Post by David Shand on Apr 22, 2009 6:32:32 GMT -5
Q: What is your character name?
David Shand
Q: Why did you pick that as your character name?
Because its my own name. I never wanted to hide behind an internet pseudonym when I started writing. The one thing I always wanted to bring to a fed was honesty, and I though an example of that would be to use my own name.
Q: Have you went by any other names? If so what were they?
English Lion, Soul Reaper, Reaper. But they were originally character nick-names for the David Shand character. Then as the storyline developed, I made more of the Reaper (I dropped the Soul bit) being almost like a different side to his character. It was almost like he had a split personality.
Q: Explain your gimmick
Shand is a complex individual. He’s very disciplined and controlled, but he has a dark side to his nature which he needs to vent, and as he can’t do it through business, he does it through wrestling. Originally it was to vent his anger at the failed relationship with his over-bearing father, then later it was his fury at the untimely death of his wife in an accident he thought he was to blame for. Now he’s more settled, and he wrestles for the respect and honour of competition.
Q Your character have a catch phrase?
No. He doesn’t believe in cheap promos and catchphrases.
Q: What got you interested in e-feds?
it started as a joke thing between a group of work mates who were wrestling fans. We’d send email promos back and forth to each other. I’d been doing that a while when a friend stumbled across an e-fed and said “look, there are other idiots doing this as well” and it went on from there.
Q: How long have you been E-fedding?
The emails started in 1999, the e-feds in probably about 2001-2
Q: Has e-fedding changed that much since you started?
It certainly has. There are a lot fewer e-feds these days. Generally, I think the writing has improved as well.
Q: Did you have a mentor to show you the ropes? If yes how did he/she help/If no think it would of help you?
Not especially. No. My writing style was a bit different from what a lot of people were doing, and I pretty much stuck to it. That said, working with good writers in the CWA like Special Giznap, Mike Rocket, and Lone Wolf all helped, as did the fact that I have feuded consistently with Myron Fox for 10 years, and we’ve developed our characters alongside each other. Really though, you learn from everyone. I learnt as much from recent angles with guys like Justin Marsham, and our own Steve Awesome.
Q: Who do you want to have a victory against, but you don't (in a singles match)?
I suppose, the Lone Wolf, only because I was screwed out of the win in the first Trinity of Iron match behind my back. However, it was a long time ago and TBH I don’t really care. Its not about winning – its about a good story.
Q: Who was your greatest challenge?
Myron Fox.
Q: What is your personal favorite gimmick that you have seen? (Any Fed)
I loved the feud with Special Giznap, because his comedy was the perfect foil for my serious stuff, and he made me laugh the most. Also really enjoyed the stuff with Awesome, simply because Steve is a great guy to work with.
Q: What is your personal worse gimmick that you have seen? (Any Fed)
Not naming names, but any gimmick where people come straight in and claim to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, or suddenly produce “contracts” for stipulations to matches.
Q: What was the favorite angle/Storyline you been in? ( Any Fed)
The entire angle with Myron Fox. 10 Years of a complex friendship/rivalry/mentorship.
Q: What was the worst/storyline you been in? ( Any Fed)
One where Lone Wolf appeared to become a demi-God.
Q: What was your favorite feud? ( Any Fed)
Aside from Myron, The one with Steve Awesome in the TXA
Q: What was your worst feud? (Any Fed)
The times I had to avoid doing angles with Joanie Lee.
Q: Ever got too involved in a feud and made it personal?
No. It’s a fun thing, you can’t make it personal.
Q: Whose your favorite e-fedder, besides yourself?
Myron Fox, Rob Arnold, Steve Awesome, Justin Marsham, Special Giznap, Shane Hunt
Q: What motivates your character?
It was anger and guilt over his wife’s death. Now its just a desire for competition.
Q Ever had an opponent you couldn't beat, like an arch-nemesis?
No. Even though I didn’t get a victory over Lone Wolf, I put him in a coma.
Q: What would you say is the defining moment in your career? Or have you had one yet?
The final match with Justin Marsham in which I sorta retired. It completed the story nicely.
Q: What makes a good e-fed owner?
Commitment, honesty, and a lack of ego.
Q: What does/should a e-fed owner looks for in his e-fedders?
Same as the above. Writing skills can be developed, a person’s character is always there.
Q: What makes a fed good?
See above. If both owners and fedders have those qualities, the fed will work.
Q: What makes someone a legend in e-fedding?
Even though I’ve had that label attached to me before by some, I confess I think its pompous to talk of e-fedding legends. This is just a bit of fun. There are some people who are very good e-fedders, but I wouldn’t say anyone was “legendary”
Q: In your opinion who are the legends of e-fedding?
Again, don’t want to say anyone is a legend. But I respect guys like Doc, Mongo, Myron, Lone Wolf, Rob Arnold, Chio Reto, Mike Rocket, Keeling, Steve Awesome, Special Giznap, and a whole host of others.
Q: Which real life wrestling superstar would your character like to take on?
I’d like to see him against Randy Orton. Interesting mix of styles.
Q: How many e-feds have you been in?
7 or so I think.
Q: What brought you to XHF?
Curiosity.
Q: How many characters have you been?
David Shand, Homer Cyde.
Q: Which one was the closest to you?
The one which shares my name.
Q. How does your character differ from yourself in person?
I’m not as old, not as rich, not in as good shape, and not as emotionally drained.
Q: Where did you get the inspiration for your character?
I took elements from guys I liked in wrestling. Taker, Jake the Snake, Raven, and combined them. I wanted to explore a character that was dealing with a dark side to his nature but not really accepting it. I like exploring what drives people to do certain things. For example, I always liked the dark side behind characters like Batman – isn’t he as screwed up as the Joker after all. So I chose to do a character which appeared to have it all (money, success etc) but yet had this big hole in his life.
Q: How many titles have you won?
Quite a few. They aren’t as important as telling a good story. I gave up the TXA world title immediately after winning it simply because it interfered with a story.
Q: What title meant the most to you?
As I said, titles aren’t terribly important. But I suppose there are two that stand out. The first would be winning the CWA title, because there were a lot of good guys around there at the time, and it was the first really big fed I’d developed the character in. The second was when Rob Arnold and Chio Reto chose me to win the main event at the TXA Histories show.
Q Is there a person who you don't like to RP against because he is so bad? Don't have to name him/her.
There have been a couple who I’ve simply avoided roleplaying against because I didn’t think their attitude was right. Writing quality isn’t the issue – you can work with people to develop that. If the attitude is wrong though they could be Shakespeare and the stuff will still suck because there’s no spirit of cooperation.
Q: Who challenges you to put out the best rps you can?
Myron Fox, because the sod knows me so well as a character and as a person that he know what buttons to push to really stretch the character. But I’ve produced some of my best stuff with other characters as well. I really like Steve’s original version of Jayson Matthews – he gave me some good ideas. Justin Marsham’s angle leading into my retirement also drove me to write what I thought was a very good match.
Q: What do you feel is the best storyline going on in XHF?
TBH, I’ve not had a chance to read them yet.
Q: Who is the one person that you would most like to feud against?
Don’t know yet if I intend to come back. If I did, someone I’ve not worked with before. I’ve seen Mongo around for a long time but never done anything with him. Perhaps that could work.
Q: Which member(s) of the XHF would you like to work with in an angle or storyline?
Isn’t that much the same question as the above.
Q: What was the promo that you are really proud of?
I really like two of mine. “RAIN” in which you first find out about the death of Shand’s wife, and “Anniversary” which is set one year after her death.
Q: What do you see in future (if you've thought that far)?
Who knows?
Q: Ever done a promo, and looked back and thought what the hell was I thinking?
Yes, the one I did where I was talking to Lone Wolf’s pet Wolf. I think I’d had an evening out with my mate Mr Daniels (aka Jack) that night.
Q: Got a favorite promo that someone else did?
Special Giznap’s promo in which he imitated Steve Irwin to track me backstage at a show. I laughed my ass off at that.
Q: Ever read someone's else promo and thought what the hell were they thinking?
See the previous mentions of some of Lone Wolf’s stuff. But TBH, Derek was and is a great writer – he just had some unusual ideas at times.
Q: Most proud moment in e-fedding?
When I got an email from a former e-fedder in Canada who claimed I was responsible for him passing his English class, because I got him interested in writing.
Q: Most disappointing moment?
The various arguments between staff members when I was running the CWA.
Q: Who is the most underrated superstar in the XHF?
Not read enough yet to comment.
Q: Do you see a day in the near future when you will quit e-fedding?
I already have.
Q: Grading your time here in the XHF with A, B, C, D, F what do you think your grade is?
U - Ungraded
Q: In e-fedding in general?
It may be egotistical, but I’d say A-
Q What is the one area of RPing you would like to improve at? ( Gimmick, Character Development, Creativity, etc.)
I could work more humour in.
Q: If your character was a real wrestler where would he like to wrestle at?
He wouldn’t still be wrestling. He’d own a company.
David Shand
Q: Why did you pick that as your character name?
Because its my own name. I never wanted to hide behind an internet pseudonym when I started writing. The one thing I always wanted to bring to a fed was honesty, and I though an example of that would be to use my own name.
Q: Have you went by any other names? If so what were they?
English Lion, Soul Reaper, Reaper. But they were originally character nick-names for the David Shand character. Then as the storyline developed, I made more of the Reaper (I dropped the Soul bit) being almost like a different side to his character. It was almost like he had a split personality.
Q: Explain your gimmick
Shand is a complex individual. He’s very disciplined and controlled, but he has a dark side to his nature which he needs to vent, and as he can’t do it through business, he does it through wrestling. Originally it was to vent his anger at the failed relationship with his over-bearing father, then later it was his fury at the untimely death of his wife in an accident he thought he was to blame for. Now he’s more settled, and he wrestles for the respect and honour of competition.
Q Your character have a catch phrase?
No. He doesn’t believe in cheap promos and catchphrases.
Q: What got you interested in e-feds?
it started as a joke thing between a group of work mates who were wrestling fans. We’d send email promos back and forth to each other. I’d been doing that a while when a friend stumbled across an e-fed and said “look, there are other idiots doing this as well” and it went on from there.
Q: How long have you been E-fedding?
The emails started in 1999, the e-feds in probably about 2001-2
Q: Has e-fedding changed that much since you started?
It certainly has. There are a lot fewer e-feds these days. Generally, I think the writing has improved as well.
Q: Did you have a mentor to show you the ropes? If yes how did he/she help/If no think it would of help you?
Not especially. No. My writing style was a bit different from what a lot of people were doing, and I pretty much stuck to it. That said, working with good writers in the CWA like Special Giznap, Mike Rocket, and Lone Wolf all helped, as did the fact that I have feuded consistently with Myron Fox for 10 years, and we’ve developed our characters alongside each other. Really though, you learn from everyone. I learnt as much from recent angles with guys like Justin Marsham, and our own Steve Awesome.
Q: Who do you want to have a victory against, but you don't (in a singles match)?
I suppose, the Lone Wolf, only because I was screwed out of the win in the first Trinity of Iron match behind my back. However, it was a long time ago and TBH I don’t really care. Its not about winning – its about a good story.
Q: Who was your greatest challenge?
Myron Fox.
Q: What is your personal favorite gimmick that you have seen? (Any Fed)
I loved the feud with Special Giznap, because his comedy was the perfect foil for my serious stuff, and he made me laugh the most. Also really enjoyed the stuff with Awesome, simply because Steve is a great guy to work with.
Q: What is your personal worse gimmick that you have seen? (Any Fed)
Not naming names, but any gimmick where people come straight in and claim to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, or suddenly produce “contracts” for stipulations to matches.
Q: What was the favorite angle/Storyline you been in? ( Any Fed)
The entire angle with Myron Fox. 10 Years of a complex friendship/rivalry/mentorship.
Q: What was the worst/storyline you been in? ( Any Fed)
One where Lone Wolf appeared to become a demi-God.
Q: What was your favorite feud? ( Any Fed)
Aside from Myron, The one with Steve Awesome in the TXA
Q: What was your worst feud? (Any Fed)
The times I had to avoid doing angles with Joanie Lee.
Q: Ever got too involved in a feud and made it personal?
No. It’s a fun thing, you can’t make it personal.
Q: Whose your favorite e-fedder, besides yourself?
Myron Fox, Rob Arnold, Steve Awesome, Justin Marsham, Special Giznap, Shane Hunt
Q: What motivates your character?
It was anger and guilt over his wife’s death. Now its just a desire for competition.
Q Ever had an opponent you couldn't beat, like an arch-nemesis?
No. Even though I didn’t get a victory over Lone Wolf, I put him in a coma.
Q: What would you say is the defining moment in your career? Or have you had one yet?
The final match with Justin Marsham in which I sorta retired. It completed the story nicely.
Q: What makes a good e-fed owner?
Commitment, honesty, and a lack of ego.
Q: What does/should a e-fed owner looks for in his e-fedders?
Same as the above. Writing skills can be developed, a person’s character is always there.
Q: What makes a fed good?
See above. If both owners and fedders have those qualities, the fed will work.
Q: What makes someone a legend in e-fedding?
Even though I’ve had that label attached to me before by some, I confess I think its pompous to talk of e-fedding legends. This is just a bit of fun. There are some people who are very good e-fedders, but I wouldn’t say anyone was “legendary”
Q: In your opinion who are the legends of e-fedding?
Again, don’t want to say anyone is a legend. But I respect guys like Doc, Mongo, Myron, Lone Wolf, Rob Arnold, Chio Reto, Mike Rocket, Keeling, Steve Awesome, Special Giznap, and a whole host of others.
Q: Which real life wrestling superstar would your character like to take on?
I’d like to see him against Randy Orton. Interesting mix of styles.
Q: How many e-feds have you been in?
7 or so I think.
Q: What brought you to XHF?
Curiosity.
Q: How many characters have you been?
David Shand, Homer Cyde.
Q: Which one was the closest to you?
The one which shares my name.
Q. How does your character differ from yourself in person?
I’m not as old, not as rich, not in as good shape, and not as emotionally drained.
Q: Where did you get the inspiration for your character?
I took elements from guys I liked in wrestling. Taker, Jake the Snake, Raven, and combined them. I wanted to explore a character that was dealing with a dark side to his nature but not really accepting it. I like exploring what drives people to do certain things. For example, I always liked the dark side behind characters like Batman – isn’t he as screwed up as the Joker after all. So I chose to do a character which appeared to have it all (money, success etc) but yet had this big hole in his life.
Q: How many titles have you won?
Quite a few. They aren’t as important as telling a good story. I gave up the TXA world title immediately after winning it simply because it interfered with a story.
Q: What title meant the most to you?
As I said, titles aren’t terribly important. But I suppose there are two that stand out. The first would be winning the CWA title, because there were a lot of good guys around there at the time, and it was the first really big fed I’d developed the character in. The second was when Rob Arnold and Chio Reto chose me to win the main event at the TXA Histories show.
Q Is there a person who you don't like to RP against because he is so bad? Don't have to name him/her.
There have been a couple who I’ve simply avoided roleplaying against because I didn’t think their attitude was right. Writing quality isn’t the issue – you can work with people to develop that. If the attitude is wrong though they could be Shakespeare and the stuff will still suck because there’s no spirit of cooperation.
Q: Who challenges you to put out the best rps you can?
Myron Fox, because the sod knows me so well as a character and as a person that he know what buttons to push to really stretch the character. But I’ve produced some of my best stuff with other characters as well. I really like Steve’s original version of Jayson Matthews – he gave me some good ideas. Justin Marsham’s angle leading into my retirement also drove me to write what I thought was a very good match.
Q: What do you feel is the best storyline going on in XHF?
TBH, I’ve not had a chance to read them yet.
Q: Who is the one person that you would most like to feud against?
Don’t know yet if I intend to come back. If I did, someone I’ve not worked with before. I’ve seen Mongo around for a long time but never done anything with him. Perhaps that could work.
Q: Which member(s) of the XHF would you like to work with in an angle or storyline?
Isn’t that much the same question as the above.
Q: What was the promo that you are really proud of?
I really like two of mine. “RAIN” in which you first find out about the death of Shand’s wife, and “Anniversary” which is set one year after her death.
Q: What do you see in future (if you've thought that far)?
Who knows?
Q: Ever done a promo, and looked back and thought what the hell was I thinking?
Yes, the one I did where I was talking to Lone Wolf’s pet Wolf. I think I’d had an evening out with my mate Mr Daniels (aka Jack) that night.
Q: Got a favorite promo that someone else did?
Special Giznap’s promo in which he imitated Steve Irwin to track me backstage at a show. I laughed my ass off at that.
Q: Ever read someone's else promo and thought what the hell were they thinking?
See the previous mentions of some of Lone Wolf’s stuff. But TBH, Derek was and is a great writer – he just had some unusual ideas at times.
Q: Most proud moment in e-fedding?
When I got an email from a former e-fedder in Canada who claimed I was responsible for him passing his English class, because I got him interested in writing.
Q: Most disappointing moment?
The various arguments between staff members when I was running the CWA.
Q: Who is the most underrated superstar in the XHF?
Not read enough yet to comment.
Q: Do you see a day in the near future when you will quit e-fedding?
I already have.
Q: Grading your time here in the XHF with A, B, C, D, F what do you think your grade is?
U - Ungraded
Q: In e-fedding in general?
It may be egotistical, but I’d say A-
Q What is the one area of RPing you would like to improve at? ( Gimmick, Character Development, Creativity, etc.)
I could work more humour in.
Q: If your character was a real wrestler where would he like to wrestle at?
He wouldn’t still be wrestling. He’d own a company.