The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal āask-gameā survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!
Local Man Ruins City, Life with this One Weird TrickĀ
Sosi and Dema talk logical decision-making, ancient history (livejournal), long-fic strategies, and good books
Dema: In your server profile, you said you "mainlined" all of the Dragon Age games in 2020. First: hilarious description. Second: what about them sucked you in? Did you play them in order?
Sosi: Yes! We had wanted to play the games for a while, and we had them all on various consoles at friends' recommendations. (And "we" is myself and my wife, we play most games together on our consoles and TV setup so we can both enjoy and debate the difficult choices!) So yeah, 2020 and everything is awful, we're both working from home so we decided to finally take the plunge and play these games. We did everything in order back to back, including playing Awakening (one friend was particularly insistent that we had to play Awakening and I'm glad she was, haha). It took like four months because we were pretty completionist about it, trying to do as much as we could. We both had played Mass Effect together previously and loved it, so we knew about what we'd be getting into with the character writing and humor and complex interacting stories. It was so fun even if we had to write out so many things for starting DAI in the Keep And it kept us busy with something we really enjoyed during a difficult time.
Dema: The games are obviously pretty different in lots of ways. Do you have a favorite part or aspect of each of them?
Sosi: In DAO, I loved how... honestly how it just threw you in the deep end right away? Our first playthrough was with a f!Cousland so that was exciting and also fortunate, because even though we fully intended on romancing Leliana, stupid Alistair was just exactly the kind of stupid fictional man I love. So our Cousland ended up being queen of Ferelden and it was delightful. This got away from me, I guess Alistair is my favorite aspect of DAO. DA2 is my favorite!! It's justā¦ It's such a mess and everyone in it is such a mess. It has a raw quality to it that you don't usually see. I know some of that is because of the horrendous time crunch on BioWare's part (not a fan of that) but ugh, the humor and the characters are perfect. Also, having played Awakening, seeing what happened with Anders and Justice was a huge shock, but in a good way ā of course I immediately went "I can fix him" and ended up shipping our Hawke with him right away. But yeah. DAI, I love an open world and that was really fun! I also really adored how our different choices in the previous two games rippled into and altered the narrative in small ways (and some not-so-small ways). It's just a masterpiece of a game and even though I didn't connect to the cast the same way I did to DA2's cast, the little things were so satisfying. DAV I also genuinely love! I'm sad at how poorly BioWare was treated and how much shit they had to navigate to get the game out the door and I think they did amazing given all the bullshit they had to work through. Love the characters, love my Rook to bits, and in my opinion DAV definitely has the most fun battle system. Also I can pet Assan! I cannot overstate how many times my wife has made our Rook pet Assan.
Dema: I LOVE to pet Assan. In the pivotal choices in the games, which route did you go? (Did you let Assan die, for example?)
Sosi: So funny thing is re: Assan, we actually haven't finished DAV yet because everything happens so much all the time. But that specific choice is where we stopped! The endgame options are always time for the two of us to sit back and debate and try and weigh our options. But I guess for the big choices... we let Alistair and Morrigan do the ritual in DAO (I actually wrote a fic about that part haha) because I couldn't lose my Warden. Also didn't stab Anders because I can fix him. I also apologize to Minrathous for letting it get blighted...
[Narrator voice: Dema had an existential crisis at this point over spoilers, so this post will be marked DAV SPOILERS!!!]
Dema: Ok so, since you and your wife debate the choices together, what was your reasoning for Minrathous?
Sosi:... well, Lucanis took us to this nice little coffee shop and we couldn't let it get blighted. I genuinely think that ended up being the decision maker. I didn't say we debated at a high level of logic, some choices are definitely fueled by "oh, the cute possessed Crow boy would be sad". I am so sorry, Neve!!
Dema: Perfectly valid and logical reasoning tbh.
Sosi: When you know something is going to get wrecked no matter which way you go... yeah haha.
Dema: We cannot curse Crow Boy to eat plastic drink blighted coffee for the rest of his days.
Sosi: Absolutely not! And yeah, we did end up romancing Lucanis. It was close though, Taashā¦ that'll be for another playthrough I think!
Dema: When did you start writing fanfiction? And what drove you to do that?
Sosi: I first got really into writing fanfic in 2008 for the game Persona 4, there was a really active anon meme on LiveJournal and me and several of my friends all got into it together. That was the most active I've ever been in a fandom, I hyperfocused hard and had such a wonderful time. My now-wife was actually my beta in those days. It was just so much fun to share stories and character inspirations and write ā I've loved writing all my life, but never really had the drive to write an original story all the way through, I'd inevitably get bogged down somewhere and lose interest. But with fanfic, I had a community and we'd generate energy and excitement for each other. I loved it so much! I think the last time I wrote anything for that fandom was 2014-ish, but there's a remaster coming out in a few years so I'm waiting for that to hit me like a truck again.I also had a brief foray into Yuri on Ice!!! fandom in 2016/2017, but then a bunch of upheaval in my personal life took me out of writing mode. Dragon Age made me feel the same sort of need to write stories in 2020, but I didn't really know where to find the fandom at the time. So I just spat out, I think five(?), fics onto AO3 and vanished.
Dema: And now you're here! What made you decide to join the bang?
Sosi: It was kind of spur of the moment, but also not really? I chanced upon a promo post on tumblr. And the thing is, I've had this story that I really wanted to write swirling around in my brain since 2020. I wanted to tell the story so badly and I remembered how good it felt to be connected to a fandom, to work in parallel with other creatives. So I decided to take the leap! I'm so glad I did, it feels like part of me that has been dozing for a decade woke up again. This whole experience has meant so much to me personally. And I'm finally getting this darn story out of my brain and onto the virtual page!
Dema: Had you done any events like this in the past?
Sosi: Nope! I'd done stuff like theme weeks and the long-ago responses to prompts on that Persona 4 anon meme, but never something as organized as this. Or as long as this! My final DABB piece is going to be the longest single fanfic I've ever published, and I had to cut it in half. Also getting to chat with everyone on Discord really makes things extra fun. I don't know what I'm going to do after the event, haha.
Dema: Migrate to other servers! And come back next year ahahaha.
Sosi: That's the plan!
Dema: Since this is the longest fic you have written, how are you managing that process?
Sosi: Lots and lots of outlining! And also the aforementioned cutting the fic in half, my original idea was and is very ambitious so I only wrote 50% of it for DABB. And honestly, I think that was a good choice, I don't think the story needs to be told in a single work and it keeps me from getting bogged down in endless editing. Now the first part of it will be done, set in stone, so I don't have to rehash it and can continue on! But yeah, lots of outlining. Lots of scribbly notes. Lots of reading things out loud to my wife, who is better at organizing than I am.
Dema: Do you write on a schedule? Do you have a specific environment you like to write in?
Sosi: For DABB, I tried to get the majority of my writing done early ā the summer is the quietest period at my job, so less stress, and I wanted to put down as many words as I could before things got crazy. I think that worked pretty well! But I don't have a specific time or place to sit down and write. I do have a specific playlist that helps get my brain in the right headspace for writing. As long as I'm at a computer in a quiet room I can get some words out. Hopefully.
Dema: What is your favorite piece of writing you've ever read?
Sosi: Ooh that's a really hard question! For published books, I've recently been really into the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells ā so funny, so unexpectedly poignant, so relatable. But my all time favorite piece of writing is the book The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. My book is falling apart, I've read it so thoroughly over so many years.
Dema: Oooo great selections! Have you seen the show adaptation of Murderbot? I haven't read them or seen it, but I have been recommended both repeatedly.
Sosi: I have! It's a really fun adaptation and I'm really excited they're getting a season two. The casting is phenomenal. And yes, you absolutely should!
Dema: Those are two very, very different kinds of books ā I'm curious if there is a theme to what you tend to enjoy? (This is my way of asking you what makes a story "good" lol.)
Sosi: I have a really broad spectrum of things I like, haha. Sometimes I want the literary equivalent of cotton candy and sometimes I want something more substantial. But I tend to gravitate towards character-driven stories above anything else, which in my mind is a similarity between both those novels. :) And also something fanfic excels at, so there we go.
Dema: I totally relate! Honestly a book barely has to have a plot, for me to like it. If the characters are interesting, I am all in. We have reached our last couple minutes, so it is time for me to ask for your clickbait title. The rules are: NO spoilers, so anonymize the heck out of characters and places, and be as silly as you want.
Sosi: hahahahaha. Local Man Ruins City, Life with this One Weird Trick (the trick is [REDACTED] shh).
Dema: Yesssss yes, excellent. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today, Sosi! You are my last interview of the year, and this was a great way to end it.
Sosi: Thank you! It was a pleasure :) and thanks to you and all the cheeses for running such an amazing event!
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The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal āask-gameā survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!
Artist Judged By His Own Drawings Swears to Finish Them Eventually
Brƶtchen/Dev and Dema talk webtoons and manga, niche music recommendations, and blorbo eyeballs
Dema: This is your second year participating in this event as an artist ā welcome back! Does it feel any different this year?
Dev: It does feel different. Last year, I wasn't able to sign up in time for the first artistās deadline. But this year, I knew I was going to be really busy so I wasn't sure if I'd have time. I still wanted to participate though, so I'm glad that a spot opened up in my schedule that let me take another pinch spot. It feels good to be a part of things again.
Dema: I'm so glad your schedule opened up! What has been keeping you busy?:
Dev: I work two jobs, one as a youth assistant at a local library and the other as a special education teacher for middle schoolers with emotional disabilities. One is definitely more stressful than the other, and it keeps me working 8-12 hour days for most of the week. Thankfully I love both my jobs, but I admit it's put me in a bit of an artistās slump. It's nice to have a project push me out of that.
Dema: As an artist who has also been struggling with that slump, I do appreciate how fan events can provide a vehicle to get us out of it. Working at the library, do you have any favorite books that have come out lately? Anything with great illustrations?
Dev: I'll be honest and admit I've mostly been reading webtoons and manga lately! Part of it is trying to keep up with what's popular and gauge kids interests, but I've always loved the way illustration can show emotion in those stories. I'm working through an older series called "The Devil and Her Lovesong" right now.
Dema: Oooo how do you like it?
Dev: It's good! In a cliche, early 2000s love story kinda way, haha. It takes me back to when I was a middle schooler and just getting into manga. Romances are a guilty pleasure of mine, so I can't help it.
Dema: Do you have an absolute favorite romance?
Dev: That's a difficult question ā there are so many good ones. I think the 'official' one that's stuck with me the longest though is Aly and Nawat from Tamora Pierce's Trickster duology. I keep coming back to them. Unofficially....I have always had a crush on Danny Phantom...and my beloved Alistair of course.
Dema: Are there any webtoon or manga artists that you especially admire? (Or any artists really.)
Dev: Oh, I'm absolutely obsessed with Omniscient Reader Viewpoint. I loved the webtoon so much I started reading the translated novel. The artist, UMI, is so adept at their panel framing, layouts ā and the way they draw eyes especially. It's so dynamic, even when they're using 3D assets. I can't get enough!It's also always great to see an artist improve or change over time, which is something webtoons are really useful for.
Dema: Yes!! I am also fascinated by the artistic development in my favorite webtoons. It's so interesting to watch that evolution basically in real time. Do you think your own art has changed over the past year?
Dev: It's always harder to find changes in your own style, but I think it's impossible to be an artist and not change. We're always learning or adjusting, even if we don't realize it.
Dema: Is there anything in particular you're working on in your art, then? Any areas you're looking to adjust? Process changes ?Or are you staying the course, so to speak?
Dev: Last year I focused on whole-body posing to tell a whole scene almost as it appeared in the story. I think this year I'm taking a bit more of an interpretive approach on a rather poignant moment. As always I want to focus on the emotion of the characters, but I'm definitely taking a different angle. As far as process goes, I've found what works for me: blasting music and really just getting in the zone!
Dema: I know in last year's interview you mentioned you like to work on paper in the initial phases, before transferring to digital. Do you have a preferred program, or workflow digitally?
Dev: Before last year, I was stubbornly using PaintTool SAI 1.0. It's what I started with and I didn't want to let go. But my friends convinced me to move to CSP and it's really changed a lot about how I work. It feels so easy now! I generally like to sketch over my initial drawing in bright red for figures, and blue for clothing or detail-work before getting immediately into linework. I've been experimenting a bit with line color and rendering, but I think I've found a mix of soft and cell shading that I like. Linework is always the hardest part for me though.
Dema: What is your favorite part?
Dev: Definitely the eyes. I think it's what brings a lot of drawings to life, so it's always where I start. It's also always a giggle to stop for a moment and zoom out to see flat colors with only one piece of it properly painted.
Dema: Hahah yes, I tend to render one area first as well and it's always funny to watch it emerge. In my case it's often a boob though. I like the roundest thing for establishing my values lol
Dev: Beautiful. I tend to prefer the vague pressure to finish caused by the idea they're watching me.
Dema: HAHAHA oof yes, you mustn't curse them to the fate of forever being able to see themselves in that halfway state! You said you like to blast music while you work ā anything in particular, lately?
Dev: I've been really into Rabbitology. The harmonies always blow my mind. Nothing's better for emptying your head of distractions than the layering of so many things it becomes white noise. That or one specific video of Griffin McElroy playing terrible Fuser remixes he calls smash mouth lo-fi. It's as bad as the title suggests, but it honestly relaxes me so much.
Dema: Those are highly specific vibes. How do you find them?
Dev: I find a lot of them through coincidence, or Youtube recommended. I'll try anything once, but if I like it then my brain refuses to let go ā maybe that's why I'm still obsessed with DA after almost ten years. I've been listening to Smash Mouth Lo-fi every day for the last four months! It still works like a charm, but it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea.
Dema: Do you have any new Dragon Age opinions or headcanons, now that we're almost a year out from the Veilguard release?
Dev: I'm a lot more interested in Solas as a character now ā I feel like Veilguard added a lot more to his story and personality. I'm disappointed with some of the choices Bioware made, but I still love the series. And honestly Manfred is so cute ā I like to imagine Emmrich and Dorian having lessons together while he brings them tea and crumpets.
Dema: Is Emmrich your favorite of the new companions?
Dev: For sure. The older I get, the more I can appreciate older characters in media. I find the way he interacts with people really interesting, and I can't help but speculate about his life before Veilguard. Plus, necromancer who's afraid of his own death? It's the perfect angst potential.
Dema: I do love that bit of his character development! Such an interesting choice by the writers. What is your Rook like?
Dev: I tend to go for a more serious character in DA ā someone who wants to do the right thing, but finds themself overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation they're in. My Rook doesn't really break the mold there, but they're definitely sassier about it than my Hawke or Inquisitor. I feel like you have to be at least a little cocky to try and take on a god.
Dema: What faction did you choose? Class?
Dev: The Crows were a big pull, but in the end I chose the Mourn Watch. And as fun as mages are, I'm a Warrior at heart. My first run of any DA game is always a warrior. When I started Dragon Age I wasn't much of a gamer, so my instinct was just 'hit it til it dies'. I play a lot more now, but I think that first love of 'smash it' never really dies.
Dema: Nice. I just started a warrior run this summer and I've really enjoyed the very little I have played so far. Alright we are a bit over time, and there is one last thing! You probably recall that the writers have clickbait titles for the interviews. I couldn't think of an artist version of that, last year, because clickbait is way harder for art. So INSTEAD, THIS YEAR, I invite you to write a florida-man-style headline for yourself like Local Artist Cannot Stop Blending.
Dev: A Florida-Man Headline....how about something like "Artist judged by his own drawings swears to finish them eventually" ?
Dema: HAHA Yes, Perfect. Those eyes! Thank you for chatting with me again! It has been a pleasure catching up with you.
Dev: Of course! It's been great being part of the Big Bang again. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's pieces!
The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal āask-gameā survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!
Local Artist Has Way Too Many Layers And No Labels
Reese and Dema talk graphic design, favorite creators, and passion projects
Dema: We're 5 days out from the next big check-in. How is it going?
Reese: It's going really well! I had a lot of ideas and concept sketches right away. Now, I'm trying to focus on a cohesive design/theme/color story, etc. I've really enjoyed getting to know my partner through all this!
Dema: Have you done a Big Bang before this one? Or a similar collaborative event?
Reese: Never anything like this! I have a background in graphic design and illustration work, which helps a lot, but I've always been a bit of a hermit lol. I joined a fandom server over the summer and those beautiful people convinced me to sign up as an artist.
Dema: Oh wow, so you a brand-new to the fandom! Welcome!
Reese: Thank you! Everyone has been so welcoming, I wish I would've joined sooner.
Dema: What prompted you to start getting involved?
Reese: I write a lot of fiction and I wanted to get better at the craft. The fanfic universe has an incredible amount of talented writers. I wanted to try and connect with other creative people, to learn from them, and make some new friends.
Dema: Did you consider writing for the Big Bang? Or was it an easy choice to do art?
Reese: I was a little late to the party lol. The deadline for writer sign-ups had passed, but a few people who like my work gently prodded me to join as an artist instead.
Dema: Ah-ha! That'll do it! Will you write next year? (If you're planning to do it again, that is)
Reese: I'd love to!
Dema: You said you have a background in graphic design and illustration. What has that trajectory looked like, for you? Where did you start?
Reese: I've worked in editorial design for a newspaper and for a women's magazine. I've done some freelance work, too, but I think I really enjoy passion projects more than anything lol. If my heart's not in it, it shows.
Dema: Did you go to school for it?
Reese: I did! Degree is for graphic design, but one of my professors told me I should've been a storyboard artist.
Dema: I think I saw you mention that at one point in the DABB server! Is sketching your favorite part of the process?
Reese: Yes! I love sharing ideas and putting something together on paper. I like dynamic scenes and coming up with landscapes! I like putting in easter eggs, tiny details, sometimes inside jokes to make people laugh.
Dema: What is your least favorite part of the process? haha
Reese: Color theory has always been a struggle for me, but I think stripping it down to the basics has really helped to find a style I can be proud of. Another challenge has been using Clip Studio Paint. I broke up with Adobe and switched right before I applied as an artist. So grateful for a couple artist friends who helped put me through a crash course.
Dema: How are you liking CSP? I have never used it ā is it that different?
Reese: It's really not (thank goodness because I'd be in a lot of trouble lol). The digital medium has so many benefits, and the software has come a long way. It's so streamlined, and I always get excited when I learn a trick that I know I'll use a lot, but man does it trigger my impulse to be a toxic perfectionist!
Dema: Oh yes, I get it. Digital's flexibility makes it so hard not to go hogwild on the perfectionism. Do you work in any other media?
Reese: Pen, pencil, watercolors, gouache, and a whole lot of weird mixed media monstrosities lol
Dema: Oooooo don't tease me with mixed media!! Tell me more!!
Reese: I think bringing 3-dimensional elements on canvas can look so cool! I'll use sculpey, trash and trinkets, yarn, etc. I've also been known to scrapbook (poorly) on occasion.
Dema: Lovely! Do these have a particular theme or subject?
Reese: No. I just play.
Dema: Sooo abstract?
Reese: Sometimes! And surrealism blended with classical blended with kitsch. Sometimes good, sometimes trash lol.
Dema: Nice. Are there any artists you really admire, or that have influenced your own work?
Reese: Ooh, great question. Remedios Varo, with her dreamy bird people. H.R. Giger, who hasn't made anything my goth heart hasn't squealed at the sight of. Someone once mentioned my traditional work reminds them of pulp art, so I've been looking at that, but I couldn't name a favorite right now.
Dema: How about writers, for your writing?
Reese: Terry Pratchett, Gregory Maguire, Harlan Ellison, and Ursula Le Guin.
Dema: With regard to creating fanwork for Dragon Age in particular, what motivates you? Are there particular characters or themes in the franchise that drive you to create?
Reese: I find myself getting inspired by the passion anyone injects into their work. I can feel it when it's there. It's how I know if what I'm writing is good or bad (if I'm bored, the reader's gonna be bored ). I only have a few fanfictions right now. One is for solavellan, because I had to (I'm sure fans get it lol). One for rookanis that is well, it's very, um, complicated. Engagement motivates me! I really enjoy talking to others about plot devices and narrative style!
Dema: Love that! We're a bit over time, so in our last couple minutes I would like to give you the artist prompt to create a "Florida Man" headline for yourself. Such as, Local Artist Cannot Stop Blending (obviously that is a tame one). I can provide some examples from other interviews if that would be helpful, but basically it's about your own art process or feelings about art, OR your relationship to dragon age.
Reese: Ooh, how about āLocal Artist Has Way Too Many Layers And No Labels.ā
Dema: AHAHA relatable. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me tonight, Reese!
The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal āask-gameā survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!
5 Gay Secrets the CHANTRY Doesn't Want You to KnowĀ
Theo and Dema talk LARP, writing rituals, and the Darkest Timeline Origins playthrough
Dema: Is this your first Big Bang?
Theo: It is! I've seen it around before but haven't signed up for a variety of reasons - mostly not having an idea I wanted to write and finding discord strange and confusing. But this year I've gotten used to discord and had an idea I really wanted to do, so here I am!
Dema: It's been a minute since you published a fanfic to AO3 (extremely relatable) ā have you still been writing in that time? What have you been working on?
Theo: I've still been writing bits, mostly as part of the Dragon Age Drunk Writing group, but none of them really struck me as worth publishing on their own, so I just kind of dropped out of the habit. I had other stuff going on and other hobbies I was devoting energies to ā I LARP as a hobby, and I ran an event in 2024, and I also had a go at writing original fiction rather than fanfic. But then Veilguard came out, and I found myself on a Dragon Age RP server, and suddenly I was writing every day!
Dema: Has that daily writing practice helped you keep momentum for your Bang Fic? Or does it feel pretty different?More broadly: how does one keep momentum for a long fic like this?
Theo: It's really helped me rediscover my love of writing, and the joy of sitting down and seeing what comes out! I think I'd been struggling before because I'd gotten so caught up in my head ā I'd hit that gap, where you know how good you want to be and know you're not there yet, and it's really demoralising. But writing for RP, you get instant feedback in that you have at least one other person writing along with you who's just as excited, and it reminded me to be excited. This fic is only (āonlyā) 25k, so not a marathon, and what helps for me is that it has five very distinct chapters, so really it's like five lots of 5k instead. It's also about a lesser known character at a lesser known time period in Dragon Age time period, so I got to go lore-diving and do lots of research and do lots of speculation and headcanons and just plain making up stuff that seemed fun, so by the time I'd done all that, all I wanted to do was write it all out and share it with other people.
Dema: So it's the maintaining enthusiasm, rather than momentum per se, that's most critical for you? [Narrator voice: Dema uses these interviews to figure out how to write.]
Theo: Yeah. It's got to be the fun hobby, not a chore.I have a little ritual for it, in fact
Dema: YES GIVE IT TO ME
Theo: Basically I have a whole load of coffee shops near me, I go to a different one each time and take my laptop with me. I have all the discount deals for Ā£1 coffee a week at a place I can find. So I just go, I get my coffee, and I tell myself I'm going to sit down and write until my laptop battery starts to run out. So it's like, it's a treat to motivate me to get going, it's a change of scenery that's not too busy and not too quiet, and it's a set time limit, so I know it's not going to last forever.
Dema: That is brilliant. [Furiously taking notes]
Theo: Also sometimes, you just gotta start typing. Even if you're not sure anything good is going to come out. You can always come back and edit but it's always easier to keep going once you're started.
Dema: Absolutely. Starting is the hardest part! For me at least, and I'm sure many others.
Theo: Oh and if I hit a part of the story where I know there's got to be exposition or details, and I don't want to break my pace to stop and look/make stuff up, I just put something like "[DETAILS OF CURRENT SITUATION]" where it has to go and keep going.
Dema: I love that in the Big Bang writer's chat this year, that specific practice has become super encouraged and common. I do think it is such an important skill to learn ā to move on and come back to something later that you know will slow you down in the moment. This event obviously also has that collaborative element with an artist making a piece to reflect your work. Have you done that before this summer?
Theo: I haven't, but I love it. My favourite thing in the world is where art inspires art, so this is perfect. One time I ran a LARP in a film noir setting and one of our players had a character who was a lounge singer, and she wound up writing original songs and performing them at the game.
Dema: Oh my god! That is so cool. I am attempting to write a song for a project but I am definitely not brave enough to perform it ha. What is it like to run a LARP? What does the preparation entail?
Theo: It depends on the type of event. I've run different kinds, so I've run action-adventure ones in scout sites in the woods over a weekend, but I also ran that small film noir one in a bar I could rent out for exclusive hire just for an evening, and then the biggest one I ever ran was a fantasy-regency Masquerade Ball at the Bath Guildhall.
Dema: Oh my god that is amazing.
Theo: Basically you've got to run the game element, so, you've got to write a story and rules and then communicate those effectively to players. But then there's the practical elements of budgeting and venue hire and catering and everything like that too. It's a weird hobby but I get a kick out of seeing stories in my head come to life. (So having art drawn of my fanfic is pretty great!)
Dema: How does budgeting even work for something like this? Do you have your group of players and just divide the cost between them? Do you get paid?
Theo: Ha, no, I'm lucky to break even. Biggest cost is venue hire, I typically budget so that that's covered by half the player ticket income, in case we don't sell out. Then the other half goes on everything else, like props and costume and insurance. And yeah, I have player tickets cover the costs, and then crew (who are people who come along and help run the thing and play NPCs) attend for free.
Dema: Oh! Then are these open to the public to buy tickets?
Theo: I usually just promote them to my friends, so most attendees are friends or friends-of-friends ā I live in the UK, the LARP community is one of those places where everyone knows each other.
Dema: How many people usually attend? Or does that vary a lot? I'll admit I looked up the Bath Guildhall and my jaw dropped.
Theo: The Bath Guildhall one was 75 attendees, the one I ran last year was about 40. My little film noir one was only about 20-30.
Dema: 75 is how big my wedding was, so that puts it into perspective for me lol. That sounds so cool and fun! Do you tend to do a lot of environmental storytelling for these?
Theo: Honestly the games I run never really have a big budget, so I'm limited on what I can do ā I always want to make my games affordable, there are other games out there that are several hundred pounds a ticket and go much bigger on things like set dressing and set pieces.I prefer to have bits of the story hidden about in things like ephemera ā old letters and journals that can be retrieved, newspapers published in game, that kind of thing.
Dema: That absolutely qualifies! You don't have to have, like, a working armillary sphere to tell a great story with context. If you had an unlimited budget for a game, what would you do? Like absolute dream scenario.
Theo: I'd want to run a Dragon Age LARP, no question. It lives as a dream in my head.
Dema: Gimme the DEETS
Theo: Dragon Age LARP, set on Seheron, after Inquisition. In short, there are Fade rifts there, the Inquisitions sends a party to investigate the area before the Inquisitor themselves can get there and seal them up. They have to deal with Tevinter, with Qunari, with locals, with Fog Warriors, and probably some agents of Fen'Harel kicking about for additional fun.I'd want to make a rigging of green light and cloth to be the Fade rift, I'd want to have proper demon costumes, I'd want the other factions to have matching uniforms.... it's doable, it's just not something I can afford on my own!
Dema: Not me quietly setting up a kickstarter....jkjkā¦unlessā¦
Theo: Honestly, I have a friend who's said he's going to run a Dragon Age LARP next year (a Grey Wardens one), so if that's a success, I might have a serious think about it!
Dema: Incredible!!! I wanna be a demon hahahaha
Theo: He has warned us he knows a guy with an ogre costume. Gonna get so dead so fast.
Dema: How long have you been a Dragon Age fan?
Theo: I think since around 2017, 2018? I lived with a friend in London and came home to her playing Dragon Age Inquisition one day and was just like, oh, what's this? And decided to give it a go. And honestly was basically hooked from the first instant. I played Inquisition first, I didn't play Origins or DA2 until a while after.
Dema: I still haven't played Origins or DA2 (don't shoot).
Theo: No judgment here.
Dema: I want to! And I tried to start at the beginning but then I played for 3 hours and it didn't save for some reason. Ironclad excuse. Is Inquisition your favorite?
Theo: It used to be, and I think it's always going to have a very special place in my heart because it was the first one I played. But I can't really pick a favourite any more, because there's the stuff I love about each one, but also their flaws. I think I've replayed Inquisition most, but I love Dragon Age 2 for how MESSY the characters are, and how tragic the story is.I know it gets flak for reusing environments, but honestly, having done LARPing at university, we ran an adventure every weekend in the same stretch of woods, so I'm very used to it.
Dema: Do you have a favorite player character you've made?
Theo: I made a City Elf Warden for one of my Origins playthroughs, and I'd heard the Tabris origin was grim, but holy shit. Basically starting out from that point puts the game in an entirely different context
Dema: Ohhh that's interesting! What did it change for you?
Theo: Well it was kind of a slippery slope! She gave absolutely zero shits about Connor and his mother, because she'd been willing to let hundreds of people die rather than do anything about her son being possessed by a demon, and so she killed Connor rather than try anything to save him. Then she went to the Circle Tower and took the abomination threat very seriously as a result, so she killed Wynne too. And it just turned into a Darkest Timeline playthrough where she made almost every cruel or self-serving choice there was available. It sounds awful that she's my favourite player character I ever created. But I was very much trying to make the choices she would, and yeah, a lot of them were the paths I never took.
Dema: I think it's badass having a character who makes choices for the plot.
Theo: I think by the end, she only had about three companions left. Loghain, Oghren, and the dog. Oh! and Zevran, of course. But even he was going "mi amor maybe we are being a bit too murdery."
Dema: Oh my god! Wow!Were you able to finish with that many???
Theo: Yep, finished, and she was my Warden for my first ever Awakening playthrough too so left Amaranthine to get burned without batting an eye.
Dema: Jesus.
Theo: I was liveblogging my playthrough as I went and my friends were horrified.
Dema: HAHAHA. Honestly I do really love how Origins lets you play that way.
Theo: I think my favourite bit was when Alistair stopped my Warden to ask her if their night together meant anything right in the middle of the dragon reaver blood cultists.
Dema: NOT NOW, CHEESE MAN.
Theo: There was literally a dragon cultist stuck in frame for the conversation staring stoically ahead, like "I do not want to be here."
Dema: We're gunna defeat these cultists by making them cringe all the way out of their own bodies. Okay. Unhinged ending. This is the point where I gotta ask you for the clickbait title for your fic.
Theo: Ok give me a minuteā¦'5 Gay Secrets which the CHANTRY doesn't want you to know' ?
Dema: Perfect. No notes.
Theo: I'd click that.
Dema: Absolutely. Cannot wait to read the gay secrets. Thank you for chatting with me today Theo! It's been fun!
The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal āask-gameā survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!
Area Artist Actually Three Seagulls in a Trenchcoat
Arja and Dema talk comic books (specifically, her comic book), curating oneās fandom experience, and favorite DA games
Dema: Italy has such a storied history of art. What was art education like for you, growing up? Did you make art as a child?
Arja: I started scribbling over paper when I was 3 years old? Both my parents drew as a hobby, I loved comics and cartoons, it just felt natural to try and mimic what I liked. I was self-taught during my school years, art education at school mainly meant art history. I drew in my free time. After high school, I attended two art schools. One focused on comics, in the evenings alongside a "proper" university, and later an editorial illustration masterās.
Dema: Wow that sounds like a lot of work during university!
Arja: I slept very little, LOL. And all my university notes have doodles on the sides as I exercised in class.
Dema: Did your Master's program feel very different?
Arja: Yes, it did. There were fewer students in the class, so we were all followed more closely. Plus, it was structured to be focused so much more on practice. We had professionals there to guide us through the making of an illustrated book from start to finish, and prepare the pitch for a publishing house. We were asked to do more, work more at home, and print it in the end. It was a lovely experience and much more practical than before. Maybe it was because I attended evening classes at the first comic school, not the full day program, but the Masterās was much more focused on results and on having us with a finished product by the end.
Dema: What was your first project after graduating?
Arja: I started working on personal projects after the university/comic school combo. I joined forces with a dear friend of mine, also a talented artist who attended another comic school. We worked on an urban fantasy comic, an adventurous road trip around Europe with Greek Gods and godly problems on the side. We did all of it by ourselves, printed our own books, attended conventions and met so many people. It was a really fun time!
Dema: Oh wow that sounds amazing! What was the process like to pull all of that together? Did you and your friend write the "script" for it first, or work on visuals first?
Arja: We were young and inexperienced, so what we did then is NOT what I'd do now, ahahaha. I started with a script I had in mind, she helped me refine it and checked if it made sense. Then we went on some visuals, but not enough... And then we started with pages. Printed, did merch... Today, I'd spend more time on visuals, honestly, it saves so much time in the long run (even if it feels like it's only dragging you behind, at the start). I still much prefer having a script first, and visuals later. It's highly personal, I know people who build stories around designs. I just prefer the other way around and designing characters and environments with their roles in mind.
Dema: I'm guessing the process making art for the Big Bang is pretty comfortable, then? Since it's art based on writing? Or does this feel like a different beast altogether?
Arja: It's quite comfortable! It's a pretty standard illustration process: you get a text to read, and illustrate what you read, trying to represent it best visually. Having the writer to collaborate with is a GREAT help. Two pairs of eyes work better than one, and you can be sure you're actually doing a good and accurate job. In both editions I participated in, actually chatting with the writers (and last year, with another talented artist) has given me so many ideas, I was really lucky on both occasions to have amazing teams.
Dema: That is wonderful to hear. How far along are you in your piece this year?
Arja: I'm on track, I have the lineart ready to be coloured, a solid sketch to go by, and solid references. It should proceed pretty quickly from now on.
Dema: Have you participated in other events like the Big Bang?
Arja: I'm participating in the Reverse Bang alongside this one, this year! I had a relatively free summer, so I took advantage of it. I'm having fun and I can't wait to show the pieces I'm working on.
Dema: What inspired you to get involved in the Dragon Age fandom? How long have you been a fan creator?
Arja: A hyperfixation with the games kicked me in. I'd never been a strong fan creator. Dragon Age mixes OCs in the middle, and it ignited my creativity. I had the luck of meeting a nice bubble of lovely people, so I stayed. I first started being active in fandoms on Tumblr in 2012/2013 ("Back in my days...!"). The fandom I was into was pretty toxic, at least back then, and it put me off fanart for years. Save the occasional thing, but very sporadic. I started with Dragon Age in 2022 and have been here ever since, it helped me through an eventful and stressful time.
Dema: I'm so curious what your toxic fandom was, I have been in several that absolutely killed my love for the original media. I think the Dragon Age fandom is so special. It's not perfect sunshine and rainbows all the time, of course, but overall it is so much nicer than any other fandom I have ever participated in.
Arja: It was Star Wars, alas. I grew up with that saga, but it was the years when you couldn't express any appreciation for the prequels without nasty anons popping in your inbox. I do think that every fandom has the potential to be toxic, the trick is to block and scroll on, curate your own bubble. But yes, my Dragon Age bubble is very happy and nice, I'm glad to say I formed deeper and more profound opinions on many things thanks to it. It's been enriching.
Dema: Do you have a favorite game in the franchise? Or a favorite player character?
Arja: Hmmm, I love the games for different reasons. In terms of writing, story and themes, DA2 is my favourite. Hawke has a DELICIOUS vibe of Tragic Hero that scratches my Literary History BA in the most delicious way. But, I love DAI too. It has the tendency to give you good ideas and then develop them all half-way. But I love how that balance kicked me into fanfiction and fanarts the most. And the theme of the Inquisitor slowly losing their own persona as the Inquisition grows... Yes. As for characters, I'm a good OC mom and I love all my babies in the same way. -coughs- My Inquisitor is the favourite doll at the moment, she's just relaxing to write. -coughs-
Dema: Those are wonderful reasons to have! We are reaching our time limit, so in these last moments I'd like to invite you to write a sort of click-bait headline about yourself as an artist.
Arja: -turns into a deer in the headlights- I'm BAD at click-baits and at headlining myself. Can I answer with "Actually three seagulls in a trenchcoat?ā
Dema: āArea Artist Actually Three Seagulls in a Trenchcoat,ā maybe?
Arja: LOL perfect.
Dema: See, you're not bad at these at all!! Thank you for chatting with me today Arja!
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The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal āask-gameā survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!
Local Artist Is Stricken with the Too-Many-Blorbo-Thoughts Disease: Recovery Unlikely.
Gin and Dema talk decisions (yuck), the Hanged Man in tarot, and character art
Dema: First, welcome back to the Bang! Round 2! And this year you're participating as an artist. What made you want to come back, and what made you want to do art this time?
Gin: Thank you! I'm working on several of my ongoing writing projects at the moment so I couldn't join as a writer this time, but I still wanted to participate in the event. It was really fun last year, so I'm excited to be a part of it again.
Dema: Where are you in your process?
Gin: I've made a pretty big dent in it! I had to bounce around a few ideas but my writer and I settled on a good scene. It's been fun working with them on the scenery and designs of the characters. I think settling on the perfect idea was the most difficult part.
Dema: I agree. I'm making a decision only under duress.Is anything about making art for the Big Bang different from the way you usually work?
Gin: I wouldn't say it's different, but it's definitely a good challenge. I like having the freedom of being able to draw what inspires me the most, but I really want to ensure that my art encapsulates the tone of the story, so that has been its own hurdle.
Dema: Are there any themes or subjects that reliably inspire you?
Gin: Characters! I love drawing characters (OCs and canon characters alike). For me, the characters of Dragon Age really drive the stories the most, and I love letting that reflect in my art.
Dema: Have you always been a character artist?
Gin: Ever since I started drawing, yes! People, faces, etc., was what inspired me to learn how to draw in the first place (though I do love painting natural backgrounds, too).
Dema: When did you start drawing? Or have you done it as long as you can remember?
Gin: I started drawing when I was really young (mostly doodles), though I didn't start actually studying traditional art until I was about ten. But I only started doing digital art about four/five years ago.
Dema: What prompted you to make the switch to digital?
Gin: My OCs, honestly. I had gotten a few commissions before but I decided that I really wanted to learn how to draw them myself. I've had an idea bouncing around in my head for a tarot card for one of my OCs, Saeris, and I hope to one day start that.
Dema: OOOoooo can I ask about it?
Gin: Yeah! I want to draw him as The Hanged Man, slightly in the style of the DAI tarot cards. I've been working through the best way to style it for a while since there are so many different routes I could take with it. I've done multiple redraws, but I think I might be able to actually start it at the end of this year (fingers crossed). It's going to be a big project for me so I'm excited.
Dema: Is there particular symbolism for the Hanged Man that you like for Saeris?
Gin: Well the Hanged Man is all about surrender, trials, wisdom, and sacrifice (there are several other meanings that can be drawn from that card, but those ones are the ones that inspire me the most), and those aspects really embody who he is. He's a very paladin-coded character who accepts his lot in life, and makes the sacrifices he needs to for the people he cares about without question. His loyalty is a double-edged sword, and I think this is one of the cards that speaks to how he approaches that part of himself.
Dema: I love that. I do hope you get around to it, I'm sure it will be so beautiful! We're in our last few minutes so, to close: you may remember that last year (and have seen, this year), the writer interviews featured clickbait titles for the fics. I couldn't think of an artist version of that, then, because clickbait is way harder for art. So INSTEAD, THIS YEAR, I invite you to write a florida-man-style headline for yourself. Something like, Area Artist Compelled to Gaussian Blur. Local Artist Cannot Pick A Color.
Gin: OH BOY let me think for a secā¦ āLocal Artist Is Stricken with the Too-Many-Blorbo-Thoughts Disease: Recovery Unlikely." Best I've got lol
Dema: It's PERFECT so, well done!
Gin: THANK YOU lol
Dema: It has been a delight to interview you again, Gin, and to now have both the writing perspective and the art perspective! Good luck with the rest of the Bang!
Gin: Thank you! And thanks for taking the time to do interviews, this was fun.
The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal āask-gameā survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!
Shocking! Emotional Repression Has Side Effects
Teine and Dema talk artistic experimentation, early fandom experiences, and that one time Merrill met Solas irl
Dema: So first, welcome back for round 2! And this year you are participating as both an artist and a writer, no less! Extra Credit. How are your Bang projects going?
Teine: Chaotically? That's not reassuring is itā¦ Chaotic is normal for me to be honest. But they are moving, and somewhat on schedule.
Dema: Hey, whatever your process is LOL
Teine: This is trickier than I expected without spoilers. Fic-wise I'm in the final stretch where feelings and stuff need to happen, which as a predominately whump/angst writer is outside my usual zone. And art-wise... I got a new screen tablet like 5 weeks ago, so trying to learn to use that at the same time as doing the art. Which was maybe ambitious. But itās working so far!
Dema: Straight into the deep end haha. I'm sure you will learn so much about digital from this! Does it feel totally weird or pretty easy to make that transition?
Teine: It still feels weird to be honest... but I am loving the power of Ctrl-Z, and being able to zoom in.
Dema: Oh yeah, I really abused ctrl-z when I first started digital. It was like, one mark, undo, one mark, undo, one mark, etc...I hope you do not fall into that trap LOL. Are you learning wholly by doing, or did you watch/read some tutorials?
Teine: Iāve watched some YouTube tutorials, read a few guides, and every so often I call in my partner for a āconsultā (he did something arty at college and has owned a pen tablet for a few years, so he gets drafted in as my emergency tech support). Mostly though itās just been trial and error. Click buttons, swear at the screen, figure out what I broke, and try again.
Dema: A completely valid way to learn!
Teine: My learning to do 'traditional' art was similar. But with more wasted paper.
Dema: I did want to ask you about that. I know you've mentioned you were discouraged from doing art by a teacher when you were a kid (pardon me but, fuck that guy). What inspired you to give it a go again, despite that past experience?
Teine: Iām not sure really... I really liked drawing as a kid, then during lockdown needed something to do to kill time. I started with water colours because I loved how they lookedā¦ and I was absolutely terrible with them. Tried charcoal next, same story. Basically I just went through mediums one by one, terrible with them all. Then last year (or maybe the start of this year) I tried ink and markers, and something finally clicked.
Dema: Oh wow, so really in the last 5 years?
Teine: Yeah. Pretty much. Before that I did a bit of technical drawing about 10 years ago through a job, but otherwise Iād convinced myself that I just couldn't draw.
Dema: I am so glad you un-convinced yourself.
Teine: Oh and a few terrible drawings on a white board when I was very briefly a teacher. I think I traumatised an entire class with my attempt to draw a kidney.
Dema: HAHAHA
Teine: (I taught maths and pharmocology, wasn't just drawing random kidneys)
Dema: Do you have any advice or tips for people who are just starting out on their art journey?
Teine: Erm... not sure. I guess to keep trying different mediums and styles. Oh and that stuff doesn't need to look perfect. That was an issue I had for a while, but Iāve learned that you can often suggest something with just a few lines or shapes, and the brain fills in the rest. It doesnāt need to be hyper-detailed to be effective.
Dema: What do you like drawing most?
Teine: Thatās a deceptively tricky question ā Iām not totally sure! I really like trying to get expressions right, and apparently Iām a bit of a freak who genuinely enjoys drawing armour. Thereās something really satisfying about it, though I canāt quite explain why. I also like playing with dynamic posesāmy style leans more comic/anime, so it naturally pushes toward expressive characters and big movement, which makes experimenting with that really fun.
Dema: Is there a piece you're particularly proud of?
Teine: I've not really shared many of my pieces yet to be honest... Iāve got a few Iām really proud of, but theyāre still secret right now because theyāre for ongoing events. But of the things I have shared, I have a One Piece Zoro/Sanji post thriller bark piece that I am very proud of.
Dema: I'm gunna ask you a hard question, I'm sorry: what makes art good, in your opinion? What about writing?
Teine: Wow that is a hard question...I think maybe things that make you feel something? Writing-wise, I like things that pull you into someone's head, that make you care about what they care about and see the world through them. Art-wise... I have no idea. I still feel very imposter syndrome-y about art stuff. It's often a case of I know what I like but not why I like it. Like I have a 'strange' soft spot for surrealist art, which some people seem to think is odd. I can't say why I like it though.
Dema: MMMMM I totally want to press on that one (I also love surrealist art).Do you like it just in general or is there a specific artist you like a lot?
Teine: I honestly only really realized that I liked it as a style a few months ago when I was procrastinating from writing by making a mood board and some stuff came up in my searches.Junji Ito is one I found. Hannah Yata, that was another one. I can't remember the names of the others...
Dema: What other kinds of things are on your mood board?
Teine: Lots of [redacted] but that's getting close to spoilers of the fic.
Dema: Oooooh okay I'll leave that one alone then (but I love itttt)! Switching to writing for a bit, how long have you been writing fanfiction?
Teine: About 2 years I think. I was a bit late to the whole online fandom thing to be honest. I mean I read it before that, but first made an AO3 account maybe 2.5 years ago solely because I had been reading this fic for months and needed to comment on it. Then a few months after that I wrote a very short One Piece fic. DA fics came a bit later after I joined tumblr and was shocked to find that DA still had a fan base that wasn't just me.
Dema: Was One Piece your first fandom?
Teine: Online-wise yeah. OP came first. Offline-wise... I think I got into both around the same time. I first got into DA about 2 weeks after origins came out. And had been reading OP manga for maybe 4 months before that. It just never occurred to me to look online for other people.
Dema: What prompted you to finally look? Or did it just come across your dash?
Teine: I think I was reading a OP fic on AO3 and it had a discord link in the author notes. Before that I had only used discord for DnD. So I joined that server, then ended up making a tumblr. And now you are all stuck with me.
Dema: Hahaha. It is pretty wild that the Dragon Age fandom is still attracting new people, and is still so vibrant and active, even before the Veilguard release when the game was objectively old AF.
Teine: It was. Honestly before joining tumblr I doubted that there was anyone still active in DA. I mean it had been at least 12 years since Iād seen anyone do a DA cosplay at a comic con (which was my only real reference point for what was popular before I joined discord and tumblr).
Dema: Oh, do you go to many cons?(I have never been to one but always wanted to go!)
Teine: Less than I used to. My local one is a bit meh to be honest. Though saying that, Gareth David-Lloyd was a guest at my local one earlier this year. So I did a Merrill cosplay so I could get a picture with him. I needed Merrill to meet Solas.
Dema: NO WAY. Oh my god I am so jealous.
Teine: I got to his table. He said 'hi Merrill' and my brain died.
Dema: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
Teine: According to my partner it was 'the most awkward social interaction he'd ever witnessed.'
Dema: Okay how dare he. That is amazing. I'm sure many people were way more awkward. Did you make your cosplay?
Teine: I did. In about 10 days because I was very late checking who the guests were. Usually we get the cast of Red Dwarf every year, so I'd stopped looking.
Dema: Did you scream when you saw the guest list. I would have.
Teine: I am not as expressive as that.
Dema: Fair enough, fair enough. (See!? You could have been WAY more awkward.) Alright Teine we are in our last minute, and since you are both a writer and an artist this year, I will let you choose: would you rather come up with a no-spoilers clickbait title for your fic, or a florida man-esque headline about yourself as an artist?
Teine: I have zero idea what a florida man-esque headline is... but I did know about the clickbait titles thing, so cheated slightly and came up with these yesterday: āShocking! Emotional Repression Has Side Effects,ā āFeelings, Curses, and the Revolutionary Concept of Talking About It,ā āLocal [redacted] and [redacted] Compete for Most Repressed.ā
Dema: I love that you came prepared haha. Thank you for taking the time to chat today, Teine! I hope you have a lovely evening.:
Teine: Same to you. But... 'day' I think, given time zones.
