I haven't added the number yet, so I can name it after I know if it's good enough for submitting first.http://scp-sandbox-3.wikidot.com/agent-clockwork
Hello author, let's see what you have.
So it appears that you didn't use the template provided. There's nothing wrong with that, and it's an easy fix. You'll want to head here and click the 'templates' tab. Highlight everything in the "Basic Article Format" box and paste it on to your sandbox page. It'll automatically bold and divide your article, and it'll also add the sacred rating module to the top right of your page. Since you've already written a draft, I recommend just bolding the section titles and copying over the rating module code if you don't want to go through all the trouble.
So the Foundation uses clinical tone in its documentation, not robotic tone like you use here. This tone is everywhere so I will address it all here and spend the rest of this feedback focusing on content. The main issue with using this style of tone isn't that it isn't accurate, technically, but rather because it makes reading feel like a chore. Make no mistake, there are many on this site who now argue that the modern SCP article is a story told through a technical format. And it's fine that there is some degree of detachment. However, the extreme you've gone to is problematic. I recommend checking out the other articles in Season IV to see what tone to strive for, but I will provide an example in the special containment procedures section of this critique.
Keep SCP #XXXX separate from SCP XXXX-1 at all times.
Wrap something around SCP XXXX's eyes at all times.
Keep SCP XXXX in a windowless room at all times.
First of all, there doesn't need to be a page break after every sentence. I already discussed the tone issue so let us consider how this would sound with the Foundation's style of writing:
SCP-XXXX is to be blindfolded and kept in a windowless containment cell. It is not to come into contact with SCP-XXXX-1. |
Head is 0.5 meters in width, 0.75 meters in height, shaped like a balloon. Body is humanoid. Body height is guessed to be at 1.5 meters from head-to-toe.
I'm personally not a fan of exact measurements in the description(since I don't have a meter-stick within reach to quickly gauge how big this is) so I would just recommend using the word "small" and/or "large." They may sound dreadfully un-scientific on their own like this, but a lot of articles use them and I can picture this a lot easier than 0.5 meters.
In regards to what this actually looks like…I can't say I exactly have a picture. In my head there's a balloon with arms and legs. I would recommend a picture, but if you can't or don't want to find one then I would recommend most of the description with:
SCP-XXXX is a large/small (wooden) puppet dressed to appear (whatever you want), and is usually idle in a cross-legged pose. |
This creates a much stronger image in the heads of a reader, and you still get to preserve clinical tone. If you don't believe me, then let me show you what this would sound like without clinical tone(this is the opposite extreme of where your tone currently lies):
SCP-XXXX is a decrepit puppet, with unblinking eyes that stare into your soul and itch the back of your skull. It's body is rotund, like a wood-filled balloon and it remains frozen in it's accursed puppeteer pose, posed to exact a horrible fate on any who make eye contact with it. |
Found in an old amusement park.
I'll leave it up to you whether to expand on this or cut it out for the sake of whatever story you end up trying to tell. However, I will say that the current position of this information is problematic.
Generally, you should try to follow a natural progression of information. Right now, you have 'physical description, behavior description, discovery, anomalous behavior description, and so on. I personally believe the discovery should be either in the beginning or the end, so that the flow between descriptions remains uninterrupted for the reader.
SCP XXXX-1 appears to be a miniature version of SCP XXXX.
I would recommend "SCP-XXXX-1 is a miniature version of SCP-XXXX" simply because it is not written to actually be something else.
The influenced subject remains under SCP XXXX's control until either SCP XXXX-1 is taken away from SCP XXXX, or the influenced subject is moved 100 meters away from SCP XXXX.
When the influenced subject makes eye contact with another subject, the new subject is taken under the influence of SCP XXXX. The original subject freezes in place, and the new subject begins moving under SCP XXXX's influence. The new influenced subject remains under SCP XXXX's control until walking 100 meters away from the original subject.
I actually lost interest completely at this point. So this is where we're going to wrap up feedback. All in all, this SCP is too bare-bones. The robotic tone of the article makes reading sort of a chore, so I'd recommend prioritizing that first so your concept(s) have breathing room. In regards to this concept specifically, it feels like an SCP that takes control of people and make them hurt themselves. We've got quite a few of these and it appears that the story you're trying to create is one that is entirely reliant on suicides and mysterious last words. I personally recommend a more fleshed out story. That being said, I recommend you take the concept behind your SCP, as in what you know to be what this SCP is and about, over to the Ideas and Brainstorming threads for a polish and cultivation volunteered by other users. That's all I have for now. Good luck!