chronicle_tenko
LR's Lovable Idiot
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2006
- Posts
- 12,402
I've played this game a lot, with a lot of people, and to be honest I don't want to give it away.
It is a very simple process, one that I have become very good at, and it does tend to clarify an idea for people. I guess some people just work better in a box.
The full concept is to answer each question, with one answer. Failing this there are some questions where Both or Neither is applicable. I will list these as we go. The more questions you ask yourself, the clearer the picture becomes, but the tighter the focus as well.
Please, Just use the questionnaire if you're going to post.
1. Past Present or Future.
Setting the time is always the first step. When you know When, the rest of the world can come into place easily.
2. Active or Reactive
This lets you know how much of the world you want to control. It by itself eliminates two of the conflicts.
Active means you are the one actively making the decisions to where and what you want to do. (E.g. Man and a woman having an affair)
Reactive is when you react to your environment. When the outside forces of the thread are more important than the character. (E.g. when Romeo and Juliet rebel against their families. Or when the coven comes looking for the rogue and his blood slave.)
3. Fantasy or Reality
Right what it says on the tin. How far do you want to break with Reality. Are there friendly werewolves? Witches who make secret deals? Or is there a naughty secretary? This one can also be both, and in varying degrees. You also shouldn't need examples.
3a) Fantasy.
Science or Magic
How real does this world have to be? Is this a place where bombs have to be mixed in labs? Or is this a place where things don't really require reality to intrude on your love or action. Again this can be a little of both. It also can help to determine what the main currency and language of the realm is. Wizards talk funny.
4. Single or Many
How many players are in this little game. Do you want a single partner to write with? Or a small (or large) group to play off each other. This can be deceptive, as it also works on how many partners you yourself think about.
Single is just that. A single other authour with a single other character.
Many is both when you want a group to work with, or when you want a triangle to develop over a character, (Even with only two authours) or larger group of importance. If there is a much larger shadowy organization, or a pack of werewolves that both players control. This is still Many.
5. The World or The Other
What's the more important interaction. This is different than being active or reactive. In this case, this question is about where you want to go in the story.
The World - This story is about exploring an external motivator.
The Other- This story is about exploring the other character.
Examples.
The World Active - A wife and husband are exploring the world of BDSM, and the story is more about the world of BDSM rather than the actual relationship between the married couple.
The Other Active - A man meets another man inside of a club, and while straight his entire life, has the uncontrollable desire to know and love this other man. Despite the stigma, or worry of his friends and family.
The World Reactive - A bored housewife finds the incredible world of sex for pay, and re discovers her sexuality through the depraved acts her clients request.
The Other Reactive - A lone gunman in a wild frontier finds a beautiful young girl, and goes through the hard process of giving up the way of the gun for her.
6. Sex or Story
Shouldn't need an explanation. Is this story motivated by a story, or by getting to the next text bang. There's nothing wrong with either, and it doesn't mean sex based stories can't have great stories. Or that story based stories have no sex. Simply what the bigger element is.
There are other questions. And different scenarios for every single combination. Other questions I often ask are
Good or Evil: What is the feel of the world you are in?
Vanilla or Kinky: What kind of sex drives this story?
Fact or Fiction: Really helpful in a lot of Past stories. Is this a real period in time? Do other people exist in history, and how would the world at large affect your characters. If you have a thing for 1940's pin up models, In 1943. It is really unlikely that you'd be a bored stockbroker, instead of involved in WWII. And if you are, what's happening in the War? Backdrop is important people.
And of course think of your own. Best played by two players works for more.
Good luck.
It is a very simple process, one that I have become very good at, and it does tend to clarify an idea for people. I guess some people just work better in a box.
The full concept is to answer each question, with one answer. Failing this there are some questions where Both or Neither is applicable. I will list these as we go. The more questions you ask yourself, the clearer the picture becomes, but the tighter the focus as well.
Please, Just use the questionnaire if you're going to post.
1. Past Present or Future.
Setting the time is always the first step. When you know When, the rest of the world can come into place easily.
2. Active or Reactive
This lets you know how much of the world you want to control. It by itself eliminates two of the conflicts.
Active means you are the one actively making the decisions to where and what you want to do. (E.g. Man and a woman having an affair)
Reactive is when you react to your environment. When the outside forces of the thread are more important than the character. (E.g. when Romeo and Juliet rebel against their families. Or when the coven comes looking for the rogue and his blood slave.)
3. Fantasy or Reality
Right what it says on the tin. How far do you want to break with Reality. Are there friendly werewolves? Witches who make secret deals? Or is there a naughty secretary? This one can also be both, and in varying degrees. You also shouldn't need examples.
3a) Fantasy.
Science or Magic
How real does this world have to be? Is this a place where bombs have to be mixed in labs? Or is this a place where things don't really require reality to intrude on your love or action. Again this can be a little of both. It also can help to determine what the main currency and language of the realm is. Wizards talk funny.
4. Single or Many
How many players are in this little game. Do you want a single partner to write with? Or a small (or large) group to play off each other. This can be deceptive, as it also works on how many partners you yourself think about.
Single is just that. A single other authour with a single other character.
Many is both when you want a group to work with, or when you want a triangle to develop over a character, (Even with only two authours) or larger group of importance. If there is a much larger shadowy organization, or a pack of werewolves that both players control. This is still Many.
5. The World or The Other
What's the more important interaction. This is different than being active or reactive. In this case, this question is about where you want to go in the story.
The World - This story is about exploring an external motivator.
The Other- This story is about exploring the other character.
Examples.
The World Active - A wife and husband are exploring the world of BDSM, and the story is more about the world of BDSM rather than the actual relationship between the married couple.
The Other Active - A man meets another man inside of a club, and while straight his entire life, has the uncontrollable desire to know and love this other man. Despite the stigma, or worry of his friends and family.
The World Reactive - A bored housewife finds the incredible world of sex for pay, and re discovers her sexuality through the depraved acts her clients request.
The Other Reactive - A lone gunman in a wild frontier finds a beautiful young girl, and goes through the hard process of giving up the way of the gun for her.
6. Sex or Story
Shouldn't need an explanation. Is this story motivated by a story, or by getting to the next text bang. There's nothing wrong with either, and it doesn't mean sex based stories can't have great stories. Or that story based stories have no sex. Simply what the bigger element is.
There are other questions. And different scenarios for every single combination. Other questions I often ask are
Good or Evil: What is the feel of the world you are in?
Vanilla or Kinky: What kind of sex drives this story?
Fact or Fiction: Really helpful in a lot of Past stories. Is this a real period in time? Do other people exist in history, and how would the world at large affect your characters. If you have a thing for 1940's pin up models, In 1943. It is really unlikely that you'd be a bored stockbroker, instead of involved in WWII. And if you are, what's happening in the War? Backdrop is important people.
And of course think of your own. Best played by two players works for more.
Good luck.
