ABR Discussion thread XXXV - Rise of the Pervsharks!

[Lyinginbedmon]

FI's goal is pretty much laid bare in my comic, that storyline is wide open for anyone and everyone to make comics in it.

[Darklord Bright]

As unobtrusive as it is, I think the long, confusing and partially missing continuity for FI (FFF) makes it slighlty daunting to potential newbies... of course, all new plots would run the risk of that over time as well. Also, I don't personally like FI.

[Green-Shirt Q]

Originally Posted by Lyinginbedmon

FI's goal is pretty much laid bare in my comic, that storyline is wide open for anyone and everyone to make comics in it.

The problem with FI is that it's still an intimidating plot to join because of the weight placed on it from being an FFF sequel. And all the FI comics preceeding yours had some pretty heavy and complex subject matter. And because your comic was really wordy and expositiony.

Really, I think we should just stop worrying about trying to recreate FFF and just do what we're doing now. Everybody has got something on their plate making ABR run slower then it once did, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Let's just continue our current stream of plots and eventually someone will write something that will spark up more interest in ABR as a whole.

A big selling point, for me anyway when I first joined, was that ABR was one big crossover for all forum characters. I think if the word of that got spread once again, we could see the insurgance of our group. There are several great, new fancomic writers on these boards trying to get their ideas out, and I think if they saw ABR as a conduit to showcase their ideas (a.k.a ABR backstory) then we will see more interested "youngsters" join.

That's my theory, anyway.

[Darklord Bright]

Originally Posted by Green-Shirt Q

Really, I think we should just stop worrying about trying to recreate FFF...

I didn't get to saying that in my other post, but I basically agree. We've seen that, while (for instance) FFF:R wasn't a bad idea in theory - reboots and such things don't really have staying power. We don't really need to recreate the "Wizard bad, etc..." plot, we just need something less intimidating for newbies. I kinda like Miridia, since there's no real continuity ties and there's still a lot vague enough that people can establish what they want - but it still needs a bit more plot-wise to get it really going, since only one character really has a goal, and it's vague enough that I don't really remember it.

We shouldn't really need to create a new basic plot, since we already have stuff to work with in that field. What we need is people to stop popping in, saying "Nobody's making comics" and then leaving again... without making comics. XD

We've got a nice new playground in things like Miridia. If it doesn't have what you want in it, put it in! It doesn't have the heavily established setting of something like FI yet, so there's a lot of freedom there. Who knows, maybe stuff you establish will stick once it does gain a proper continuity!

[HalfTangible]

Originally Posted by Tiffanie Lirle

None of the current plots are interesting.* Plus there seems to be a general lack of motivation in the air to really push the stories onward. There's just not enough interest/people around to really keep the ball rolling. Perhaps scrapping complicated plots entirely and going back to basics would be best until an influx of fresh meat arrives.

Of course, for that to happen, the word has to get out somehow. Maybe we could get permission to make a small "advertisement" thread in a more viewed subforum in order to attract newcomers back in? *shrugs*

Or somebody could splurge and bid on some of gitp's adspace.

* opinion

Originally Posted by Darklord Bright

I didn't get to saying that in my other post, but I basically agree. We've seen that, while (for instance) FFF:R wasn't a bad idea in theory - reboots and such things don't really have staying power. We don't really need to recreate the "Wizard bad, etc..." plot, we just need something less intimidating for newbies. I kinda like Miridia, since there's no real continuity ties and there's still a lot vague enough that people can establish what they want - but it still needs a bit more plot-wise to get it really going, since only one character really has a goal, and it's vague enough that I don't really remember it.

We shouldn't really need to create a new basic plot, since we already have stuff to work with in that field. What we need is people to stop popping in, saying "Nobody's making comics" and then leaving again... without making comics. XD

We've got a nice new playground in things like Miridia. If it doesn't have what you want in it, put it in! It doesn't have the heavily established setting of something like FI yet, so there's a lot of freedom there. Who knows, maybe stuff you establish will stick once it does gain a proper continuity!

You introduced some weird time-lord traveller thing, right? That could start us on a plot =/

[Mad Mask]

In my opinion, Future Imperfect is too complicated and possessing too large, incomplete and inaccessible of an established continuity to work well as an ABR plot. If it were up to me, I would start it up as a collaborative webcomic with much more planning and organisation and leave the more free-form plots to ABR.

[Threeshades]

Originally Posted by Darklord Bright

Miridia is pretty much a more classic, basic ABR - heck, it even spawned from random kills! - the problem is at the moment there isn't really much of a goal. I could work on a brief intro to a more "basic" plot, but it'd probably wind down to, to paraphrase Spoony "Wizard bad! You Hero! GO KILL!" or something similar. Really, it's hard to get much simpler than the standard fantasy model.

Don't do it. These things move much better as long as there is no such thing. Or it happens randomly.

In FFF1 the actual plot only came together out of throwaway jokes. Like Threeshades hitting on Leroy and randomly exclaiming something about an evil scheme.

[Darklord Bright]

Originally Posted by Threeshades

Don't do it.

Wasn't intending to. I was actually saying that it's already pretty basic, and can't get much more basic.

Really though, having a goal just helps focus the comics a bit so people get ideas easier. It's not really about structuring the thing, just giving us a vague semblance of an aim to point our comics at, which'd probably help people get into the flow of things.

As an aside - HT, the reason I dropped the time traveler was because I realized it'd be pretty much near impossible to do a time-continuity in something I can never know the direction of like one of these plots. Like... I can't really pull proper time shenanigans when there's no way for me to know what's going to happen next. That sort of thing only really works with planning, and I'd rather shy away from planning out the direction of a plot's story beyond, as mentioned before, a vague goal.

Also because it was a sort of throwaway joke before I actually decided to come back.

[Fay Graydon]

Originally Posted by Mad Mask

In my opinion, Future Imperfect is too complicated and possessing too large, incomplete and inaccessible of an established continuity to work well as an ABR plot.

Am I the only one seeing the irony in you saying this? XD

[HalfTangible]

Originally Posted by Darklord Bright

Wasn't intending to. I was actually saying that it's already pretty basic, and can't get much more basic.

Really though, having a goal just helps focus the comics a bit so people get ideas easier. It's not really about structuring the thing, just giving us a vague semblance of an aim to point our comics at, which'd probably help people get into the flow of things.

As an aside - HT, the reason I dropped the time traveler was because I realized it'd be pretty much near impossible to do a time-continuity in something I can never know the direction of like one of these plots. Like... I can't really pull proper time shenanigans when there's no way for me to know what's going to happen next. That sort of thing only really works with planning, and I'd rather shy away from planning out the direction of a plot's story beyond, as mentioned before, a vague goal.

Also because it was a sort of throwaway joke before I actually decided to come back.

You could easily make the time traveller constantly wrong, deluded, or as vague as possible.

"I am here to warn you that the crazy necromancer is going to transport you to the country and/or continent of Miridia."
"That already happened!"

In addition, when the main problem with an ABR plot is that there is NO plot to speak of, a timelord would be a good character to add. He/she would have vast knowledge of ancient artifacts, past events and major spells to go on and find a plot for our 'heroes'.

The only idea I have at the moment is making a pervshark shapeshift into a half-naked woman and ask them to come save their city or something ridiculous like that.

Also for someone to ask why Ketham is apparently the only named male character

[Keveak]

I, uhm, have some ideas. *Deep breath*

We could have the pervsharks refuse anyone leaving Miridia until they get a special shiny thing and the locals asking for help with getting it!

Or we could have manticores fleeing from evil griffin pirates and needing their help to stop the griffins from getting the shiny!

Or maybe a tribe of Kobolds emerge from underground and create confusion when asking for directions!

Or cupcakes! Everything's better with cupcakes!

*Ahem* Sorry about that, my idea side is also my Pinkie Pie side.

[Darklord Bright]

Hm. Is Q's character actually at the scene in Miridia? I recall something being said about not actually having introduced him yet.

[HalfTangible]

Originally Posted by Darklord Bright

Hm. Is Q's character actually at the scene in Miridia? I recall something being said about not actually having introduced him yet.

That's what I was waiting on there, actually =/

[Darklord Bright]

Oh well, I'll just finish up these templates then. It's kinda fun to do, but these new things require a couple separate templates for each character.

I gave Q's character my "Cartoonishly muscular" template. I dunno if that's appropriate, but it's barrel-chested and manly-chinned, and I think it looks pretty dang awesome in a silly way.

Edit: Posted a tiny little Miridia comic to continue the Coconut scene.

[Green-Shirt Q]

You can use the character if you want, but don't expect me to make any comics role-playing as him.

[Darklord Bright]

Aw man, now I'm not sure whether to wait for Grlump (or someone else) to make a comic, or just to make a continuation and edit it in. I mean, I kinda like to give people a chance to react to the new, silly situation, but I'm sure HT for one would appreciate someone sparking something with those characters so he doesn't have to sit around bored anymore.

[HalfTangible]

Originally Posted by Darklord Bright

Aw man, now I'm not sure whether to wait for Grlump (or someone else) to make a comic, or just to make a continuation and edit it in. I mean, I kinda like to give people a chance to react to the new, silly situation, but I'm sure HT for one would appreciate someone sparking something with those characters so he doesn't have to sit around bored anymore.

SNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEE E...

... wait, what? Are we doing something fun now?

[GrlumpTheElder]

You're going to have to wait for a few days for me to have time to make a comic. You can if you want, however, feel free to add more stuff, gives me more to bounce off!

[CrimsonAngel]

Ariel from The Little Mermaid makes stupid faces when she sings.

I should make a comic for something but I don't know what.

Help me decide.

[Lyinginbedmon]

Try all-new FI, it's like FFF, but with aliens, robots, and bananas!

[Green-Shirt Q]

Originally Posted by Lyinginbedmon

Try all-new FI, it's like FFF, but with aliens, robots, and bananas!

Lies! I haven't seen a single banana! I also don't remember any aliens or robots, but I don't doubt those being in FI.

[Keveak]

Originally Posted by Lyinginbedmon

Try all-new FI, it's like FFF, but with aliens, robots, and bananas!

That reminds me, is the stuff with the attack on the undead city still canon?

I don't remember the bananas either, but I do remember aliens, robots and alien robot nanites! They were adorably evil.

And now back to trying to successfully draw a comic!

*Keveaks off*

[HalfTangible]

I'll try to make an FI comic but between work and school projects... It's gonna be a while

[Darklord Bright]

There we go, guys, I edited in a comic for HT and CA in my last post.

[Threeshades]

Originally Posted by Green-Shirt Q

Lies! I haven't seen a single banana! I also don't remember any aliens or robots, but I don't doubt those being in FI.

Just to remind you:

Spoiler

[Lyinginbedmon]

I wouldn't blame people for considering my comic a reboot since the whole Merinas situation has very greatly stagnated and carries a lot of weight on it that will undoubtably dissuade people.

[Green-Shirt Q]

{Scrubbed}

[Lyinginbedmon]

Originally Posted by Green-Shirt Q

{Scrubbed}

You are legitimately beginning to irritate me Q.

[Green-Shirt Q]

{Scrubbed}

[Mad Mask]

Let's face it, FI is dead. ABR is in its death throes. It's been up for four years, 3 months and 21 days, which is quite a long period of time. There's almost no activity anymore. Interest has waned.

ABR is assuredly going to die a slow death unless someone or something manages to attract a continuous surge of newcomers again. And I don't believe that something to be Future Imperfect, at least not the way it is now.