Story and Idea Polishing

[Gamzee Makara]

I'm putting this thread out there in hopes that it stokes creativity and community bonding and what have you~ Essentially, it is just as the Subject Title suggests. This is a thread for those of you that already have a decent idea or general premise for a quest or event, and desire some help fleshing out and/or fine tuning the idea. Anyone can feel free to post here, but just like the Story Request thread, no one is required to provide input.

However, let it be known that this is NOT the same as the Story Request thread, as this is a story that YOU want to create, as opposed to letting someone else 'do it for you' in a sense. You can have more of a discussion about your thoughts and ideas as opposed to just getting a story set up for you. In a sense, its a way to keep the Story Request thread from becoming cluttered, if that makes sense? Basically, it's not for getting ideas, it's for improving them.

Maybe it'd be best to give an example.

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It started off as a Halloween joke between Gildarts and I, but I've been tossing the idea around in my head for a while and have even mentioned it in the cbox from time to time. I think it would be cool to do a Community event or story arc involving Murdoc from the band Gorillaz throwing a big rave or party, perhaps at his own club or something akin to that. I feel like just a mingling party type thing could be a little boring, so I thought that perhaps there could be things going on behind the scenes. What exactly would be going on behind the scenes, I don't know yet (ouch grammar). Could be a trap, or PLOTSTUFFS, or character development, or whatever! Essentially though, it would involve Murdoc being a sneaky little bastard.

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Aaaaand that would be where this thread came in. Someone could, say, provide some input on the setting (i.e. the party, where it would take place, what kind of party, club? Mansion?) or perhaps what kind of characters would be involved. The real request for input was for WHAT should be going on besides the party, but that doesn't mean that that's the only thing that needs attention in this particular idea.

***IMPORTANT***
If this is a community wide event that you wish to keep the plotstuffs and setting and whatnot a SUPER SECRETY SECRET Then you should also feel free to post here requesting help with a SUPER SECRETY SECRET IDEA. To receive proper help, you should post some sort of method of communication to relay ideas and input and help to each other (i.e. skype, kik, pm, or even steam; whatever you guys want)

Also, that example I used is totally definitely real and you all should help me flesh it out. If you have an extra juicy plotstuffs for behind-the-scenes junk, PM or skype it to me @itskurokuro

---EDIT---
^the above is a good example of requesting help for a secret event or whatevers.

[Thaal Sinestro]

Yo, I was also thinking of a party thread, and the fact that there isn't much to do at a party also crossed my mind.

But like, instead of making it some secret, dramatic... thing? I was thinking about how to make a big party fun to write in.

Gotta set goals for people. Gotta make those goals show off aspects of your character. Gotta make those goals involve multiple people.

So like, I was thinking you could gamify the party a bit. Give it a theme, and a clearly delineated schedule. On that schedule, you put events that are complex and interesting enough to write about.

Like, a dance stage with dance offs and slow dances and then a "dance and schmooze" Orion for general rp.

You could have like, games at the party. Party games. I would do silly games like, "Omni Fishing," where you just cast a lone over a curtain and then you get back some kind of zany, interesting RP item that can be traded with others, or the same idea with a gift box table.

Mother fucking beer pong.

A fun, silly event to put people into fun situations that might put the character (and writer) out of their element.

Still offer rewards and good stuff for participating.

[Gamzee Makara]

Yahahah I love it! I actually love this much much better than my original Idea, thank you xD See? This is exactly why I put this thread here. The whole point about having it just Murdoc was because he's the most morally questionable of the group, and would be most likely to commit to some evil deed. BUUUUUT if it's just a regular hella motherfucking rager party, then why couldn't we have the whole band there? People that know the band and its lore could Roleplay them to interact with the other primes, announce special happenings at the party, etc etc etc. Or perhaps there is a more efficient way to go about that :'? I don't know.

[Thaal Sinestro]

Let's have a fucking LINE UP of fictional bands, and each band heralds a new activity.

Each Band:
Special Dance
Group Activity
Chill out session

And then we can poll for a few fictional bands to show in addition to the Gorrillaz?

[Gamzee Makara]

This

This is starting to sound like a plan.

I'm in.

[Jade Harley]

Poetry slam. Not only in dialogue, but in the rest of our writing, too.

Or like... someone can just make a bunch of posts that limit themselves to a Haiku or something.

:frogbon:

[Gamzee Makara]

A videogame tournament, possibly. Considering VR is a reality in the Omniverse, this could lead to some fantastic moments.

I also definitely second the idea of Drinking Games

[Thaal Sinestro]

oh shit yeah drinking games

[Corporal Light]

I see this thread needs to be reignited. I have the perfect way to do that.

So, for all who don't know, Ballad has done quite a few things during his time in the Omniverse. Or at least they seem to be a few things.

Allow me to list.

- He's killed a squad of stormtroopers, earning him a bounty for the Empire that still hasn't been completed.
- He's participated in the Colosseum and lost on the first round.
- He vowed to kill his opponent (Adam Gaite) in a blind rage before going to Minas Tirith to address a letter.
- Once he goes there, he finds out the letter was sent by a Camelot soldier who was requested to ask Ballad to join Camelot in their fight against the Empire. In response, he rudely refuses, ranting on how he thought that Camelot had started the war if the Empire did not. This remark caused him to instantly lose whatever popularity he could've gained in Camelot.
- After calming down a bit and setting up a trap, Ballad gives up on his hunt for Adam and goes to sleep, deciding to try to kill him only if they happen to cross paths at any point.


Pretty much a short summary of what he has gone through. I, however, want to address the first and fourth point specifically, as they are key to my story idea.
-------------------------------------------

What is this idea, you ask? Well, I'll give a summary because that's what this is basically about.

- Basically, Ballad will be hunted by a group of people whom want him dead to collect the bounty accumulated thanks to his actions. Originally, Ballad will only be keeping a fair distance away from them, but after realizing that they won't stop until his bounty is gone, he would then try to "get rid of them."


Although on the surface that seems simple and not exciting at all, I plan on introducing a new side of Ballad through this story to hopefully make him a more interesting character and add in something from his Pre-Omniverse history I've been dying to shed some light for a long while already. Hopefully, with the addition of that, and my hopes that I can make the other characters I plan on introducing for the storyline will make this more than just simply a "Kill the bandits" storyline.

However, I obviously wouldn't be here if I was 100% sure of everything about it. It's in a "rough draft" format because I only took about a few hours to create it. My mind works way too fast, so I have a few key details I want to be sure of/ add in if needed.

That list of stuff is as follows

1. What will this group be? Will they be bandits with a REALLY fucked up perception of Camelot patriotism (I like this idea the most, though I want to make sure it makes sense) or simply a hidden group of Empire sympathizers that simply collect money to launder off to the Empire?

2. One character, whom will be the main antagonist, I plan on being a "moral judge" near the end of the storyline for Ballad that will reveal some parts that I don't think I've made too clear from the beginning. That much is about where I got on the antagonist. I'd like some ideas on who the main antagonist should be. Here are some guidelines.
2a. He needs to have an understandable motivation for basically being the leader of bandits (This problem should take care of itself if he has a really fucked up perception of patriotism.)
2b. Should he be heavily ruthless and feared, or should he be honorable and well-respected by his men?
2c. What else should we add to his personality that can make him at least partially interesting and complex?

3. Considering that I think a bandit group like this would have been captured and jailed before Ballad ever came into play, I need a reason as to why they haven't. I have at least one idea, but others are appreciated.

3a. That idea is this: Depending on what kind of bandits they are, they could either be bribing officials/witnesses with parts of the money they obtain to keep them off their scent, or their vigilante methods are well-respected and appreciated throughout Camelot, and thus most don't try to report them anyway.

3b. If the above idea is used, I would most likely need time and some help fleshing it out to make sure it doesn't suck.

-----------------------

Anyways, that's about all I have to say. I encourage any who are willing to share their ideas and thoughts, because I VERY much want to do this.

[Gamzee Makara]

I
Am pretty lost. Not gonna lie. I have not been on the omniverse in a while and am just returning from my unannounced mini hiatus. I've gone roughly two weeks or more without posting much other than some blurbs in the cbox and submitting some moves.

My first question on this would be, do you plan to write the antagonist yourself, or are you requesting another member to write the bandits/leader/antagonist? Depending on your answer, I'll have some follow up questions.

[Corporal Light]

I
Am pretty lost. Not gonna lie. I have not been on the omniverse in a while and am just returning from my unannounced mini hiatus. I've gone roughly two weeks or more without posting much other than some blurbs in the cbox and submitting some moves.

My first question on this would be, do you plan to write the antagonist yourself, or are you requesting another member to write the bandits/leader/antagonist? Depending on your answer, I'll have some follow up questions.

I plan on writing the majority of the characters myself for two reasons.

1. To ensure the storyline doesn't slow to a crawl in the chance someone writing a character goes AFK at some point.

2. I feel,more confident with myself,writing the characters than I do others. Might just be control freak coming in, but I generally don't like important positions in my own creations being filled in by others because I ALWAYS feel like something will go wrong without my direct involvement.

Now, that doesn't mean I won't allow other people to participate in the storyline itself. However, I'll approach it cautiously because I want the events in the storyline to make sense, and too many and/or too powerful primes/secondaries accompanying Ballad would make some events seem illogical entirely and/or ruin the tension in certain scenes.

However, I won't be a complete control freak about it. I'll most likely seek help from others in regards to what is and isn't logical in the events to come, which I will probably do before the storyline is officially started.

[Corporal Light]

Update!

I am happy to report I have made some progress for the storyline, most important of which is that I have fleshed out the main antagonist by giving him characteristics, motivations, likes, dislikes, and a power that will be of importance within the story (which I do not plan to have it suddenly appear out of nowhere. I'll have him use it multiple times to show he is willing to use it and HAS used it.)

I have also gotten the summary for the first post of the storyline, with the setting, characters, and outcome all outline.

However, there is one thing I would like to discuss, and that is the following.

Should the bandit group be Empire sympathizers, or bandits with a really fucked up perception of Camelot patriotism? Personally, I like the latter the most, as it isn't so much of a cliche as the former, but I'd like to hear other opinions.

[Gamzee Makara]

I'm with you on that idea. Definitely. And good job on the progress! That seems to be everyone's problem, these days. Not getting anything done.

Shame, really xD I share the issue.

But yes, keep me posted on updates, I'd love to continue helping

[Corporal Light]

Well, I definitely need help in one thing.

I need a name for the main antagonist.

The only real guidelines are that the name itself shouldn't sound TOO villainy and, since its Camelot, must sound at least somewhat medieval. Go crazy for everything else though.

[Doomguy]

I threw out a few names in chat when you asked, but let me put them in here for posterity (and because you asked nicely)

"The Red Reaver"
"Roger Darkwater"
"Julian F. Ries"
"Guy de Lusignan"
"Elizabeth Heald"
"Lilith Obléct"

[Corporal Light]

Thank you to all who have given me names. I have actually managed to give the Antagonist I name that hopefully suits well.

[Corporal Light]

Another Update!

I have gotten a good amount of stuff done revolving around the storyline, though the vast majority is still rough draft and will most likely require some people to look it over (preferably people who won't spoil the damn thing) and polish it in order for it to make some sense.

Anyways, here's all that I've gotten done so far.

-Exposition (Introduction) complete, with setting, characters, outcome, and the like all complete.
-Antagonist named.
-Bandit group named and expanded upon, with a home base, significant members, and function all complete.
-First post of Rising Action complete, with setting, characters, outcome, and the like complete.

If people are willing to NOT spoil the storyline, I might be able to send out the drafts to people to have them look it over, though this is unlikely as I want to have all of the storyline completed before having people review it.

[Gamzee Makara]

I hate to disappoint, but technically, this is also a good thing: Don't send me a draft cx Im really excited to read it and I do think you will do very good. I'd rather read it as they come and then give you feedback/ideas

[Corporal Light]

Updateception.

I haven't gotten done as much as I've wanted to get done, but I HAVE been able to get at least a few things down.

-New character! His name is Metal Moe. Bonus points to anyone who can guess why he is called "Metal Moe."

-I now know how exactly Ballad will change, and what will ultimately happen after the storyline is done. I am VERY confident when I say that it is something totally unexpected.

-Two other characters for the bandits. One is Jensen, the Antagonists Second in Command, and The Assassin, who I will name later.

[Corporal Light]

Update!

Alright, this one is majorly important for plenty of reasons.

First off, summaries are complete. Because of this, I need some people who are willing to read them and critique them. If need be, I also have character sheets for most of the characters, but not all of them, that will hopefully explain some things.

To those who wish to do this, simply reply, but I must ask not to spoil the story AT ALL for anyone. Seriously.

Second, I added a couple of other characters and removed one. The one that was removed I thought was interesting at first, but then I realized made little sense in the story and was therefore redundant.

Oh, and I changed the name of the Antagonist.

Anyways, for those who want a looksie, please postsie.