Applications Received So Far

[Vizon]

Your character is what you make it! Personality transcends species. Look at it as a challenge and don't pigeon-hole yourself as a writer. What really is the difference between the pirates at this point and the Salamandastron crew? They both are sea-faring killers who have no pity for the other side, have heartless leaders, and a pecking order/hierarchy. Okay so maybe a hare won't say "Arrrrgh, ye bilge-soaked land-lubbers!" but hares have a pretty intriguing accent of their own. And actually, as Airan said, the crew doesn't actually have to be all hares.

So whether you choose a squash-buckling squirrel or Seafaring hedgehog (why not?), make them as grungy and sour-faced as you want. They don't have to be goody two-shoes. They can be flawed as anybeast, and as dimensional as any other character. They can have deep dark secrets, a long list of abandoned lovers, a sociapathic tendency...I mean...really, I don't know why you would feel you HAVE to be bored with a "woodlander" character. Write an intriguing personality, and then dress them up as any animal.

Hares/rabbits are boring, you say? Have you ever read Watership Down? That's a bloodbath and it's all about rabbits/rabbit society.

Think mice are whimps? What about Martin?

Think squirrels are screwy? Well yes, they are. And I've seen them eating other squirrel bodies that were smooshed in the road so they're not such cute and cuddly little vegans either. Is a blood-thirsty pirate any more or less crazy?

Anyway, my point is - you own the character. Whether they're exciting to write or not is because of the way you choose to write them, not because one side is innately more fun than the other side.

[Airan]

Very good post, Vizon.

So whether you choose a squash-buckling squirrel or Seafaring hedgehog (why not?), make them as grungy and sour-faced as you want. They don't have to be goody two-shoes. They can be flawed as anybeast, and as dimensional as any other character. They can have deep dark secrets, a long list of abandoned lovers, a sociapathic tendency...I mean...really, I don't know why you would feel you HAVE to be bored with a "woodlander" character. Write an intriguing personality, and then dress them up as any animal.

Remember that a goodbeast doesn't have to be a good beast is what I always say. Even in the books, there have been some morally grey woodlanders set out for their own ends. You can easily do the same here. In the end, everyone is after the treasure for their main motivation, and whatever reason your character wants it is completely up to you. Just because you're a woodlander doesn't mean it has to be for some noble reason. Just remember to have fun with it. Some of my favorite characters I've written have been woodlanders.

[Vizon]

Did I really type SQUASH-buckling? LOL!

[Eliza Lacrimosa]

Captain: ARGH! I just slipped on something!
Cook: Beggin' yer pardon, Cap'n, but 'twas a squash! They keep fallin' out of the larder and rollin' every which way!
Captain: Blast it all to Hellgates! Can't anybeast think of something we can do to stop that from happening?
*long silence*
Quartermaster: Beggin' yer pardon, but have you considered... buckling them?
Captain: Ye gads, that just might work. GET TO WORK, YOU SQUASH-BUCKLERS!

And that's why Eliza should never write anything past 1 AM. Whee!

[Rascal]

Someone must draw a picture of this o.o

Removed my last comment because it could be used to identify which alts were mine! Le gasp emote! D:

I'll see what I can do to help out right after I get past my writers block.

[Airan]

Added three more names to the list. There's a couple of other applications I've received as well, and if its not on the list yet, its because I've messaged some of you about them. So, if you're app isn't on the list, be sure to check your messages.

[Airan]

There's not much longer left to get in those applications. Remember, applications close tomorrow night at 11:59 EST. So, if you're still sitting on a third app or you haven't applied yet, don't waste any more time :)

[Opal]

I'm sad the cooks are still getting no love, as I suspected might happen. Sure, they might not be as flashy as the captain or whatnot, but they can still be fun...

Also, woodlanders can be great. A certain pacifist hare was my favorite by far to write. It's all in what you make of them. Don't want to write a boring woodlander? Then write an interesting one.

[Airan]

I'm sad the cooks are still getting no love, as I suspected might happen. Sure, they might not be as flashy as the captain or whatnot, but they can still be fun...

Oh yes. And you're a pirate cook! Skilly n' Duff and all that jazz! It could be loads of fun!

[Cairn Destop]

I'm sad the cooks are still getting no love, as I suspected might happen. Sure, they might not be as flashy as the captain or whatnot, but they can still be fun...

Will admit that was one thing that grated on my nerves in the original books.  BJ's fixation with food and feasting.  In all honesty, I usually skipped that portion of the books since nothing happened whenever there was food being eaten.

[JewelThief]

I'm sad the cooks are still getting no love, as I suspected might happen. Sure, they might not be as flashy as the captain or whatnot, but they can still be fun...

Will admit that was one thing that grated on my nerves in the original books.  BJ's fixation with food and feasting.  In all honesty, I usually skipped that portion of the books since nothing happened whenever there was food being eaten.

Strike me, skipped it? The food's just as much a part of the world as everything else is, y' know.
No food, and that means even less of a glimpse into the true world of Redwall than ever before.

Frankly, that's one thing I dislike about many other action & adventure books- Rather than just write "And then the Redwallers had a large feast. Shortly afterwards..." Brian Jacques goes into just as much depth concerning the feasting as he does with everything else in his beautifully-done, marvelously-detailed books.

You see what the heroes and the villains eat, get to learn what it tastes like, smells like, looks like... And by reading about the heroes and villains, you also get a chance to see even more about their living conditions and their personalities.
In some ways, the food is one of the best parts, or at least in my eyes. ;)

[Rascal]

My question is as much as those beasts ate and feasted how did they stay in shape?

The hares alone could eat their weight worth of food at every meal :)

I have a couple of ideas that I will toss into the game before tomarrow night.

[Airan]

Added some more names and updated the spreadsheet. Keep 'em comin', guys. :)

[Eliza Lacrimosa]

All three of my applications are (finally) in. Good luck to everybody, I can't wait to see the top (insert number) revealed!

[Rascal]

Well ok then o.o

That sure filled fast.