Sheena's corner, A small thread to develop ideas Options

[Red Knight]

This thread will make more sense if you first have a look at Sheena's website and the diary in particular. I added also a dialogue preview and gallery section. It provides all the information I feel you need to know.

Sheena's lair

First, I'd like to say a few things about myself. What I do and who I am.
I am a humanitarian aid specialist and it takes me to secluded and remote corners of this world, places where hot water flowing from a tap, telephone lines, electricity are still slanderous rumors peddled by some people visiting from the west, or the north, and much to my dismayal I have to agree with them.
Anyway, my loneliness leaves me with a lot of free time during my evenings and week-ends, which serves me well developing an NPC for BG2 because there isn't much else entertainment available and I do enjoy writing, but the telephone line is at work and I can't really abuse it for the purpose of a hobby. I do abuse it mostly at lunch time, evening time and on a saturday morning and rarely more than 15 minutes at a time. If I have to respond, I'll prepare something off-line. If I want to read a lenghty thread, I'll download all pages at once and read them off-line, when I have the time. Bear in mind that I'm using taxpayer money from rich countries, maybe some of yours, so I really feel guilty and try not to overdo it. Well, if it is your dollar, pound, euro or yen, I shouldn't really feel bothered. I'm trying to pay you off with Sheena. Yes, I heard the: 'Well, she'd better be good then'. It is exactly the point of opening a thread meant to improve upon her personality and other aspects of this unique NPC.
I was very much tempted to ask Baronious for a dedicated forum but I've just explained you the reasons, I can't, so I'd like to keep this thread open, expressive, useful, ideally the place where people who liked playing Sheena can feed it's author with new ideas.

Sheena's personality. The current bottleneck explained:
Sheena is a young girl who lived a secluded life, unsure of herself because she dreads what other common races think of her, a half dragon, an abomination that has no right to exist. Therefore, her personality is reserved, cautious, restrained by her own fear of renewing with the prejudice she suffered. Except with evil characters, where she'll be agressive and confident enough to deal with them (Edwin, Korgan) but also in-game characters (mad cleric...).
All my troubles start now. Nearly 1500 lines of cautious dialogue lines are enough to convey the feeling that Sheena is a noble character (Mazzy - Keldorn) with a reserved demeanor towards everybody but careful nurturing has led to a romance with the PC. It is past time to reveal Sheena's true heart, the adorable young woman behind the veil of her fears. I want to open up her personality but slowly, like a delicate flower budding. What I recently wrote is either too Lolita (understand Viconia in a very very good mood - first LT in the diary) and completely unsuitable for Sheena or useless whining (understand Aerie- 2nd LT in my diary-I understand Avariels are located high in the mountains) that is leading me nowhere. I simply want to instill a more moving, sensual, confident person in her character without overdoing it. I've written five new love talks and not one of them fit her.

I'd also like to find again the kind of situation that led Sheena to literally give you her heart or declare her love in a genuine and naive way. If you have any idea of situations that would recreate what I lost, then please, I'd very much like to hear it. I used some of my own experiences to pull the romance story off, so maybe you could look into your own very good memories of a love situation you particularly found moving. I don't need to know it is your own life experience, simply sometimes real life stories can even be more astounding than any story an author can come up with. You can also contact me privately if you don't feel like posting: e-mail or PM me.


Quests+areas:
I have two new areas ex-IWD1. I've thought of using the Mad Cleric and Vinamar to start it off. Anybody who played Sheena think this is a good idea? It starts roughly in C6 like this.
Mad cleric: Ah! I finally found you my lady. I have been a faithful servant and accomplished the task you requested.
Sheena: You seem familiar but I can't recall your name. Have we met?
Mad cleric: Can't you remember, my Lady? Not so long ago, we met in the docks where you commanded me to start a church of Tiamat, queen and goddess of Dragons
The mad cleric serves the purpose of luring you into a trap set up by Vinamar in the cloud peak mountains but then why you would fully move after him remains a mystery and the reason it was not implemented.
I've also long thought of Sheena's abduction by Vinamar. He still has very good reasons to look for her if the mad cleric became a member of the cult of the dragon.
Which one would you like implemented?

If I was introducing Sheena's stepfather, what race do you imagine he would have? At one time, I thought to make him a firegiant but I don't have the animation and although it would have created the desired surprise effect, it is slightly stepping out of line.

Bodhi:
For a very good reason (the dragon heart ritual), she can not be abducted by Bodhi if romanced or do you think I should sacrifice some credibility in my own story to let Bodhi abduct Sheena?

TOB end:
All along (banter, romance) I hinted Sheena might become one day a full mature red dragon. Although, I am a bit unsure a half human half dragon could turn into one, I expanded on the fact that her own power of disguise is unatural. Should I go ahead writing it at the end of TOB (ascension installed) or do you think that will be too much fire power, even with ascension installed? I am aware she'd have incredible stats and retain her ability to cast all her spells, so that's a bit botthering and since I carefully avoided overpowering her, why do it in the end? Maybe a separate module would be more convenient?

This post has been edited by Red Knight: Mar 7 2006, 01:56 PM

[Red Knight]

I wish continuous success for you on your project.

Thanks, I just hope to find out how I'm going to pull off my NPC further.

In my opinion, "Human" is the most powerful race. I don't like the idea of making her a full dragon in (or even at the end of) TOB. The dragon half is more of a drawback than an advantage for her.

Maybe not when the dragon is a fighter/mage...Sheena would retain all her spells (PFMW, spell trap...) but gain all the stats of a mature full red dragon (STR: 25...AC: -10, +3 claws), as I mentionned it is just an idea at this time. I had an idea of a cutscene that would have some surprising effects.

When I looked at the 81 plus in production/released NPCs, there were too many humans, tieflings, elves, Drows...IMO. I wanted a half dragon in my party but sadly nobody was working on one. The half dragon race brings a unique NPC into the game, and this is why I tried my hand at writing this. Sheena hides her draconic form most of the time and if you want her in human form the entire game, nothing prevents you from playing it this way.
Thanks for adding your voice.

Bad idea IMO. This thread is fine for now, but when there'll be few distinct topics discussed simultaneously in one thread, you'll get what I mean

Much to my regret, I have really no time for piloting a big forum. I'll be taking this thread home in the evening and replying in the morning or at lunch. I have no other choice currently. My phone bills are checked out...If you add uploading time with dial up, talking to my translator and a few other people about Sheena via e-mails and PMs, my modding life is invading my work place enough as it is.

Speaking about Sheena (she is Firkraag's daughter, right?), I always thought that spectral dragons in ADND are purely evil by nature, so there should be a solid reason in the mod for how half-breed of purely evil creature manages to become Mazzy-Keldorn'ish noble char. May be some reference to her struggling with influence of vile creature's blood pouring through her veins may add some spice to her personality, as well as some common ground for her & PC (being child of Bhaal & stuff), if this is not too much of banality, of course

Yes, Sheena was born long ago from Frikraag's curiosity to know more about a human carnal ritual that fascinated him. Chromatic dragons (Red, Blue, Green) are all usually evil. I explain her good nature in the friendship talks and in one banter with Jaheira/Keldorn (Good guidance is an essential part in raising a child or something along these lines). That, at times, she struggles with her own nature is conveniently a Cernd banter.

This post has been edited by Red Knight: Mar 7 2006, 02:00 PM