NY Jedi...I just finished reviewing the show team...

[Master Rel]

Let us be clear, I am 100% on board for unusual types...intelligent crystals, living planets, ghosts in the machines, sentient plants, etc.

But not everything needs to have an anthropomorphism aspect...a feline species does not need to be a catman or catwoman...it can look like a feline and be intelligent without being forced into a humanoid body.

I like the average anthro type but it is a bit over used.

But to each their own   

[TridCloudwalker]

Personally, I would love to join a group like New York Jedi. Sadly I live in the netherworld where the 2 closest groups, NYJ an NJO(PA Jedi), are both close to 2 hours away.

There's Capital City Jedi Knights in Harrisburg. How far are you from there?

[ThreadJack]

There's Capital City Jedi Knights in Harrisburg. How far are you from there?

Far.

[Amanita]

I forgot to mention another aspect to my characters that might help them fit in- there's a bit of backstory involved. These beings are animistic in origin, literally skyscraper-spirits. Or as one fellow City of Heroes player put it, "Oh cool, a building dryad!" Originally these beings inhabited a separate plane of existence from ours, with their constructed forms serving as a sort of connection between the two. Eventually they learned to fully cross between planes of existence, coming fully over to our plane, in an event known as The Manifestation. So these guys are capable of passing from one dimension to another. They've done it once, so it stands to reason that some of them might do it again, crossing over to yet other planes. Perhaps they're driven by curiousity, or the sense that something is brewing on another plane that could well spill over into this one if left unchecked. (Hmm, perhaps some of those pesky Sith scientists or mystics are getting a little too close to figuring out dimensional gating? I don't need to tell you that a legion of Sith warriors rampaging unchecked through the streets of NYC would be a bad thing!)
I can see these guys ending up on the plane of existence that we would call the SW universe, and noting some interesting similarities with the locals- their psychokinetic prowess might translate into force sensitivity there. And they might find themselves comparing notes with the locals in regard to their energy weapons- psionic vs laser beams. And Skyscraper-incarnates might end up in some interesting philosophical debates with the Jedi, regarding various force powers and their uses. An orthodox Jedi might be shocked to see One Penn Plaza channeling electricity and using it in combat, considering it a dark side technique. But One Penn (after explaining how he gained that ability in the first place) might defend himself, stating that to his people, most powers or weapons are considered morally neutral- it all comes down to the intent of the wielder. Using lightning to torture somebody or kill in the most deliberately painful way possible would be darkside, but using it in controlled fashion to subdue an opponent and end a fight without having to maim or kill could be considered a light side act. Heck, one Jedi knight- Plo Koon has done something similar, perfecting a technique called the Bolt of Justice. (See the book Jedi vs Sith)
So morally these people might align with the Grey Jedi- servants of the light side, yet unfettered by dogma.

And before this goes on too long, I'll add one more thing, with regards to anthropomorphism. These guys (and gals) aren't "forced" into anthropomorphics, or just "people with buildings on their heads". Their humanoid manifested forms make perfect sense. Obviously, a humanoid form is much more portable than their massive constructed bodies- in that form, one of these beings can move about easily, without causing a godzilla-like trail of collateral damage. Secondly, they trace their ancestry back to some truly ancient spiritual and elemental forces- over time, some of these entities chose to become closer to humanity, evolving into a similar body forms. To the Skyscraper-Incarnates, the humanoid form they take when they leave their constructed forms makes perfect sense, because they consider their relationship with humanity to be a symbiotic one. And of course, those constructed forms were built by humans- it makes sense that children would resemble their parents:)

So I hope I've made things make a little more sense. I guess part of the reason I got my hackles up over the drug joke was the manner on which it was used on me in the past. The people who previously said this weren't trying to soften anything, they were being straight up insulting. And on the forum where this took place, those individuals did not exactly have a track record of open-mindedness or intellect- quite the opposite.

[Master Rel]

No worries friend!

I thought there was more behind it.

I think the word you may be looking for is, Avatar.  (not the movie lol)

Avatars, beyond the Hindu origins dealing with Vishnu, are basically physical manifestations of a celestial entity or of a consciousness without form.

So a mythical god for example, that drops down to Earth, to walk and talk among us would be an avatar.

But usually it is a consideration or a portion of the whole rather than the complete entity...Cthulhu touching a human and transforming this person into a Cthulhuoid creature could be considered an avatar of sorts...most often the avatar has an aspect of the original...the spirit, the passion, etc.

Best of luck with your project.

Thanks for reviewing my posting, I really did not mean any insult   

[SOTJ]

But usually it is a consideration or a portion of the whole rather than the complete entity...Cthulhu touching a human and transforming this person into a Cthulhuoid creature could be considered an avatar of sorts...most often the avatar has an aspect of the original...the spirit, the passion, etc.

The Fairground Horror reference? Manifestation might also work for that usage, like Hastur of the Yellow Mythos and Cthulhu Mythos is a single entity, yet has several manifestations (such as the King In Yellow). Or, an even better Cthulhu Mythos example, Nyarlathotep, who has 1,000 avatars/manifestations.

[Master Rel]

The Fairground Horror reference? Manifestation might also work for that usage, like Hastur of the Yellow Mythos and Cthulhu Mythos is a single entity, yet has several manifestations (such as the King In Yellow). Or, an even better Cthulhu Mythos example, Nyarlathotep, who has 1,000 avatars/manifestations.

You reveal far to much to the mundane masses...you should prepare for a reckoning...shadows without source...sounds behind the walls...corners of rooms losing focus...soon, very soon...moomomhahhahahaha...

[SOTJ]

You reveal far to much to the mundane masses...you should prepare for a reckoning...shadows without source...sounds behind the walls...corners of rooms losing focus...soon, very soon...moomomhahhahahaha...

Iä Shudde M'ell!

[Master Uilos]

Iä Shudde M'ell!

There is no need for that kind of language here, dammit!

[SOTJ]

There is no need for that kind of language here, dammit!

There is always a need for Brian Lumley references

[Amanita]

Yes, Avatar or Incarnate is what my characters are. I only use the word anthro because it's something people understand, and I don't want to have to explain that no, the concept has nothing to do with that darn movie:) (No disrespect to the movie meant )

The whole issue of personifying anything non human can get very interesting indeed! For example, I'll use One Penn Plaza. Say I put it out there as a deviantart challenge. Here's a few pics of the real building, personify this! Or make a fantasy/sci fi character from it!
Several different artists might take the challenge and come back with very different results.
One might come back with something that looked like a Transformer, or like it would be at home in a Gundam episode.
Another might make their character look completely human- black suit with white pinstripes, black hair, red tie, and the distinctive "1" logo worn as a conservative lapel pin.
And then you get me, who came up with a whole new species, complete with story and world-building behind it.

[Master Rel]

If you were near NY Jedi you could join them...it looks like it would be a good fit.

New York has many iconic buildings, that goes without saying...even though I said it 

And they have many unusual character types.

If ever there was a group that would appreciate a building inspired/created character, it would be them 

[Amanita]

Appreciation would be nice after some of the grief I've been getting lately. I've had two of my friends tell me that no matter how good my costumes get, I don't have a snowflake's chance in heck of winning the costume contest at the local con, because I do original characters, and the judges are biased toward what's popular. I seriously hope my friends are mistaken on this, it would really suck if the only con in town was like that. I feel that if a contest allows original characters, then there needs to be no bias against them in the judging, likewise no favoritism of what's "popular" at the time.

[Master Rel]

There is no telling what people will like.

Do it for yourself...trying to please everyone else is like trying to catch rainbows...sounds good at first...

[Master Uilos]

If you were near NY Jedi you could join them...it looks like it would be a good fit.

New York has many iconic buildings, that goes without saying...even though I said it 

And they have many unusual character types.

If ever there was a group that would appreciate a building inspired/created character, it would be them 

So long as we could watch it and go "Ok, that could work" then yeah. I'll admit, Avataristic Buildings is pretty damned interesting. Personally speaking we may be able to pass it off as a "mech" of some kind, but then again, I would need to sit down and really have a talk with you.

The point being is that we're not arbitrarily throwing stuff in. You almost have to have a thesis defense as to why this character needs to be such and such a way (most of the examples you've seen were the first members, so they've been grandfathered in) especially if the character is non-canon. I love borrowing from other sources, but I'm of the school of we're Star Wars based it needs to uphold the spirit, if not the letter of the the universe