Character Development Thread--Discussion

Since I didn't get much in the way of responses (probably because of the unexpected happenings):

I'm still not quite sure to do with the districts that haven't been filled in yet.

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I'd like to note that I will be participating in City, but no longer in Mansion.

As for criticism on the map of city (If that's what you're asking), I could see the unfilled district being an abandoned/not yet occupied housing district, leaving characters a space to explore. (I don't know, I'm just forcing out ideas.)

edited 23rd Apr '13 7:33:43 PM by DarkbloodCarnagefang

Note to self: Pick less edgy username next time.

I think we've gotten way too interested in planning this stuff.

Nous restons ici.

You could add a Bus Depot or a Taxi...HQ (I don't know what they're called) to the unfilled district, since you'll need to store those vehicles somewhere. And you haven't added a police station either, i believe.

I suggested that a while back though, and it sounded unfeasible.

edited 23rd Apr '13 9:42:38 PM by Elfhunter

If I knew how I know everything I know, I'd only be able to know half as much because my brain would be clogged up with where I know it from

Well, my concern is that everyone's investing energy now and then the thread will crash, much as others have, a couple weeks in. The last one that reached completion wasn't planned at all beforehand, though I wouldn't consider it really good (University); the last one that was really good had a single person plan the thing and throw it at us (Express). Even Dig Site got pretty far on the strength of its lack of planning, whereas Mansion has struggled after detailed planning work was done.

The reason I don't draft anymore is that drafting destroys me. I write a couple and then my desire to work on the project burns out. It's the same reason I typically don't create detailed worldbuilding docs anymore. The effort is counterproductive when it comes to producing actual work that gets posted.

I'm concerned we're starting to emulate that model of writing, where we work hard on the setting and exhaust all our desire to work with the project before we actually start working on the part anyone's going to see.

edited 23rd Apr '13 8:20:11 PM by Night

Nous restons ici.

The main reason I'm trying to get this thing planned out first is to avoid the Quicksand Box situation that happened with University and (more notably) Cruise, and I'm doing it the public way because there's no way in hell that I'd be able to plan out an entire thread by myself.

That said, I can see where you're coming from.

edited 23rd Apr '13 8:27:24 PM by Yomegami

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Mansion struggled after detailed planning? What planning?

Besides, Mansion is already much longer than Dig Site, and although it isn't proceeding as explosively fast as it was at the beginning, I think it's extremely premature to count it out already.

Not entirely dead.

I think that instead of planning so much, at least some parts of threads should be left open. In case things go in directions we didn't see coming. Get the big idea down and let the details come on their own.

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."

It certainly hasn't died very quickly.

In the end I suppose it does come down to that.

edited 23rd Apr '13 8:53:34 PM by Aqueos

Bet you didn't see that coming

All I know is where my characters will be starting out, and what they might be looking for. Anything after that is up to whoever they meet along the way.

Yes, it did. Reference the OP for the group involved. One of whom has apparently burned out on the thread since.

edited 23rd Apr '13 9:33:39 PM by Night

Nous restons ici.

I don't understand. You mean Gault, right? Okay, so he left, but I don't remember that being due to planning. I don't remember a whole lot of planing involved with Mansion at all, really, much less to the point where it got in peoples' way.

In any case, what more do we need for City? Once the buildings/districts have been filled out, we'll give each place a paragraph or so of description, and start. No? Isn't it that simple?

Not entirely dead.

The point is, how long you last, how much effort you're willing to put into the project. There's a limit.

We're burning effort before we start now and the results don't seem commensurate.

edited 23rd Apr '13 10:25:46 PM by Night

Nous restons ici.

Quick correction for those who just skimmed my last post — I meant to put [Entry Hall], not [Garden], atop the first post. D'oh! And, relatedly, forgot to post anything for [Garden], which I've amended now

edited 24th Apr '13 4:33:25 AM by KillerClowns

Quiet morning, what a bummer.

this place needs me here

I can't remember; have Claire and Bianca been formally introduced? If not, that might might lend to the subject change we're looking for. I only know so much about aerospace engineering and aerodynamics, you know.

Not entirely dead.

I do not believe so.

They haven't really. Samira told everyone her name when she entered the conversation, but she doesn't know Claire yet.

EDIT: Freaking ninjas, man.

edited 24th Apr '13 3:49:02 PM by LeungBaiFang

Let's not go there. *flails noodle arms*

Post edited.

Not entirely dead.

Bumpity Bump.

This place has gotten quiet lately. Oh well.

Wow how long has it been taking to start City?

Help?.. please...

After taking some time to think about City and how useful a bunch of planning beforehand is, I've been considering ditching most of the work done so far in favor of a simpler map that consists of four districts + Memorial Park + Centerpoint Tower. Apart from a basic description of each district (shopping/corporate/etc.), what's actually in each district would be left to the participants.

On one hand, this would reduce the amount of planning and reduce the burnout that Night's worried about and we could get the thread going quicker. But on the other hand, there's a greater potential for things to go to hell and wind up killing the thread (for instance, I'm very skeptical of whatever it is that Tehpillowstar's planning, if it involves stuff like this).

What do you guys think would be the best plan of action? I'm not much in the mood to be the guy who has two stinkers to his name (Cruise didn't go so well).

edited 26th Apr '13 5:41:31 PM by Yomegami

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A simple map would work. Perhaps one or two key locations/landmarks in each district, with the rest of the gaps to be filled in over time. Maybe a general description of the city limits— possible ideas for where or how (bus, train, etc.) a character could enter the city.

edited 26th Apr '13 7:20:41 PM by Blueeyedrat

I have some ideas for what characters might want to interact with who, but otherwise I'm just flying by the seat of my pants. (It's quite an impressive sight)

I'm getting a lot more RP experience (Technically CD Ts are one of the first R Ps I've committed to for a long time) during the time in Mansion *

, and I've decided that for this round I'm going to go with the flow/depend on sudden bursts of inspiration and leave my thinking power for other things.

So...technically I've got nothing planned, besides my thinking that some characters interacting with some other person's characters might make for some interesting conflicts.

So don't worry Yomegami.

Edit: I kinda liked the old map, mostly because I liked it, and even if it's not finished that's fine with me.

edited 26th Apr '13 7:45:39 PM by Tehpillowstar

"Life is eternal; and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." - R. W. Raymond

I second that, I thought the old map was pretty good. You don't want to be too vague or people might have no idea what is where and what is going on. i have a character in need of developing, and this sort of setting would be perfect, so he'll be ready to roll out as soon as the thread goes up.