rather than discussing a single plotline for season 3 I'd like to open the floor to what you would like to do in season 3...what sorts of plotlines.
This isn't a "continuing story" discussion. Its a "story for season 3 that finishes in season 3" discussion. We overloaded ourselves in season 2 and a lot of storylines got continued into midseason (and beyond).
My plans for Victor involve an apocolyptic event:
1) Victor is controlled by the Overseers of Gr'natha and made to open a portal using the stone of Ghortab
2) The first wave of Battle Fiends (each bearing stones) will re-open the portals between Earth and Gr'natha.
3) An intererdimensional war will begin
4)To stop this invasion, Victor will reveal everything about his race to the government of the US (via Galen)
5) He will then take Tash and perhaps a few others (as storylines permit) into Gr'Natha to confront the Creators (the race that created his)
My extradimensional tour will pretty much take up the rest of the season for me, but will have a definate ending.
Without revealing the ending...what do you have planned for season 3?
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Season 3 Storylines...
I was actually thinking we should have a discussion about what would be happening in Season 3 vis-a-vis a Big Bad. Whether we have the G'rnathan invasion as the Big Bad for the season, or if anyone had other ideas for a BB. Or, indeed, whether we should try to stick with the formula of having a BB and all else being classed as sub-plots.
Season 2's Big Bad was very much overshadowed by the non sub-ness of some of the sub-plots...
So do we declare defeat on the idea of getting everyone involved at season's end in an apocalyptic battle and simply let the world fracture into various sub-groups that deal with their own plots only? Or do we try to encourage everyone to get involved in the Big Bad for the season, letting us explore our own ideas through sub-plots, but making an effort to keep them sub?
The discussion for the Season 2 Big Bad was attended by many seemingly interested parties and the shape of it agreed on, but at the end of the day there were only a handful of us able to get their characters involved. :( I'm not trying to say that everyone HAS to get their character into the main plotline... but in Season 1 most people made an effort, at least.
So, should we have a Big Bad for Season 3? And if so, what form will it take?
Please post any suggestions - but remember, it needs to be something that every character can get a hook into, if possible.
Season 3 Storylines...
I, personally, like the BB/subplot format and would be disappointed if it was done away with. The trouble you guys have, it seems to me, is that too many people aren't able to find ways to have in character interaction. I couldn't see ways to do it in my first run, at least.
To answer Dave's question:
-Hyatt will start off the season living in a car that is perpetually parked outside 1318 Poplar. He will be there to stalk Galen, and attempt to gain proof of MJ-12's existence. This fails miserably.
-In the course of this, he see some Balance agents doing the same thing.(Harrison and Scott, for those reading what I've been posting).
-Hyatt will use the presence of Harrison and Scott to try and blackmail Galen into giving up the proof Hyatt is after. It won't work.
-When the agents make their move, Hyatt kills them, thereby revealing his presence to Balance command, and bringing in more agents.
-Hyatt will battle those agents in various ways.
-Collin will contact Kelly anonymously, and send her to LA, where she'll be reunited with Tyler, and get caught up in the whole mess.
-In the course of this, Hyatt will deal with Bereaver's death, what there is left to do.
The plot "Hyatt and The Balance" won't end for some time(the last thing Tyler will ever do in LA is put a bullet in Collin's head), but it's got sub-stories to it. Season Three is devoted to the first of these, so it will have an endpoint that doesn't end it overall.
Two:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't G'rnathans all but impossible to kill? It was just by burning them, correct? It'd be one hell of a trial to come up with a big bad that wouldn't get overshadowed by that.
But, I think that invasion would make a good "big bad" in and of itself. And it would be a reasonably easy thing to get nearly everyone involved in(ie Victor and company off confronting the creators, while the rest stay in LA, and fight this "interdimensional war"). That's something no one will be able to ignore, in character.
THe only barrier left is having characters interact enough that they'd all band together to repel or aid the invasion. And that's collabs.
Anyhow, that's my two cents.
Season 3 Storylines...
WHen ezzacly are you guys intending on starting season 3?
Season 3 Storylines...
The only problem I forsee in having a BB that is mainly centred around the personal plight of one character is that everyone else will have to ask that player's 'permission' if they want to write anything.
This could turn out to be a real problem if Dave has specific ideas about how he wants his 'story' to develop and in what direction he wants it to take. The problem being that everyone will have ideas about how to take the plot of this story and won't be able to if the decisions have already been made in advance.
For example - in season one Nick initially had specific ideas about where he wanted the CC story to go and he got pretty pissed off if someone wrote something that wasn't within the pirameters of his plan.
The other problem is, if the main plot of a season is effectively 'owned' by one player then other people won't want to get involved because their creative input is being limited and dictated to by the 'owner' of that story line.
Anyway that's just my opinion, and I do like the idea that Dave suggested and I agree that an interdimensional battle isn't exactly the sort of story that sounds like it could be a sub-plot. If everyone decides to make this the season BB then I'd suggest making it 'public property' so to speak and opening all the ideas up for discussion to all the players so that it can be made as accessable as possible.
Season 3 Storylines...
My aim for right now is to get through the mid season 2, get the whole tarix story out in the open...what happened to her how it happened, who this new arrival in LA is (will be putting a NPC profile up in about a week or 2 time), so i have no clue what the season 3 for Tarix is gonna be like.
Also i like the G'rnatha invasion idea, that should get many of us involved...i think.
Season 3 Storylines...
My thoughts on the "LA By Night: Invasion" storyline are that I give you guys all the background on Gr'Nathan Battle Fiends, Overseers, and Creators.
My Quest leads me into Gr'Natha where I am going to try to head this off at the source. What happens on Earth is totally up to you. Totally public property.
There may also be ways that you can expand on the Gr'nathan biology, sociology, and mythology. What I have is geared towards my quest and character. Outside of that you can write what you want about it all. Tactics, Technology, and the past all fit within the open source plotline.
As for permission...its not that tough to get with us. You send a PM and say "I have an idea" if the other person says "great!" then you run with it. No big. Really the only parts of the other person's subplot you can't touch are the character themselves.
All in all this sort of "lay it on the table" idea also lets us look for hooks we can access in each other's stories. That's a good thing. If you can foresee part of the other person's story you can plan your plotlines to intersect. Then we can avoid the "I save you and you save me then we can laugh about it afterwards" feeling.
The other part of it is my idea is going to affect the entire game world if you allow me to do it. If you don't then I will need to find another way to tell this story (and I have a backup idea if it becomes neccessary). Because of the scope of an apocolyptic event I need your permission to do it. And you are all welcome to shape the event any way you see fit.
clearer?
Season 3 Storylines...
Almost forgot...Season 3 will be starting around May...possibly as late as June. A lot of it depends on whether we decide to hold the season 3 "premier" until after the cast party.
I am flexible on this. How much Midseason time do you all need?
Season 3 Storylines...
Lou, this was exactly the point I was trying to make in my post. That we all discuss the BB for Season 3 and decide its shape - assuming we have a BB. By the opinions expressed so far it seems to be the consensus that we do. So this thread is for discussion of that BB - be it the G'rnathan invasion or any other idea that someone has.
Season 3 Storylines...
I don't have anything huge planned for season 3, unless Ellie is going to be chosen then. I don't particularly mind what season it happens in but it's up to you guys (if you still don't mind the idea of an NPC Slayer). Please let me know your thoughts so I can plan ahead.
I like Daves idea but do agree with Louisa and Heather. I, myself last season wasn't entirely sure on the situation of the BB so I do think an open discussion is needed.
Season 3 Storylines...
I know I am a major violator when it comes to last season's BB. I didn't realize when I created Mother Mariah that she was going to become so huge. It sort of got out of hand for me. I am going to finish her story in the next few weeks and I am all for the invasion as the BB for Season 3. Daye's life is going to sort of slow down after midseason 2 and she'll be around to participate in other stories until season 4. That's when I plan on bringing her arch nemesis, Ambrose Delancre, to LA. So, I am game for heading out of the dimension or holding down the fort in season 3.
Season 3 Storylines...
I'd prefer to start season three in June - at this moment in time I have about two months till the end of my degree which means I'm up to my neck in dissertation, essay and exam deadlines, not to mention actually finding some sort of employment after I graduate (which, in case you didn't already know, is the reason why I have been absent from much msn chat time - you guys are just too damn distracting!) I have quite a few things to sort out in midseason - namely Kate and Galen's baby so if everyone else agrees to an 'extended' vacation from the rigors of in-season gameplay I would be sooooo grateful!
My final exam is in early May so by that time I'll be able to spend more time (apart from that used in job hunting) for finally writing up what's been happening with Kate in midseason. I also have a vague plan forming for in-season which I have yet to clarify, once I do I'll be sure to let you guys know and see how it can fit in with everything else.
Season 3 Storylines...
I could always use the extra time. Especially since I need Louisa quite a bit for my midseason plans. I like the idea of waiting until our big face to face as well. So, I guess I'm saying I vote for June as well. Thanks.
Season 3 Storylines...
I would prefer starting Season 3 after the Cast Party, but whatever the majority decides is fine by me. Same thing with the BB.
Which bring me to another point. I know I haven't been post-girl of late. Sincere and great apologies to all. Thankfully, Parasol's story has been rather free standing; which I'm kinda ambivalent about. This is an interactive (between players) site and I'm rather missing the point. I just don't want to engage with other players when my time (and inspiration) has been limited. Because...my singing group is ramping up. We have a bunch of performances in the next couple of months. Because...I auditioned for a writing/acting troop and got in -- they loved my one minute story of how I got mono from the yummy Peter Kershaw. Because...I've polished and submitted a couple of stories for writing competitions. Because...I'm crying salty tears over the demise of BtVS. Because, because, because.
I promised myself to contribute to a year of LABN and I've been seriously slacking -- I know. And I know you can't really kick me out until after the Cast Party -- that is if you all still want to come to beautiful downtown Reseda -- but please be patient with me and don't kick me out until after then -- ok?
Season 3 Storylines...
I do have plans for manthy, as I know I have been saying for some time. But things like my post cd manking up and holidays and GCSEs have been getting in my way. I do have a Storyline for Manthy, which I intend to start in season 3.
This gives me the chance to sort out some things first. I apologise about my absense of gameboard posts.
*APPOLLOGEES*
BoOjyPiE
Season 3 Storylines...
Ok, there is some disliking of the GBFs as the big bad, and much as I like the idea of getting to fight off a big invasion with an unlimited special effects budget, most of us don't seem to want it. So, with that in mind, am aware of at least two thoughts.
April has one of them. So, nyah, nyah! You have to post it now, April! :)
The other thought was one I had. We've had a potential big bad already show up in the form of Alaric and the Order of Valour. I'll have to work on profiles of the other members of the Five who are still alive if we decide to go with this. My thinking is simple.
The Order is dedicated to sowing conflict mainly between demon groups, with the aim of making demons stronger. Applied Darwinism. But somewhere in season one, Alaric speaks of vaugely of 'Ragnarok', a coming conflict between demons and humans. More specifically, he belives this to be the final battle, in which the fate of both races will be determined.
My thought for making Alaric the season big bad is that he has determined the time has come for Ragnarok to occur. I don't know how exactly he would bring this about as yet, but would be open to suggestions.
Season 3 Storylines...
My opinions :): There should be a BB that effects everyone because the game is alot more interesting to play and read, when everyone's characters interact.
With that said, Im up for whatever BB you wanna do. I like the invasion story. I think its a good way to get everyone to work together. If I understand correctly there would be 1 group going interdimensional, and the other protecting earth and so it forces colabs :) Im also up to hearing other ideas. The Alaric one is good, but like you said, how do you create the Ragnarock story line? Like how would the big conflict between humans and demons work?
As for starting season 3, may aswell wait till June. Like this, everyone will be able to put their full energy into it. Darian's story is about to pick up, but I will most probably be able to finish it by the end of midseason 2.
thatz all ive gotta say :)
Season 3 Storylines...
DAVE here not HEATHER so stop staring at my legs!
I am going to move the season 3 kick off to a comfortable July 6. After the party and plenty of time for things to start to roll...if we decide to roll a little earlier that would be fine but for now thats our target date.
Sherl, you write more than Greg does and we have not kicked him out. And he never let me sleep in his house. You are here as long as you want to be.
Alaric and the Order touch the backgrounds of Alice/Bunniko, Kate, Tarix, and Galen. Weve encountered them as a co-BB in season one and they are good material for BBs. Alaric is the kind of demon who would be willing to hire the GBFs as mercenaries for a Ragnarok if he had the means (and he might).
If you were to drop the invasion idea and just have Alaric summon a single Squadron (1000 GBFs) as a one-time thing with him calling the shots as to the targets and methods...that might serve both stories very well.
Or even the summoning of an "invasion-level" force might require Alaric to ramp up hostilities to an unheard-of plateau in order to harness forces that could open gateways to G'rnatha as a plotline is good...
or maybe its not G'rntha after all. Maybe he wants to do something more...The Gods of Ragnarok could be based on some ancient forces that he intends to ressurect and bring a Fenris Wolf to eat the sun--literally.
Up to you folks. Just stirring the idea pot
Season 3 Storylines...
*pokes adam in the eye* :P
the way work's been taking over my life, it's all i can do to focus on my writing to keep jade in the game. and until my mid-season plot for jade is done, i can't reveal what my thoughts for season 3 are. hehehe! i'm also trying to flesh out my proposal. it's a little sketchy at the moment.
anyway, since season 3 won't be kicking off till june or july, i'm hoping that we won't have to decide on the big bad that quickly and that i'll have a little more time to post any suggestions i have. hang in there folks... shouldn't be too long. *crosses fingers* :)
Season 3 Storylines...
I would have to re-reread the relevant section of the Gylfanginang in the Prose Edda to be certain of this (note: for those of you interested in a retelling rather than translation of Norse Myths, Kevin Crossly-Holland's edition is excellent), but tying it in with the GBFs might work well if the Ragnarok story is used as a basis - my thininkng here being that there are nine worlds to Yggdrasil, and only one, Midgardhr, is our world.
As a brief aside and additional thought on the symbolic part - we might consider mixing Pagan and Christian thought on this. Will definatly need to reread the tale and chat with Dave about Revelations. The similarities between the two stories are quite shocking.
Another way to bring about Ragnarok might be the opening of the Hellmouth. I realise we technically had it implode in Sunnydale, but had a metaphysical thought which would allow us to move it to LA - or even the suburbs of LA.
Doing something to break down dimensional barriers would also be an idea - which probably would trigger a large conflict. Both of these would end up having the effect of forcing the world to recognise demons exist, causing no small amount of chaos and paranoia.
There was an old story idea I had a while ago (before finding LABN), but never worked out specifics for, involving a cult dedicated to the revival of the long-dead God of Destruction.
I'll work over the next week or two on writing up mini-profiles of the Five. Well, the ones who are still alive, at any rate. ;) *channeling Shaeffer's Mozart* It's all up here. *taps head* The rest is just scribbling. There will be two members who we'll have to face at least: Zentara and Alaric.
Hmm... April, can you talk to me in private next time we're both on MSN? Just be sure to mention it has something to do with fighting Alaric.
Ok, shutting up for now, more thoughts later. :)
Season 3 Storylines...
Big Sis', what gave you the idea we'd ever kick you out? We love you too much :D
I would like to appologize for over posting. I know some of you would be out there cursing at me for posting 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 posts all at one time, but i have holidays and after these so-called holidays i don't think i'll be able to post much.
About ideas i have many ideas for season big bads but they are all really terrible so i won't utter them. I am good with anything that is decided, i liked the Grna...um....Grrana... the Grr' idea but i also like the Five being the BB idea too. What ever you chose, i'm game, as i really am not idea girl at the moment
Season 3 Storylines...
That pretty much sums up my situation at the moment too April. Though I am still spending lots of time at my computer it tends to just be essay, research, revision, dissertation, presentation, application - followed by periods of freaking out about the amount of work I have to do.
Needless to say LABN is the last thing on my mind at the moment (curse me down for saying it) and I have SO much to write at the moment for midseason with a few mini-storylines just gearing up and obviously Kate and Galen's baby thrown in the mix.
Once I have a bit more free time on my hands I'll try and throw a few ideas about with the rest of you.
Season 3 Storylines...
Just to reiterate... really Heather now. As I type, Dave is somewhere over the Pacific Ocean - flying the wrong damn way. :cry:
I have to say, I'd be sad to see the G'rnathan Battle Fiend invasion disappear as a storyline. I think it really has the potential to be the sort of BB that will truly impact on every single character in the game, so all characters will get involved with the main plot. However, that's just my opinion and I'll go with whatever the majority decide.
Adam's idea for ramping up Alaric sounds pretty fascinating, too. It looks like it needs rather more fleshing out at this stage, but as an initial concept it certainly could go places. But I'd better warn you, Adam - if it comes to a vote between the Order of Valor and the G'rnathan Battle Fiends, I'll be voting a resounding yes for the GBF invasion. :)
Season 3 Storylines...
Possible fleshing out, already bounced off of Heather, for the Order route:
I'm taking some of Marsilio Ficino's astrological music/orphic singing as the basis for this. Part of his music-spirit theory is the idea that music acts 'directly' on the soul, making certain kinds of music used to bring the spirit more in harmony with varios planets. My idea is a varient on this.
The idea is that there are certain 'songs of power' which have the power to influence the thoughts or powers of individuals more dramatically. There might be, for example, a song which if played (say, humed or actually sung) allowed a human to move faster or reach a level of strength somewhere between human and slayer. Or even to affect some object in the world - imagine, if you can, a song able to make a rock levitate.
Naturally, it takes a person with a special kind of talent and ability to pull this off. But here's my thought.
One of these songs has the ability to incite conflict - acting on at least humans and demons. More specifically, my thoughts are that it would incite a number of emotions which make violent conflict more likely to the point where an innocent look could set someone off, given enough time. Haven't fully worked out the metaphysics of this particular piece yet, but my thought is that it's singing could effectively incite Ragnarok simply by triggering enough fights that the humans would become aware of demons, unable to deny their existance - triggering the large, massive hunt for them, and therefore the fight between demons and humans.
Season 3 Storylines...
I am going to chime in on this...when I added the timeline to the City information page I discovered that Riots are part of the history of LA. From the Zoot Suit Riots of '43 to the Riots in '94 there have been numerous times when LA has erupted into violence.
I put it to you that something inherent in the LA undertone...that ambient sound is close to that tune of which Adam is speaking...and that that may be part of the attraction of LA for demons as well.
A subtle shift of tone can throw LA into another riot like the blink of an eye. But it would need to be something big....hint...hint...
Season 3 Storylines...
Because i am still out of ideas and that i would like to add a word in, i have heard that certain frequencies of sound can be very powerful, ok ok, so i saw it on some Sci-Fi show, maybe Star Trek or something or the other.
Anywayz, i like the sound idea but it needs more brainstorming, as in the BB, maybe we can bring in a God-like creature with a high level of skill in the sound department, ok ok so it sounds like a Glory rip off, just brainstorming, hehe.
Sound can be used to perhaps move objects, even crack or break up objects, if a person was put in a small room and the sound was turned REALLY high, the person would eventually die (not giving a detailed description of how, because it gives me the creeps...)....
BTW, great idea Adam.
Another Idea
I got to thinking, in part, about certain metaphysics of the Ancients which would allow the song to work - and while playing a game later, got inspired to come up with yet another idea. This doesn't need to be for season 3 per se, but can be used anytime, even though it will involve a non-standard apocolypse scenario.
Initial Metaphysics: Neoplatonism, Reality, and the All-Soul
The upshot of this idea is that, to a large extent, we don't have to come up with metaphysics - just an interpretation of the classics. :)
Plato gets the blame for this, particularly Plontinus' interpretation. Plato had a two-level view of reality: there is on the one hand the sensible world, which is a shadowy reflection of the higher realm of the forms. It is an intellectual, and spiritual realms where you find the essential nature of things. Chairs exist in the physical world; in the higher realm is the "Form" of chairs.
There is also something of a thought from Heraclitus developed by later thinkers, in terms of the logos and some ideas (partly my own, partly inspired by my understanding of stoic/neoplatonic metaphyics, which plays into modern magical theory) about the world-soul.
The logos is the rational structure to the universe, a kind of ordering we are all in constant contact with but most people do not realise. All things happen in accord with the logos, and "humans prove unable to understand it, both before hearing it when they have first heard it." (Heraclitus fragment) There are some indications we can resist this determinism, perhaps by becoming more self-determined.
The world-soul is much what it sounds like. It is the soul of the concious universe.
The Villain
Now that this is taken care of, can explain the villain idea. :)
Enter a demon or powerfull magician who has sought one thing, and one thing all of his (I am using his as shorthand for his or her) life: understanding of the universe. This person has been lead to both magic and mysticism, and a ritual had a a powerful result for him. It resulted in actual contact with the world-soul, and understanding of the logos to permit self-determination.
Attempting a ritual to come into greater contact with the Truth lead to a radical transformative experience for him. He managed to transform into pure conciousness, for a moment becoming 'one' with the realm of the forms and the world-soul - only to be ultimatly returned to this world.
The resultant experience drove him a bit around the bend, and lead him to believe that the world's problem is its distinct lack of contact with the logos and has determined to bring about its unity with the world-soul. Of course, this will end in his bringing about the annihilation of the physical world.
More Metaphysics
"Okay, Adam," you're saying, "How the hell does such a non-physical being interact with the world, and how do we stop it?" My idea is borrowing from the hidden unity - to some extent, the sensual and the realm of forms are opposites, but both are needed for our existance. That's why the villain went 'insane' from the experience; it would require letting go of 'self' which he refused to do.
To interact with the world, the villain must create a physical 'construct' of a body which has roughtly the same dimensions as his body at the time of the transformation. However, he can shed the corporeal body at will, and move to an existance as an energy/conciousness form - but this must remain partially physical in order to move (it makes no sense for him to be anywhere if this is not the case).
Stopping the villain requires either the containment of the conciousness (say, binding it to some object other than the construct body or a more purely magical prison) so that it cannot act on its own with the world. Or the magical destruction of his conciousness.