Was the stuff in the transcripts such as [Around a Mouthful of Archivist] for your laughs, the readers, or both?
So stage directions were originally written by Jonny under duress because I insisted I needed to have at least some kind of hint as to what the heck was happening if I was going to direct and edit.
These days though we just accept that people are reading them and factor it in. I would say I am generally more comedic and specific than Jonny in my stage directions but then again this is the guy who wrote something along the lines of “weird sounding bullshit happens” in an official script back in the day so there’s probably not that much difference really.
after the release of magp 19 my friend thought it was odd to include such a prolific historical figure. I reminded him that Robert Smirke was a pivotal character in the magnus archives and arguably more important to history as he had been in charge of the construction most famous buildings in London built during the early 19th century, including the renovation of the royal mint Isaac Newton had been the warden of. Who do you think is more famous/more important to history?
I would argue Newton is more important to actual history.
Interestingly there was a quite a bit of back-and-forth about referencing Newton in Protocol.
On the one hand he is a prolific figure in Alchemy and slots into the lore very nicely. On the other hand though, he has been portrayed a lot and is very much a “go-to” choice for the time period. (See Rusty Quill Gaming as an example!)
We went for it in the end because practicality won out but it was still a proper discussion.
Hey Alex! I was wondering if you have ever thought about running an rqg sequel?
Have I thought about it? Yes.
Does that mean you should expect it? No.
There would be so many practical obstacles to overcome that I don’t know if it would even be possible.
Also sequels are hard work and high risk so there other new things I would want to try and make first.
Hiya! Just wondering, have you ever had any dreams (possibly nightmares..?) about any of the creepy stuff you’ve written?
Yes but the reverse is far more common.
Do you look at fanart often, and what are your thoughts on common headcanons for the way that characters look? Do you imagine some characters looking a certain way?
I don’t really look at fanart unless it is put directly in front of me even though I fully support it as an endeavour.
In terms of HeadCanons, I keep saying people are welcome to do what they want but I am always a little saddened when a fandom homes in on an “accepted” or “standard” portrayal because it just feels to me like closing a bunch of creative doors which seems a shame. That said, fandom is a weird and terrifying beast I do not understand so I’m not sure my opinion counts for much.
Hi Alex, I have a humble request.
during one of the protocol pre-launch livestream Q&A things, you and Jonny were talking, and you mentioned that Jonny had come up with a plot idea, that, on reflection, would quote “fuck up the universe worse than in archives.”
When protocol finishes, please could you release more on this? I desperately want to know what the plot point was, because HOW?! How could Jonny possibly fuck up a universe more than he did in archives? He basically engineered hell on earth last time!!
but I appreciate that this plot point is probably all spoilers, so yeah. After protocol is finished!
Yes. I promise I will share this when possible. In fact I think it will be earlier than you suspect.
As I’m relistening to RQG recently, I was struck by the fact that Hamid starts the story with a little bit of power, grows into a lot of power, and then basically has all of that power stripped away from him. He loses his magic, his family and money matter a lot less in the new world, and he presumably lost a ton of public respect and influence during Cairo with the scandals. Was this a deliberate choice, or just how things worked out with the story? It’s really interesting that when so much of Hamid’s arc was about learning to be responsible with power, he ended up having very little.
So Hamid’s arc was always to my mind an examination of personal responsibility in a world with a horrendous power imbalance.
Given that, there were a few ways it could have panned out depending on the player Bryn’s actions:
1) Hamid could have been corrupted by his power.
2) He could have rejected it.
3) He could have grown into the proper wielding of it.
4) He have been denied it and been forced to adjust.
I think in his heart Bryn was hoping for number 3 but we ended up at number 4.
To be clear, this was not a foregone conclusion, I would not be arrogant enough to claim complete control over the story that unfolded but I would say #3 would have been hard to achieve at my end without falling foul of power fantasy tropes.
As it is, I often catch myself examining the ending of RQG and looking for better alternates if I were to travel back in time and do it again but ultimately that’s not helpful. It is what it is and I should be glad we managed to bring the plane in to land at all!
Hello sir, I hope you're having a good day. I just have one question for you: have you ever read the Warriors book series by Erin Hunter?
I haver not. Unfortunately my reading is very patchy with some deep veins but equally broad deserts of ignorance.
Hello Mr Newall!!
I was wondering if the name Fairchild in any way came from the Fairchild Aviation Corporation? Ima bit of an aviation fan and I just found out about the company (big fan of civil aviation in the 60s) and thought it was neat!
(Feel free to not answer if you don’t want to:3)
That’s a Jonny question I’m afraid.
I just want to ask, is it okay if me and a few of my friends make a podcast in the same universe/inspired by the Magnus archives? We’ve been planning this for a while but I wanted to ask if you were okay with it.
we wouldn’t be doing it for profit or anything, just for fun :)
So that’s a question that has to go via email to mail@rustyquill.com For various reasons, I’m not really allowed to give permission for company related stuff as a private person.
greetings Big Boss Man!
i would like to know if there will be a canon age drop for the tmagp characters in the future? i am cooking up a theory.
an answer is much obliged, although i get that you are busy so it is not needed (i will just headcanon it you cant stop me)
We normally try to sprinkle such references throughout all the seasons but I can’t remember off the top of my head if and when they explicitly happen. Fair warning though you’ll be waiting a while if you want to collect the set.
hello mr newall!!!
do you have a favorite author or a writer that inspires you? can be for any sort of media so books, films, tv shows, podcasts (whaaat) etc
I really enjoy your work! thanks for all that you do :)
Probably Terry Pratchett most.
I just vibed with his work and his creative ethic. I.e. The writing is the reward.
Most US-based airlines were grounded by the Crowdstrike outage on the 19th, but Southwest Airlines was unaffected, because its key systems are still running Windows NT 3.1.
Which is to say, yeah, the OIAR's tech is outdated, but at least it's not Southwest Airlines outdated.
I am going to break my rules for the first time and answer this post that doesn’t technically meet the criteria.
- Thankyou for telling me this
- I could tell you some real world horror stories about air travel technical infrastructure. I probably will at some point in the future.
- The tech for the O.I.A.R. is loosely modelled on actual UK infrastructure and processes I’ve seen implemented in places they REALLY shouldn’t be.
- The entirety of digital infrastructure is balanced on ancient pins. The reason things keep going is just because there are enough pins distributed about that when something goes ping into the corner of the room there is normally another less optimal pin that can be substituted in a pinch. It’s fascinating, if upsetting, to watch.
Do you like insects and what's your favourite insect? (Even if you don't like them I am curious as to what your favourite one is)
So although I am intellectually glad of insects because I understand their role in the ecosystem I must admit they mostly ick me in person.
That said, Scarab Beetles are pretty cool. From a distance.
Hey! Hope ur day is going well!
whats your favourite statement/case that you've had to read aloud, either archives or protocol?
Let’s just say that sitting on an uncomfy chair in a foggy house constantly resetting with no-one to help felt pretty special to perform.
Alex- Sir- I have the biggest, mind-blowing question ever.
Whats your favorite ice cream flavor? Also, do you use the letter 'u' in flavor? Cause they do it in Canada and it's a bit off putting as no one does in America-
So bear in mind UK flavours tend to be subtly different from American etc.
I buy and enjoy Pish Phood (or however you spell it) most regularly.
That said my absolute favourite is probably fresh Gelato in Italy with as much chocolate as they can fit in a waffle cone because I am somehow both fancy and mid.
Hello Alex!
I just finished reading Lanark, which was a strange and fascinating read, definitely something that is going to stick with me for a while. But I was curious if you would be interested in sharing some more of your thoughts on the book? I'd love to know more of your thoughts on it.
Thanks!
Glad you read it. I think everybody should once.
I think from my end, the older I get the less it resonates with me interestingly enough. I think it speaks more to a desperate need for fulfilment that plagued me more in my 20s than my 30s.
I think it’s probably the best example of dream logic in written form I have ever found.
I am still unsold on the asynchronous chapters but I get what they were going for.
TLDR: It’s interesting and helped me understand some dream logic but it’s rarely a “fun” read.
Hi!
This is a random question, but I was wondering, do you have a favorite pokemon? And if yes which one?
So bear in mind I am an original run 90s kid so I always loved the lesser loved ones of the original 150 pokemon:
Golem, Golduck, Sandslash, Cloister, Magmar
But my runaway favourite was always Ditto even though in play it never quite felt like it measured up.
Alesis Newman….. Alex Newell…. Self-insert? (Kidding, but man. That is one SIMILAR name)
Ironically I believe that was one of the fan-submitted character names from the Kickstarter so there is probably a listener out there right now reconsidering their opinions on coral!
Thoughts on garbage fires? There’s no subtext here I just like them
I dislike garbage fires.