Hi!

I'm starting this during Ranma's introspection on his motives as a
martial artist, primarily due to the fact that the direction his
thoughts are turning is rather fascinating.  I think this story would

Thanks.  I'm slowly realizing part of what I want to do with this story (I think) is explore the full ramifications of what happened in v.38.  Takahashi packed a lot into that volume, and made some significant changes to her world.  It's been kinda of fun working those bits through - fun, though very slow and somewhat difficult to write.  Glad you didn't find it dull - I was afraid maybe I was over doing it.

be interesting whether he turns from embracing the idea of being a
killer, or if he turns away from it...but there aren't many stories
where the great and wonderful Saotome has fallen.  It was actually

Well... I don't think I'll be going the 'Ill Met by Starlight' direction, but we'll see how far he falls during the length of the story....

hints of Ranma's thoughts that have kept me reading thus far, him
exploring the fact that he might not be satisfied with a staid,
boring existence.  I'm going to look forward to how this turns out, for
this, more so than the overt plot thus far, has caught my attention and
intrigued me.

<nod>  I'm finding the story a bit difficult to write, because I'm trying to balance between the overt plot, and doing some character exploring stuff.  The second is what I'm more used to, from writing Choices, but I'm trying to have fun with the plot.  I tend to favour character, though: plot might be the anvil on which character is tested (or whatever), but a straight action story without interesting characterization loses something, I find.

Hope you continue to find it interesting.

> ever saw, the side that devised outrageous but surprisingly
> effective training techniques; created innovative, if occasionally
> stupid, fighting styles; this was the side of Genma that was truly
> 'Teacher' -- and damn good at it, too.
  The side so many people tend to ignore, I'm glad to see it here.

Genma turned out to have a larger part in this than I expected, but I agree: he's too often made out as a complete moron.  WHich he is, and I have to be careful not to overly-salvage him... but he does remain an excellent teacher, in my opinion.

> would they be?  Ranma shivered and felt suddenly afraid, and
> berated himself for such weak feelings.  But if an attack was
> coming tonight, it wouldn't be long now.
  Why would Ranma think this?  Especially if he's going into a
  seige mentality.  I would think he'd try to overestimate the
  monsters rather than underestimate them, and to me it seems
  attacking late at night, when the household is likely to be
  more tired would make more sense.

Hmm.  I was thinking that, having just seen something lurking outside, his instinct would have led him to expect an immediate attack.  I'll think this bit over.

All told a good chapter, I'll look forward to this, or Choices,
whichever you end up doing next.

Thanks.  I might just stick with this one for one more chapter, since I stopped at the beginning of a fight scene.  And, again, thanks for the feedback.

Later!
Mike

noakes_m@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/noakes_m

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.