Proposing A New Direction for Season 10

[X]

I think I found an easier way to explain everything for some people to understand.

Ultimates version of Star Trek

We're taking some of the things that we think work and starting new stories with new civilizations and boldly going where our creativity takes us. We're using characters familiar to us, but cleaning up their histories.

[Meds]

That's what I mean mean, Meds, for me I felt the story had sort of run it's course as far as my participation in it and my character. Even last season when I stopped writing I kept reading and listening to the podcast and enjoyed all of your collective work. I said this is not a knock on the work everyone put's in or it's quality, it's just I personally haven't felt engaged to participate. I really like the idea of using the new time line, I just like the concept of making this in the same era in which the films are now being made. I think it's exciting and dynamic and fresh and would be fun. I understand what Chris is saying about set up, but maybe we don't need all of that to get it going.

Think about what Chris has said above, this a new start to get your charcter back into a fesh story. Karath is a great character and like i said Dunn is such a brilliant character i'd love to see you put your enenrgy into him in this new season. he is you after all (well a younger version ;)  ) .

[ElfManDan]

I like the new direction idea personally. Actually I think my characters could really benefit from a complete overhauling. I don't know exactly what I want for them, or how I want them to be, and I can't say I'd change them completely, but I'm game for a change in the RPG.

[Bryancd]

...devishsly handsome as well. Meds..... ;) I think where I am having an issue is I am really getting into the current "new" Trek universe but I really have no idea what that universe will look like 150 years or so later. I want to play in the current one. K'arath wouldn't be around, but I could play Dunn as my main guy and most all of you have characters that could just jump right in or be modified to fir into the time line. Like Aeric James wouldn't be Borg augmented but just about everyone else is either human or a species which appears to be part of the re-boot universe, or can be if we decide it. Let's man one of those cool ships we see at the space station! Let's pick up in a universe where Vulcan's are refugees. Jen, you could re-invent Sevryll, think of all the different directions we could go.

[X]

This is also a chance to have a new character that was there from the beginning. If X wasn't working for you at their Y job or in their Z history, try something new. Work it in and invest in the history so that the character can write itself.

[X]

...devishsly handsome as well. Meds..... ;) I think where I am having an issue is I am really getting into the current "new" Trek universe but I really have no idea what that universe will look like 150 years or so later. I want to play in the current one. K'arath wouldn't be around, but I could play Dunn as my main guy and most all of you have characters that could just jump right in or be modified to fir into the time line. Like Aeric James wouldn't be Borg augmented but just about everyone else is either human or a species which appears to be part of the re-boot universe, or can be if we decide it. Let's man one of those cool ships we see at the space station! Let's pick up in a universe where Vulcan's are refugees. Jen, you could re-invent Sevryll, think of all the different directions we could go.

The universe, because it has worked damned hard in fixing itself, looks almost identical visually to the current setting we have and the current ship that we are using. There will be some new looking ships as a part of our universe, but ours is not one of them.

Instead of picking up helping vulcans, we're going to be picking up helping the other pointy eared race. We're also taking a page for BSG.  If we focus on building a good foundation for the characters, the rest will work itself out. I'm personally more worried about the characters. The look will fix itself. We could describe something in text and if you asked everyone to draw what they see, I doubt it's ever exactly the same.

I don't want to sound like George Michaels or Russel Watson, but the key word is faith.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Hmm, going to throw out my questions/ideas. 

What about characters that made a lot of mistakes?  Mine is probably the prime example of our RPG.  I made quite a number of mistakes which ultimately led to him being killed to save the character.  Would such a character be allowed to return?  I feel that I could possibly bring him back. (obviously a lot of changes/fixes) 

Second, it almost sounds like your trying to hard to fix the universe to the current one.  Is all the work truly worth it?  It to me seems like we should just do a full-reboot of our current universe rather than do this new one.  Thoughts?

Third, how many people are going to be involved in this if we decide to go through with it? 


I'd love to return to writing.  I haven't done any sort of "role-playing" writing since I left this RPG and I feel I have the time, energy and imagination to try again. 

King

[Jen]

If we switched to TOS era, Bryan, you would be more involved? You would rejoin the RPG and be consistent in your posts?  My impression has been that you were too busy to write. That's okay, it has been the case for a couple of our writers since day one of the RPG. But if I did make this change and you didn't jump back in, you would disappoint me beyond words.  :klingon:

I welcome everyone's thoughts, but the RPG is not going to write itself. I need people to take an active role in drawing up a new outline, if you are opposed to the old one, and driving the story from beginning to end. If you want to change this RPG, you need to be consistently involved, especially if we incorporate your ideas into the game.

Personally, TOS is not my Trek... not my favorite Trek I should say, but I would switch the RPG to that timeline if the majority of writers wanted to make the jump. But we do have a Klingons, one human raised by Klingons, and Ferengi on the Arabella. We'd have to do some 'creative thinking' to get them into the story set in the past...creative thinking is what we are doing now with the future supernova idea.

Writers, let me know if you agree with Bryan and if the majority wants to go that route, I'm fine with it. I don't care as long as good stories come as a result. But if you do agree with his proposal, make a New Year's resolution to stick it out in the seasons from start to finish. It's not fair to the regular players to have someone who doesn't practice with the team show up at the state championship game to play as a starter.


It takes a lot of work to plan ahead to the next season. We didn't dream this up in a day. It was a few months worth of back and forth, "hey what if...."  Luckily I usually have help from Kenny and Chris and a few other writers here and there. This time Meds and Mike brainstormed with us about their own characters.  Even though I have good help, I always worry about how the new ideas will be received. I don't want anyone to be disappointed or discouraged. I hope no one has been turned off by this idea we posted. It wasn't my intention to turn people away, but by the same token I'm sort of responsible for keeping this ship in space. I'm constantly trying to think of ways to keep the RPG fresh, fun and inclusive. I am not soliciting a pat on the back, I get that often from people without asking for it...I just want to let people know that this game is fun, but it takes the motivation and dedication to keep it running.

Having said that, the forum members always seem to inspire and encourage me through the enjoyment they get from reading/playing this game. I like to see the comments of readers and writers that they leave about characters in the OOC. Patting each other on the back for well written scenes, encouraging eachother and picking each others brains for ideas on the next scene.... I like the teamwork aspect and the fun they seem to be having while doing it. That's the point of this game and it's why I keep moderating and writing in it. If you dropped out or haven't joined yet, get into the game and collaborate with these guys. It's fun, otherwise we wouldn't be doing it.

[Jen]

Hmm, going to throw out my questions/ideas.  

What about characters that made a lot of mistakes?  Mine is probably the prime example of our RPG.  I made quite a number of mistakes which ultimately led to him being killed to save the character.  Would such a character be allowed to return?  I feel that I could possibly bring him back. (obviously a lot of changes/fixes)  

Second, it almost sounds like your trying to hard to fix the universe to the current one.  Is all the work truly worth it?  It to me seems like we should just do a full-reboot of our current universe rather than do this new one.  Thoughts?

Third, how many people are going to be involved in this if we decide to go through with it?  


I'd love to return to writing.  I haven't done any sort of "role-playing" writing since I left this RPG and I feel I have the time, energy and imagination to try again.  

King

As I posted early, fixing problems with characters is one of the main reasons we proposed this and I mentioned that dead or MIA characters could return. But part of the reason we want to fix things is because of characters who dropped out with no resolution. So if you want to return, please consider whether you are going to stick around or not.

The people actively writing in this game are greater in number than they've ever been before. There have been several people who have already posted that they like this idea and will return to the story. Eric, Rick, Meds, Mike, Chris, Sheppard...Dan said he liked it too, though he did have a question.

Again, I am proposing an idea that will give everyone a chance to do what they want with their characters. If they want to chunk their character and start over they have the chance to do that. If they want to change something about their character it's open season. If they want to leave them as is...that's fine. I do not understand the opposition to a soft reboot. It does not make sense to me to scrap everything and start over. I've seen other forums where two RPGs were running. Maybe that could be an option. But it is not fair to the consistent writers to ask them start over on a character that they are just now learning to write after several seasons. I'm adamantly opposed to starting all over.

[Bryancd]

Oh, no Jen, I don't mean TOS, I mean new movie era, like picking up right where the film ends. And yes, although I tried to be a full time participant in the last two seasons, I wasn't able to keep up writing due to personal time constraints. However, the summer gives me a break from racing and my training will be more flexible and I will have more time.

I have been involved with the RPG from it's inception, have read for the Ready Room and the drama you are putting together, have encouraged and complimented every one involved, but I say one thing critical and I get jumped. I understand the investment the core RPG writers put into the work, and it is a work of art. Sometimes, it's not perfect but it's the result of blood, sweat, and tears and that's all that matters. It's strong enough to take a few knocks, especially coming from someone who loves it like I do. Was I engaged by the last season? Not so much. Was it bad? Of course not, you guys did great. Am I in a position or have the creative chops to lead us in a new direction? Not on your life, you all are talented beyond me. If this thread is a discussion of Season X, I wanted to share my thoughts. If the plan is to do as you guy's have outlined, I'm game to give it a go. :)

[X]

I'm 100% for what's been suggested in the post 2387 era.

[billybob476]

...now can we all be friends again? :)

[Bryancd]

I'm 100% for what's been suggested in the post 2387 era.

What does that mean, Chris? I don't have my Trek time line chart in fron of me! ;)

[X]

I'm 100% for what's been suggested in the post 2387 era.

What does that mean, Chris? I don't have my Trek time line chart in fron of me! ;)

2387 was the date mentioned in the countdown comic. It's the year that Romulas was destroyed. I think we should pick up shortly after that. I'm about to start another thread with another idea that will help make sense of some of the stuff.

[Jen]

Oh, no Jen, I don't mean TOS, I mean new movie era, like picking up right where the film ends. And yes, although I tried to be a full time participant in the last two seasons, I wasn't able to keep up writing due to personal time constraints. However, the summer gives me a break from racing and my training will be more flexible and I will have more time.

I have been involved with the RPG from it's inception, have read for the Ready Room and the drama you are putting together, have encouraged and complimented every one involved, but I say one thing critical and I get jumped. I understand the investment the core RPG writers put into the work, and it is a work of art. Sometimes, it's not perfect but it's the result of blood, sweat, and tears and that's all that matters. It's strong enough to take a few knocks, especially coming from someone who loves it like I do. Was I engaged by the last season? Not so much. Was it bad? Of course not, you guys did great. Am I in a position or have the creative chops to lead us in a new direction? Not on your life, you all are talented beyond me. If this thread is a discussion of Season X, I wanted to share my thoughts. If the plan is to do as you guy's have outlined, I'm game to give it a go. :)

I am protective of the folks I'm moderating and the work they're doing.... and I did say that I would be willing to go with your idea if the majority liked it. I'm trying to be diplomatic here.

I'm glad your up to the challenge of rejoining. We've missed K'arath.