(ooc Discussion)

[lilith_rta]

On a completely out of character note, I'm always curious to explore various topics. I was thinking of putting up a few posts to see if people would be interested in sharing in these discussions/and our put in their two cents. I will merely present a topic and from there, we discuss. There is no right or wrong answers. Just as a someone still

Comments

[baksi_rta]

I play for story, with the understanding that different people want different things out of stories.

I do not play for conflict as such. Conflict for the sake of conflict, to me, has no more draw than TS for the sake of TS, and seems no more likely to lead to long-term story. Conflict tends to dump adrenaline into my system: rather than being exhilarated, I end up feeling 'fight or flight' and wrung out. It is stressful rather than fun. But if the conflict promises to lead to a really good story - one with legs, one I'll enjoy playing over time - it can be worth the adrenaline.

I play for complex relationships. I don't mean 'shiny-happy' (I get bored quickly with shiny-happy), but random one-offs that have no follow-up are of minimal interest to me. I want to see three dimensional characters, I want to interact with characters that could almost be real people. That's the complexity I seek, for good or bad.

I play for the sheer joy of language, of being able to use "big words" without being belittled for it, as tended to be the case for me even in college. I play for the give and take, the synergy when I can help draw from others more creativity than they maybe knew they had in them that day...and maybe they do the same from me.

I play for the miracle of watching coherent story-lines grow out of a random idea, and come full-circle without scripting or even seeming effort, and for the satisfaction that comes from a story that rolls along for months or more, pulling in the loose threads of details from maybe months ago, and weaving them back into the story. I love that. :)

And, let's be honest: I play because it is a thoroughly adult thing to do; it keeps my brain stimulated in ways ordinary reading can't do, and television doesn't even pretend to do. It's participatory and challenging.

[lilith_rta]

Well said!

Peril calls it organic storytelling. It is where it takes on a life of its own, and spirals outward.

Also, I love to get as many people involved in a story as possible. Yes, it means smaller scenes and more friends to help out... but you can /do/ so much at one time. Take the Kincaid rescue for instand. There were 3-4 people just working their tails off during -that- scene. Not to mention all the work and build up that other characters were able to be a part of throughout the process. Don't get me wrong. I get tired of GEFBT (Greater Eviler From Beyond Time). I'm a larper, you don't want to know how many times I've had the GEFBT come knocking on my door to eat me. (I must be one annyong gypsy)

Anyway, we usually worked as a team trying to get others involved in handling the situation. That not every aspect had to be touched by each and everyone, but EVERYONE had a means to participate. Hey, this type of stortelling doesn't work for everyone, but think on the many, many times that Benny's snagged people for scenes. Some of them have been very character defining to my own characters, not to mention what he's done for other people's stories.