Quote: Im Not Mister Mxypltk said: I think the future is in more planned stories, with moments where improvisation can be used, but all in service of one main plot (having too many unrelated plotlines is something else I don't like). Each story should be "lead" by a different person (like I did with the Murder Mystery experiment) who knows the key moments of the plot, and the rest should move within the boundaries of what the leader has established.
I can agree on this, but it is necessary to be clear at the start of the story. In issue 18 me and TTT proposed exactly this kind of story, telling that we have an aidea for the conclusion while there was freedom in the middle, then we we did our ending everyone screw up negating our story. Now, surely I wronged not recognizing what was the genral feeling toward the story, but if we go by Mxy's proposed road, then we have to respect the final output despite what we feel about it. Obviously, we can't single handly overhaul the setting of the "team" (ie, changing the status of the team, the place they live and thing like that) as the result of a story without consulting with everyone (but that was not our intention in that damned story).
By the way, both kind of telling a story can cohexist in the serie. when one has an idea like the Murder Mystery we go that route, when one has just the ending in mind (like for Danny vs Hal or issue 18) we let the end play like the starter of the story wants) and when the starter of the story says there is complete freedom, we try that way. After all, in variety there is fun.
If stories "more planned" are great like the Murder Mystery, I am all for that.
Quote: , I've never liked "Secret Files" threads. I consider them cheating. I usually ignore them, because if some piece of information isn't revealed during the course of the story, then it's not relevant to the plot and everyone can't be expected to know it. There are ways to let the rest know what powers your character has (like, using them), and ways to let the rest know the important parts of his personal history. I don't mean posting mini-biographies in the middle of a post... "and then our character remembered the day he was born..." or giving long scientific explanations at the middle of a fight, just be creative and make sure you tell us what we really need to know. Long biographies I despise as well: if it doesn't play into the plot or shape the way your character behaves, why do I need to know that he broke a leg playing Street Fighter in fifth grade?
Like I said, what should be known by everyone MUST be in the collective story, exactly like you suggest. Then, secret files could also be fun to read, and if done like once Velo suggested, with mini solo stories that presents the hero, can also be creative. Just, again like you are saying, must not be required to read to grasp a character.
