Accomplishments.
You know the feeling when you finally get something done which you should've done ages ago? So do I, and I've finally managed to do it.
Well, this thing wasn't due to procrastination but more due to narrative flow. I'd been looking forward to write the reunion scene between Refan and Omaroch at tGA, but I had to wait until the proper moment appeared in the RP. Thanks to recent events, I was finally able to pull it off, and it was very satisfying to see the events unfold.
Those who know me as an RPer or storyteller or creative writer in general know that I hate leaving loose threads in my characters' plots. Sure, some of my plots can span quite a lengthy period of time, but I do want to see some things come full circle. This is exactly what irked me about stalling the reunion between Omaroch and Refan becuse I wanted those two to meet and confront each other about issues that had been raised in past storylines. This reunion both allowed character development and also advanced a particular subplot which I've been paying close attention to.
In general I've always liked writing about people who bite off more that they can chew and end up jumping off the slippery slope before they start climbing back up with atonement in mind. This theme is what I've been working on in a novel as well as in tGA RP itself. The whole atonement theme plays heavily in Omaroch's plot because it was partially thanks to him that the world of tGA went to shit.
Refan, however, is a different matter. I'm somewhat uncertain how I'll end up RPing him for now. I have certain ideas I'd like to try out, but I keep reminding myself to stay consistent with the character. There's already a certain "retcon" feel in the confrontation scene (why Refan's made a 180 turnaround from his previous conflicted but well-meaning stance), but I plan to expand on that eventually as long as the RP stays afloat. As much as I'd like to write about the duo's story, I'm also aware that I don't want Refan to steal the show from my other characters so I'll have to be careful about using him or Omaroch. The plot is king, after all, so I have to respect that and make sure I'm not writing anything that might be in conflict with previously established events.
I certainly have a certain other character's quest for atonement in mind, but I doubt we'll get to that point in the story anytime soon, so I'll have to do with the current characters for now.
Also, I've particularly enjoyed RPing villain!Ronove. Is he a full-out villain, a conflicted individual, a master manipulator who has his own agenda, or a truly remorseful friend who wishes to set things right via some warped but necessary methods? It's fun trying out these different options and toying with them, because he's a complex character (in fact, a surprisingly complex character now that I think of it considering how he started out as a bumbling amnesiac idiot) and has lots of potential while serving the villainous side.
As for more light-hearted (but no less important) fare, it's been nice exploring Razoul's character thanks to my friend RPing his possible love interest in the story. Razoul has always been a side character who has his depths but isn't the main focus. The sudden possible romance plot has turned the whole thing upside down, allowing me to actually humanize him in an agreeable way without betraying his earlier characterization. After all, it isn't exactly easy RPing a somewhat villainous, brutal character who'll turn out to be a conflicted person with deep emotional traumas and yet a hidden soft side (hah, when I put it that way, he almost starts to sound like Refan).
However, Razoul's sudden humanization makes a few plot points somewhat complex to deal with. I originally had specific plans in mind for him, but now I'll have to adjust a few things and figure out how I want to play out this subplot. Will it end in a tragedy, in a bittersweet way or on a more positive note? I actually don't know yet, although I've already started figuring out different ways of playing certain scenes out. As those people who know me well will attest, I have fun planning some character scenes well in advance and wait for a proper time to post those in full. This is what happened with Belial's death and Ronove's betrayal scenes; I only had to modify each of them a little to fit in existing continuity. I can be flexible like that when the need arises.
I've also been pondering a certain upcoming pivotal scene in the plot. There's a person called the Master who's a villain whose identity we don't yet know. Once I reveal his true self, I wonder whether that scene should play out as an actual reveal (that is, only a select few characters learn his identity while all RPers will find it out while reading it) or whether I'll keep the identity secret from RPers but not from characters (which is also easy to do because the characters who'll learn his identity will only be my own).
This presents a difficult choice. My gut feeling is to reveal the Master's identity to specific characters and RPers in the post because that raises the shock value even more in a good way when you realize this or that person is in fact EVIL. However, after that scene every RPer will know the Master's identity, and interaction with that character might be difficult. It is, after all, hard to RP when you as a player know that someone's a villain but your CHARACTERS don't know it. Sometimes it might end comically like the "demonic reflex" scene, but it might also turn out to be disaster if players break the fourth wall and make their characters act in a more hostile manner around the hidden villain character even though their characters shouldn't be aware of the villain's treachery yet.
Although the second option (not revealing the Master's identity and keeping that info only to myself and a few select characters of mine) sounds tempting, I think it would rob away the shock value from the scene. It'd force me to skirt around the subject somehow and yet make it relevant. This method worked well during Belial's death when we saw the Master in action for the first time, but it also had the revelation of a certain other character's (Desdemona) betrayal, and guess what happened? Whenever RPers had characters around Desdemona, they started acting differently now that they knew she was a villain even though their characters didn't know the fact yet. Thankfully they RPed it well and made the characters' doubts consistent with the plot. Still, even if I end up risking it all, I do want to reveal the Master's identity in that planned pivotal scene because I want to show the true extent of his villainy and what means he'll be using to get what he wants. And I also like the fact that those players who know this character from before will go "Oh my gosh, it all makes sense now! What a clever bastard!" even though I doubt that'll be their reaction. Still, I've already written the scene, and I'm proud of it because it's quite emotional (for me, at least) and quite heartbreaking as well when you realize there's no way out of that situation for certain characters who'll be unlucky enough to face the Master.
The scene also made me wonder something for which I'll use TVTropes terms to clarify. When do you cross from a magnificent bastard to a complete monster? How many people do you have to kill, rape, deceive etc. to accomplish it? For me the Master has always walked the thin red line between those two character archetypes because of his very nature. You can't help but marvel at his insidious plans and great charisma and at the same time you're horrified about all the bad stuff he's forcing the heroes go through while killing anyone who stands in his way. It's difficult to say for sure, and I need to research the matter more thoroughly.
What I do like about the Master is also how deeply connected he is to a villainess named Glaurung. It'll be fun (and tragic) to reveal more of Glaurung's dark past, her connections to the Master and the full extent of the Master's insidious cruelty. But am I humanizing Glaurung too much? She's already become a surprisingly sympathetic antagonist, even arguably suffering from villain decay when so many people have slapped and beaten her already. The same could be said of her son Hannibal who ended up as a dude in distress even though he's supposed to be badass. I guess that's part of character development, but I guess I'll need to write a scene where he'll truly become his own master (unfunny pun, I know).
Speaking of which, I certainly hope that the RP will keep going long enough to actually pull off another pivotal scene I have in mind for Glaurung and the Master. The problem is that currently Glau is the prisoner of another villain whose RPer isn't active, so that'll force me to think things through. I don't mind adapting to things (because that's what makes RPing better than reading a novel as so many people can contribute to stuff and make it a better experience in the end) but I'll have to figure out a pretty clever way for her to leave the villain and end up in the scene I have in mind. I think I'd rather wait and see how events unfold first, though, because I'm in no hurry about writing the Glaurung stuff so she can stay where she is for the time being.
Still, it'll be a fun brain exercise to actually figure out a clever plan. How exactly do you escape from an archdemon who has beaten you twice? It won't be easy, that's for sure. xD
This of course brings us to the fascinating yet occasionally frustrating point of online RPGs. As I mentioned, group writing is great because you juggle ideas and usually get inspired by other people's writing, thus creating an overall better story. However, that's also its weakness. What if someone comes up with a great plan or character arc and then stops RPing? That story arc essentially grinds to a halt, and you can't really continue it because it's hard to know what exactly the original RPer had in mind. Thus potentially great story arcs end up abandoned. I suppose one can asspull things if needed, but it won't be the same. But thankfully there'll always be other plots to follow so losing one story arc may be sad but at least it won't (hopefully) cripple the rest of the story.
I ended up writing more about RPing in general than I probably should've. Still, it was nice to write down a few things on digital paper should anyone be interested enough in reading them.
Other than that, work's been ok. I wouldn't mind smoe additional work hours (and extra money that comes with it), but so far so good. I also should start going to bars again because I've been seriously neglecting those lately. It wouldn't hurt to get to meet new people. However, I have to say that I've been surprised by how many new people have contacted me via instant messaging, facebook, and various forums. I don't know where this flux of new acquaintances come from, but I never turn down people. It's fun getting to know different types of people. And as people know, I tend to be perhaps too chatty even with strangers if they contact me. =)
Yours,
Mikko
Well, this thing wasn't due to procrastination but more due to narrative flow. I'd been looking forward to write the reunion scene between Refan and Omaroch at tGA, but I had to wait until the proper moment appeared in the RP. Thanks to recent events, I was finally able to pull it off, and it was very satisfying to see the events unfold.
Those who know me as an RPer or storyteller or creative writer in general know that I hate leaving loose threads in my characters' plots. Sure, some of my plots can span quite a lengthy period of time, but I do want to see some things come full circle. This is exactly what irked me about stalling the reunion between Omaroch and Refan becuse I wanted those two to meet and confront each other about issues that had been raised in past storylines. This reunion both allowed character development and also advanced a particular subplot which I've been paying close attention to.
In general I've always liked writing about people who bite off more that they can chew and end up jumping off the slippery slope before they start climbing back up with atonement in mind. This theme is what I've been working on in a novel as well as in tGA RP itself. The whole atonement theme plays heavily in Omaroch's plot because it was partially thanks to him that the world of tGA went to shit.
Refan, however, is a different matter. I'm somewhat uncertain how I'll end up RPing him for now. I have certain ideas I'd like to try out, but I keep reminding myself to stay consistent with the character. There's already a certain "retcon" feel in the confrontation scene (why Refan's made a 180 turnaround from his previous conflicted but well-meaning stance), but I plan to expand on that eventually as long as the RP stays afloat. As much as I'd like to write about the duo's story, I'm also aware that I don't want Refan to steal the show from my other characters so I'll have to be careful about using him or Omaroch. The plot is king, after all, so I have to respect that and make sure I'm not writing anything that might be in conflict with previously established events.
I certainly have a certain other character's quest for atonement in mind, but I doubt we'll get to that point in the story anytime soon, so I'll have to do with the current characters for now.
Also, I've particularly enjoyed RPing villain!Ronove. Is he a full-out villain, a conflicted individual, a master manipulator who has his own agenda, or a truly remorseful friend who wishes to set things right via some warped but necessary methods? It's fun trying out these different options and toying with them, because he's a complex character (in fact, a surprisingly complex character now that I think of it considering how he started out as a bumbling amnesiac idiot) and has lots of potential while serving the villainous side.
As for more light-hearted (but no less important) fare, it's been nice exploring Razoul's character thanks to my friend RPing his possible love interest in the story. Razoul has always been a side character who has his depths but isn't the main focus. The sudden possible romance plot has turned the whole thing upside down, allowing me to actually humanize him in an agreeable way without betraying his earlier characterization. After all, it isn't exactly easy RPing a somewhat villainous, brutal character who'll turn out to be a conflicted person with deep emotional traumas and yet a hidden soft side (hah, when I put it that way, he almost starts to sound like Refan).
However, Razoul's sudden humanization makes a few plot points somewhat complex to deal with. I originally had specific plans in mind for him, but now I'll have to adjust a few things and figure out how I want to play out this subplot. Will it end in a tragedy, in a bittersweet way or on a more positive note? I actually don't know yet, although I've already started figuring out different ways of playing certain scenes out. As those people who know me well will attest, I have fun planning some character scenes well in advance and wait for a proper time to post those in full. This is what happened with Belial's death and Ronove's betrayal scenes; I only had to modify each of them a little to fit in existing continuity. I can be flexible like that when the need arises.
I've also been pondering a certain upcoming pivotal scene in the plot. There's a person called the Master who's a villain whose identity we don't yet know. Once I reveal his true self, I wonder whether that scene should play out as an actual reveal (that is, only a select few characters learn his identity while all RPers will find it out while reading it) or whether I'll keep the identity secret from RPers but not from characters (which is also easy to do because the characters who'll learn his identity will only be my own).
This presents a difficult choice. My gut feeling is to reveal the Master's identity to specific characters and RPers in the post because that raises the shock value even more in a good way when you realize this or that person is in fact EVIL. However, after that scene every RPer will know the Master's identity, and interaction with that character might be difficult. It is, after all, hard to RP when you as a player know that someone's a villain but your CHARACTERS don't know it. Sometimes it might end comically like the "demonic reflex" scene, but it might also turn out to be disaster if players break the fourth wall and make their characters act in a more hostile manner around the hidden villain character even though their characters shouldn't be aware of the villain's treachery yet.
Although the second option (not revealing the Master's identity and keeping that info only to myself and a few select characters of mine) sounds tempting, I think it would rob away the shock value from the scene. It'd force me to skirt around the subject somehow and yet make it relevant. This method worked well during Belial's death when we saw the Master in action for the first time, but it also had the revelation of a certain other character's (Desdemona) betrayal, and guess what happened? Whenever RPers had characters around Desdemona, they started acting differently now that they knew she was a villain even though their characters didn't know the fact yet. Thankfully they RPed it well and made the characters' doubts consistent with the plot. Still, even if I end up risking it all, I do want to reveal the Master's identity in that planned pivotal scene because I want to show the true extent of his villainy and what means he'll be using to get what he wants. And I also like the fact that those players who know this character from before will go "Oh my gosh, it all makes sense now! What a clever bastard!" even though I doubt that'll be their reaction. Still, I've already written the scene, and I'm proud of it because it's quite emotional (for me, at least) and quite heartbreaking as well when you realize there's no way out of that situation for certain characters who'll be unlucky enough to face the Master.
The scene also made me wonder something for which I'll use TVTropes terms to clarify. When do you cross from a magnificent bastard to a complete monster? How many people do you have to kill, rape, deceive etc. to accomplish it? For me the Master has always walked the thin red line between those two character archetypes because of his very nature. You can't help but marvel at his insidious plans and great charisma and at the same time you're horrified about all the bad stuff he's forcing the heroes go through while killing anyone who stands in his way. It's difficult to say for sure, and I need to research the matter more thoroughly.
What I do like about the Master is also how deeply connected he is to a villainess named Glaurung. It'll be fun (and tragic) to reveal more of Glaurung's dark past, her connections to the Master and the full extent of the Master's insidious cruelty. But am I humanizing Glaurung too much? She's already become a surprisingly sympathetic antagonist, even arguably suffering from villain decay when so many people have slapped and beaten her already. The same could be said of her son Hannibal who ended up as a dude in distress even though he's supposed to be badass. I guess that's part of character development, but I guess I'll need to write a scene where he'll truly become his own master (unfunny pun, I know).
Speaking of which, I certainly hope that the RP will keep going long enough to actually pull off another pivotal scene I have in mind for Glaurung and the Master. The problem is that currently Glau is the prisoner of another villain whose RPer isn't active, so that'll force me to think things through. I don't mind adapting to things (because that's what makes RPing better than reading a novel as so many people can contribute to stuff and make it a better experience in the end) but I'll have to figure out a pretty clever way for her to leave the villain and end up in the scene I have in mind. I think I'd rather wait and see how events unfold first, though, because I'm in no hurry about writing the Glaurung stuff so she can stay where she is for the time being.
Still, it'll be a fun brain exercise to actually figure out a clever plan. How exactly do you escape from an archdemon who has beaten you twice? It won't be easy, that's for sure. xD
This of course brings us to the fascinating yet occasionally frustrating point of online RPGs. As I mentioned, group writing is great because you juggle ideas and usually get inspired by other people's writing, thus creating an overall better story. However, that's also its weakness. What if someone comes up with a great plan or character arc and then stops RPing? That story arc essentially grinds to a halt, and you can't really continue it because it's hard to know what exactly the original RPer had in mind. Thus potentially great story arcs end up abandoned. I suppose one can asspull things if needed, but it won't be the same. But thankfully there'll always be other plots to follow so losing one story arc may be sad but at least it won't (hopefully) cripple the rest of the story.
I ended up writing more about RPing in general than I probably should've. Still, it was nice to write down a few things on digital paper should anyone be interested enough in reading them.
Other than that, work's been ok. I wouldn't mind smoe additional work hours (and extra money that comes with it), but so far so good. I also should start going to bars again because I've been seriously neglecting those lately. It wouldn't hurt to get to meet new people. However, I have to say that I've been surprised by how many new people have contacted me via instant messaging, facebook, and various forums. I don't know where this flux of new acquaintances come from, but I never turn down people. It's fun getting to know different types of people. And as people know, I tend to be perhaps too chatty even with strangers if they contact me. =)
Yours,
Mikko