ABR Discussion Thread XVI: Matters of Futures Imperfect

[Beans]

Not sure if I understand what you're asking there? You mean how does someone join Abr? Just make a comic introducing your character to the plot, nothing too complicated about joining.

So, if I made a comic introducing Thryza the wisecracking illithlich (if I said that out loud in public, my brain would rupture to save my dignity), I could just join?
Well, that makes a lot more sense. Alright.

[Keris]

I'm very sorry to be making an interruption, but how does one make his/her way into an ABR that has already begun (if this can be done at all)? Is there any asking to be done, if so?
I really just want to know to shorten the list of things that I'm likely to bugger up (like weddings, funerals, and births of others' first children).

"With difficulty" is fairly accurate. To be pedantic, there is only one ABR, at least only one on this forum. But we do have a number of Plotlines, Fat Fish Fury (the main storyline, which gets fairly confusing at times), Sorcerer Dude Strikes Back (a spin-off from FFF), and Plot 3 or the Pluperfect Plot (which was intended to be a Sci-Fi detective type storyline... yeah).

There is no real way to join ABR, in a minimum sense, you draw your avatar killing someone else's avatar, whenever you feel like it. Dr Bath still does this occasionally.

To participate in a Plot, things get more complicated. You need at least a half-decent grasp of storytelling, art and grammar, and then draw a comic in which you introduce yourself to some of the other characters in a non-contrived manner.

EDIT: Ninjas! *Shakes fist again*

[DoomITP]

hey everyone did i mention I hate butterfly? Its very annoying...I dont like em that much infact I cant stand it at all.






oh btw tiff I saw that plampow thingy a few games after ya got off the game.

[Green-Shirt Q]

I think what Beans means is how do you join without looking stupid?

For starters, don't be something of god-like power. Only popular people can do that.

[Tiffanie Lirle]

So, if I made a comic introducing Thryza the wisecracking illithlich, I could just join?

That pretty much sums it up, yeah.

Just don't get too insane with your character/backstory.

hey everyone did i mention I hate butterfly? Its very annoying...I dont like em that much infact I cant stand it at all.

I tried to teach you to turtle, but nooo you had to keep shooting at me.

oh btw tiff I saw that palmpow thingy a few games after ya got off the game.

Damn.

[memnarch]

To join ABR, you make a comic with your avatar killing someone else's avatar.

To join an ABR plot (different), you make a comic introducing your character to the rest of the people with a decent try at explaining how you got there (in the comic or text typed in the post with the comic).

General note, Iceddragons has not shown up here for a while.

Edit; mostly ninja'd.

[Keris]

For starters, don't be something of gold-like power. Only popular people can do that.

Let's see... There's the Shades, and Lying gets pretty epic, though he's not actually a god, there's Lavidor, but he was a demigod, Fayte and Diskord of course, they were gods, and Dekopin. Who is awesome.

I think that's about it, isn't it?

[Beans]

To participate in a Plot, things get more complicated. You need at least a half-decent grasp of storytelling, art and grammar, and then draw a comic in which you introduce yourself to some of the other characters in a non-contrived manner.

Storytelling, art, grammar. Check.
Non-contrived. Tentative check.

[CrimsonAngel]

Well, Beans is here. Seeyah.

[DoomITP]

you wanna play? I'm gonna be on for a bit. Probably quest 5 in the free channel soloing. :P

[Tiffanie Lirle]

Sorry Mega, gonna have to pass for now. It's like.. 2:52 am here so I'm not planning on being up much longer.

Still have a few avys to finish anyways.

And then I have to update my Youtube channel, and finish SoG's Caramell thingyma dance. The list goes on and on.

[DoomITP]

you have a youtube? This i must see

[Keris]

Sorry Mega, gonna have to pass for now. It's like.. 2:52 am here so I'm not planning on being up much longer.

You Europeans and your backwards time... It's 1:57AM in the civilized world!

[BRC]

Joining ABR is kind of like trying to jump into a moving bus. It's going somewhere, so just getting on it is tough. Depending on how you introduce yourself, people may smooch over and offer you a seat, or try to throw you out the window, and trying to grab the wheel and change the direction the whole thing is going is generally unwelcome.

[CrimsonAngel]

*crashes through the window* *bad words*

[memnarch]

you have a youtube? This i must see

Tiff's channel

[Green-Shirt Q]

I think that's about it, isn't it?

Two words: Master Ranger.

I think that's all I need to say.

Qs are also god-like, but their powers were taken away so they may not count.

[Beans]

Joining ABR is kind of like trying to jump into a moving bus. It's going somewhere, so just getting on it is tough. Depending on how you introduce yourself, people may smooch over and offer you a seat, or try to throw you out the window, and trying to grab the wheel and change the direction the whole thing is going is generally unwelcome.

In that case, I'll just introduce myself in a way that gives everyone present open ground to react to me on.

[BRC]

BRC's guide to joining ABR.
First of all, ABRites are busy people, and usually have an idea for what they want to do in mind. Also, panel-space isn't easy to come by, and templates are tricky. This is why so many "Hi everbody, can I join?" Intro's are ignored. You have added nothing, the conversation is kind of awkward, and all people can really do is spend a panel acknowledging your existence, then promptly go back to doing what they were doing before, which is weird. The following diaolouge shows what would happen if people respond to simple "Can I join" intros.

ABRer: Alright everybody, here is the plan.
Newbie: Hello, what are you doing, can I help?
ABRer: Sure thing total stranger, now that your existence is acknowledged, here is the plan...

That's awkward and takes longer to make. At the same time, an intro comic that makes too big of a splash plot-wise will generally be met with hostility. People don't appreciate newbies totally derailing the plot with their intro comics.

My advice, Carve out a nitch for your character BEFORE you make your intro comic. Read the wiki, and get a general idea of the state of the plot, then post your character concept on the discussion thread and present an idea for how to enter before you make your intro comic. This way everybody knows what to expect, and can incorporate it into their plans. It lets you get that perfect balance where you influence the plot enough that people can actually respond to you besides saying "Hello!" but not so much that people ignore you out of spite.

[Tiffanie Lirle]

You Europeans and your backwards time... It's 1:57AM in the civilized world!

Don't make me come over there, I will destroy you. Civilized world.. pssh, barbarian!
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,

you have a youtube? This i must see

I r trance uploader

Edit- Ninja'd by Memn, how the hell did you find my channel?

[memnarch]

Not my fault that this vid is quite memorable and easy to find.


Originally found when you "shamelessly" advertised here before ~7 threads ago.

Edit; about when this vid was newish, if that gives you a clue.

[Tiffanie Lirle]

Not my fault that this vid is quite memorable and easy to find.

Err.. I just uploaded that one.. like.. an hour ago.

Originally found when you "shamelessly" advertised here before ~7 threads ago.

Lies! Lies and slander!

[CrimsonAngel]

Bye. Oh and thanks for helping me get into ABR without most of you dislikeing me.

[Szilard]

...You never asked.

[Keris]

I r trance uploader

I r listening... trance be odd.

Don't make me come over there, I will destroy you. Civilized world.. pssh, barbarian!
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze

I'd like to see you try, there are like three different countries in the way!
...unless you have a boat.You don't, do you?
And besides, calling someone a barbarian simply means you don't understand the language. It's all "Blah-blah-blah". Makes you wonder why we don't call politicians barbarians...
And need I remind you about the whole "Our Empire controlled a quarter of the world's population" thing?

Bye. Oh and thanks for helping me get into ABR without most of you dislikeing me.

You're welcome.

[memnarch]

Crap, wrong vid.

I meant to put this one Imagination - Envy

Searched "imagination envy" on the video google to get to it. If you notice, yours is the five entry there.

[BRC]

Wait what? Why did Crimson explode and act like we kicked him out of ABR?


Crimson, the reason we havn't acknowledged you in-comic is becuase you havn't given us much to acknowledge. Your intro didn't move the plot at all. None of the characters know anything about you, and the artists are too lazy to make a comic simply saying "Hi" back to you. If people sit down to make a comic, they want to be able to do something. I mean, even if somebody did say "Hello" where would it go from there.

Crimsonangel: Greetings!
Nameless: Hello
Crimson:...so... hows that weather...
Here, allow me to present some possible entrances:
Lying and Nameless are both epic casters, have one of them, wanting as much help as they can get against the shades, Gate in a celestial, in this case, You, to help. Give your character a motivation to stick around.
Maybe Oliver met you on his planar journey and calls you up to ask for help. Maybe the upper-level celestials, sensing the great evil that is the Shades break free and begin making minions, sent you down to help, follow a team in secret until they start fighting shade minions, then, now that you know they are forces of good, jump out and start in with the smiting. Any of these situations give you a pre-established purpose so that people know what to do with your character, how to treat them, ect.

[Tiffanie Lirle]

I r listening... trance be odd.

Each of the songs is quite different from the other, makes each of em quite a unique listening experience. Think of it as a light techno.

You don't, do you?

I wish

And besides, calling someone a barbarian simply means you don't understand the language.

Damn! I always thought I understood English..

Crap, wrong vid.

I meant to put this one Imagination - Envy

Searched "imagination envy" on the video google to get to it. If you notice, yours is the five entry there.

That one never was too popular, a bit too loud me thinks. Best one I got is Moskau. 12k views atm.

Edit @v - Sounds fine tbh

[Beans]

Hm. Here's my idea.
All the ruckus with Dark Lord Bright has awoken Thryza, who was buried somewhat nearby, a bit further uphill. He pops up and immediately starts to blearily yell at them for waking him, calling them "insufferable topsiders." Finally coming to his undead senses, he looks at them and asks, "Who the hells are you, then?"

What needs to be fixed/improved?
EDIT: I see a need for plot-moving in it. But how to fill that need...?

[memnarch]

Yeah, well, that title is kinda hard to remember.

Btw, is it supposed to just cut out (sort of) at the end of Moskau?


Beans; need reason to include you rather than just an annoyed thing that came out of the ground to be soon forgotten