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Rewriting is such sweet sorrow, Part Deux: Faith No More

One of the aspects of The Third World that I don't have to tinker much with during this phase of "rebuilding" is the characters.

Perhaps that's because they were the centrepiece of the original concept notes; perhaps it's because the story revolves around them. Nonetheless, after much deliberation, I have found it necessary to make one significant change: the heroine's name, which was "Faith" in the earlier draft, is now "Florence".

As justification for the name change, I offer the following parable or allegory. Read it as you will.

Once upon a time, there was a Jewish gentleman - let's assume he's Conservative but not quite Orthodox - who was designing a fantasy role-playing game using RPG Maker 2000.

One of the central characters of this game was a young woman whom he called Rachel. He chose this name because (a) he liked it, (b) it had a symbolic meaning in the context of the story, and additionally (c) it was an obscure literary reference that probably only he would get.

Unfortunately, one fine day, this gentleman was browsing through his Twitter feed when he received an unpleasant surprise. Apparently, a new "minor celebrity" had emerged on YouTube, who was virulently anti-Semitic, and whose channel featured interviews with so-called "scholars" whose stock-in-trade was the worst form of conspiracy theories; phantasmagorical constructions that would put The Protocols of the Elders of Zion to shame. Worst of all, said "minor celebrity"'s name was Rachel. (Her surname is irrelevant to this story, but if you insist on one being provided, let's say "Steele".)

With a heavy heart, our budding RPG maker decided that he could not, in good conscience, use the same name for the game's protagonist. So he searched high and low for an alternative, and decided that she would now be called not Rachel, but Rebecca.

Sometimes, things just work out that way.

The End


---

So goodbye Faith, and welcome Florence. I hope you enjoy your journey through The Third World.

Posts

Pages: 1
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
It's rough having to rewrite so much for something like that. But I admire your dedication ^_^
Professor_Q
"Life is a riddle I wish I had the answer for..."
3237
author=unity
It's rough having to rewrite so much for something like that. But I admire your dedication ^_^


Thanks, I really appreciate that! ^_^

(Also, this is one time where my mule-headed refusal to use RPG Maker's \N tag really worked against me; if I had used it throughout, help would have been one single substitution away! V_V Something to remember for my next project, I guess...)
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
I don't use it either unless I let the player rename the hero, but this is clearly a case for using it, for sure!
It's good you are able to stay motivated and keep going, that is a great help and good thing for you. I can imagine having to rewrite a name in a lot of dialogue events does take some time and effort, but you are doing it and so you will be getting there!

Also, I didn't even think of the \N tag either, lately in the last couple of years. I did end up using it many years ago for that same concern. It's definitely a useful tip, however it's one any of us could easily miss not thinking about it. You're not alone!
Professor_Q
"Life is a riddle I wish I had the answer for..."
3237
author=unity
I don't use it either unless I let the player rename the hero, but this is clearly a case for using it, for sure!


True. ^_^ I actually didn't think of the idea myself; I borrowed it (too late! too late!) from a friend of mine who's actually used it to good effect: the heroine of his story originally had a more "Japanese-sounding" name, but he changed it to a more offbeat one with a single entry in the "Actors" column! Talk about "working smart"... =)

author=boos405
It's good you are able to stay motivated and keep going, that is a great help and good thing for you. I can imagine having to rewrite a name in a lot of dialogue events does take some time and effort, but you are doing it and so you will be getting there!

Also, I didn't even think of the \N tag either, lately in the last couple of years. I did end up using it many years ago for that same concern. It's definitely a useful tip, however it's one any of us could easily miss not thinking about it. You're not alone!


Thanks! It's taking time, but it's getting there. I hope the finished product (or at least the next demo I put out, hint hint ^_^) will be to your taste!
author=Professor_Q
author=unity
I don't use it either unless I let the player rename the hero, but this is clearly a case for using it, for sure!
True. ^_^ I actually didn't think of the idea myself; I borrowed it (too late! too late!) from a friend of mine who's actually used it to good effect: the heroine of his story originally had a more "Japanese-sounding" name, but he changed it to a more offbeat one with a single entry in the "Actors" column! Talk about "working smart"... =)

author=boos405
It's good you are able to stay motivated and keep going, that is a great help and good thing for you. I can imagine having to rewrite a name in a lot of dialogue events does take some time and effort, but you are doing it and so you will be getting there!

Also, I didn't even think of the \N tag either, lately in the last couple of years. I did end up using it many years ago for that same concern. It's definitely a useful tip, however it's one any of us could easily miss not thinking about it. You're not alone!

Thanks! It's taking time, but it's getting there. I hope the finished product (or at least the next demo I put out, hint hint ^_^) will be to your taste!

Sure, I'm sure it'll be very interesting! At least you found a solution to the naming problem now.
Professor_Q
"Life is a riddle I wish I had the answer for..."
3237
author=boos405
Sure, I'm sure it'll be very interesting! At least you found a solution to the naming problem now.


Thanks! I'm on a sort of mini-roll now, and hoping that it lasts; also disciplining myself and making sure I get at least one map or major event done every day, even if it means a bit of red-eye the next morning. ^_^
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