Character Development Thread--Discussion

I had a heck of a lot of fun with Rachel, and got a lot done with her to boot. Vivian...not so much. I don't regret bringing her in, but she didn't do a whole lot and the entire format of the threads is pretty restricting on her character (which, as I mentioned earlier, involves complete ignorance of the fourth wall).

The Hounds thing wasn't too bad, though it did grow a little too much beyond what I had intended it to be (it was simply meant to introduce some backstory/give the characters some more motivation to get away from the university; not to dominate the whole plot). All in all, it was pretty fun for a first excursion (for me, anyway).

Gah, now you all post?

Give me a moment to go over the thread.

Okay, so, my thoughts on the major points just raised (warning, long post):

On University: If we're looking for problems with it, I'd say they're simple - it went on for too long. While I normally think claims that the CDTs have developed a continuity problem are ludicrous, in this case I do think we had a lot of Continuity Lockout going on.

I don't think that the Hounds plotline was a misstep, though. It wasn't something I was interested in personally (which is why I never rejoined), but in general it seemed to inject some energy into a thread that never seemed to have much, and if it grew out of control a bit, that wasn't really its fault so much as caused by the lack of other compelling plotlines.

As for what I did do while participating, I learned that my protagonists are all in need of some voice-improvement, just like the rest of my characters.

On Cruise: Tehpillowstar, if you (or anyone else) needs someone to talk to their characters, I can have Kazuko go to them as soon as I post again. Like I said, I've been meaning to reintroduce her.

On Dig Site: I don't think I'm all that good at setting description, so I'd rather not write the OP. In fact, I think it might be a bit premature - I know everyone's ready to move on from University, but there still seem to be a few questions needing answering.

Also, I'd just like to take a moment to second all of these comments:

Yeah... I dunno what else to say other than I agree with what you're saying.

Um... I didn't exactly do much. I was too cautious with Vince again because I'm so afraid to let him have any bearing on anything, which can't happen anymore if I want any hope of being comfortable writing the guy.

I also cannot pair him with young children. He's even more restricted than usual. I'm considering debuting him with his friend Mori in Dig Site; that, or using his AU version Doctor Guillory with apprentice Travere.

edited 30th Sep '12 5:38:38 PM by CrystalGlacia

Ok, here's my idea for the premise of Dig Site and how to get the characters there (I know I have stated most of this already, so bear with me):

An archaeologist, let's call him...Jackie Chan, has been in a foreign country searching for a certain lost civilization. There have been mentions of this civilization in a number of books, but people consider it either just a hoax or a mistake. However, Jackie Chan believes he has found the location of their settlement and has set up a Dig Site there.

But there's a problem: he only has two weeks before the duration of his grant ends, and all he has right now are what's in the books. If he doesn't find anything substantial by the end of the two weeks, the Dig Site will be shut down (or w/e happens to Dig Sites) and Jackie Chan will be forced to return home with no guarantee that he'll be able to convince them to send him back. Compounding this, the local villagers are a superstitious bunch. They believe unearthing the settlement will cause the dead to become restless and it will unleash a curse upon everyone. So, they actively protest the existence of the Dig Site and also prevent the people from working.

Desperate, Jackie plays the only hand he has. Years before on another dig, he had found a magical wishing granting MacGuffin (that's what the stories said, he hasn't used it yet) which he thought wouldn't be the best thing to display to the world and so he kept it hidden. But now he decides to use it. With his first wish, he sends a message to everyone who would be able to help him with his situation, offering them money for their services, and with his second wish, he opens a portal for everyone who accepted his request.

I'm probably not going to participate, but just to make it easier on the writers with characters from mundane universes, why doesn't Chan just put an ad in the local paper? Put up fliers maybe? Most characters can be motivated by money at some point in their arc, and the rest can always show up out of intellectual curiosity. That's the initial 'why we're here' covered, and if the digsite doesn't have a concrete geographical location, then it's within walking distance of literally everywhere, so don't worry so much about the 'how'.

Who is Chaotic Novelist and why do they think they're helping by cutting stuff off the CDT character page?

edited 30th Sep '12 7:40:28 PM by Night

I feel uncomfortable with the idea of an overly-important NPC. If at all possible, I'd prefer the characters running the dig site to also be troper characters - I have a few who could fit, although the fact that they're mostly aliens throws something of a wrench in the matter.

I'd rather not be too limiting with character motivations, either.

Wait, what?

edited 30th Sep '12 7:41:07 PM by nrjxll

Uh... there's apparently Zero Context Examples, but they've only been chopping stuff in my folder.

I also agree that no NPC should have any importance beyond a bit character. That makes me think back to Heist, which had everyone interpreting and writing Kobayashi differently.

edited 30th Sep '12 7:49:37 PM by CrystalGlacia

I've already determined how Amu and Okul will arrive — Shamsiel is a being that can be blamed for many things — but it does seem like a good idea to have a troper character, or a few, directly and intentionally involved in the operations.

Off the top of my head, Tera could offer up Vincent. Glacia has already mentioned Guillory and Vincent. Gault could have Aristide's henchmen pretending to be security.

And from there, word travels. Mundane and semi-mundane types hear about it through the grapevine. Those from worlds fantastic might have detected an intriguing amount of curious energy coming from a place that, with a powerful enough spell, they can make their way to. And a few folk just find their way there — but to be honest, I feel like this'd work best if everyone there was there by intent, or at least already knew what happened.

edited 30th Sep '12 7:52:45 PM by KillerClowns

I've already figured where I want to drop my characters (site security) but which ones I'm debating. Tempting as it is to drop a paired set, it hasn't worked well in previous instances.

edited 30th Sep '12 7:58:56 PM by Night

Man, it's been a while since I've posted here Probably because I've had my time eaten up by school and Magic The Gathering activities....

Anyway, I've been recently Like, for the last couple hours checking up on this thread and have had my interested piqued by Dig Site. I personally don't have many ideas to add, but I'm going to stay around to see when what happens when it comes around, since it's likely that I'll join it.

edited 30th Sep '12 8:05:52 PM by DarkbloodCarnagefang

Actually, given that it's a dig site, Xavier would probably be a better fit. However, I want to avoid using him (and Vincent, for that matter) for a few reasons:

• I know him too well. I've done a lot of writing over the past few weeks, and I really think I know him well enough that sticking him into a CDT again wouldn't do much for him. He has changed a little from in-universe character development since his last appearance, but not enough to think I need to drop him in again.
• He'd be a wet blanket, in a sense. Given the style of work he's from, he'd want to do things academically, in the boring way that never gets covered in Hollywood. "You need to dig; where's your trowel? Don't touch that, you're contaminating the site. Get out of there, we're still surveying. Hey, you need to catalog that. Goddammit, what did I say about not touching that?" The kind of people CDTs usually attract would only make the problem worse, until he finally says, "You know what? I've had it here. Dudes, you're on your own!" and leaves.

However, I do have a character I haven't used yet who could theoretically sponsor this sort of thing and would have the motives to do so. In fact, I was planning on having her come to the dig on purpose.

edited 30th Sep '12 8:16:17 PM by TeraChimera

Funny story: that's why I said Vincent and not Xavier. He'd be more likely to overlook those sorts of errors in the interests of obtaining something magically and shiny. (Although I'd have loved to have seen Xavier's reaction to Amu assuming he was a grave robber reclaimer, and eagerly asking for a slice of the action.)

This could work. Care to tell more?

edited 30th Sep '12 8:21:15 PM by KillerClowns

A powerful crime lady, who's the (anti-)villain of one of Xavier's stories. However, she's the manipulative, Ambiguously Evil type, and she and him actually work together against a larger threat. She's mostly after knowledge, but only the interesting kind; she doesn't care about the usual academic interests. And if she only finds treasure, that's fine too. A little more money never hurt anybody.

Dear, dear, I seem to find myself checking in late again. Most reprehensible of me.

So, University has finally stumbled to a halt, has it not? Well, it was an interesting experience, though I agree it grew rather too large and sprawling for its own good. Then again, I am a newcomer and lack perspective on these things, so apply a grain of salt where necessary.

I'd be interested in participating in another CDT, but not immediately—I'm far too busy at the moment, and I'm not sure what character to use. Perhaps someone from another work entirely...

I have to admit, I don't know what to do or where to go at this point. I've been on here less in the past few weeks because of school, I'm behind on the story, and I'm at a bit of a loss as to what my character should do next. He's not very sociable, you see.

Arrrgh.

I'm really sorry about the way I keep disappearing - stuff to do and One More Page syndrome. And I'm not sure if I'll be able to post again until tomorrow afternoon.

I think I'll need a link to the page of troper characters.

Tada! It's ''magic!''

edited 1st Oct '12 12:49:53 AM by Ryuhza

So, I can add characters before having them debut on a CDT/character tropes not yet seen on the character, right?

I don't know about that, and I don't really feel it's my call. However, I think it would make more sense to add characters that you're at least planning on putting in a CDT. The tropes not seen thing is fine though.

So...

Thoughts on University.

Well, as my first CDT, University was confusing but useful. I finally got off my crown-king procrastination bum and made myself write two essential characters. They came out somewhat differently than I had expected them, or even necessarily planned them to, but I'm not sure that that's a bad thing. Joseph eventually came off a lot friendlier than I thought he would, and Ozzy honestly got a lot more frustrated than I thought he would- I'm used to him keeping company that can click with him on some levels. His boldness also wore off a lot faster than I had planned it to, or, at least, opportunities for it to shine became fewer as the thread progressed.

I think the thread would definitely have fared better if people hadn't started dropping off so rapidly. The remaining groups were so sparse that they all funneled together, wiping out so much of the potential that such a large setting carried. I don't think the length would be such a problem if everyone was still in on the thread. In fact, I'm actually kind of fond of the large sprawling story idea, but alas, problems with the outside world arise, and continuity lockout arises, and it seems there are a whole mess of problems with motivation.

One thing- being new to the CDT's and possibly as part of my own personal nature, I do admit that I did not put forth much of a hand in guiding the thread. I've gotten into the habit of following the current in these kinds of group efforts.

I really do appreciate any outlet that gives me a constant reason to keep practicing my writing. I'm still sad that we never quite reached a resolution with University, but I suppose even that was winding on for longer than it should have. It is what it was.

edited 1st Oct '12 2:59:02 AM by Ryuhza

Generally, people only put down characters and tropes that have actually appeared in a CDT before, to keep lists and folders from getting too large.

Well, I'm planning to put two guys in Dig Site so I was wondering if i should go ahead and add them as well.

I don't like to add stuff until it actually happens in case it doesn't get around to happening, but, ultimately, it's your call.