View Awards - Maurice Rubens
Out Of Character Awards
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Meritorious Newcomer Award Awarded 10 Dec 2022 @ 6:50pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
David joined at the beginning of the month and came with a character already fully loaded in his imagination. In his introduction chapters we are treated to a glimpse into Rice’s past life in high society and Diplomacy, and his personal life that intersects with his friendship to his mentor and with the love Rice has towards his mentor’s daughter. A rejected proposal leads to a career change in search of a life of something a little less expected away from the core worlds, and out to the unknowns of the Federation borderlands. |
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Sim Feature Post Awarded 10 Dec 2022 @ 7:07pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
For "Follow Your Spirit" An introduction post with a full sense of time and place, and employing rich details. While following a mentor and his young protege on a slow walk, the post keeps the reader to the unique voice of the characters, unfolding for us the nature of their invested camaraderie and the recurring context in the beginning, middle, and end, ultimately leading us to Rice's decision to try a path he might not have apart from heartbreak. (A Nov '22 Feature Post) |
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Obsidian Fleet Spotlight Awarded 05 Apr 2023 @ 6:52pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Post Spotlight Camp Sunrise: Just One More Day featuring Maj Porter Wallace and CPO Ibis Xeri http://command.obsidianfleet.net/index.php/sim/viewpost/505 For its remarkable description of a community that tries to survive in a harsh environment, with all the humiliations and challenges that this represents. “Just One More Day” is a gripping post that describes the patient resilience of its protagonists, and yet this is not a grim read. There are touches of hope and humour, giving signs that Ibis, Wallace and all those they care for might indeed survive many more days. (Nominated by Spiral) |
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Obsidian Fleet's Bronze Star Awarded 05 Apr 2023 @ 7:00pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Bronze Star- David / Rubens David has come into Obsidian Command with a level of abandon! He’s leveraging his strengths in his appreciation for history and culture, and bringing that love to the fictional surroundings on OC. He’s also reaching out and writing with others, developing multiple story threads and a diversity of characters with a variety of histories. He’s turned a blank card of an alien race into a master work of convincing setting, history, and culture, using only some brief notes from the GM’s plot requirements and the creative description of the race’s anatomy and fashion given by the doctor. From there he built up a very immersive world and is walking everyone through it and sending a delegation to the station. This mission and our sim would not be the same without his masterful contribution and the pleasure he is to work and interact with. (Nominated by CO&XO) Diplomatic officers are hard. To show them as loafing bureaucrats or borderline incompetent intelligence officers that became Diplomatic in nature is easy. To write a character so flawlessly in their element while in one of the hardest departments to write for is wonderful! The finest details of world building baked into the writing is hard to miss, but so seamless as to avoid being the sole point. No exposition dumps, no long winded reports, but an excellent combination of storytelling and excitement. Much like the good Chief Deputy Marshal, I want a story of the way that Maurice Rubens explores and adventures through the Star Trek universe adapted to television. But only if David agrees to write it. For amazing story telling, a stunning display of character development, and the best name a man could ask for, I happily grant this Bronze Star. (TFCO 72 Miniwara) |
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Introspective Star Awarded 06 Apr 2023 @ 10:43pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
For Maj Porter Wallace, in the Camp Sunrise thread I know a lot of people told me they have been enjoying reading the Camp Sunrise thread involving the stranded characters David and I have established on the Korinn island. What might be less understood is that Wallace is very much a legacy character whom David played decades ago over many years. This Marine was always worth a read but he used to be calcified and bitter and always angry. It was a very intense characterization. What David is doing now with this character is reintegrating this man, using his terrible hardship as an opportunity to actually heal the old wounds in his heart over the loss of his young wife and the losses during the Dominion War that had set him in his path of anger. Although I have the honor of writing the love interest who instigates the turnaround for Wallace, all of this development is completely due to the work that David is putting in and the vision he has to see Wallace’s inner journey come full circle. It’s an incredible payoff for the character and for the reader. Wallace has finally come home in his heart and everyone reading is happy to make the journey with him, as he can finally live and even potentially die, for all the right reasons. |
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Sim Feature Post Awarded 25 Apr 2023 @ 9:09pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
For the Post "Wear and Tear" particularly for the humor and character follies throughout as Moon tries to help Brek address the poor craftsmanship of the suits he was sold, and the tailors responsible try to argue their way out of responsibility until other facts come to light to help persuade them to change their minds... This is a post that pours on the descriptive detail and carries out characterizations to playfully ridiculous levels. |
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Sim Feature Post Awarded 25 Apr 2023 @ 9:32pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
To note the post "Banking" in which Moon makes a sizable bank deposit with a Bolian Banker who manages the branch by long-distance holographic presence. The characterization of the Bolian and in particular his interaction with Moon, who is rather naive surrounding cash and new to money and hence banking altogether, made for a fun and lighthearted read. |
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Limited Issue Award Awarded 26 Apr 2023 @ 12:57pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Lucky Thirteen Ribbon Because David’s got 13 posts already, which might not sound like a lot, but he’s only been here 13 weeks! So that’s a really solid contribution, especially when every post has been a treat to read. “He appreciates that the place has context and history and nuance built in, and makes himself at home in it. He’s an excellent contributor and very inventive too. It’s really rewarding to see the things we’ve previously seeded into the shared universe being tended and brought to life. And I love his commitment to the diplomatic flavor! He’s doing more than just wearing a purple collar, but instead dying his whole character in the wool of diplomacy and the backstory and contacts that come along with that, right down to the psychology of a character who is a master of both etiquette and double talk.” (Awarded Feb '23, During the "Share the Love" Event) |
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Obsidian Fleet Spotlight Awarded 06 May 2023 @ 6:35pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Post Spotlight: Under the Crystal Domes David joined Obsidian Command as the Chief Diplomatic Officer, and so it only made sense to invite him to play the aliens in a first contact as well. He went above and beyond in taking the physical description provided and the simple planet description and then through a series of questions posed to himself in response to the few known variables, he developed enough worldbuilding to ultimately bring it all back around to the personal— the point of view of a young Korinn delegate as she prepares to embark on a journey to the stars to try to garner Federation support for her beleaguered and dying planet. http://command.obsidianfleet.net/index.php/sim/viewpost/515 (Posted in March ‘23, OF Spotlight May ‘23) |
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Master Worldbuilder Medal Awarded 08 Jun 2023 @ 12:33pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
When I built this mission, I had a general idea of what a Korin was. Fins, flippers, breathing underwater, generally bi-pedal on land. But that was about it. I had a very, VERY rough outline of them and really hadn’t figured to get too, too into the weeds on it. David asked if he could build on that and I reluctantly conceded. Boy was that the right call. He took what had been a stick figure drawing and turned it into a living, breathing, dynamic culture that exceeded my wildest imagination. As I read who the Korin were I couldn’t help but feel like I was a random reader seeing it all for the first time. Masterfully crafted and woven into the mission. That is why I am giving this award to David. |
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Obsidian Fleet's Golden Padd Awarded 15 Aug 2023 @ 9:24pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Winner, Golden Padd for Outstanding Creativity (individual) When I built this mission, I had a general idea of what the main species we would be dealing with was, what a Korin was. Fins, flippers, breathing underwater, generally bi-pedal on land. But that was about it. I had a very, VERY rough outline of them and really hadn’t figured to get too, too into the weeds on it. I honestly didn’t realize they’d be that big a part of the mission. DCFranklin asked if he could build on that and I reluctantly conceded; I’m not always the best at letting others control things. Boy was that the right call. He took what had been a stick figure drawing and turned it into a living, breathing, dynamic culture that exceeded my wildest imagination. As I read who the Korin were I couldn’t help but feel like I was a random reader seeing it all for the first time. And if that wasn’t enough, DCFranklin doubled down on the build he’d created, using the world he’d brought to live, to weave a further detail into the story. Marooning the crew of a lost Starfleet vessel on the planet who had to learn to live, communicate and cohabitate with this species he had so eloquently created. It is clear DCFranklin is a master at his craft, and is a valued member of this crew. That is why I am giving this award to DCFranklin (Awarded OF Day, Aug '23) |
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Nomination Commendation Awarded 15 Aug 2023 @ 9:37pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Golden Padd for Outstanding Post Nikki & David (nominated, unelected) “Castles in the Sand” http://command.obsidianfleet.net/index.php/sim/viewpost/616 (solo) They played the two remaining survivors of the Starfleet ship USS Sunrise. The ship was attacked by an ongoing antagonist of our game and the survivors sent to this world (Korin) to work as slaves for the mining operation on the planet. Over the course of time, the survivors of the Sunrise died off of various things leaving Wallace and Xeri alone with two children to care for. They’ve been trying to survive and keep the family together. The USS Pathfinder (Obsidian Command’s Garrison Vessel) has through the course of the story rescued them from this planet and is taking them home. Back to Federation space. |
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Mission Three - Into the Deep Awarded 06 Sep 2023 @ 12:37pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
For writing during Mission Three: Into the Deep |
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Volunteer Award Awarded 08 Sep 2023 @ 10:27pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Over the summer we revamped our awards system. I have had this project on my heart since 2020, but couldn’t get traction on it while other life things cropped up. When I shared the project with David a few months ago, he got my gears turning again and his genuinely high energy interest in helping to reorganize, rename, rewrite the old ribbon descriptions revitalized me and propelled the project ahead as I took advantage of summer holiday availability and a blank check from Sep to create the new awards. The results became a true joint effort and the new awards system owes a great deal to David’s organizational vision, communication skills, and creative talents. And now we get to enjoy the results! From the bottom of my heart, thank you David. |
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Characterization: backstory Awarded 09 Oct 2023 @ 3:34pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
“Unwitnessed, Unratified: A Good Day, A Bad Day” For its lively description of a normal “First Contact Day’ for young Diplomat Second Grade Maurice Rubens, Treaties, trade deals and old friends are all that matter until the world collapses, with the evacuation of the campus and the announcement that Mars has been attacked. |
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The Vulcan Medal of Comedy Awarded 08 Nov 2023 @ 4:03pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
“Woulda Shoulda Coulda” - Moon-Young Chung & Sylvie Hardt - Surrat Gallery This is a post that describes what happens when two women from very different backgrounds meet. It starts with an interesting discussion on art, which is often revealing of the predicament endured by the artist’s homeworld, and gradually moves to humour and sharp repartees from both women. Moon has the last word though, as she found in Ms Hardt a new customer and will be able to design a new wardrobe for her. |
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Obsidian Fleet Spotlight Awarded 02 Jan 2024 @ 8:06pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
For the post: "Unwitnessed, Unratified: A Good Day, A Bad Day" This post is an excellent all around image, going into Maurice Ruben's backstory and illustrating a-day-in-the-life of an up and coming young diplomat, and yet it is definitely no ordinary day in the life... This is a piece of fictional reality, by which I mean to say the fiction rings true to our own personal lives when we reflect on those irrevocable instants in which something truly rended the fabric of our own collective generational experience. But I won't spoil it any further for you. You just have to read it. (Written Sept '23, submitted to OF Jan '24) |
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Nomination Commendation Awarded 03 Feb 2024 @ 11:00pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Lt Cmdr Maurice Rubens – Obsidian Command Maurice Rubens thrives in the spaces between worlds. Himself a child of multiple cultures (Vulcan, Trill, and Human), his perspective gives him insight to others. But peacemaking for this diplomat can include subversive tactics, and he has a reputation as a wild card in his field. As an introduction to Obsidian Command, instead of first approaching the planet’s elders most sympathetic to Starfleet through which business has always been done, Rubens went to the leader most opposed to the Federation’s presence in the system, turning a decade of past approaches on their ear at his very arrival. In his personal life he builds a relationship with his current fiancée, and yet the echoes of past relationships also have ripples into his present. He’s nuanced and well written with a depth of story and personality that keeps the reader curious. (Unelected Nomination for OF’s Character of the Year 2023) |
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Nomination Commendation Awarded 03 Feb 2024 @ 11:01pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
David K- Obsidian Command It’s a total joy to write and storycraft with David. It always has been, but after cultivating our lives outside of simming for a decade, we discovered the collaborative spark is even brighter. It’s as if time and perspective has made pretense and uncertainty surrounding the cooperation melt away! Able to brainstorm and organize well, and manage multiple threads, David is eager to involve anyone he can and to play out both his ideas and the ideas of others, to support the sim’s plot and to build on the settings and lore — all in harmony! He’s also personally invested in supporting OC’s community with sim-level award nominations and conversation, and helped with site content and our sim award system revamp. I didn’t know how much I missed writing together, and I’m so thankful these stars have aligned again. (Unelected Nomination for OF’s Player of the Year 2023) |
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Wordsmith Medal for Narrative Voice Awarded 06 Apr 2024 @ 12:23pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
“Unwitnessed, Unratified: What We Do” Rubens An insightful portrayal of a young diplomat's experience. Who’s already aware of the complexities of diplomacy, with its delicate balance between progress and setbacks, punctuated by periods of stagnation. |
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Limited Issue Award Awarded 06 Apr 2024 @ 12:25pm Nominated by Commander Calliope Zahn |
Khitomer Awards: Post of the Quarter Awardee (oct-dec '23) David – "The Runaway: Stowaway" Fernanda Ruiz knows a secret. Her father isn't who she thought he was. And with the help of a friend, she's charted her own arrangements to meet her real dad. Only there's an unexpected detour along the way.... NPC solo post by player David K. Also writing Maurice Rubens |