Re ATS ldesc line length

Started by Lizzie, April 22, 2011, 08:32:39 PM

Reito, remember that "is here" is redundant. Of course your character "is here." If he was somewhere else, no one would know he was there. Because he wouldn't be there. He'd be somewhere else.

So if your character is here, leaning up against the southern wall...just make it

change ldesc leans against the southern wall.

You don't even have to say "is leaning." Leans is active voice, and constant, and unchanging until your character actively does something else. He's not in the process of leaning. He leans. Successfully. Currently. And with fewer characters than it takes to say he "is here, leaning."

Also, if you're wearing a facewrap or have your hood up, and the wrap/hood is "dusty" or "bloodied" you're going to run out of character space.

The figure in the dusty, red-striped sandcloth and leather reinforced hooded greatcloth is here, leaning up against the southern wall.

Or..

The green-eyed muscular man leans against the southern wall.

Talia said: Notice to all: Do not mess with Lizzie's GDB. She will cut you.
Delirium said: Notice to all: do not mess with Lizzie's soap. She will cut you.

Completely agree with Lizzie. Taking 'here' out of your ldesc will save you lots of space and frustration.

Also, your ldescs don't have to be really descriptive. The shorter, the better.

eg.

change ldesc leans an arm on the carved, agafari wooden bar.

can be

change ldesc leans on the carved, agafari wooden bar.

can be

change ldesc leans on the wooden bar.

And if you're STILL going over the ldesc limit, you can always make a short sdesc to accommodate.