Concept for a comic
 

I have, in times of great borebom, considered making a sprite comic. So, when I thought of it more seriously, I considered sveral things. Now, I have a clear picture. Problem is, I want some reactions. It would either be A) a comic based on FF5, or B) (my original idea) a comic based on FF6. Why these two? I know the plot of FF6 best of any other FF game (possible exception FFX, or FF8, but they use 3D, not 2D) and have some good character ideas that I can use. I.E. Edgar is a politician. As such, he always tries to lie, and knows every little document of law. He can write up a contract much like Thief can. Only he doesn't need tiny print. Legal loopholes and long wording are more than enough. He is also cowardly (Kings don't need to be on the front line), uncaring of his people (makes his soldiers wear heavy suits in the hot desert, because it is funny to see them sweat), and likes to hide behind his machines (why do you think that those "weapons" all include masks of some sort?). Problem is, I don't want the ideas to look too much like 8-bit's. That's the probelm with that one.

For FF5, (or FF3j, maybe) the concept would be similar. Only with the job system. So, if Lenna becomes a white mage, she'll become like a white mage(as I see them). As in, maybe weak, unable to harm, "holier than thou" (to create a different idea...)... Or if Faris turns into a thief, she might become cleptomanic all of a sudden.... See... If they are a class too much, it would leave an imprint on them. So than Faris migth all of a sudden steal some random trinket.... Problem is, I can't remember most of the plot for FF5, and i've barely advanced in FF3j to Leviathan. And that dave file's lost forever.... I'll be doomed to play these videogames if I want to make a comic of them.... And I've barely got time, most of the time... See my problem. So I come to you, for opinions on these concepts. They may never even be more than could-have-beens. But I'll still ask. Whadaya say?

It would be nice if you didn't flame me for these. Remember, they are CONCEPTS. NOT MATERIALS. I'm posting this to AVOID being unoriginal, or worse.... infringing on copyright.... what's worse, on the copyright of something I like as much as 8-bit theater!!!!!! That would be heresy! So, if these sound like they're TOO borederline, I'll drop them now. Ok? Thanks in advance....

The FF5 thing seems too gimmicky for my tastes, but I like where the FF6 idea could be going. This characterization of Edgar could make up for some very interesting scenes (not to mention the "Legal loopholes and long wording" thing).

To answer your question, I don't think the concept is very close to 8BT, other than it would be a sprite comic made from a Final Fantasy game. (Then again, I know only Edgar's character.) It sounds like it could end up being an excellently-written sprite comic, and of course there's going to be the odd reader who goes on about how it's just an 8BT ripoff because 8BT is an excellenty-written sprite comic as well. If there's no other reason behind it, these people can be safely ignored.

I'd say go for it. For the FF6 idea preferrably. You can still cancel it if it sucks. :)

Honestly, I like both concepts. Although, the FF5 concept seems to intrigue me more. Maybe because it was elaborated on more, I'm not sure.

I like this sort of schizophrenic take on the job system. A character with an addiction to the Thief class sounds kinda funny actually. I could just see one of them going through a withdrawal over stealing and being sneaky.

Character #A: *freaking out in the corner*
Character #B: Whoa, dude, you alright there?
Character #A: Alright? H--Heh, yeah! Sure! Couldn't be better! Don't steal the watch, don't steal the watch, don't steal the...
Character #C: *looks at "B", then back at "A"* Are you sure you're alright? You're looking mighty stressed.
Character #A: ...it's this damn Thief class, I can't get over it. I resorted to stealing grass just to cure my cravings.
Character #C: Grass? Dude, it's grass. No-one cares if you steal grass.
Character #A: You haven't looked out back yet, have you?
Character #B: *walking out back* Whaddaya mean out--
*a really huge mountain of grass*
Character #B: *gaping stare* B...buh.
Character #A: It was a big craving.
Character #C: Hey, has anyone seen my watch?

Suppose though, if you elaborate on both concepts more, like characters and stuff... That FF6 one does sound interesting.

Very well, I will.

FF6-It would start with a little text, identical to that at the beginning of the game. Then, the scene with the soldiers. One of them would sound really dumb, but would make smarter propositions.
I.E.
Dumb soldier:"why are we going to approach from the east? It is closer if we do it from the south." *Screenshot of game map* "see."
Smart soldier: "we're going from the east because I say so, now MOVE OUT!!!!"

I may also throw in a few jokes about Terra, you know... not having conciuos thoughts... in that weird outfit (it IS weird....).... get my drift? Of course, she'd be disgusted once she remembers, if she does.

She also seems sweet, but sometimes goes into lapses of insanity, in which she casts fire for no reason, sometimes on the party (though these would be much weaker) She spends most of her time wondering about the past she has lost...

She'd then meet Locke. He's an expert at looking for the treasure in everyone....'s pockets. But, he is trying to get over his cravings, and has a therapist. They've agreed that stealing off of monsters and enemies is OK. Though he still wonderes why monsters have potions....

hed go off to see Edgar. To see a characterization for Edgar, see above.... (I forgot, but with Brian's permission, I'd like to make either Edgar or Gesthal or both to correspond with King Steve. He'd be their role model, in some aspects....

I've planned it well up until then. Well, actually, I can get a picture of them entering South Figaro, but not much further...

FF5-Butz is an adventurer. He is coping with his father's death, but aside from that he's a hobo. So, when he finds out that there is something that crashed, he secretly hopes that it was the castle Tycoon, and goes to see if he can go steal something. But he's no good as a thief, and actually prefers fighting and open violence. He goes to the crash site, and is dissapointed to find that it was just a meteor, with no treasure in it. Until he sees that girl (who will reject his advances throughout the whole comic....) Lenna. She's a girl interested in monsters. VERY interested... So much that she becomes a Blue Mage. But, in this comic it's not enough to be attacked by the monster to get it's ability. You have to LIVE amoung them. Kinda like Gau's leap. Galuf, aside from randomly wanting to control the party's actions, interested in magic. He goes black mage, then white mage... so on and so forth. Faris would indeed become a thief. And a ninja.

They would be under Butz knife when they sign a little consise yet good contract allowing him to lead the party and it's actions. But they'd eventually get used to it, and not need the contract (did I mention the class system makes you WANT to fight...) So he'd go to try to pillage the first village (ooh, rhyme) Get caught in a cave full of sleepy and drunk pirates (jokes on this....) and try to steal the ship. They'd get caught be a pirate who sounds like if he's too high pitched to be a guy... and head off to the village, to pillage (pirates also like pillaging) although being only a party of only four, three of which are unwilling to fight, causes them problems, so they give up, and try to just buy weapons. They leave for the Crystal, (which Butz will want to steal) and find it as it was in the game... So, after recieving their holy mission, Lenna convinces Butz to allow them to fight. and so we enter the classes I mentioned earlier.


FF5 is a tad more shabby, but I could make it work. BTW, I just might make both. Now, I have three questions. 1) anyone know how to make a screen capture on ZSnes? 2) are there any comics like these already? and 3) how could I copyright these ideas. I have no idea what the copyright process is like, so I was just wondering.... enjoy thinking up possibilities.

Finally, I'd apreciate if you don't post more possible scripts. THis is NOT because i don't like them. On the contrary, it's cause they are too good. You tempt me, oh so much... So don't post them, unless you don't mind finding the same/similar jokes in any possible comics I make... Thanks....

Edit: I'd also like to know which is better, strip (Bob and George) or panel (8-Bit Theater) format. I could probably make either work. Though I've almost certainly decided on strip, I don't know any of the advantages of panel format, and I would like to know them. If there are no special advantages, I'll probably end up using the strip format... Dunno yet, though...

Side thought - Why not try an FF8 comic? All you would have to do is either have the PC version of FF8, or a graphics card with an A/V plug adaptor and accompaning program that includes a "televison" screen... Like my ATI launchpad for instance.

Then you would just take screen shots as you play the game... Learn how to use photoshop or GIMP pretty well, and you could have a pretty interesting comic there...

In ZSNES there's an option called "Game Keys" under "Misc" where you can assign a key to make snapshots. I don't know what you plan on using them for, but I'd advise you not to simply take screenshots and add text, if you had that in mind. Looks cheap and most of the time wastes space.

About the format: I'd imagine panel format leaves you more room to concentrate on storylines and lets you arrange your images more freely, whereas strip format is good for short, humorous quips. Also, I've experienced that in strip format you go into a "exposition-setup-punchline" routine soon, and doing an arc over several strips can be hard since you have to conclude every single strip. So, it depends what your comic will be more focused on. I'd do some experiments if I were you.

(By the way, there are of course exceptions: Sluggy Freelance is an excellent strip with deep storylines, The Villain is a humour-based panel comic.)

Lastly, for all your sprite needs, visit tsgk.captainn.net.

Now that I've read through the elaboration, I must say, I suddenly like this FF6 idea more. The "dumb is intelligent, smart are teh dummyhead" guard idea certainly leaves heaps of room for humor, for one. Then the idea of a Sweet Little Pyromaniacâ„¢, now that's something. A few more usable lines to add to the pile.

A thief trying to get over a stealing-addiction... It's certainly something I've never heard of in a comic. And that's a good point with the potions. Both thoughts intrigue me... And then the typical idiot ruler with crazy suggestions that don't make much sense but are funny to the reader all the same. I'm all for it!


I still like this FF5 idea, though. An adventuring hobo looking for some cash and action, a girl who lives around monsters to get the best out of her Blue Mage abilities, a magic-confused mage that wants control over what happens, and the typical thief that'd love to be a ninja. It's all good.


For comic type... Personally, I'd go for panel. There's more you can do with a panel than you can do with a strip. You can have different sized panels, or even an absence of panels in some cases.


Sure, that's fine. I just post whatever's in my head, most of the time. Had to get it on screen, s`all. ;)

Addiction to job classes... brilliant! I must steal- er, "borrow" it.... in all seriousness, though, that's a great idea for a game-based comic. If I did a game-comic, I'd be tearing out my hair for not thinking of it first. ^_^
I wish I could be of help on plot and stuff but I've played neither of these games. The concepts both sound good, though. The only possible trap would be making it to 8BT-ish.

Visually, any FF based sprite comic, regardless of, storyline and whatnot, is going to be associated with 8BT. 'Cause brian was the first to do it and get recognition for it.

I must advise you STAY AWAY from any Final Fantasy game 6 or above. The characters from 6 and up are too well developed; it is probably impossible for a comic to beat the experience. I already know who Edgar is. It will be hard for you to redefine him to me.
Final Fantasy 5 had such poorly developed characters, you can take them in any direction that you want. I suggest you go that direction. Good luck.