldn't get into the NT before :3 So that should be nice!

[Moni]

Twillie Yeah! It's really bad when I binge comics though--generally if I'm interested enough in a comic I'll start paying more attention. I blasted through the entirety of Gunnerkrigg in around... a few hours, I think? a few months ago . I think I read comics so fast it makes me feel bad for the artist haha.

Yeah, well, I think the pernicious thing about art sometimes is how much you change, and how much you would have done things differently. But everything evolves, I think, particularly serials; serials don't really have that same expectation of being fully 100% cohesive all the way through. Consistency is for things you release all in one go: so like, a book or something. x) And yeah, sometimes the limitations placed on you in the past can put pressure on you to come up with something really cool.

Ahhh. I was trashing myself, see. I never miss an opportunity to do that... which is why that despite me going "LOOK GO AND TALK ABOUT YOUR OWN STUFF I WANNA HEAR GUYS", I have not actually talked about my own things, which makes me a bit of a hypocrite. But my input would probably be something along the lines of "I wrote this by making a monkey fling his poop on the screen a billion times before I came up with this story." I

you might as well. x) I think having that thread there can definitely be a motivator! ... but you should wait until you finish your exams. But yes, I would totally follow such a thread and make "funny" comments and such. XD