Shadows of Nar Eurbrikka — Introduction and Discussion

[LucasLaughing]

But ultimately, like I said, it's easier for you guys to keep track of your own progress than it is for me to follow along with everybody's, so would there be interest in doing this Heroica style, with each of you making one post in the character index and editing it as you go? If that's too much of a hassle and makes the game less enjoyable, then I'm happy to keep updating this way as often as I can.

I think that's a good idea ... it seems as if everyone is keeping good track of their own scores

[Lego Spy]

I think that's a good idea ... it seems as if everyone is keeping good track of their own scores

Agreed, the mods already have enough to deal with after all.

[Lord Vladivus]

My guess is that the sandcrawler hit a rock hidden in the sand, and stormtroopers just happened to be around...

I bet that was the case!

[Yzalirk]

I am pretty new to this section of the forum but I'd like to join the Imperials as a Stormtrooper.

Also, I have a question - Is it possible for me to become a Bounty Hunter..?

[Brickdoctor]

Also, I have a question - Is it possible for me to become a Bounty Hunter..?

No, it's not; there is no third faction or neutral faction.

[Yzalirk]

No, it's not; there is no third faction or neutral faction.

Okay, could I possibly use one of the Mandalorian torsos at a certain "rank"?

[VK-318]

Okay, could I possibly use one of the Mandalorian torsos at a certain "rank"?

I'm using a fedora and cloak as a basic stormtrooper, though there have been a few remarks about my strange uniform. If I were you, I would just hold back until you get your first promotion. Once you're in the Survey Corps, you can customize your uniform to suit your current mission with a great deal of latitude.

Edited August 5, 2014 by VK-318

[Brickdoctor]

Okay, could I possibly use one of the Mandalorian torsos at a certain "rank"?

I suppose that after the 50 XP ranks, all of which are commando ranks, you could say you went undercover in a freebuild, though not in a regular episode (unless the episode called for disguising yourself).

We don't actively enforce what players' characters look like, as long as they aren't blatantly unrelated to their faction and rank, but the whole idea of the two faction system is that you're either Empire or Rebellion, just a basic grunt working your way up to more prestigious and important assignments. I can't say that I approve of trying to find a way to get around the character rules so you can look like a member of a neutral or third faction, but we won't stop you if that's what you want to do in freebuilds once it's appropriate for your rank.

[Yzalirk]

I'm using a fedora and cloak as a basic stormtrooper, though there have been a few remarks about my strange uniform. If I were you, I would just hold back until you get your first promotion. Once you're in the Survey Corps, you can customize your uniform to suit your current mission with a great deal of latitude.

I suppose that after the 50 XP ranks, all of which are commando ranks, you could say you went undercover in a freebuild, though not in a regular episode (unless the episode called for disguising yourself).

We don't actively enforce what players' characters look like, as long as they aren't blatantly unrelated to their faction and rank, but the whole idea of the two faction system is that you're either Empire or Rebellion, just a basic grunt working your way up to more prestigious and important assignments. I can't say that I approve of trying to find a way to get around the character rules so you can look like a member of a neutral or third faction, but we won't stop you if that's what you want to do in freebuilds once it's appropriate for your rank.

Okay. I wanted to have my character wearing a hooded cloak with a blue Mandalorian torso sometime in the future but I'll stick with the basic Stormtrooper look for now.

[Brickdoctor]

Okay. I wanted to have my character wearing a hooded cloak with a blue Mandalorian torso sometime in the future but I'll stick with the basic Stormtrooper look for now.

Yeah, that would definitely not fit in with any rank of either faction, unless it was only a few times in a freebuild storyline you developed on the side.

You don't need to try to find the renegade, Chaotic Neutral, roguish, so-called 'badass' third option in order to have an interesting, fun to play character.

[Yzalirk]

Yeah, that would definitely not fit in with any rank of either faction, unless it was only a few times in a freebuild storyline you developed on the side.

You don't need to try to find the renegade, Chaotic Neutral, roguish, so-called 'badass' third option in order to have an interesting, fun to play character.

Alright, I'll stick with the Stormtrooper suit.

One problem though, I take TERRIBLE pictures of things. The only camera I have as of right now is a Nikon EasyShare C140. So I feel I should ask, what's a good affordable camera to use that is great for taking pictures of MOCs and minifigs?

[Brickdoctor]

One problem though, I take TERRIBLE pictures of things. The only camera I have as of right now is a Nikon EasyShare C140. So I feel I should ask, what's a good affordable camera to use that is great for taking pictures of MOCs and minifigs?

I'd first try to see how much you can get out of your current camera. I think you meant a Kodak EasyShare C140, and that's an 8MP camera — more than adequate for web pictures — but the sensor size is rather small and the ISO settings don't go that high.

Lighting always makes a bigger difference than camera, so first make sure that you have a well-lit subject. This can be as simple as setting up next to a window on a bright day, or you get some cheap lamps and cover them with paper to diffuse the light and assemble a DIY lightbox. (There are plenty of tutorials on this online.) Either turn off your camera's flash or use something to redirect it — on point-and-shoot cameras like that, the built-in flash leads to some very harsh lighting in the resulting picture.

If your camera is having trouble focusing, try backing up and zooming in, but don't zoom in further than your optical zoom will allow. (3x, in your case) Digital zoom is just the camera blowing up the picture digitally instead of using lenses, no different than what you do on a computer and always leading to blurry and/or pixelated pictures.

Try using the lowest ISO setting and using a longer exposure, if your camera will allow. This means the camera has to be steady for longer, so either use a tripod or set it down on something stable. Also, set your camera's timer to five seconds or so, so that after you hit the shutter release, the camera has time to settle and stop vibrating from the force of your finger hitting a button before it starts taking the picture.

[Yzalirk]

I'd first try to see how much you can get out of your current camera. I think you meant a Kodak EasyShare C140, and that's an 8MP camera — more than adequate for web pictures — but the sensor size is rather small and the ISO settings don't go that high.

Lighting always makes a bigger difference than camera, so first make sure that you have a well-lit subject. This can be as simple as setting up next to a window on a bright day, or you get some cheap lamps and cover them with paper to diffuse the light and assemble a DIY lightbox. (There are plenty of tutorials on this online.) Either turn off your camera's flash or use something to redirect it — on point-and-shoot cameras like that, the built-in flash leads to some very harsh lighting in the resulting picture.

If your camera is having trouble focusing, try backing up and zooming in, but don't zoom in further than your optical zoom will allow. (3x, in your case) Digital zoom is just the camera blowing up the picture digitally instead of using lenses, no different than what you do on a computer and always leading to blurry and/or pixelated pictures.

Try using the lowest ISO setting and using a longer exposure, if your camera will allow. This means the camera has to be steady for longer, so either use a tripod or set it down on something stable. Also, set your camera's timer to five seconds or so, so that after you hit the shutter release, the camera has time to settle and stop vibrating from the force of your finger hitting a button before it starts taking the picture.

I can't believe I put Nikon!

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a go.

Also, what about the scout trooper armor?

Edited August 6, 2014 by Behemoth

[VK-318]

Scout trooper armor is acceptable. Way back about 10 or 20 pages ago, it was established that by "stormtrooper" and "rebel trooper" we are referring to the lowest-ranking members of the ground forces for each faction, the equivalent of privates in modern armies. So, an Imperial can be a stormtrooper, a scout trooper, a snowtrooper, or whatever else is at that most basic rank. The same goes for Rebels. The only distinction is that if you are a regular pilot, either of a TIE variant or a walker of some kind, you're a TIE pilot, not a stormtrooper. Given how long ago this happened, you may well have missed the posts where it was discussed.

Note, though, that this doesn't mean that your stormtrooper or rebel trooper can't occasionally pilot a vehicle in a crisis. As long as you can present a convincing explanation for any irregularities, you'll be fine. For example, in my last episode build I piloted an AT-CT construction walker. I explained this by saying that I had been assigned to the walker because the regular walker crews had been put back in their AT-ST's for extra patrol duties.

Edited August 6, 2014 by VK-318

[Yzalirk]

Okay, my character will most likely be wearing scout trooper armor but the dirty Stormtrooper armor looks awesome too. I'll need to place BrickLink orders for a few minifigs, I was thinking of a small Battalion consisting of maybe about 3 - 5 Stormtroopers and about 3 Scout Troopers, is this acceptable?

[Brickdoctor]

Okay, my character will most likely be wearing scout trooper armor but the dirty Stormtrooper armor looks awesome too. I'll need to place BrickLink orders for a few minifigs, I was thinking of a small Battalion consisting of maybe about 3 - 5 Stormtroopers and about 3 Scout Troopers, is this acceptable?

Including other troops in your MOCs is fine, with two caveats: Firstly, your sig-fig can be customized, but all the other minifigs have to be purist. Secondly, you need to build scenes that are appropriate for your rank, so as a regular Stormtrooper, you can certainly include other members of your squad who are working with you, but you should try to avoid acting as an officer and a commander of other troops.

[Yzalirk]

Including other troops in your MOCs is fine, with two caveats: Firstly, your sig-fig can be customized, but all the other minifigs have to be purist. Secondly, you need to build scenes that are appropriate for your rank, so as a regular Stormtrooper, you can certainly include other members of your squad who are working with you, but you should try to avoid acting as an officer and a commander of other troops.

Okay. I'm trying to keep most things as pure as possible as well. Is it alright if "my" squad is just led by a miscellaneous officer?

Also, do you mind linking the most important types of minifigs I should have in MOCs?

[Brickdoctor]

Okay. I'm trying to keep most things as pure as possible as well. Is it alright if "my" squad is just led by a miscellaneous officer?

That's fine.

Also, do you mind linking the most important types of minifigs I should have in MOCs?

I'm not sure what you're asking here. You just build what you want to depict your character doing.

[Yzalirk]

I'm not sure what you're asking here. You just build what you want to depict your character doing.

I mean like should I get non-Stormtrooper minifigs like this, this, this, and so on?

Edited August 6, 2014 by Behemoth

[Brickdoctor]

I mean like should I get non-Stormtrooper minifigs like this, this, this, and so on?

I can't answer that for you — it depends entirely on what you want to build.

[Yzalirk]

I can't answer that for you — it depends entirely on what you want to build.

Alright, I mostly intend on building Endor and Tatooine types of environments. I'll probably just get a few of those minifigs.

[the lego dwarf]

If it is possible I would like to sign up as an imperial storm trooper. If I can sign up I will have my sig fig posted when I get back of my holiday.

[Brickdoctor]

If it is possible I would like to sign up as an imperial storm trooper. If I can sign up I will have my sig fig posted when I get back of my holiday.

Absolutely; anyone can sign up at any time.

[the lego dwarf]

I will get my sig fig up in a round two weeks.

[AwesomeBantha]

Well, after reading about the new episode I decided that I just had to sign up.

If it's possible I'd like to be a rebel!