|
|
Post by RielCZ on Mar 24, 2023 15:55:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Kengplant on Mar 24, 2023 18:26:46 GMT -5
NTWFer Comic Reviews! The Happiest QuiggleNut Twillie pointed out that this is a sequel to an 11 year old comic you'd done previously! That makes the implication of how long that quiggle has been laying there hilarious! I love the art in this with the soft colours and shiny highlights. I really like how loose the lines are and how you use broken lines. Give everything a very light and airy feel. Also the quiggle feinting way back in the original comic is great!
Illusen's Glade OnlyEuphemia This is really cute! The hair braiding it really well done! I have seen so many guides on how to draw braise and I always struggle with them. Illusen's hair looks really tactile and soft Blossoms@twillie Cherry's new wings are looking really good in this section, especially panel 5. I like the way you alternate between the wings being up and down when we see her creating the appearance of flapping. Cherry's mischievous expressions are great throughout. She's a real star in this episode! |
|
|
|
Post by Gelquie on Mar 24, 2023 19:13:23 GMT -5
Random reviews! The Ecology of Neopia by Carolyn - Wee, science!! =D =D Really love seeing the science side of Neopets come out. I think you did well at accomplishing communicating science in a way accessible audiences can understand; your time teaching and doing outreach speaks for itself! You did a good job applying real life ecology concepts to Neopia and occasionally bringing light to ecological issues. (Like how we discussed in Discord how the tree population is an extreme representation to illustrate a point, particularly with the Maple Trees.) I either reviewed some old ecological concepts or I learned new ones in ways that I can apply to the real world and accept these ideas about the Neopian world! Great job! The Happiest Quiggle by Nut - I had no idea this was part of a series, but it stands up well! This gave me a good laugh between them. I love the familiar maybe-friendly rivalry vibe between Illusen and Jhudora here. Just went back and read the past comics just now, and it makes the conclusion even better. xD The R.S. Caroosel: Part 3/5 by Kengplant - CAPTAIN DREAD YOU INCLUDED CAPTAIN DREAD YOU'RE MY HERO
(I am very biased. I am forever a little eh that Neopets gave us a really cool villain with a very cool unique aesthetic, and then decided to forego them in favor of Scarblade.)
Loving the tension throughout, both during the rescue and between the crew, and then at the end! Really eager to see what happens next!) Also, some cool Editorial stand-outs.
Still don't feel good about dividing wearables into other shops if said shops only sell for specific categories. But yay for more shops being considered! I think the asker has some good ideas.
Trivia!! That tracks; her hair always looked light faerie ish. But she has feather wings, and also antennae. But I think it still works. I played Neoquest II recently, and from there I've seen actually all style of faeries. Apparently bat wings on non-dark faeries is more common than depicted around the site. Similarly, there are dark faeries without bat wings. So I think there's actually a lot of room for different faerie aesthetics. Now that I think of it, that could be really fun to play around with.
Hmm, I do wonder where exactly they're drawing the line. In-depth medical details not being allowed, yes, but what's "in-depth" to them? That could range from anywhere between "no please don't describe your wounds in exacting detail" and "how dare you even say that disability name or device name at all?". Maybe I just don't know them enough to know where they are between those extremes. All I can say is that I can't say I'm reassured.
Eeeee this is a fun idea!
|
|
|
|
Post by Ajax on Mar 25, 2023 1:05:25 GMT -5
I will try and do some reviews, and keep updating this post as I go. Apologies in advance if/when I get distracted. Bright Glade, Shadowed Forest by BananasI enjoyed the premise very much, and linking Illusen to Ilere with a familial prefix was a clever touch. Another clever detail was the suggestion that Jhudora asked for a wide variety of items as camouflage for her true intentions.
Lots of things made me smile (particularly “Not one mushroom. That would be ridiculous,” said Ilere. “Multiple mushrooms.”). Other honourable mentions include Ilere’s sign and Cheery blossoms)
I felt that, at times, the Jhudora rivalry/concern was a bit repetitive. It never really got any deeper than “I am concerned she’ll do something bad”. I feel the story would have been stronger if this had been toned down slightly or toned up to actualise her concerns.
Finally, your descriptive sections are absolutely brilliant. They manage to conjure up a whole world with very few words.
This passage is particularly strong in my view.
All in all, a very engaging read with some lovely world building The Ecology of Neopia by Carolyn Lovely read. Obviously you regularly have had to deal with this form of formal report, and I enjoyed hearing the in-universe explanations for everything.
You should make more! |
|
|
|
Post by Twillie on Mar 26, 2023 15:45:24 GMT -5
Aw, that's both sweet and funny! I'm imagining now that the infestation of petpets and cheery blossoms is because Illusen just has a parade of those creatures that follow her everywhere, so Jhudora gets plenty of surprise visitors whenever Illusen stops by. I like the annoyed expression and headtilt of Jhudora in the first panel, gives her a lot of attitude through subtle features. Yesss, Captain Dread returns! I love seeing callbacks to old characters and plots like these, it's always fun incorporating them into the more modern site's lore! And I know you said he was a pain to draw, but those efforts definitely paid off as he looks great here! He's got just the right level of detail to give those spooky skeleton vibes and make him greatly expressive without being too overwhelmed with lines. It's also cool to get a closer look at just how he causes storms and whirlpools with his ship, since that was left pretty vague in the original Maraqua plot iirc. I've mentioned this already, but your use of black and white with the waves is really effective here, with the black waves looking daunting and overwhelming while still contrasting with the characters in a way that they remain the central focus of each panel. It's also impressive all the little details you're able to fit into the comic's small size, most notably that last panel with the zoom out of the ship getting caught in the whirlpool. It seems like Lucas has some kind of history or connection to Dread, although I don't know yet if he's supposed to be working for Dread or if there's more to discover about the two of them. There's certainly been some suspicious details about Lucas before this, but considering how he dove to save Captain GrrRocks without hesitation, I feel like there's certainly more to him than just a tricky pirate. Impressive comic arc so far, I look forward to reading more! :3 The Happiest Quiggle by Nut Ooh, was not expecting a sequel to this after so long! I remember reading the earlier comics in this series, and I think I even read the last one in 2012 when it originally came out! It's so cool getting to see the progression in your art over the years with this series, as well as a little history with the NT as it coincided with some cool collabs like the Faerie Wars April Fools event  I love the painterly style of coloring you used for this particular comic, the bright colors and highlights make it look like such a sun-shiny day perfect for the happiest Quiggle alive haha. The looser line work also lends to some great expressions, especially with the Kiko. He was just so overwhelmed with how amazing their cupcakes were that he had to lie down and take a moment to let it all sink in haha. That's good at least that he wasn't actually poisoned, although I agree with Keng that the way he fainted in the comic before this was very funny xD Glad to see Illusen and Jhudora get their contest verdict, even if it was perhaps not quite what they were expecting! |
|
|
|
Post by Nut on Mar 29, 2023 13:49:45 GMT -5
I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who wrote reviews of my comic already!! I accidentally spent a bunch of time trying to fix the thumbnail on it (which I'm now giving up on rofl) so I hadn't had a chance to get to this thread, but I will reply to comments soon! Just want to add a quick comment for now!  Blossoms~ Coming to Light Part 6 by Twillie Returning to the Negg house! The way Cherry stares straight ahead with the little Negg bomb clutched in her talons is so cute as they both walk forward expressionless, clearly thinking but not talking about what just transpired XD The way Cherry looks off to the side as she begins to broach the subject, with the Aisha still plodding on with the same unreadable expression, tells me this topic has been hanging over them both for the whole journey home. xD;
So it would have been bad if Taelia had run into Jonathan, huh? So he's from Faerieland, which is apparently on the outs with Taelia. Love the idea that Faerieland has its own accent and I have to wonder what it would sound like--a bit fancy and airy I'm thinking, except now that Faerieland is on the ground it could be so many things. Something serious must have gone down between Taelia and Faerieland if she's against anyone who's from there--could it have anything to do with the spell she might be under?
Cherry's still not looking at the Aisha while she says that neither of them are working for Fyora... all of those "Uh... yup"s are making me think maybe they are working for Fyora (or have in the past) and Cherry just isn't saying it out loud in case someone's listening. The Aisha is giving off an attitude of restrained concern and I get the impression there's a lot she does that she doesn't express, covering up with snarky comments and her cool exterior. Cherry's little nervous expression is so cute with her wobbly beak as she asks if Taelia knows about Jonathan, she's so worried about him! So Jonathan's doing some sort of special magic training, and they've got to keep it all quiet for his safety...
I love how the background of the panel goes darker for a moment and white outlines appear around the characters, almost like they enter a different space as they get to the core of the discussion and Cherry voices her concerns--it makes everything feel more serious for a moment. I'm glad the Aisha is able to reassure her and they're taking Taelia's warning seriously... "for now" at least.
Cherry goes back to her cute sideways glances as she brings the topic back around to something more neutral (maybe?). The Aisha strikes me as the type to often have her "own stuff to work on" that she wouldn't talk about too much. And... she's back to the magic space! Love how she comes forward in her long dress through the darkness, towards the red glow in the corner--the way her dress melts into the lower panel, I can feel the connection with how she sits silently meditating in the last panel, the darkness in her room and the pink glow from the tree echoing the coloring in the magic space.
It feels so quiet and shadowed and still in her room as she sits alone in deep concentration, the little tree's bright glow standing out so magically in the darkness! It looks special and powerful and like it might contain some sort of healing or transforming energy--I'm intrigued by what Jonathan is working to achieve, and what does the little tree mean? I love how quiet and serious it feels in the ending, like something meaningful is going down! |
|
|
|
Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Mar 29, 2023 23:15:27 GMT -5
Illusen's Quest: Part One by Azusa and knightwolfalexFirst off, huge congrats to Alex on getting into the NT for the first time! I've read your work in Storytelling and am very happy to see you jump into the NT. I liked how this series opened in medias res. Having quested for Illusen myself onsite, I found the urgency of the opening very compelling. xD I was rooting for the Bori girl right away and anxious about whether she would fail. And the situation just kept on getting worse - it was no longer a question of whether she'd fail, but whether she was even still alive. The pacing here is very well done, and the third-person limited perspective is finely crafted. I also liked how you imagined Illusen talking to a tree. That was a nice little bit of worldbuilding. Overall, this is a strong opening and I look forward to the next part of the series. Congratulations again! Blossoms~ Coming to Light Part 6 by TwillieSo happy to finally see the finale to this series published!! I really liked how the first panel set the scene and created a sense of movement without needing to use any words. The bend in the mountain path ending at the little house gives the impression that Cherry and Zath had just traveled a long way. Cherry's wings being lifted in the second panel and then dropped in the third panel further contributes to this feeling of movement. The coloring in the last panel is really neat, too. Huge congratulations again on finally getting this series completed. The Happiest Quiggle by NutWelcome back to the Times!!! I went back and read the earlier comic. So cute xD I love the expressions on the Quiggle.
|
|
|
|
Post by Twillie on Apr 3, 2023 22:13:47 GMT -5
Illusen's Quest by Azusa and knightwolfalexLooks like the tables have turned and now it's Illusen who's on a fetch quest! Of course, one with higher stakes since this is a potentially missing person lol. But I'll be interested to see what kind of story this shapes out to be: Will this inversion of roles have Illusen rethink her own quest system, as she's already started to do? Will this be a look into her relationship with Jhudora and the history between the two? It feels like there was a lot introduced in this first part (Illusen's quests, the pink Bori and her dedication to Illusen, the Bori's friends and if they'll show up again, Illusen and Psellia, Illusen and Jhudora, etc.), and the plot has yet to fully reveal what kind of story it will be, so it feels like there's a number of ways it could go right now. How many parts is this in total? Illusen's characterization feels like a mix of genuinely kind and caring, hence her customer service skills and willingness to search for the Bori despite the time of day, but still a sense of detachment from regular Neopians, as many Faeries seem to have. I noticed this most when she realized how strict her quest time limits really are, and how much she was expecting regular non-flying Neopets to get around in such little time. Just because her quests were the catalyst for this whole story, I have a feeling this may be expanded upon further down the road, but like mentioned earlier, the story does still have potential for taking a different turn! A small detail, but I think Lusey is a cute nickname for illusen haha; I don't know if that was ever used on site or if that was made up for this story? I'm less sure about this coming back later, but I also found it interesting just how adamant Illusen was about not getting Fyora's help. I can understand her worry of Fyora intervening on her quest business now that something has gone wrong, but the sheer emotion behind her reaction just stuck out to me, and it makes me wonder if there's more history between the two >w> Illusen talking to the tree was a fun dynamic, I like that idea! It's a creative use of her earth magic and the environment around them, and I'm all for involving the trees in the action A suggestion I would have is trimming the prose down a bit more and using less "to be" verbs in the same sentence, as this can cause some clunky sentences. For example: "The Bori would've had to patronise the Potion Shop if she'd been trying to search for the item she'd been assigned for her quest" is a bit difficult to read as it switches between multiple verbs and subjects before we figure out what it's trying to say. One way it could be streamlined is: "The Bori likely would have visited the Potion Shop as part of her quest." There's also some word choice that doesn't quite use the words' meaning correctly. This sentence stuck out the most, which is some dialogue from when Psellia and Illusen first run into each other: "'Isn't it late enough for you to leave your humble abode?'" While I can understand from context clues that Psellia is surprised to see Illusen out so late, her word choice here would suggest the opposite. "Isn't it late enough for you to leave" would mean that now is the optimal time for Illusen to be out and about. "Humble abode" is also weirdly formal for dialogue, unless Psellia is supposed to be characterized as using more flowery language than a typical person. If not, I think her saying "home" instead would work just as well. A fun little tease of Jhudora at the end, it'll be interesting to see just what part she plays in the story! My first thought upon mention of the Bartamus was that perhaps Jhudora convinced the Bori to do her quests instead, promising her a better reward or easier quests or the like. But it could also be that Jhudora's involvement was much more hostile, and she perhaps kidnapped the Bori out of spite towards Illusen. Guess we'll see if I'm right or not lol. Yup! More specifically, he’s working directly for Fyora to get better intel on the mountain and its magic, an initiative Taelia opposes. She used to be the one that did this for Fyora, but for reasons unknown to most, the two had a falling out and now Taelia drives away any of Fyora’s agents from the mountain. Jonathon, being magic but not a Faerie, can much more easily slip under Taelia’s radar, so Fyora is using him to keep an eye on the place. Yeah, I figured Neopia would have its own variety of accents! :3 What Faerieland’s would sound like is something I’ve thought of now and then, although I don’t have a solid idea! I do at least tend to gravitate towards UK/northwestern Europe area, just since that’s the first place I associate with fairy folklore. Right now, at least for Jonathon, I imagine his as some kind of Irish, but which specific kind I couldn’t yet say xD Haha, yeah Zathandria made a deal with Jonathon that if he trains her, she’ll take his place as Fyora’s sentry so that he can go back home. It’s been hinted at before that he has some family drama that he’s been hiding from in Terror Mountain, so in order to make amends with them he needs to get out of his contract with Fyora. The two have kept it a secret from everyone else so far, although Cherry figured out on her own what’s going on, and she’s kept that from Zathandria and Jonathon. So it’s double layer secrets happening now \o/ Interesting theory >w> Thank you for all the kind words on not just this part, but all the art and little details you noticed, I really appreciate the in depth reviewing! I’m glad that you’ve been able to enjoy the comics, even if not all the context is there, and it’s exciting to see which details are being picked up on and what people may expect to happen. Thank you again! \o/ Blossoms~ Coming to Light Part 6 by Twillie So happy to finally see the finale to this series published!! I really liked how the first panel set the scene and created a sense of movement without needing to use any words. The bend in the mountain path ending at the little house gives the impression that Cherry and Zath had just traveled a long way. Cherry's wings being lifted in the second panel and then dropped in the third panel further contributes to this feeling of movement. The coloring in the last panel is really neat, too. Huge congratulations again on finally getting this series completed. Thanks! :3 There’s still technically one more part left that will be published this Friday, but that’s a one panel epilogue, so the main story here is definitely winding down. I always love making those panels with fancy magic effects, so I’m glad others enjoy them as well!
|
|
|
|
Post by Azusa on Apr 6, 2023 13:24:58 GMT -5
Illusen's Quest by Azusa and knightwolfalexLooks like the tables have turned and now it's Illusen who's on a fetch quest! Of course, one with higher stakes since this is a potentially missing person lol. But I'll be interested to see what kind of story this shapes out to be: Will this inversion of roles have Illusen rethink her own quest system, as she's already started to do? Will this be a look into her relationship with Jhudora and the history between the two? It feels like there was a lot introduced in this first part (Illusen's quests, the pink Bori and her dedication to Illusen, the Bori's friends and if they'll show up again, Illusen and Psellia, Illusen and Jhudora, etc.), and the plot has yet to fully reveal what kind of story it will be, so it feels like there's a number of ways it could go right now. How many parts is this in total? We're glad you picked up on that! We took the term literally and turned it into a quest for Illusen. There are 4 parts in total. And you're right! The first part's pretty vague and it could go in any way from here on out. It was a little bit difficult to characterize Illusen precisely because of this mix of personalities. Ultimately wanted to portray her as kind but some things like her quest deadline don't make sense if she's kind buuut it's canon so ... Wondering if this could've been done better or in another way. Also don't think Lusey is canon. It's a nickname we came up with haha. Nah haha. It's not an important sentence at all. Probably would've been better if it was a normal "no" tbh. Thanks for pointing that out! Yay! We're happy to hear that! Thank you so much for the constructive feedback! Completely agree that the Bori sentence was really convoluted and your sentence suggestion was much better! We didn't intend for Psellia to use flowery language. "Isn't it a bit too late" would've been a better phrasing and "humble abode" doesn't sound right when spoken. Again, thank you for picking up on these mistakes and advising us on how to improve our writing! Really appreciate it! We don't want to spoil it yet but some of your guesses are scary! Guess you must be a good Ultimate Bullseye II player... Thank you very much for the review! |
|
|
|
Post by Azusa on Apr 6, 2023 13:35:14 GMT -5
Illusen's Quest: Part One by Azusa and knightwolfalex First off, huge congrats to Alex on getting into the NT for the first time! I've read your work in Storytelling and am very happy to see you jump into the NT. I liked how this series opened in medias res. Having quested for Illusen myself onsite, I found the urgency of the opening very compelling. xD I was rooting for the Bori girl right away and anxious about whether she would fail. And the situation just kept on getting worse - it was no longer a question of whether she'd fail, but whether she was even still alive. The pacing here is very well done, and the third-person limited perspective is finely crafted. I also liked how you imagined Illusen talking to a tree. That was a nice little bit of worldbuilding. Overall, this is a strong opening and I look forward to the next part of the series. Congratulations again! Alex and I thank you a lot for the review and the compliments! We're really glad you enjoyed the story and we hope the next part will continue to get you hooked! Side note: I've always thought of attempting either Illusen or Jhudora's quests to get the wand/staff but I'm too chicken  PS. Sorry for the double post. And the way I've replied to both posts. I do not for the life of me know how to use those spoiler and quote codes properly  |
|
|
|
Post by Twillie on Apr 6, 2023 20:40:39 GMT -5
PS. Sorry for the double post. And the way I've replied to both posts. I do not for the life of me know how to use those spoiler and quote codes properly No worries! Proboards formatting can be kind of wonky to figure out, so you're good haha. For future, if you'd like to quote more than one post at a time, you'll want to click the gear icon in the top right of the post and hit "select" so that the gear button is highlighted. Do this with however many posts you want to quote, and when you reach the last post, then you hit the "quote" button. That will open a reply that has all selected posts quoted in it :3 I also went ahead and edited the formatting on your reply to me; if you'd prefer it out of a spoiler box, feel free to let me know or you can also remove it yourself! When there's one quote that you want to reply to in pieces, you'll need to put each piece in its own separate quote box. I usually do this by going into the BBCode tab at the bottom left of your post editing window and manually putting in the [ quote ] and [ / quote ] tags for each segment I want to reply to.
Ah yes, the everlasting struggle of reconciling site mechanics with the in-story universe of Neopia xD That being said, I don't actually think the two sides of Illusen I mentioned are a bad thing in the story! I think it makes her more interesting, that she's more than just simply kind or cold towards Neopians. I get the sense that she generally tries to be kind, but there are still factors in her life that prevent her from being fully understanding or empathic towards Neopets, so there's more she's yet to learn about the world around her. And aw nice, it's a good nickname! :3
Oh lol, never mind then! I think it's alright as it is, I just can't help but speculate on little details haha.
Ooh, I was always terrible at that game, so perhaps this is a sign that I should give it another shot xD
|
|
|
|
Post by Nut on Apr 7, 2023 9:53:51 GMT -5
Thank you for your patience with my late responses this issue! I'm working on returning reviews right now, so I'm not sure if I'll get to doing any others this issue. Still on my to-review list currently is Kengplant--I didn't spot anything by GLQ or Stephanie in this issue, but if either of you would like me to comment on another NT work, feel free to put a link! Illusen's Quest: Part One by Azusa and knightwolfalex It makes sense that Illusen would be rooting for her quester to complete the quest when she'd finished all the previous ones so promptly and successfully! (Like a teacher with an excelling student.) I like the name Lightwater for Illusen's forest, it's cool to think of place names within the Neopian lands! Illusen must get a lot of pets trying to take quests at odd hours, it's nice of her to be so patient with them even though she's tired. Uh-oh, these kids seem like they could be friends with the Bori girl who didn't turn up earlier. Has something happened to her? I suppose no one would be able to miss a bright pink pet! Illusen's starting to worry about the Bori. And these poor kids, the way they come up and cling to the hem of her dress, I can feel how small and frightened they are. ;_; Illusen, being super nice, of course has to help out--she's concerned now too. It must be exciting for them to get to be inside Illusen's treehouse! Hopefully they're not the type to get in any trouble before she gets back... Ease their worries now, hope for the best later--I hope for everyone's sake that Illusen won't have to take back her words. It might not be the best idea to say it without knowing, but I understand wanting to reassure the kids. Tracing the steps the Bori would've had to take to get the potion is a smart idea, and it's interesting to hear how Kauvara and the Brightvale alchemists have their own potion specialties! "why did I ever think 16 minutes and 40 seconds was an ideal window? No wonder so many Neopets fail my quests." But isn't that the challenge, Illusen?! You mean you didn't have any reasoning for it? XD Though yes, it does seem like the time window would give an advantage to pets who can fly instead of travel on foot... "'Lusey!" That's a surprisingly fitting nickname for Illusen that I've never thought of haha. Psellia comes across with a casual friendliness that's nevertheless mannered. So the Bori managed to get the item after all! I'm happy for her too, but then what could have happened on the way back? Is Illusen responsible for anything that happens while pets are questing for her?! I'm surprised she's even able to keep doing it.  I understand why she wouldn't want Fyora to know about this, but this is a child's safety here; it'd be good to notify anyone who could help. I'll just have to wish hard that she does manage to handle it on her own. I like how Illusen is able to talk to trees! It feels very magical how she places her hand on the trunk and gets a glow around her while she speaks. Uh-oh, the Bartamus sounds like a messenger from someone else. What could have been written on the paper to make such a loyal quester abandon her quest? Sounds like classic kidnapping! I want them to find the Bori at Jhudora's and know just what Jhudora was doing by interfering! Did she have a reason, or did she simply feel like being evil and/or messing up Illusen's plans?! by Carolyn This feels so much like a real scientific paper that I feel like I should say, "I just read your latest paper, Dr. Carolyn, congratulations on your fascinating Neopian research!" I don't know if this is a recurring article series, but I love the idea of the Seekers having a regular publication! I feel like I'm actually learning science from reading this definition of ecology; I'd really love to remember these different types of ecology and know that I learned it from Neopets, haha! I love the Ice Buzz and Fire Bori examples of variants that go against their species trends! I'm interested in reading more about how various pet colors are adapted for different environments! "temperatures of -50C" omg that's terrifying, is this from the Neopian weather report?! I love the explanation that the Bori's plates and fur are for retaining warmth, it's cool to read the deduced reasoning for the Bori's design! Staying close to the ground and digging burrows also make a lot of sense for preserving warmth. I never knew endo/ectotherm meant warm/cold-blooded, I just learned this! I am not sure I will remember what countercurrent exchange is, but the explanation did allow me to get it ahah. (Wait, do Boris hibernate?! I'm curious now! If they do, poor Boris who have to work through the winter, I'm glad there are protein products to keep them going.) I'm curious what are the more common or standard colors for the species vs. the outlier variants mentioned earlier. Interesting Buzz are considered a tropical species; it makes sense they'd stay in warm environments, yet still need a way to regulate the heat. I love the idea that modern Buzz can keep warm with heat lamps, like for pet reptiles! I feel bad for the Buzzes flitting to patches of sun on cold days (possibly because I relate ahaha), the poor sluggish Buzzes... I'm glad there are Neopian companies out there working to meet the species' unique needs! The charts and images make this feel like a real scientific article! I never thought about what trees grow in Neopia Central, but I guess they look like standard cartoon trees, so probably oak and maple XD (I don't know anything about trees xD;) Interesting that maples can live longer in other parts of Neopia. The Mutant Kookith invasion accounting for lack of young oak trees was very entertaining to read about, haha! It's easy to imagine the Petpet trade causing all sorts of unfortunate problems with the ecosystem. "carrying capacity" is another term I've just learned, I appreciate the understandable explanations! Does this mean the Mutant Kookith population could decline as the oak trees do? Are they getting food from the oaks, or just damaging them in the process of other goals? Lupes and Chias, the classic predator-prey relationship! Oh wow, I actually just read a blurb in an actual magazine about how crypsis has been found to be the most effective form of camouflage, but it didn't say that was what it was called, so I learned another new word! Love the Chias disguising themselves as fruits and vegetables for camouflage (but does this really help them not get eaten, though?! I guess if it's only carnivores around... which indicates that Chias would only use this type of camouflage in areas without fruit-eaters? Or that an herbivore would immediately realize the mistake and let the Chia go--can relate, I would also do this ahah.) Hahaha! I love the idea of the Disco Chia fending off predators with upsetting music! XD I think some kids use this tactic on their parents... Interesting to hear about the Petpet defense strategies, and that the Roburg T3T is discussed as an organic creature, not a robot. "Mutualism" Again, I'm learning science... I wonder about how Neopian species interact with Neopian plants, given the variety sold at the gardening shop. Do Sillie Daisies attract pollinators with comic antics? How does the Cookie Tree manage to survive long enough to bear chocolate chips? Love the idea of Carmarillers being attracted to bright colors, I was just reading about how sunflowers show UV bullseyes to pollinators! Colour Changing Tulips and Colour Lilies are probably great for this (I always thought they were pretty). Beekadoodle have the long beaks for trumpet flowers all right. I like how it points out that competition is lose-lose and species that can find separate resources can enjoy a more peaceful coexistence. The Lupe/Chia/apple food chain chart is so amusing, haha! I love the idea of motes living at the bottom of the ocean! All of them hovering softly over the sea floor, glowing brightly from the positive energy, sounds like a beautiful picture! "neopocene" Wouldn't this mean an era where Neopets' actions define the biggest ecological changes? Wait, I guess this article is written by neopets for neopets... I was wondering initially if the acknowledgments would be to other Neopets users, but I love how the acknowledgments thank the members of the Seekers! This article places Neopian species and elements in an interdependent context like that of realworld ecology, and makes some fascinating deductions about the reasoning behind various Neopian species' adaptations. I was able to follow the definitions of the scientific terms used and feel like I actually learned something (though I now have to google everything to make sure it's not made up rofl). This was a delightful overview with examples of many different parts of Neopian ecology, which left me wanting to know/theorize more about how the various species and colors interact with their environment and each other! |
|
|
|
Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Apr 7, 2023 12:57:51 GMT -5
I didn't spot anything by GLQ or Stephanie in this issue, but if either of you would like me to comment on another NT work, feel free to put a link! My entry for this issue was rejected, alas, but you can find it here. (The version I submitted to the Times did not have embedded links.) I'm thinking to edit it for a normal issue, and then if it gets rejected again, make it into a petpage article instead. Would warmly welcome any feedback |
|
|
|
Post by Carolyn on Apr 7, 2023 13:52:25 GMT -5
Holy moly, thank you for this amazing review, Nut! Response: Awww my goodness, thank you! I was aiming for an intersection between technical paper and something that the average person could pick up and read without being too bogged down in jargon. Hopefully, I struck a good mix! Looks like I did, huzzah! archiveofourown.org/works/43623669/chapters/109689621This has my other technical stuff! I plan on doing another one soon(ish) about macroinvertebrates. With how slow the NT release schedule has been, I am most definitely going to release it onto A03 first and let the NT have it some time in, er, May? June? I figure that different painted colors likely grant different advantages for that species and rolled with that theme. It runs along the theme that in order to survive somewhere, organisms are going to have traits that suit them well to their environment. Certain species of Neopets would have traits that run parallel to real life examples, so for ones I could compare, I choose them and did a side-by-side comparison. If you're interested in the science behind the article, I'd be happy to babble it with you. Probably more of a PM thing since that could get, erm, long Lol. I also have my old PowerPoints, although I think those wouldn't attach in Proboard PMs, but I digress. Re: Carrying capacity, I based this example on white-tailed deer. They well overshot their carrying capacity in my area and have striped bear more or less all of the non-invasive, non-thorny understory. It's pretty barren and open here in spots with very little regeneration... which does not bode well for the deer, either. They are, in a sense, eating themselves out of their own resources and have started to reach starvation point (K or carrying capacity is the max # that the environment can sustain, but it is a dynamic number. If the habitat is degrading, K will decline as will their own populations.) I chose to generic tree groups (oaks have MANY species, as do maples, but I went for a generic "oak" vs "maple" for the sake of the examples). I wanted to show an aging population with little regrowth (i.e. what the deer are doing to our forests) vs very little older growth (which could be caused by any number of issues such as disease). Feel free to ask me about any of the definitions, haha. I tried to keep those accurate, at least, with some fantastical examples mixed in since this is a fictional world and not everything will be 1:1. Hee, I like the idea of the dailies doing silly antics to attract pollinators. Why not? Countercurrent exchange is pretty neat: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SILPPe2hSsgRe: pollination, there's something called "pollination syndromes" in botany, which is the idea that certain shapes, sizes, and colors attract certain pollinators. And yes! Bees see in UV and can see far more color in flowers than we can, it's pretty absurd, but amazingly cool. The list of acknowledgments references various characters from my other articles and stories as well as my former Botany professor, but I won't mention his real name, haha.  Thanks so much for this amazing review!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And it was so much fun science nerding with you Gelquie. It's a lot of fun to apply real world ideas to Neopia! If any of y'all are curious about any of the real world science stuff or want some resources on it, lmk. |
|
|
|
Post by Nut on Apr 7, 2023 13:57:22 GMT -5
Kengplant and Stephanie are on my to-review list. The Happiest QuiggleNut Twillie pointed out that this is a sequel to an 11 year old comic you'd done previously! That makes the implication of how long that quiggle has been laying there hilarious! I love the art in this with the soft colours and shiny highlights. I really like how loose the lines are and how you use broken lines. Give everything a very light and airy feel. Also the quiggle feinting way back in the original comic is great! Oh, I'm honored Twillie mentioned the previous comic in this old series! XD Hahaha oh wow, I hadn't intended to imply that he was actually laying there for 11 years, but I'm so happy you find it hilarious!! XDDD I'm so happy you describe the art as soft, I'm really glad you like the colors and shiny highlights! The loose/broken lines are because I've just had it with linework and now do the bare minimum needed to follow my sketch, which actually seems to end up working out for everyone, so I'm really happy you like it! XD It's really cool to me that you describe it as a light and airy feel, it sounds bright and lighthearted; I'm really glad it comes across with that vibe! (I'm sure it's somewhat helped by the forest setting in this particular scene.) Hahaha, I'm so happy you say the quiggle fainting way back in the original comic is great!! XDDD I've also always loved that scene, so I'm delighted that you say this! Thank you so much for this amazing comment! The Happiest Quiggle by Nut - I had no idea this was part of a series, but it stands up well! This gave me a good laugh between them. I love the familiar maybe-friendly rivalry vibe between Illusen and Jhudora here. Just went back and read the past comics just now, and it makes the conclusion even better. xD Thank you so much for your kind comment! I'm super happy you were able to enjoy this even without having read the other parts--since so much time has passed, I was really hoping it would stand on its own. So I'm happy you didn't immediately realize it was a continuation at first! I feel like comics were more often oneshot gags back when I was active in the Times, but nowadays it seems like continued format comic series are more commonplace. A suggestion I always remembered from back then was to make each part stand on its own, and although I think that was truer back in the oneshot-gag days, it ended up serving me well since I took so much time between each episode and had to assume people wouldn't be familiar with the rest haha. I'm so glad these made you laugh! I'm happy you say the vibe between Illusen and Jhudora seems like a familiar and maybe-friendly rivalry, I feel like that sort of ambiguous familiarity/tension between them is fitting for their roles on the site. And I'm absolutely delighted that reading all the rest actually made the conclusion even better! XD Thank you so much for going back and reading! I was also happy with how this wrapped up, so I'm thrilled that knowing the rest made it even more enjoyable to see how it ended! The Happiest Quiggle by Nut Ooh, was not expecting a sequel to this after so long! I remember reading the earlier comics in this series, and I think I even read the last one in 2012 when it originally came out! It's so cool getting to see the progression in your art over the years with this series, as well as a little history with the NT as it coincided with some cool collabs like the Faerie Wars April Fools event I love the painterly style of coloring you used for this particular comic, the bright colors and highlights make it look like such a sun-shiny day perfect for the happiest Quiggle alive haha. The looser line work also lends to some great expressions, especially with the Kiko. He was just so overwhelmed with how amazing their cupcakes were that he had to lie down and take a moment to let it all sink in haha. That's good at least that he wasn't actually poisoned, although I agree with Keng that the way he fainted in the comic before this was very funny xD Glad to see Illusen and Jhudora get their contest verdict, even if it was perhaps not quite what they were expecting! Oh man I'm delighted you actually remember the earlier comics!! XD I'm impressed you remember the last one was in 2012 because I did not even remember when it was rofl. So that was my last year of high school, must have been just a couple months before final exams. I remember working on this comic but did not remember this at all xD; Yes, since I started this in early high school there was definitely a progression, I do wish it were more consistent but in a way I'm happy I waited this long to finish it so that the conclusion would be the way it is! And YES I have lost count of how many years of holiday issues and April Fool's issues this storyline crossed, I feel like I went for a record there!! XDD It coincided with two April Fool's jokes that I somehow managed to fit in despite them not being originally planned, and I think every year I'd get motivated to finish the next part due to Illusen or Jhudora Day coming around again rofl. I always meant to eventually finish it, and it was bugging me so much because there was only one comic left xD;;; I'm super glad you actually remember reading the earlier ones haha! I love how you call him the happiest quiggle alive, I'm so happy he comes across that way effectively!! XD And I'm so happy you think the coloring style suits him, I'm so glad it looks bright and sun-shiny to you! It's pretty much my style now, but I'm really glad it happens to support the mood of the comic! XD I'm super happy you noticed the Kiko's expressions, I really wanted to convey her reactions in each panel and I'm so thrilled you liked and pointed them out! (Honestly, the loose linework is because I don't like doing lineart and over the years I just dropped the thicker/rigid lines from my style rofl.) I love how you describe that he was so overwhelmed with how amazing the cupcakes were that he had to lie down and let it sink in haha!! XD It came over him so suddenly! Thank you for being glad he wasn't poisoned, though I'm so happy you thought it was funny how he fainted in the last comic, I was always super happy with how that looked! XDDD I love how you say the contest verdict wasn't quite what Illusen and Jhudora expected, I'm happy their surprise comes across! XD Thank you so much for reading this story all those years ago, and being here after all these years to finally find out the verdict! XDD I really appreciate your incredibly thoughtful comment!! The Happiest Quiggle by Nut Welcome back to the Times!!! I went back and read the earlier comic. So cute xD I love the expressions on the Quiggle. Hi Stephanie, thank you so much for the welcome and your lovely comment, this made me so happy! I'm so happy you even went back and read the earlier comic! XD It makes me so happy you think it's so cute!! XDD I'm delighted you say you love the Quiggle's expressions! I am unable to stop smiling while I draw Quiggler's faces, so it makes me really happy you love looking at them too!! |
|
I love the painterly style of coloring you used for this particular comic, the bright colors and highlights make it look like such a sun-shiny day perfect for the happiest Quiggle alive haha. The looser line work also lends to some great expressions, especially with the Kiko.
I understand why she wouldn't want Fyora to know about this, but this is a child's safety here; it'd be good to notify anyone who could help. I'll just have to wish hard that she does manage to handle it on her own.
