[Story] Alignment

[Mal Radagast]

Well...hrm...I'm going to post this thought, and then I'm going to explain in the OOC thread.

Here's the thought:

This story exists in our world as well - with probably mostly the same characters - only forget the backstory and the whole Chosen theme. Presume that the characters will not be going to the dnd world. However - some catalyst or character has entered our world. Also, as is not unlikely, it's gotten itself into some sort of trouble.

My first thought for the prologue is an arrest - the character under arrest goes very willingly, and in fact asks one detective in particular to make absolutely certain that he is brought to justice. The cop is only slightly unsettled, and shrugs it off with a "That's what I do." The character presses him until the cop agrees in earnest, perhaps confused but curious. ... So is the Paladin chosen.

The archetypal magic arcs, I think - to a journalist who becomes a Rogue, perhaps, on to a librarian who becomes the Wizard. From the librarian to a teacher (Althea?) who becomes a Fighter...we could find ways to connect the others. (I am very fond of Daisy and Freddie.) I see the esthetic of the thing almost as superheroes, but with a dnd framework.

Questions - Who started it? Who's the guy being arrested, and what for? Then, what's the overarching plot? Is there a BBEG?

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IFF you folks are interested - and I can understand how you might not be, after my failure as a DM - then I figure we can toss plot thoughts about in here, maybe write up whatever excerpts occur to us. This is with a mind to craft an actual story - perhaps a publishable book, some day. Post as much or as little as you like, in whatever order you like...I'm just interested to see where this goes.

[cyranojoe]

Hi Mal! Hello everybody -- hope you don't mind me jumping in on this one. If you do, blame Mal. If you think this is brilliant, blame me.

Your initial concept reminds me of one of my favorite fantasy series, Guardians of the Flame. Not a brilliant website there, but it was surprisingly the best I could find. Anyway, that story starts off quite a lot like the old D&D cartoon; your story idea inverts the tale, and so it's tempting to suggest you have a similar overarching BBEG: perhaps a Merlin-esque villain who's seeking to bring magic back into the world, and thereby conquer it. Cracks in reality caused by physics gone awry?

Originally Posted by Malleus Malaprop

My first thought for the prologue is an arrest - the character under arrest goes very willingly, and in fact asks one detective in particular to make absolutely certain that he is brought to justice. The cop is only slightly unsettled, and shrugs it off with a "That's what I do." The character presses him until the cop agrees in earnest, perhaps confused but curious. ... So is the Paladin chosen.

At first, I thought you naturally were saying that the figure being arrested -- the one insisting on justice -- was the Paladin. But on second reading, I see how it could be the cop who was the Paladin, chosen because yes, "that's what I do," i.e., justice. Huh. So is the insisting figure the creator of the PCs? Or is there a parallel to each PC, a triggering person who fulfills their own Role in this Game of Life?

Originally Posted by Malleus Malaprop

The archetypal magic arcs, I think - to a journalist who becomes a Rogue, perhaps, on to a librarian who becomes the Wizard. From the librarian to a teacher (Althea?) who becomes a Fighter...we could find ways to connect the others. (I am very fond of Daisy and Freddie.) I see the esthetic of the thing almost as superheroes, but with a dnd framework.

Could be a very X-Men thing, with skills and feats exhibiting themselves a la mutations. But why would a journalist become a Rogue? I suppose you're aiming at a more All the Presidents' Men romanticized version of a newsman, one who picks locks and slips past guards as a matter of course... or who gets swept up into that world, anyway. (As a journalist-by-degree myself, it's kind of a funny picture.)

Teacher as Fighter? Heh. Actually, the Fighter is one of the trickier ones, in that their talents/Role don't manifest too obviously in our world. Are we talking about a UFC fighter or someone who's talented with medieval blades and the like? Could they be armed with more modern weaponry, like a military vet?

Originally Posted by Malleus Malaprop

Questions - Who started it? Who's the guy being arrested, and what for? Then, what's the overarching plot? Is there a BBEG?

Depends on how epic you want to go. Could be a world-changing sort of thing, again like X-Men. I had story ideas in junior high where magic was slowly reborn into the world; this could be something like that, though it could end up being a bit "junior high" or "comic book" of a concept. Nothing inherently wrong with that -- plenty of YA books sell just fine and dandy, thank you very much. Just a question of whether that's the vein you want to run in.

OK, that's enough of my thoughts for starters. Responses?

[Mal Radagast]

Hello Joe! Welcome to the...er...well in all honesty, dusty arse-end-o-the-forum drawing board.

Hrm, yes...I was debating the level and style of magic in the story, let alone the reason. My general rule is that subtle aesthetics are better, doubly so where magics are concerned. Even basic vocabulary ends up being somewhat treacherous. Say the word 'magic' once too often and you break the spell. (Ooh, that wordplay tasted irony.) Also, I was definitely thinking more adult than YA on this one, and hopefully more Campbell than camp.

The journalist amused me, almost precisely because that isn't the way of things. Maybe he got into the industry because he'd watched His Girl Friday a few times too many, and he's gotten a fair share of beating-down since. I've often said that you can't be a proper cynic without being a romantic as well.

The fighter, actually, was Althea's cleverness - a history teacher with a penchant for chess and civil war reenactments. Even if he doesn't see so much combat, the fighter can certainly shine through by way of tactics and strategy.