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STATE OF THE SHELL SURVEY | DECEMBER 2018
✽ GAME UPDATES AND PLAYER INPUT SURVEY Hello Dreamers! Khu Ioduan has now been running for about a year, and it's time to do take a look at where we're headed next year! This post contains a few process changes that will be implemented next year, and a player survey that will be a required component of December AC. You can reply to the survey any time between now and when December Activity Check closes. • PROCESS CHANGES • AC CHANGES - Starting January 1, the AC requirement for all active characters in game will be reduced to ten (10) comments from that character per month. These 10 comments may be accumulated across up to 3 separate threads on any qualifying network post or log, with any other player's character, as per our existing AC policy. All other aspects of AC will remain unchanged. EVENT MANAGEMENT - We are going to be implementing new management for large plot events based on some player input. Prior to the posting of an IC log, an OOC post will go up explaining the details of the event. The OOC post will have sign-ups for individual players to lead one or more specific quests or mini-plots within the broader plot we have planned. The player(s) who sign up as leaders will OOCly be given all the things that needed to be uncovered IC, and will be able to direct the gameplay within their thread(s) that way. It is our hope that this will reduce the need for regular mod input on threads and allow players more independence to interact with a plot. NOTE: Characters played by individuals who sign up as mini-plot leaders are NOT automatically 'leaders' of their team(s) of characters. That character can take a leadership position if agreed upon ICly, of course. We encourage all players to sign up to be a mini-plot leader at least once! OUTREACH RESOURCES - As we move into 2019, we hope to ramp up recruitment of new players and appreciate the efforts of our existing players who regularly visit comms like ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small} enablemeplz to show off our game. To help make this process easier, we are going to be adding an 'elevator pitch' or talking points about Khu Ioduan, likely to the Game Ad.We are also going to change how we solicit Wanted Characters from current players. Instead of a monthly Wanted Characters OOC post, there will be a static page with monthly comment headers where players can submit a request at any time during that month. There will be posted reminders in the monthly agenda where players will be directed to the new comment header. • PLAYER SURVEY • Our initial plan with this survey was to present an outline of our metaplot plans moving forward for player consideration, but with some reflection we decided that it would be more beneficial for the modteam and the game to better understand your individual narrative (IC) and OOC objectives. We believe that this will provide us with stronger guidance of what our players wish to do in this setting than asking for input on specific elements of the metaplot, and allow us to provide paths for your objectives more effectively. Your answers aren't binding in any way, and if you do not have a clear answer that's alright! Just write down your initial thoughts, and you may be as succinct as you wish. NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC) - These are the goal(s) you have for your character(s) in-game, or the overall objective(s) you may want them to achieve through the metaplot.
OOC OBJECTIVES - The reasons behind why you wanted to join Khu Ioduan and why you stay may have changed over time, and we are dedicated to providing an enjoyable, supportive player experience. Some of you may play to decompress, to experience something new, or to exert some control over life in a chaotic, unsure world. Knowing what draws you here and what you hope to accomplish OOC will help us make the game more welcoming. And you can have multiple goals!
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE - We are living in a time of great uncertainty and we want to be sensitive to the circumstances of real life when building metaplot. Aspects of our metaplot that make for complex and rich storytelling may also hit too close to home depending on how they are rolled out (e.g. the past war and standoff with the Chihuelans). Tl;dr: we don't want to make things too dark. Please use our Content Opt-out post as needed!
Use this form to answer the survey questions about IC and OOC objectives. You may be as succinct as you wish; please try to answer all the questions in your response. A response to this post is required as part of December AC. A line will be added to the AC Check form to link to your comment here. If there are aspects of any questions which you would like to answer but do not feel comfortable commenting on publicly, please use the Mod Contact page to submit your answers instead. Mod Contact • Calendar & Plot Suggestions • Game Navigation |
QUESTIONS
about the serious topics
Like for example, American Horror Story: Coven is a great feminist story, but doesn't do its themes of racism justice. That might be helpful to you, but might not be if that's not what you're looking for!
Thanks in advance!
no subject
Character Name(s) X
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game?
Therapy. X develops by helping others develop -- that's always been a central theme of his character arc. The only reason he hasn't already realised he could be a therapist in Aifaran is that he literally doesn't have a concept of the profession.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on?
Collaborative things. Things where teamwork is necessary. Alternatively, something where teamwork appears to be necessary, but then there's betrayal or somesuch driven by compulsion or possession or what-have-you. The first is because X can help facilitate teamwork between characters who might not otherwise want to, which could be good for others' CR initiation. The second is because X would not handle compelled betrayal well and it fascinates me.
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth?
On a personal level, mind-reading, with players who are happy having their characters get read. Learning to accept, adapt, and reconcile other characters' experiences alongside his own, and learning how to help the characters he reads, if there's any way he can. This means any dangerous plot, anything with a risk to body and safety, anything that triggers his reading ability, would be grand.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed?
It's always been the people. It's always been how wonderfully welcoming people are, how easy it is to plot with other players, how you can hop into whatever chat's going on and say WOULDN'T IT BE COOL IF WE HAD A PLOT LIKE THIS and get enthusiastic agreement.
There's been a lot of fun potential in the plots presented this year, too, for character growth and world growth, and I'd love to see that followed through on for next year.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan?
Honestly, it's purely selfish. I'm here for fun, community, working out X's character, and drumming up the motivation to write his story finally. (It's worked so far!)
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved?
The biggest thing that jumps to mind is the interest in my OC. It blew my mind, and made me feel much more comfortable about playing one right away. I honestly don't remember what made me feel welcome back in Tu Shanshu, but something must have, 'cause I'm still here. Probably it was all the awesome people.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully?
This is akin to 'what's your favourite book' and you instantly forget every single book you've ever read and stare at whoever asked you, mildly panicking.
Having said that, I generally enjoy media that includes but doesn't focus on serious topics, especially when it comes to issues of diversity. B99 springs to mind for exactly that reason -- serious topics are included and referenced without being made the main theme of the show, and jokes aren't made at the expense of minority groups. It's respectful without trying for a spotlight.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you?
I will take literally any conflict, as long as it's resolved with some measure of hope for the future. Really, give me psychological mindfuckery, physical fights or injuries or explosions, political ramifications, extreme climate events, death, general mayhem, Dreaming invasions, long-term consequences... just also give me the resolutions, or the choice for resolution.
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life?
Personally, I don't have any issues with this -- or at least none that I've ever come across -- and I trust the mods to handle it well if something comes up unexpectedly for any player.
Content Opt-out post (not required)
OTHER/NOTES:
I just want to mention that the mods have been incredible this year, and that their openness to criticism and feedback has been wonderfully refreshing. I also love the potential in the plots that have been presented so far and in how they work from an OOC perspective, especially the risk mechanic in the most recent Shunt! I will forever regret not getting a chance to finish that one through. I think having OOC player leaders for future plots is a brilliant idea for preventing over-reliance on mod input, freeing up some of the burden on mods and letting players take missions on at their own pace. Just the suggestion is making me excited for future plots again :3
no subject
Based on past metaplot, particularly in our legacy game, serious topics have included insurgency, terrorism, war, apocalyptic death cults, politics, existential dread, resource shortages, natural disasters, Dreaming-induced magical effects, etc. We will never and shall never include sexual assault or hate crimes of any kind.
no subject
Character Name(s) Rutile!
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game? I want Rutile to
make something of themselvesto learn how to function independently and not define themselves by their occupation, role, or their contributions to society. I'm not quite sure yet how they're going to do this, that's for us to find out!What adventure(s) do you want to set them on? Every adventure! Mostly I want them to get heavily involved in the meta and worldbuilding of Khu; it would be so cool to build them into kind of a naturalist, although I know that won't quite work. (Maybe I'll send them to school, lol...)
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth? Anything where Rutile is allowed to cede to some other character's authority or personality will probably be detrimental to their growth. I'm as in favor of teamwork as the next person (I want Rutile! to have friends!) but they are very liable to 'rebound' by attaching strongly to someone else. You don't just get over several thousand years of codependency. Thus, it's probably better for them to be forced to go solo somehow.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed? I used to write all the time, but I've gotten so busy now that I rarely do, and I certainly don't have the ability to maintain longford fiction like I used to. So I really wanted a hobby that would get me writing again, and would have the added benefit of some socialization and deadlines to keep me honest. DWRP ended up being a really good fit for me!
Khu specifically I appreciate for being close-knit and very chill. It's been a great game to learn on. I'm sticking around because I care deeply for Rutile's CR so far, and there are a few people I really like. However, the pace is starting to feel snail-like, and with only like five to ten active rpers, such a close knit community is also stifling.
Beyond that, I ADORE the worldbuilding. This is such a cool setting, and I want to work with and develop it into something truly spectacular!
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan?A chill literary-oriented hobby with some cool people, opportunities to tell stories and explore characters and character dynamics, and discover a cool plot along the way.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved? The community, and how accessible the mods are! Also, the way the OOC information is written and laid out feels very friendly. You just get a vibe as soon as you start going through the material that these people are understanding and want you to come. (The fact that you don't take yourselves too seriously really helps. I love how silly some descriptions and situations can get!)
It was also nice that Rutile got so much attention so early on, that really helped! But that was largely due to the community, and not so much to the game's layout, I think.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully? I spent a long time thinking about this and communing with my friends about it, and I came up with a few suggestions. I am only recommending things I have read/watched/etc, and I want to emphasize that my thoughts are naturally filtered through my own experience of the world.
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is a fictional work set during the Holocaust. It's widely lauded as a classic and handles the incredibly complex experience of living in 1940s Germany very well, while not shying away from the terrible things that happened or mincing words about it. It's been a long time since I've read it, so I can't describe it in more detail, but even if you don't reference it, the novel is well worth the read. It is absolutely somber and moving, and it was the first thing I thought of.
The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien, is a quasifictional semiautobiographical work about the Vietnam War. It discusses the horror and glory of war and how contradictory experiences sometimes go hand-in-hand. It has an incredible portrayal of PTSD and the storytelling style is stark and jarring. Its particular claim to fame is how it uses lies to communicate truth, calling into question how we understand experience and communication of that experience. It is not for sensitive readers.
A Quiet Place (dir. John Kasinski) is a 2018 horror movie set in a post-apocalyptic world where monsters who use echolocation to hunt their prey roam the world. It revolves around a family but its protagonists are the pregnant mother and the daughter who is hard-of-hearing, and how they defend their family (or fail to do so) against the creatures. This movie is astounding for its very limited dialogue being in sign language and using a striking combination of visuals and sound design (or lack thereof) to communicate events. Especially well-handled is the daughter's disability and how, while it does limit her realistically, it also becomes a serious asset to her; furthermore, while her character arc is about far more than her disability, neither is the disability set aside and ignored or handwaved away. Not for sensitive viewers.
The Handmaid's Tale (created by Bruce Miller) (or season 1, anyway) is a 2017 TV show about how panic about a declining population and the rise of evangelism cause the regression of women's rights and the takeover of a dystopia where fertile women are held hostage for the purpose of childbearing. It is a fascinating discussion of women's rights, mass hysteria, the role of motherhood as sacred, and what happens when fear overtakes a population. In this day and age, it is also a shrewd political commentary and a chilling glimpse at a world that has never seemed more real. Where it fails is its propensity to 'torture porn' (especially in season 2), calling into question whether it is truly feminist or just an excuse to get misogyny past the radar. It also fails to be intersectional, as political commentary in current times ought to be. Not for sensitive viewers.
Wit, by Margaret Edson, is a 1995 play about an English professor who is diagnosed with cancer. The play covers her final hours of life as she goes through experimental treatments and is a guinea pig for various students and clinicians as they teach or study her condition. The play is a discussion of the current state of medical care and a criticism of neglecting patients' rights. It's very well done, since the playwright drew on personal experience in and around hospitals.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you? I'm ALWAYS a slut for political intrigue! Also, I love horror, but at this point that should surprise no one. Particularly though, I love strongly social encounters, heists, twist endings, bait-and-switch, morally gray characters and organizations, etc. I hope that's helpful!
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life? I'd stay away from anything too analogous to real life. I come to Khu to escape current politics, not to reenact them. Otherwise, I'm game for anything; I've got a strong stomach.
game HMD!
(Anonymous) 2018-12-22 02:31 am (UTC)(link)First of all, I am really enjoying playing in Khu. The changes you guys are making to the way events are run, as well as the lowering of AC, are really encouraging and seem like great ideas. I'm definitely excited to see how the events will be implemented.
I'm also happy to see that game outreach will be prioritized. I don't think I'm alone when I say that Khu has a very small active core, and this is never more noticeable than when three or four of us all have major life events happening at once, at which point the game just... crawls. More players would be SUPER welcome.
My suggestion also has to do with AC, although not quite in the same vein. Right now, Khu's model for AC is very standard; in every DWRP game I've looked at, the only thing that changes is how many threads you can use for AC and how many comments you need. Most notably, threads from previous months cannot be used toward next month's AC unless they are eligible for AC amnesty; that is, if a post is made in December, no comments from it, even those made in January, can count toward January's AC.
This is quite a workable system - that's why it's standard! Unfortunately, with such a small active core, it may take as many as two or three weeks before network and log posts are made on the IC comms, which significantly limits the amount of tagging that can be done on such threads. Since these threads are worthless after the month ends, it's highly incentivized to simply start threads and drop them after the minimum AC requirements are met... meaning a significant amount of CR and interactions get handwaved. Even if someone wants to continue backtagging a thread, backtagging can add up quickly, and it takes away from more promising threads that can count toward the month's AC. Although some players don't have this issue, thanks to last-minute boomeranging or short, easy replies, that's not true of all of us.
I propose allowing certain amounts of backtagging to count toward the current month's AC. Although it makes total sense to emphasize current months for AC, it seems equally unfair to punish continuous tagging and developing CR, especially when dropped threads may be plot-relevant. For example, perhaps every five comments added to a previous month's thread count count toward one comment for the current month? This would encourage tagging in the current month without wholly discouraging backtagging.
The easy flaw with this plan is that it encourages tagging characters with whom a great deal of CR already exists. To handle this, it seems logical to make a requirement that at least one AC-eligible thread be with someone you didn't tag in the previous month (since Khu is so small) or with someone new (when Khu grows a bit more).
Obviously the idea needs refinement, but given that Khu is rather unique in pacing and populace already, it may be workable, and I hope the mods take it into consideration!
Thank you for running such a great game so far!
no subject
Character Name(s) Valdis
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game?
I have no concrete plans at this time.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on?
I'm not sure right now.
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth?
See above
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed?
I followed the mods and my friends from Tushan because I believed in the community I had been a part of there. The openness, the enthusiasm, the story and plot driven nature are what I originally came for. I stay because the people are amazing and the community is tight knit. The enthusiasm for plotting is incredible and I feel like there is always 'Yes and', which is wonderful.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan?
I hope for more plot and community. Khu is a special place, but I almost feel like it is a secret that we need to tell others about. I miss the IC emotional turmoil that RP brings and the waiting with baited breath for the itinerary to go up each month. I'm hoping to get that eagerness back.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved?
The community is friendly and welcoming, and I think that is a big plus. There's also much enthusiasm for new people.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully?
Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Mass Effect handles a vast galaxy full of different races and it handles race very well. It acknowledged conflict between races without placing and OOC blame or bias against either side. It creates situations in which the characters must respond and their response effects the galaxy, but the complex story line makes these choices difficult at times. Race is a sensitive topic, but Bioware handles it with grace. Dragon age has similar in-world biases based upon race, (and magic), but the way these biases are presented and played out aren't offensive, they are part of the world itself and the character can fight against that bias as much as the player wants them to. Bioware really empowers their audience in the choices that can be made.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you?
I find fictional conflict that draws an emotional reaction to be engaging. The murder of popular NPCs which drives the plot and/or a conflict that our characters have an impact on. I really miss the IC actions = IC Consequences and how characters can deeply impact the world around them, but I also think there needs to be more balance between character driven and plot driven. It feels like most of the game is character driven right now and could use a little more in-your-face plot.
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life?
It really depends on the level of it. Choice of the level of engagement with an issue is super important to me. For example, in my old game, a taint from the big bad caused negative reactions within the tainted characters, but we could choose the level of intensity and how it was resolved. As long as the plot contains various levels of engagement and people respect the boundaries placed by others, I'm not too concerned about it.
Content Opt-out post (not required)
OTHER/NOTES:
no subject
Character Name(s) Trahearne, Draz'ohv'inadax
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game?
My primary goal for Trahearne is for him to eventually come to terms with everything he went through during his life, and then find a new identity and meaning for his 'afterlife' in Khu. Part of my writing for him specifically deals with that aftermath in the form of PTSD, and considering he spent his whole life working towards a single goal, suddenly being in a place where he gets to decide a whole new direction for himself isn't necessarily easy.
When it comes to Zohvin, he was just taken from a place in his story where he was literally about to fall to the dark side for the sake of the first person he ever loved. Khu is a chance for him to deal with how his experiences have changed him, what that means for his shaky Jedi beliefs, and it might even give him an opportunity to figure out what the healthiest path is for him personally. Might.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on?
Ideally, I'd like for Trahearne to participate in either some form of research or mystery-solving. Zohvin is fine for action but I'd prefer to have him get involved in intrigue or politics (though I'm aware that these are fairly difficult to pull off in group games).
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth?
While having the support of his friends helps a lot, what Trahearne really needs to grow is to discover a new purpose for himself. He's already had his growth slowed by game events that dredge up painful memories from his past, and those will likely continue to be troublesome until he can work through some of his problems.
Zohvin is more in danger of stagnating unless he chooses some sort of goal for himself, whether good or bad. He hasn't been in the game long enough for that to happen yet. Anything that deals with the nature of good vs evil is likely to draw him in and get some character development going.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed?
The detailed, unique setting is what got me looking at Khu in the first place - that's something that's lacking in a lot of other Dreamwidth games. I stayed because the game is a little heavier on prose-based logs than most other games I looked at, and even with newer characters it's not hard to jump into the action without feeling left behind.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan?
Just having a place to write and get more of that sweet sweet character development is the big one. I don't tend to come up with personal plots for my characters that often, so being able to use game events and plots for that development is pretty big for me.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved? Honestly, I feel like being here when Khu first opened helped me get integrated pretty fast, but everyone here is also very welcoming on plurk/discord in general.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully?
I'm seriously blanking out on what I would call 'graceful', but if you can be more subtle than Star Trek I think you're good. If you're worried about the game getting too dark, I feel like that's less about how you handle serious topics and more about just having things not be constantly depressing - in which case, look at something like the Phoenix Wright games, which are basically comedies but still has legitimately high stakes cases and dangerous situations that aren't cheapened by jokes.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you?
Uhhh this one's tough for me to answer because I think all sorts of conflict can be engaging provided that our characters feel personally involved somehow (which is definitely the hard part of setting up a conflict). A sense of making progress in some way also tends to make a resolution to a problem feel more satisfying, even if the problem isn't entirely solved.
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life?
As long as it's done respectfully and there are warnings for the worst stuff, there's not much to worry about. Fantasy and sci-fi are great avenues for exploring parallels to real-world issues and a lot of my favorite stories do just that. That said, avoiding touching on current events specifically is probably a good idea, because yeah escapism is nice.
OTHER/NOTES: You already addressed the biggest concerns I had with the game in this post (btw thanks for the change on AC requirements), so there's not much there I'd need to elaborate on.
The one other thing I want to say is that after how everything turned out, I'm really not inclined to try running a big character plot again. That's probably not going to change unless we get enough of an influx of people to make running one again even remotely worth trying.
no subject
Character Name(s) Sheena Fujibayashi
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game? Between TuShanshu and Khu Ioduan, Sheena has been re-discovering who she truly is--all while actually growing up. She's nearing 30, and she needs to be more mature in her future actions.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on? Have you ever seen the episode of Star Trek: TNG where Deanna was left in command of the bridge due to a accident? I'd love to see something like that happen to Sheena, where she's suddenly thrust into a command position--testing her ability to be the Chief she is meant to be.
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth? Sheena is a character whose growth can be slowed or helped by the same thing. In other words, one day, a terrible trauma can cause her to backpedal and second-guess herself, then later, she'll face that trauma and fear head-on in order to conquer it.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed? Came over from TuShanshu and wanted to see how the two games would be connected and if there was going to be a connection between the two. (Incidentally, Sheena is comparing the destruction during the storm to the vision shown while back in Keeliai).
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan? It's actually fun! I know I hit burn out recently, but that sometimes happens. I would still like to continue and develop as much CR/history with Sheena.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved? The people and the mods.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully? Star Trek: TNG did that amazingly well. They covered rape, discrimination, and so many other topics with such grace and seriousness that when watching, you didn't even realize you were learning something.
Shaw's "Pygmalion" (My Fair Lady) does it with a comedic flair, but it's still a learning experience. In fact, Shaw himself wanted people to learn while they were ebing entertained at the same time.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you? I enjoy surprises that make sense. Where people aren't exactly who you thought they were. (You know, judging the book by its cover kind of thing.) And I really love it when even THAT is switched up and you're kept second-guessing throughout the entire thing.
I like honest resolutions. The "I didn't see that coming" types that tend to actually be the best solution for everything. Slow build resolutions are also nice, because they make you wonder--since not everything can be resolved in one go and you can see any progress made.
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life? Eh, I'm a little iffy on this. I think that would depend on the timing and what the subject is.
OTHER/NOTES:
I'm in agreement with the Anonymous poster above about AC since we are currently small right now.
no subject
Character Name(s): Pepper Potts, Devin Parker
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game? For Pepper, she's now going to have to deal with Bakura being gone; I don't have a lot of solid plans for her, which I would like to change. She's the type to be heavily interested in plot but that makes things a little tricky due to mod insight. Devin, on the other hand, I want to continue to work on letting people in and forming meaningful relationships, because he barely knows how to.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on? I'd like to push Pepper out of her comfort zone somehow, but not sure what kind yet. For Devin, I'd like him to have to work with a team, whether in a leadership position or not, and have to rely on people for his own safety/wellbeing, or what have you. Basically see that relying on others isn't as terrible and scary as he's worried about. Also probably both of them will be headstrong and do stupid things here and there, although Devin is more likely to look before he leaps than Pepper.
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth? If another enemy comes to town like Bobby did during 4th Wall, Devin will struggle. Anything that proves his 'friends are just target practice for enemies' theory will dent his growth. Pepper has grown a lot already, but mod position does make it hard for her to expand into things I'd like her to. As far as plot... hmm. I'll think about that.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed? Mod :V. But forming a community and maintaining a welcoming, creative space for people has been a primary goal for me since joining TS as a player. As a mod, I want to continue to foster an environment where people are comfortable and having fun, and can make long-lasting friendships no matter if they're staying in the game or not.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan? Friends! The opportunity to do collaborative storytelling, to create an awesome setting for people to play in, and to
tormentchallenge my characters (and others).What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved? I've really been enjoying our Discord server, it allows for more conversation than plurk.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully? The Adventure Zone (later episodes especially) as far as how the hosts learn and grow themselves in an effort to be more responsive and respectful of their audience - particularly regarding experiences that they do not have. Terry Pratchett also explores many serious topics with humor and grace. The Sixteenth Round is one of my favorite biographies, addressing racism and racial justice bluntly but with masterful storytelling and remarkably insightful perspective; Carter wrote the manuscript while he was still wrongfully imprisoned. The companion book, Lazarus and the Hurricane, tells the latter half of the story; it's not as well written, but it provides a hopeful ending.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you? I like deep, complex narratives that follow threads of conflict across multiple arcs, whether this is television shows or a series of books. I like endings where things are only 90% fixed, because some things just don't fix, but I don't want the whole thing to lack hope. Hope is critical, even if it doesn't always come from or serve the main character(s).
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life? Mostly I want to make sure that the topics we explore here serve our player base, and allow players to engage with difficult subject matter in a way that doesn't resemble real life too closely. This is an escape for people, a place for fun and for hobbies - too serious and we will no longer be able to support this community the way I want to. I hope we strike a good balance.
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Character Name(s) Bastien Courbis (OC)
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game? My main goal for Bastien is to have him grow more as a character. I want this scrappy little pirate to become a more honorable and kinder individual. Bastien has so much untapped potential in him. He would truly make a great captain or leader someday but he's stuck within his ways. I would like to see him grow out of that and earn the respect of his peers through hard work and dedication.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on? I would earnestly love for him to assist others in various missions, whether it be treasure hunting, exploring ruins or fighting monsters. I love a good fight log!
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth? Challenges that forces him to take up his sword for the sake of others is what I would like. I want Bastien to someday risk it all just to save another. He's a very clever and opportunistic bastard usually. Bastien puts himself first above all else but for once, I want him to put all that effort to save others.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed? I'm attracted to the intense lore and fantasy element of this game. Still am! I love how Khu Ioduan is set up but feel like I haven't had the chance to really enjoy it due my rapidly changing schedule.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan? I guess you can say I hope to prove my worth as a role player in this game and enjoy the wonderful story here. I'm not the best writer there is but I most certainly try to keep my posts engaging and interesting. I just want to do better this year and branch out Bastien more.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved? I just appreciate that the mods here welcomed me with open arms. I didn't quite expect that kind of kindness towards me and I'm grateful for it. I'm glad ypu folks gave me a chance despite my situation.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully? It took me awhile to come up with a decent answer but I think Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is a good example of how sometimes even a criminal (i.e a pirate) can still be a good man. Not everyone is perfect. Many of us have flaws and just as many have done horrible deeds that still haunt us. However, we ultimately determine what kind of person we'll be. Much like in Red Dead Redemption 2 or Dragon Age, you can start off as an absolute scoundrel and eventually become a more honorable person over time through your choices in key moments. I like this idea that people can change over time and redeem themselves not only in the eyes of others but to themselves.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you? I love the conflict between one's self interest versus what benefits the community.
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life? I will only suggest caution with that, especially since certain topics from RL don't translate well into rp. (i.e anything Trump related or dealing with racism or gender.) Roleplay is about escapism and I feel certain topics like those mentioned would be triggering to many of us.
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Character Name(s): Tony Stark
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game? I want to continue Tony's trajectory towards being a Responsible Adult. I'd like him to have more responsibilities and commitments in Aifaran. I enjoyed setting him up as a sort of research professor/freelance mechanic at the College in Keeliai, so I'd like to get him in a position like that again and maybe push him farther.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on? Hopefully many very traumatic and distressing adventures. :V He's been coasting for too long. He needs to suffer.
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth? I fed him a lot of Humble Pie in Tushan and I feel like I've kind of played out the possibilities of that at his current state of character development, so at the moment I'd like to focus on challenges that build up his strengths rather than tear down his weaknesses. In addition to more responsibility, as I said above, I would enjoy more metaplot and plots with darker themes to give characters like Tony chances to
sufferbe heroic.OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed? I joined Khu because I was in Tushan for several years and wanted to continue playing. I enjoy the fantasy jamjar setting and the opportunities of the diverse cultures/locations/magic of Konryu. I also like that Khu is higher-tech than Tu, because it gives me some more freedom with Tony's skills.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan? Diverse CR and further character development for Tony. Engaging plots. Opportunities to affect the setting in meaningful ways.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved? Everyone seems very enthusiastic about cross-canon and cross-medium CR, and chill OOC. No complaints.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully? None spring to mind immediately, but I can edit if I come up with anything.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you? I like opportunities for PvP conflict (as long as it doesn't become a focal mechanic/get people upset OOC). I think that in-game political/social/cultural issues that different characters would realistically have different positions on add depth to the worldbuilding and create really interesting CR opportunities. I also like when players are encouraged to align their characters with in-world NPC factions rather than getting stuck in the dynamic where the player characters are a mostly uniform bloc that remains kind of aloof from the NPCs. And I like plots that push characters to make sacrifices and hard choices. I'm open to pretty dark and heavy stuff, so lay it on me. Put our characters through the meat grinder.
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life? No concerns on my end, it's not easy to rustle my jimmies. This game and Tushan have a history of mods and players with good heads on their shoulders, so I trust everybody's judgement.
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Character Name(s): Zephyr
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game? Asshole needs friends; i want to get him to a point where he'll actually confess some things, and that's. going to take. a long time.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on? Stuff that'll corner him into revealing things like his divine nature in order to protect. Also, hot springs. Also: things way outside his comfort zone.
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth? This is not something I have the brain to explicate, but I think most days I'm creative enough to either avoid or bend stuff that would prevent/slow his growth.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed? See above: I live here.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan? A sense of community and an opportunity for character growth in a familiar setting.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved? Everyone's always been super welcoming, as long as I've been here. Improvement suggestions on the back end.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully? I need to actually finish Baru Cormorant but to my recollection as a book it didn't shy from the shitty stuff, but didn't roll in it like a dog with a dead squirrel, either. y'know?
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you? Character-driven conflict-- whether by our characters, or by NPCS. which is not to say that there's not a place for natural disasters, I just tend to prefer things which are driven by people.
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life? I think it would be bad taste to specifically model events after real life disasters, but so far as I've been here any intersections have been coincidental. I'm not worried here.
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OTHER/NOTES:
I live here.
If you have questions you know where to find me ;)
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Character Name(s): Klaus Von Reinherz, Alice Liddell
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game? I've been pretty aimless wrt goals - this is a "me" problem and not really anything to do with the game. I definitely have more tangible goals with Alice's development than Klaus since mentally and emotionally she has a lot more room for growth.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on? I would love to set Klaus off on more action-y adventures with a lot of punchy times. With Alice I would love to do more surreal and psychological stuff involving the Dreaming.
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth? Lot's of moral quandaries for both, but particularly Klaus who is very inflexible with his morality and I'd like him to have to deal with the general consequences of that particular issue.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed? I really enjoyed how the chill the whole atmosphere was and how both Tu and Khu engage on multiple levels. I like both SoL and structured adventure elements.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan? I want to make my characters hurt and grow.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved? Both in Tu and Khu, everyone always came off as chill and welcoming. There's a lot of enthusiasm among the players for plotting and general shenanigans which I love.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully? I feel like a deer in headlights here because I'm on a strict media diet of hot steaming garbage and none of what comes to mind handles serious topics with much grace. That being said, The Cat Lady is one of the few narratives I felt dealt with suicidal depression in a way that conveyed those experiences well within a solid narrative and never felt condescending or like a PSA/A Very Special Episode. I also think a lot of the Silent Hill games are really good at telling a story with a lot of morally grey subjects, laying sympathy where it's due.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you? As mentioned above, I like a lot of interpersonal and/or internal conflicts like moral quandaries and compromising one's own morals/beliefs. Also just good old fashioned punchy fighty times and explosions are A+ :3c
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life? None particularly - I haven't seen any plots here or Tushan that hit too close to home or brushed up against RL events so just keep on keeping on
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Character Name(s): The Fool (previously Kit and Antarcticite)
NARRATIVE/STORY OBJECTIVES (IC)
What goal(s) do you have for your character(s) in-game?
This is a bit hard to articulate! Despite all appearances to the contrary, the Fool at first struggled internally to make peace with this new life that has been handed to him via the Dreaming. I’m pleased that I’ve been able to get him to a place where he is comfortable in his skin.
What adventure(s) do you want to set them on?
Communing with turtles, generally getting in over his head and requiring some rescue by his recalcitrant vampire boyfriend--anything that involves communicating with the turtles or inadvertently prophesying the future.
What challenges would help your character grow, and what challenges would prevent or slow that growth?
Deepening his connections with his existing CR, and potentially with new CR, would help him grow, given his current propensity towards keeping very dangerous things a secret. Any events that draw out his past traumas (which emphasize the inevitability of his death, or why he doesn’t deserve happiness), would stymie that growth considerably.
OOC OBJECTIVES
Why did you want to join Khu Ioduan? What elements of setting and community attracted you? Have these reasons changed?
Rivers roped me into the game last year! I definitely want to echo what has already been stated above, that the breadth and depth of the worldbuilding are a total draw for me, but it’s the OOC community that really keeps me here. I’ve made some really close friends during my first year in this game. Y’all are amazing.
What do you hope to get out of playing in Khu Ioduan?
I’m getting it! Wonderful friends, a lot of great CR for my ridiculous character--my only source of frustration here is how difficult it has been for me to establish other characters in the game. I can’t quite put my finger on why neither Kit nor Antarc meshed as well.
What, if anything, made you feel welcome in the game, and what could have been improved?
I think on this front you guys it down to a science: you’re communicative, you’re welcoming, you’re relentlessly encouraging and positive with newcomers (like me!). Maybe it’s just my bias showing, but I can’t think of how this could have been improved.
METAPLOT AND REAL LIFE
What are some examples of media (books, movies, games, etc.) that you feel balance or handle serious topics gracefully?
I primarily consume my media via podcasts these days, so if you’ve got the stomach for horror, I would definitely suggest listening to all short fiction published by Pseudopod. They strive for truly horrifying content that does not rely on shock value, cliche tropes, or anything else in the genre that has been beaten to death. I find that Pseudopod (and Escape Artists, Inc. in general) do an excellent job of sourcing short fiction that handles all manner of topics with occasionally terrifying grace and dignity.
What kinds of conflict do you find engaging, and what kinds of resolution appeal to you?
I’m a big sucker for interpersonal conflict where both parties end up recognizing that they have a lot to learn from each other. In larger scale conflict, I prefer for my character’s adversaries not to be other player characters for longer than necessary, because this RP experience has been universally unpleasant to me in the past.
What are your thoughts/concerns about the possible intersection of metaplot and real life?
Like Chloe said above, I really prefer to avoid any parallels between what is happening in meatspace with what is happening in RPspace. I don’t mind things being tense and putting my characters through hell, but I do RP for escapism primarily.
OTHER/NOTES:
I agree with many of the points raised by the anon above! Also, I’ve said it before but it bears mentioning again, that I’m so appreciative of this mod team and the hard work you’ve poured into this game.