|
|
Post by Beowuuf on Apr 10, 2008 7:18:10 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that!  Real life is always annoying when it gets in the way of fun stuff |
|
|
|
Post by Sarra on Apr 10, 2008 23:50:01 GMT -5
I'm just continuing Sarra's story right where it left off, with a couple of months in between. FP, let me know if you want to get involved.
|
|
|
|
Post by Beowuuf on Apr 11, 2008 2:13:05 GMT -5
OOoh, ask and he appears! Good to see FP carry on in the WW too  Maerin - sorry, been distracted will get back to your comments for the sages and integrate them - although my instinct says somewhere along the way there is too much detail for the casual WWer starting a story, and that some of it would be best in the sage hall for those only playign a sage character, or as entries i nthe tome of the new order |
|
|
|
Post by Maerin on Apr 11, 2008 9:51:30 GMT -5
The counter problem I saw was essentially too much meaningless history and not enough accurate and up-to-date information in the previous iteration. What is needed is a starting point, and I think we all agree on that point. However, what seems to continue to go unappreciated by those who might be too knowledgable with the old West Watch is that starting point builds from where the Lone Wolf books leave off. That's 50 years of history, a fair amount of which WAS built by West Watch people who, I can assume, want to see their past efforts reflected in the future. Further, if the story seems complex, it is because the current plotline in the Stornlands IS a complex one. It's not a simple "here's yet another bad guy who needs to be put down". Moreover, it is a plot that is still largely open-ended. I certainly do not see all possibilities inherent in it, and I want it clear that there are such to any prospective new writer. Our choices for any of these summaries becomes summarize as effectively as possible and accept some length. Or alternatively have someone later come try to connect to a given story, only to find various "blocks" thrown into their path brought about by others' storytelling which ultimately keeps them from doing so. Frankly, I think all the group summaries could use a bit of work along the lines of what I have described. But I figure that is at the discretion of those groups. The sages, however, are a different matter from my point of view. Beowuuf - Honestly, I don't think you can cast too many stones based on a single comment sentence about your instincts. I don't mind reading them myself, persay, but your summaries for your character alone for a single Chapter are almost as long and as complex as that Sage summary, which combines information from multiple contributors and multiple chapters, accumulative. A couple of those together certainly does make Beowuuf's story too opaque for anyone else to join easily. Perhaps that is no big deal as you are an individual, and in that context do not have to consider yourself an entire group you are wanting to expand for the purposes of such "reading to get up to speed". I do not mind entertaining and addressing specific and detailed content comments from you and everyone else; but I do have to take a general, vague and non-specific comment about "too much detail" from you with at least a grain of salt.  |
|
|
|
Post by Beowuuf on Apr 11, 2008 13:47:45 GMT -5
It was a feeling simply because I oculdn't pinpoint where too much information versus not enough lay. Similarly, I know that my chapter 16 summary and indeed exposition needed to point out who anyone was was getting too much, without knowing exactly what to trim and not, but that is partially from the fact the current plot was ending so had alot of baggage. Luckily chapter 17 will be easier again since the previous story is now closed (for now)
Anyway, updated the main part with the section above. It probably is a good idea for the different classes to do their own status to overwrite my placeholders, and we can use this thread to decide a general idea for what should go into it.
I know Simey is also planning on starting his 'state of the world' thread too, so that would be another source for the casual traveller.
|
|
|
|
Post by Maerin on Apr 11, 2008 18:38:23 GMT -5
' Xog was breathing heavily as he replied, “We shall pay a visit to our northern neighbour and let them experience the full power of a Doomstone of Naaros!” '
Maerin grins Surely all of poor Temel now quakes in their boots...
|
|
|
|
Post by Simey on Apr 11, 2008 20:30:29 GMT -5
I know Simey is also planning on starting his 'state of the world' thread too, so that would be another source for the casual traveller.
*scarpers*Hmm - if they're objective enough. I mean - to risk offending lots of people - I've hardly ever seen any really good WW summaries since we started doing that. When you're summarising your own work, it stands to reason that it's very difficult to be objective about it and I think the summaries generally tend to be far too long containing loads of story detail that will be irrelevant to someone just trying to get a quick start-up before reading the next chapter. When it comes to WW summaries though, this is neither avoidable - 'cause you could hardly expect anyone else to go back over your story for you (though that's what BC used to do before everything got too long-winded) - nor is it much of a problem. In the case of the State of the Classes, however, an objective enough viewpoint to decide what is really important (usually only a few details) and what is not (nearly everything!) is very desirable so as not to overwhelm a newbie with information. In short, I like the placeholders. Do they tell you everything there is to know? No. Do you need to know everything there is to know? No. Do they tell you enough to make a start? Mostly, I reckon. Though I don't think Slavemaster was ever the leader of the Cener Druids.... *scarpers again* |
|
|
|
Post by eviltb on Apr 11, 2008 20:55:37 GMT -5
' Xog was breathing heavily as he replied, “We shall pay a visit to our northern neighbour and let them experience the full power of a Doomstone of Naaros!” ' Maerin grins Surely all of poor Temel now quakes in their boots... Ok, just so I know what your talking about. *checks map* Did I say north? Maybe north and a bit to the left....actual left, not stage left. I think. *hides with Simey* |
|
|
|
Post by Maerin on Apr 11, 2008 22:05:16 GMT -5
Ok, just so I know what your talking about. *checks map* Did I say north? Maybe north and a bit to the left....actual left, not stage left. I think. *hides with Simey* It is my role as Sage to make one do stuff like that.  |
|
|
|
Post by Maerin on Apr 11, 2008 22:21:41 GMT -5
In short, I like the placeholders. Do they tell you everything there is to know? No. Do you need to know everything there is to know? No. Do they tell you enough to make a start? Mostly, I reckon. Maybe, maybe not. Considering how few people have made a start in the past few Chapters (even before the loss of the Tower), that may be quite debatable with no reasonable outcome either way. I think there is something that can be reasonably and objectively concluded, however. Some groups, such as yours Simey, have "back stories" regarding both the group and the state of the setting where that group currently calls home that are both individualized and limited in overall setting scope. Certainly your own story does not represent the "typical", hypothetical Knight of the White Mountain who you might persuade to join West Watch. The sky is pretty unlimited for future Knights of the White Mountain, at least for the present. On the other hand, there are other groups that, for any one of a number of reasons I can think of (and not just the reasons the Sage scope was expanded) might want or need to offer a bit more information. Case in point, even right now there is a difference between the various placeholders as to amount of information actually offered. That hardly means telling everything, as that would certainly be an unwieldy piece of work to ask someone to read and know. But it is with equal certainty that I can conclude a meager few paragraphs more is not going to tax anyone's attention span, overmuch. Though I don't think Slavemaster was ever the leader of the Cener Druids.... Another thing one should be careful of in any summary, and certainly the reason I do concur with Beowuuf and others that all such summaries/introductions are and should be the responsibility of the individual groups to author and maintain. Make no mistake. I am not, in any way, belittling the work that Beowuuf has offered thus far. But there are things that he is doing that he should not have to do, and he is spending time in unnecessarily doing those things where such time might be better spent (by both him and others). If we are again going to see a community that is anything like that which was lost, that means more people taking ownership in their groups to match Beowuuf's efforts and make this a truly community effort. |
|
|
|
Post by Beowuuf on Apr 11, 2008 22:38:37 GMT -5
Hear hear!
|
|
|
|
Post by wildhorse on Apr 11, 2008 22:39:25 GMT -5
Darklords resurrecting...Deathlord resurrecting...goodness everyone is resurrecting?
Maybe I should resurrect Sun Eagle...*chuckles*
|
|
|
|
Post by Maerin on Apr 11, 2008 22:50:55 GMT -5
You think so small. I am quite certain I remember someone mentioning a blow-up Agaresh doll somewhere...
|
|
|
|
Post by Beowuuf on Apr 11, 2008 22:54:24 GMT -5
The holy trinity - zombie banedon, zombie romoah, and a converted NAK Lone Wolf. And a wickedly sharpened vonotar corpse being weilded by a swearing Zagarna. That's some powerful enemies!
|
|
|
|
Post by Simey on Apr 12, 2008 4:16:53 GMT -5
On the other hand, there are other groups that, for any one of a number of reasons I can think of (and not just the reasons the Sage scope was expanded) might want or need to offer a bit more information. Definitely. The Sage one seems fine to me, and I totally agree that Beo shouldn't have to be doing everything! (Though he's very good at it! ) I just reckon it's worth having an objective pair of eyes or two around if class members are going to do their own Class Summaries, because - as I've found with the WW character/chapter summaries - it's rather too easy to include too much unnecessary information. What are you doing giving people ideas like that!? Whose side are you on!?!!  If I might make my own suggestion: I think that the next great threat to the defenders of light on Magnamund should be Flimple, the average-sized-rabbit-with-a-limp of doom! |
|
Real life is always annoying when it gets in the way of fun stuff 
