SteVo+ 3,702 Posted August 30, 2014 We are probably months away from seeing it come to light, but I wanted to give you guys a heads up: I've started writing Part II, have 10,000 words and three chapters already, and I love it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted September 1, 2014 For the offseason (looking very far ahead, I know), instead of only doing one part like last summer, what about two? I think it's feasible for me to publish both Part II and Part III (granted interest is high enough) in the same offseason, though we would require a break in between. The advantage, of course, is double the KoA during non-football days. What say you, Knights? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bangy 19 Posted September 3, 2014 Moar knights is needed without a doubt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted September 21, 2014 Yay more discreet, non-revealing teasers. Average word count per chapter of Part I: 3,075. Average word count per chapter of Part II (so far): 3,681. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted November 5, 2014 Alright Knights, another question. I still plan on publishing Parts II and III during the upcoming offseason, with a small gap in between. My question to you all: how soon do you want Part II published? After the Super Bowl? March? January? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014 Posted November 5, 2014 Now, obviously. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted November 5, 2014 I had always had the idea in my head that KoA would be a strictly offseason activity, but I am not against releasing it during football season if the masses wish. Would you guys still read it on Sundays? Maybe Mondays... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted November 5, 2014 Fridays. TNF, KoA, NCAA, NFL Sunday, MNF. Do eeeeeet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted November 5, 2014 Whenever you feel it's finished and the best it can be unless it takes too long. Then just say fuck it and post lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted November 5, 2014 I'm partial to Saturday, but it's up to you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted November 6, 2014 Knights on Fridays, do eet Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted November 7, 2014 Fridays seem to be gaining momentum. I must say, I should have considered publishing KoA during football season earlier, but no matter. I've been writing/outlining like crazy--but hardly proofreading. So I've got to clean up what I have and finish outlining Part II in its entirety. I should have a "release date" for the beginning of Part II, along with some teasers, in the next few days. Stay tuned... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted November 7, 2014 The Knights Return November 21 After a decade of mediocrity in Oakland, has the rebuilding effort of the Los Angeles Knights finally turned a corner? That's the question Knights fans ask each other after the team finished the 2011 season winning four of their last six, a feat that has altered the atmosphere at team headquarters. General manager Chance Phillips prepares for free agency, finally armed with financial freedom he has spent years building. But how should he use it? It's not Phillips' style to be aggressive, but how long can he sit around and wait for his football team to get good? Meanwhile, the Knights have problems of their own: Da'Jamiroquai Jefferspin-Wilkes and Malik Rose are free agents to be, and with extension talks at a halt, Phillips must navigate the market to re-sign playmakers on both sides of the ball. With a roster shake-up possible, head coach Caden Daniel faces yet another challenge. He has been dealt more than his fair share of adversity, but he's smart enough to know where the blame gets placed in the NFL when things go wrong. As the franchise's most important offseason transpires and the 2012 season grows closer, the question still remains: how good are the Los Angeles Knights? 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted November 9, 2014 In preparation for Part II, here is a chapter-by-chapter summary of what happened in Part I. Obviously you've got to-re-read it if you want the full story, but this has the basics covered. Later this week, I'll post some chapter titles along with some more teasers. Ch. 1: Prologue In February 2009, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis dies. Los Angeles businessman Wayne Schneider soon buys the team and schedules a move to his home city for the 2010 season. Upon their move and change from the Raiders to the Knights, Schneider hires Chance Phillips as general manager, Caden Daniel as head coach, and Merle Harden as defensive coordinator. Ch. 2: Face of the Franchise The Knights open their 2011 season with a loss against the Broncos. Quarterback and 2010 third overall pick Jonathan Maverick performs poorly due to poor offensive line play, and he openly blames his teammates. This leads to a clash with veteran center Brian Penner, though Maverick gives a half-hearted apology that reconciles the two. Flashbacks show that the Knights preferred Sam Bradford leading up to the 2010 draft. Ch. 3: Line of Defense The Knights fall to 0-2 partly due to bad plays by outside linebacker Zack Grantzinger and inside linebacker Briggs Randall. Both are coveted by Harden, though flashbacks show Phillips reluctantly drafted Randall after missing on Julio Jones. In their first home game of the season, both linebackers make big plays as part of a goal line stand against the Jets, and the Knights get their first win of the season. Ch. 4: The Receiving End Another loss puts the Knights at 1-3 while wide receiver Alex Johnson has a big day and another receiver, Da’Jamiroquai Jefferspin-Wilkes, does not. While Johnson is reserved, Wilkes is a typical diva receiver displeased with his lack of catches. Flashbacks show Johnson as the Knights’ second round pick this season; Wilkes is a former top draft pick on a one-year deal with L.A. trying to restore his reputation. Against the Texans, an ankle injury to Johnson leads to more playing time for Wilkes, who scores a would-be game winning touchdown that gets called back by a holding penalty; Wilkes walks off the field, and the Knights ultimately lose. Ch. 5: Roses Are Red An inexcusable personal foul by cornerback Malik Rose leads to a loss, and the Knights are 1-5. Flashbacks show that Rose was a draft prospect with a mysterious past coveted by Phillips in Pittsburgh, and he eventually traded for him to get him in L.A. Eager for retribution, Rose responds the next game by shutting down Calvin Johnson, winning the game and respect from his teammates. Ch. 6: Veteran Presence Brian Penner, former CFL center, acts as a spark for the offense during practice. Chet Ripka, debatable Hall of Fame safety, does his best to tutor the defense. Flashbacks show that both are free agent acquisitions by Phillips to add veteran leadership. While Penner plays great, Ripka’s career is in decline. While Penner dominates on an otherwise brutal offensive line, a personal foul by Ripka leads to another loss against the Chiefs. Ch. 7: Control Head coach Caden Daniel calls a good game against the Broncos, but two defensive breakdowns result in a crippling loss. Merle Harden, who always trusts his secondary in coverage and is a habitual drinker, tries to fix things on defense. Flashbacks show that Phillips and Daniel reluctantly hired Harden, not seeing any better options available. Two incidents call Daniel’s zero tolerance policy for off-the-field nonsense into question. Against the Chargers, Harden’s defense holds tight and Daniel calls a good game, but a late interception by Maverick leads to a loss and a 2-8 record. Ch. 8: Depth Chart Injuries to starters against the Vikings lead to playing time for two backups: outside linebacker Sean Brock and tight end Logan Bishop. Flashbacks show Brock was a talented pass rusher in college who killed his draft stock with weed and poor interviews, while Bishop was a depth signing in free agency. Brock rushes the passer well but is suspect in coverage, while Bishop has a breakout performance that helps the Knights win. Ch. 9: Returns An outstanding game from special teams ace Marlon Martin makes Harden think about giving him playing time at inside linebacker, his original position. Meanwhile, running back Jerome Jaxson has a breakout performance but fumbles at the goal line to lose the game. Flashbacks show Jaxson played for Daniel at UConn, tore his ACL and MCL junior year, and was drafted by the Knights in 2010. Martin was signed for special teams only, though he gets some snaps at linebacker against the Dolphins. The whole team dominates, including Jaxson, though he suffers another knee injury in the fourth quarter. Ch. 10: General Management Jaxson’s MRI reveals a torn MCL, and he goes on IR. Phillips looks ahead to the offseason; having finally earned some space against the salary cap, he will still have a lot of holes to fill. He estimates that the Knights are two years away from the playoffs. Per tradition, he takes one of his sons to the Knights’ road game in Kansas City. The team performs poorly and loses, eliminating them from playoff contention. Ch. 11: Suck for Luck The Knights have a dreadful week of practice: Sean Brock slacks off, while Maverick and D-Jam get into a fight. Meanwhile, defensive end Sam Luck puts forth full effort. Flashbacks show Luck is a second round pick who played in the 4-3 at Stanford; he’s having a productive career despite low sack numbers. Surprisingly, the Knights dominate against the Chargers, win 35-13, and celebrate as if they’re in the playoffs. Ch. 12: The Knights of Andreas Wayne Schneider informs the coaching staff there will be no firings in the offseason. Against the Packers, one of the NFL’s best teams, the Knights have their best all-around performance of the season, in which nearly every player contributes. In the 4th quarter, Logan Bishop catches a pass and a mild earthquake rumbles the stadium. After it stops, Bishop reaches the end zone for a controversial touchdown. The Knights go on to win, 38-24, finishing the season by winning four of their last six games. The earthquake gives birth to a new nickname for the team: the Knights of Andreas. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bangy 19 Posted November 9, 2014 Love the idea of this being released during the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted November 9, 2014 I really like the way you write Chance Phillips. I can see Sarge's personality reflected in the character and I think you're doing a great job breaking down the tough choices a GM has to make with money. Re-signing young players or gambling on established free agents. I can't wait to read part II. I know you want more feed back and I hope you get it, but the people who do read it are really enjoying it. It should be a lot more fun now with all the intro's out the way. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted November 9, 2014 I really like the way you write Chance Phillips. I can see Sarge's personality reflected in the character and I think you're doing a great job breaking down the tough choices a GM has to make with money. Re-signing young players or gambling on established free agents. I can't wait to read part II. I know you want more feed back and I hope you get it, but the people who do read it are really enjoying it. It should be a lot more fun now with all the intro's out the way. Thanks, man. I'm really enjoying writing it, and I think everyone will like Part II a lot better since we're already introduced (most of) the characters, as you mentioned. Obviously we won't get a detailed look at every character, every week, but we can move around from different characters at sometimes random times. And that's how it works in football, after all: at any given moment, you never know which player will step up and make a big play. I have a lot more freedom with the narrative structure of Part II, which will be reflected in the quality of the story, I think. Less than two weeks until we find out. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted November 11, 2014 (edited) Los Angeles Knights 2012 Schedule vs. Chargers [MNF] @ Dolphins vs. Steelers @ Broncos Bye Week @ Falcons vs. Jaguars @ Chiefs vs. Buccaneers @ Ravens vs. Saints @ Bengals vs. Browns vs. Broncos [TNF] vs. Chiefs @ Panthers @ Chargers Aaaand, chapter titles for the first five chapters of Part II: Ch. 13: Guarded Waters and Open Windows Ch. 14: War Room Ch. 15: Kings Among Knights Ch. 16: O Captain, My Captain Ch. 17: Sheriffs of the West Edited November 11, 2014 by SteVo 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites