The Jeffinator
Super Saiyan Blue
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Posts
- 8,365
I have tried to do rps before, but because I always plan these enormous backstories and plot outlines, they tend to be overwhelming for players. So, I am trying a different angle -- no storyline planned out at all. Minimal backstory. Basically, a few bullet points to keep in mind about the DC Jeffverse, but an otherwise empty canvas. From there, the characters' actions shape the story. Like, I might start off with plans for Slade, but another villain could mess with his plans or even cap him and take over. Anything could happen. Or you could at first have your villain work for Slade, then defect to the Titans or go off on his own or whatever. Just like real life, anything can happen and none of it is planned.
Of course, as a group we can discuss major events before writing it into the story, such as a massive demon invasion or an alien attack on the planet, but you get the gist.
So, here are a few bullet points about the DC Jeffverse:
Modern superheroes first appeared in the late 1930s.
The Justice Society was formed in 1940 and broke up in 1951. Key members were Hawkman (Carter Hall), Flash (Jay Garrick), and Green Lantern (Alan Scott), along with various other Golden Age heroes.
Superman first appeared in his red and blue suit in the late 1990s. Batman appeared around the same time as well. A few years later, in 2002, the Justice League of America was formed.
The current year is 2012, and the JLA has been around for ten years and has grown to include dozens of members. They have headquarters in Washington DC called the Hall of Justice, and also have the Watchtower space station, which can be accessed by teleportation via hidden bases scattered all over the world.
After turning 18, Dick Grayson hands down the mantle of Robin to Jason Todd, and decides to go to college at Columbia University in New York City and make a name for himself on his own. He leaves Gotham on good terms with Bruce Wayne and has access to a very healthy trust fund.
For most of August, September, and October, Dick Grayson has not been a superhero, focusing on college. There are plenty of other superheroes in the city. But at a friend's Halloween party, three metahumans show up and cause trouble -- Mammoth, Jinx, and Gizmo. Dick overhears Jinx get a phone call who says to the other two, "Guys, let's go. Slade has a new mission for us. Bank job." She thought everyone was too drunk to pay her any mind, but Dick heard loud and clear.
The next morning, there are reports of a bank robbery and two cops dead. Dick is convinced those three villains are copkillers, and he becomes a superhero once more -- Nightwing. He does a little recon of his own, and discovers the three do indeed work for a man named Slade, and his partner, Dr. Light. Knowing he can't take on all five on his own, Nightwing sets out to recruit a team of heroes. Pretty much every single hero he finds that will fit well in the team is a teenager, so they call themselves the Teen Titans.
So, as the game starts, it is November 15th. Over the last week, your characters have been contacted by Nightwing to join the team. He approached each character and invited them to form a team, then gave them a note saying:
Meet at the old firehouse on Bedford and Carmine in Greenwich Village at midnight on Thursday night, November 15th.
For opening posts, we'll have the characters arriving at the firehouse, which looks a lot like the one from the Ghostbusters movie. Everyone arrives, and from there it's whatever. Nightwing will have a plan, but characters are welcome to do whatever or try to change the plan or whatever. Together we'll form a great story.
Once I create the IC thread, I will reserve the first post for updated summaries of events that have already happened. Basically, once we get to 25 IC posts, I'll write a brief summary of everything that happened in those posts and label it as Episode 01 and put it in that first reserved post. Then, each time we post another 25, I'll summarize them as episodes as well, that way we can keep track of where we've been without having to read through every post.
Once we have 25 episodes, or roughly 25 thread pages, I'll categorize them as Season One, and the next summary, Episode 26, will be labeled Season Two. This way we can keep a clear picture of everything.
Anyway, what do you think? Without having to worry about following a strict plotline, does this sound more fun than my past attempts?
Of course, as a group we can discuss major events before writing it into the story, such as a massive demon invasion or an alien attack on the planet, but you get the gist.
So, here are a few bullet points about the DC Jeffverse:
Modern superheroes first appeared in the late 1930s.
The Justice Society was formed in 1940 and broke up in 1951. Key members were Hawkman (Carter Hall), Flash (Jay Garrick), and Green Lantern (Alan Scott), along with various other Golden Age heroes.
Superman first appeared in his red and blue suit in the late 1990s. Batman appeared around the same time as well. A few years later, in 2002, the Justice League of America was formed.
The current year is 2012, and the JLA has been around for ten years and has grown to include dozens of members. They have headquarters in Washington DC called the Hall of Justice, and also have the Watchtower space station, which can be accessed by teleportation via hidden bases scattered all over the world.
After turning 18, Dick Grayson hands down the mantle of Robin to Jason Todd, and decides to go to college at Columbia University in New York City and make a name for himself on his own. He leaves Gotham on good terms with Bruce Wayne and has access to a very healthy trust fund.
For most of August, September, and October, Dick Grayson has not been a superhero, focusing on college. There are plenty of other superheroes in the city. But at a friend's Halloween party, three metahumans show up and cause trouble -- Mammoth, Jinx, and Gizmo. Dick overhears Jinx get a phone call who says to the other two, "Guys, let's go. Slade has a new mission for us. Bank job." She thought everyone was too drunk to pay her any mind, but Dick heard loud and clear.
The next morning, there are reports of a bank robbery and two cops dead. Dick is convinced those three villains are copkillers, and he becomes a superhero once more -- Nightwing. He does a little recon of his own, and discovers the three do indeed work for a man named Slade, and his partner, Dr. Light. Knowing he can't take on all five on his own, Nightwing sets out to recruit a team of heroes. Pretty much every single hero he finds that will fit well in the team is a teenager, so they call themselves the Teen Titans.
So, as the game starts, it is November 15th. Over the last week, your characters have been contacted by Nightwing to join the team. He approached each character and invited them to form a team, then gave them a note saying:
Meet at the old firehouse on Bedford and Carmine in Greenwich Village at midnight on Thursday night, November 15th.
For opening posts, we'll have the characters arriving at the firehouse, which looks a lot like the one from the Ghostbusters movie. Everyone arrives, and from there it's whatever. Nightwing will have a plan, but characters are welcome to do whatever or try to change the plan or whatever. Together we'll form a great story.
Once I create the IC thread, I will reserve the first post for updated summaries of events that have already happened. Basically, once we get to 25 IC posts, I'll write a brief summary of everything that happened in those posts and label it as Episode 01 and put it in that first reserved post. Then, each time we post another 25, I'll summarize them as episodes as well, that way we can keep track of where we've been without having to read through every post.
Once we have 25 episodes, or roughly 25 thread pages, I'll categorize them as Season One, and the next summary, Episode 26, will be labeled Season Two. This way we can keep a clear picture of everything.
Anyway, what do you think? Without having to worry about following a strict plotline, does this sound more fun than my past attempts?
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