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One character? Do you mean we can only have one active team member, or do supporting characters just no longer mean anything to anyone? :

...I happen to have created two very good characters..., and now I'm gonna have to let one of 'em be relegated to some hellish reserve status or put on some damned JSA-esque F-Troop? Or even worse just dropped into literary limbo?

I honestly think I've demonstrated by now that I can play ball in the context of the issue at large without 'weighing down' the story with my own subplots (which, when they are introduced, are generally unobtrusive and fairly self-contained, or else have a constructive impact on the general plot). When I've used multiple characters as in this past issue, they were both important participants without either having to be the 'star' of the story. I just don't see what the major malfunction is here.

All I'm saying is that both Phil and Leslie have become valuable characters in this continuity - as evidenced by the number of people willing to write one or both of them - and I would be very disappointed if I had to get rid of one of them just to satisfy 'the rules'. I just wanna tell stories with you guys, and I'd prefer to bring both my characters along for the ride. I'd at least like to try and negotiate this, if that's not too much trouble.



We've talked about this before, Phil, and I believe I let you know the dangers of this particular brand of thinking. First of all, your point comes across as making you sound as though you, of all the writers here, are best able to handle a balancing of more than one character simply because you haven't been involved in past universes (where such rules were made) and thus cannot make similar errors, like completely monopolizing a story with your own subplots and characters. (I've been guilty of this in TOMB stories, so I know what I'm talking about.) However, I also have the good fortune to know you both as a person and as a writer, causing me to realize that this is not the case. However, try to see the logic at work here:

1.) As a collaborative group, the MBL (in its initial inception) has been around since the late '90s. As such, we've had a unique opportunity to work together throughout that time, and, as such, study each others strengths and weaknesses. We've learned what works and what does not. I remember laying down some rules in the original TOMB stories that helped us out quite a bit: no sigs, one character per poster, and setting a cap on membership. This helped create a tone in stories like "Malvana's Song" and "Hunt for Anninistrio'r" that, in my opinion, we've only just recently begun to emulate in these stories. They were fun, because they were not bogged down with too many characters and too many posters wanting to accomplish too many things with their own characters. It was about a group of posters telling a group story. And it was fun!

2.) I know that you shudder at "devolving" Leslie down to a "reserve" status, but consider your options. Is it fair to have three posters committed to work on only their main characters, setting aside all other plot and character ideas that they have, but to have another poster parading around with more than one character in the main story? I'll answer for you: it's not at all fair. As a group, we must not only write well other characters within that group, and respect the limitations other writers have placed on us, but we must also limit ourselves in order that we may all have the same freedoms as writers. Father of American governmental philosophy John Locke said that, "My freedom to swing my fist ends at the other gentleman's nose," meaning that you must limit your own personal freedoms so that the other members of this community may enjoy the same freedoms.

3.) Don't think that just because you are not now planning on dominating a story with the use of your two characters that you are incapable of doing it altogether. Once again, it's something I've done before. Take it from one who's been there.

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...(even though Grimm is Pro )...



No, no... Gooz is Pro. Grimm is Pro's bitch. There's a difference...

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...but IMO they're still not representative enough to call gospel until everyone else has at least had their say.



Hence the phrasing as a "proposal," rather than a "so-shall-it-be-written-so-shall-it-be-done" style. This is kinda like how they do things in Congress, if I recall high school government correctly.

"I'm just a bill, yes, I'm only a bill... and I'm sittin' here on Captiol Hill..."

...or, if you prefer...

"I'm an amendment-to-be, yes, an amendment-to-be... and I hope they're gonna ratify me..."