18736
Forum Games - The Beer Cellar! / Re: Word Association
« on: August 13, 2015, 12:57:20 AM »
Cowbell
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18737
Tellers' Stories / What to Post Here/Guidelines
« on: August 12, 2015, 11:59:43 PM »Posting Guidelines Thread
Here are some guidelines for what makes a story suitable for posting here:
- It should not be a fully traditional story in a form easily available elsewhere (your own modifications of traditional stories are fine). Whilst a huge amount of good storytelling is based on folk tales, we can't reasonably collect the myths of the whole planet here!
- An exception would be if you're posting a traditional tale but with significant annotations and ideas for how to tell it - though if you're doing a "how to tell X" thread that would be better in the main spoken storytelling section rather than this story bank.
- It should be of a form that is good for storytelling, if not explicitly designed for it. Ideally you should have told it or heard someone tell it to confirm this.
- In general, avoid personal or historical anecdotes here unless they have been specifically heavily doctored for telling. The anecdotal/personal storytelling tradition is an interesting one and totally valid for discussion here, but it's also by its nature personal: other people aren't likely to tell your personal anecdotes.
- Stories with punchlines are alright, but this isn't really a joke-sharing forum; extended punchline jokes probably aren't best placed here.
And some notes on how to post:
- Obviously, include the full story, roughly as you would say it though this doesn't have to be exact. Don't worry about neatening the prose too much - the aim is to get the story down, not the exact wording (unless the story relies on a pun or refrain).
- A bulleted summary for tellers may be useful, and would be good to include.
- Please do include some telling notes with your story - for example, whether you include any sound effects when telling it, any particular visual aids you used or found useful, any more difficult areas or bits to emphasise, etc.
18738
Active Legislation / MOTION: Staff Transparency Bill PASSED 2-1-1
« on: August 12, 2015, 11:58:29 PM »
Simple majority 1 week etc etc.
The plaza moves the following:
1.
a) This plaza believes that it is useful and necessary, in a democratic community of this sort, for the electorate to have regular updates on the activities of those elected to serve them.
2.
a) The Basileus will therefore be responsible for ensuring that a summary of each staff meeting is posted in the Plaza.
b) Normally each summary will be written by the Basileus, but this duty may be delegated to another staff member with their consent.
c) Summaries of this sort need not contain the exact wording of discussions, so as to avoid swamping citizens with minutiae or irrelevant detail, but should at least contain all resolved actions from the meetings, and other salient points discussed.
d) The exact wording of discussions should, where possible, be kept and preserved privately by the staff, in case it is requested by the Tribounoi or citizens for any reason.
The plaza moves the following:
1.
a) This plaza believes that it is useful and necessary, in a democratic community of this sort, for the electorate to have regular updates on the activities of those elected to serve them.
2.
a) The Basileus will therefore be responsible for ensuring that a summary of each staff meeting is posted in the Plaza.
b) Normally each summary will be written by the Basileus, but this duty may be delegated to another staff member with their consent.
c) Summaries of this sort need not contain the exact wording of discussions, so as to avoid swamping citizens with minutiae or irrelevant detail, but should at least contain all resolved actions from the meetings, and other salient points discussed.
d) The exact wording of discussions should, where possible, be kept and preserved privately by the staff, in case it is requested by the Tribounoi or citizens for any reason.
18739
Spoken Storytelling / Welcome to the Spoken Storyelling forum!
« on: August 12, 2015, 11:11:43 PM »
Welcome to this part of Exilian!
So what's all this about? Well, this is our area for spoken storytelling - that is, for writing, sharing, and discussing stories and techniques that are intended to be spoken or performed out loud, usually by a single performer. Storytelling is a complex art in its own right - usually lacking the extensive props or single-character focus one has when acting, requiring very different stories and patterns to written story writing, and even differing from voice acting in the ways in which a storyteller can use physical actions to add to a story.
Do ask questions, start threads, and find out more!
So what's all this about? Well, this is our area for spoken storytelling - that is, for writing, sharing, and discussing stories and techniques that are intended to be spoken or performed out loud, usually by a single performer. Storytelling is a complex art in its own right - usually lacking the extensive props or single-character focus one has when acting, requiring very different stories and patterns to written story writing, and even differing from voice acting in the ways in which a storyteller can use physical actions to add to a story.
Do ask questions, start threads, and find out more!
18740
Historical Boardgames / Useful Links
« on: August 12, 2015, 11:08:04 PM »
A collection of links to sites with historical boardgame info:
Boardgames of the World
http://www.boardgamesoftheworld.com/
Contains information on, and rules for, a number of historical boardgames.
Boardgames of the World
http://www.boardgamesoftheworld.com/
Contains information on, and rules for, a number of historical boardgames.
18741
Forum Games - The Beer Cellar! / Re: Word Association
« on: August 12, 2015, 10:27:14 PM »
Post
18742
Forum Games - The Beer Cellar! / Re: Word Association
« on: August 12, 2015, 09:12:58 PM »
Games
18743
Forum Games - The Beer Cellar! / Re: Word Association
« on: August 12, 2015, 08:52:04 PM »
Knight
18744
Ars Tali Games / Re: Ars Tali Games Store
« on: August 12, 2015, 08:40:41 PM »
I'll definitely hold that in mind - also if you've got someone in Essex, then you could send them over with a stand next time we do a convention! 
(I'd like ExiliCon Australia to be a thing one day, but our organisational manpower is currently small and rather heavily English in nature sadly)
(I'd like ExiliCon Australia to be a thing one day, but our organisational manpower is currently small and rather heavily English in nature sadly)
18745
Raiders and Traders / Re: BETA RELEASE
« on: August 12, 2015, 08:15:18 PM »
I've sent it to you - the attachment is huge, so let me know if that's a problem.
18746
Warhammer; Total War / Re: The Chaos Horse Marauder UI script
« on: August 12, 2015, 08:07:09 PM »
Sorry, been away!
Um, not sure. Check the filenames and check all the capitalisation is correct first, I'd say, including of the filename endings. And then check that the model linkage in the generals file is correct.
Um, not sure. Check the filenames and check all the capitalisation is correct first, I'd say, including of the filename endings. And then check that the model linkage in the generals file is correct.
18747
Forum Games - The Beer Cellar! / Re: Word Association
« on: August 12, 2015, 12:43:57 PM »
Nights
18748
Forum Games - The Beer Cellar! / Re: Word Association
« on: August 12, 2015, 10:46:25 AM »
Crazy
18749
Spoken Storytelling / Spoken Storytelling - Basics on how to tell
« on: August 11, 2015, 11:56:58 PM »
This is similar to the writing thread, but with a focus on basic techniques when telling stories.
There isn't really a right way to tell stories, but there are a fair few wrong ways! This is just intended to be a brief list of things to think about when you start storytelling.
Eye Contact
I find this extremely difficult, but it's a good thing to work on. Storytelling is usually done with a small to medium group, so engaging with individuals via eye contact is very possible and helps keep them engaged with their brains focussed on you and what you're doing. It also helps ensure that your head is up rather than facing down, which is useful for keeping voice projection (see below) working well.
Hand gestures
Not something for everyone, but hand gestures can do a lot to underline your points. Even if you're relatively static on the floor (and in small spaces you may have to be), hand movements can keep people's eyes focussed on your and their brain focussed on your story. You don't have to be acting everything out at all; for example, when mentioning someone getting their head cut off, often a small, sharp gesture with a flat hand will be sufficient, there's no need to heave an imaginary axe around! The key is making sure that your hands are doing things that fit with the tone of your story and what you're trying to tell.
Projection
Voice projection is something one can't really get around when storytelling - the better you are at projection, and especially at projecting varied tones, the better. Projection shouldn't mean straining your voice too much and it shouldn't mean just shouting - it's about increased volume, but also ensuring your voice carries. Essentially, the way to practice is to try speaking in a normal tone but to someone or something as far away as possible.
Standing VS Sitting
Both standing and sitting are OK when storytelling - some people will do a mixture of both if they're relatively mobile, others will only do one. Sitting down may be more comfortable for some people, especially new tellers. It can also be preferable when, for example, using musical accompaniment to stories by making it easier to handle a guitar or percussion. On the other hand, standing has significant advantages for vocal projection, giving you access to more of your lung capacity. It also makes you more visible and higher up, allowing people at the back of an audience to see hand gestures and making it less likely that your voice will be lost in the crowd.
Voicing/Vocal Tone
It's really important, if you want people to stay tuned into what you're saying, that you can vary the tone of your voice. This doesn't mean "doing voices" eg for characters, which is a different (also potentially useful) skill - in this case we're just talking about making sure that you're not speaking at a constant monotone and at a constant speed. Some people are much more natural at varying and livening up their vocal tone than others, but it's something almost everyone can improve at; think about how high or low your voice is, and whether you're accurately reflecting how you really sound when excited, sad, or angry when telling parts of stories that require those feels/timbres. Recording yourself and listening back can be really useful here.
There isn't really a right way to tell stories, but there are a fair few wrong ways! This is just intended to be a brief list of things to think about when you start storytelling.
Eye Contact
I find this extremely difficult, but it's a good thing to work on. Storytelling is usually done with a small to medium group, so engaging with individuals via eye contact is very possible and helps keep them engaged with their brains focussed on you and what you're doing. It also helps ensure that your head is up rather than facing down, which is useful for keeping voice projection (see below) working well.
Hand gestures
Not something for everyone, but hand gestures can do a lot to underline your points. Even if you're relatively static on the floor (and in small spaces you may have to be), hand movements can keep people's eyes focussed on your and their brain focussed on your story. You don't have to be acting everything out at all; for example, when mentioning someone getting their head cut off, often a small, sharp gesture with a flat hand will be sufficient, there's no need to heave an imaginary axe around! The key is making sure that your hands are doing things that fit with the tone of your story and what you're trying to tell.
Projection
Voice projection is something one can't really get around when storytelling - the better you are at projection, and especially at projecting varied tones, the better. Projection shouldn't mean straining your voice too much and it shouldn't mean just shouting - it's about increased volume, but also ensuring your voice carries. Essentially, the way to practice is to try speaking in a normal tone but to someone or something as far away as possible.
Standing VS Sitting
Both standing and sitting are OK when storytelling - some people will do a mixture of both if they're relatively mobile, others will only do one. Sitting down may be more comfortable for some people, especially new tellers. It can also be preferable when, for example, using musical accompaniment to stories by making it easier to handle a guitar or percussion. On the other hand, standing has significant advantages for vocal projection, giving you access to more of your lung capacity. It also makes you more visible and higher up, allowing people at the back of an audience to see hand gestures and making it less likely that your voice will be lost in the crowd.
Voicing/Vocal Tone
It's really important, if you want people to stay tuned into what you're saying, that you can vary the tone of your voice. This doesn't mean "doing voices" eg for characters, which is a different (also potentially useful) skill - in this case we're just talking about making sure that you're not speaking at a constant monotone and at a constant speed. Some people are much more natural at varying and livening up their vocal tone than others, but it's something almost everyone can improve at; think about how high or low your voice is, and whether you're accurately reflecting how you really sound when excited, sad, or angry when telling parts of stories that require those feels/timbres. Recording yourself and listening back can be really useful here.
18750
Spoken Storytelling / Storytelling Links
« on: August 11, 2015, 09:09:58 PM »
Here's an index of helpful links to sites you might want to visit as a teller or someone interested in storytelling!
Societies/General Sites
Society for Storytelling
http://www.sfs.org.uk/
UK Storytellers' society, includes links and information on storytelling across the country as well as guides and advice on telling.
Particular Traditions/Mythologies
Zipang
http://www.zipang.org.uk/
Attempting to revive the oral telling of ancient Mesopotamian stories.
Individual Tellers
Societies/General Sites
Society for Storytelling
http://www.sfs.org.uk/
UK Storytellers' society, includes links and information on storytelling across the country as well as guides and advice on telling.
Particular Traditions/Mythologies
Zipang
http://www.zipang.org.uk/
Attempting to revive the oral telling of ancient Mesopotamian stories.
Individual Tellers