Beyond Alpha Centauri::::::::Discussion Thread 8

[Frankychan]

Just checking in after a loooong hiatus.

Things haven't changed, I see....other than Mr. Prez trying to get into a fight in OT.

[Mr. President]

I usually don't go in for things like that, but I'd been online too long and my brain was starting to auto-shutdown.

Roleplay Team, eh? Hmm . . .

[Mr. President]

After more than a month of dormancy, Beyond Alpha Centauri returns. Enjoy. Or not. They're your eyes, and you can read whatever you want.

[Frankychan]

It lives!!!!

Sorry ppl, I've been slacking off waaay more than the normal Frankychan....I'll try to do better!

.......no wise cracks ppl

[GeneralTacticus]

Okay, I've finally gone back and read the last post made in BAC involving the Cadre, but I think picking up on that will be a bit difficult without Sprayber. I'll start working on a post to move the situation on the Cadre planet itself along a bit.

[Sovereign]

Anyone remember me?


I suffered a string of bad luck the past 3 months.

You see, my computer had a "meltdown" then I had to get it repaired. After that, I was hoping to sign back onto Apolyton to get back into the story writing with you guys.

Then Apolyton won't let me sign in for some reason. It kept that up for a month and half, until X-mas.

Then finally I managed to fix the log in problem. It turned out to be my computer again. Again! I can't enter most forums on my computer, not just Apolyton, but other sites like CivFanatics, SpaceBattles, or Sci Fi related forums, etc.

Then I had tons of work to do after X-mas. I'm now working in a computer lab all day on Monday and Wed. so I'm able to sign in Apolyton anytime from there, and there's no time limit or restrictions from the lab itself.

So, hopefully I'm back... if no more bad luck or "mysterious" jinx's happen to me.



So, what have I missed in the past 3 months? I'll have to go all the way back and reread my posts to get back my "continuing story arc" feel. Then I gotta digest any new information or BAC plot points. Then think of my response to it all.

Then finally create a story segment.



I'm gonna see BAC to the end, even though I may be out of action at times due to work or computer trouble. I'm going to keep my promise.


Laters,
Academician Randius Zakharov

[Mr. President]

Sovereign lives!

[Frankychan]

It's good to see your back Sovereign! That sucks that all that crud happened...but it's good to see you again!

And looky there, GeneralTacticus is also here! It's like a reunion all over again.

Works been biting me in the a** though.....and I gotta plan another tour of our lovely local correctional facility for another class....whoopie.

Good seeing you guys again!

[Sovereign]

Guys, do I smell or what? I come in and suddenly everyone left except President and Franky.




Is it just me, or is BAC in a serious slump? I've only seen 2 replies after my recent post in this thread in the last week.

I got some ideas about "role-play" and "secret projects" and a few other ideas to tie it more into SMAC-X game-universe. If there's anyone still alive out there, I'd like to discuss some of my ideas. I gotta put it all down on paper.


Hopefully you guys are either having a bad time like I did, or have writers block that can be resolved soon.

Laters.

[History Guy]

Hey there Sovereign! We thought Emperor Yang had bitten your head off, or something! Good to see you back, old chap.

I would like to post...but I'd like to see Kassiopeia do his long expected diplomatic meeting one first, the one he said he was working on for...months!! Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!

[Mr. President]

Don't worry, Sovereign, we're just lazy because we're all on vacation. When I go back to college in a month or so and Beyond Alpha Centauri becomes a viable alternative to doing actual work, you should see me in here a lot more often.

Lonestar has departed indefinitely, Mellian is gone for good by administrative injunction (remind me to tell you about that one time), Sprayber is temporarily absent, and it doesn't look like Urban Ranger wants in any more. (If you're reading this, Urban Ranger, feel free to correct me.)

As for your ideas, feel free to post them if you like.

[Frankychan]

Originally posted by History Guy
Hey there Sovereign! We thought Emperor Yang had bitten your head off, or something! Good to see you back, old chap.

.....wait......hey, that's a shot a Yang!

My situation at Apolyton has gone from coming onto the site every day to once or twice a week thanks to my new classes this semester and work (i don't stay at a comp. terminal that long anymore).

Oh well...

[Kassiopeia]

Originally posted by History Guy
I would like to post...but I'd like to see Kassiopeia do his long expected diplomatic meeting one first, the one he said he was working on for...months!! Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!

There are a few problems with that.
1.) There are several, several posts of BAC I have never read.
2.) I haven't the foggiest of what I should write about, because of 1.)
3.) I have a chronic lack of time, since I'm going to school, doing other stuff, reading, playing, watching anime all night long, etc.
4.) I have no inspiration for SMAC or any of it's descendants since I can't install SMAC on my old computer (not enough HDD space).
5.) I have a bad case of the Blank Page Syndrome...
6.) And even if I got rid of it, my more urgent projects are a) my novel (which isn't progressing that well) and b) a comical scetch I'm supposed to write to be played in an AnimeConvention.

So you see, my daily, weekly or montly schedules have little BAC in them, and even if they did, I'd still need the willpower and persistency to be arsed to read the last few posts, and get back on track and figure out what the heck I should write about.

I haven't even had the time to continue my Greg and Filkins plotline...

[Sovereign]

Hello, ye faithful ones!

I shalt presenth these ideas of interest.


1. Secret Projects:

I think if the factions did Secret Projects, it'd add an element of interest and uniqueness.

We could think about some Secret Project that exemplifies a faction's strength. For example, the Hive could do a "Cloning Vats" type of Secret Project, while the Drones could build a "Self Aware Colony" style of Project.

We can use our imaginations to devise Secret Projects, but make ones that are feasible. Remember, we're not limited to Chiron anymore. We have whole solar systems worth of resources to use.

So we can afford to have a little more grand Secret Projects than the Alpha Centauri game, because of the additional resources.



2. Tying up loose ends:

Some people quit or are gone indefinitely, like Mellian and Lonestar. How should we continue our story arcs if the author keeps back the whole group for a long time?

Such as, my University's story arc with Lonestar's Protectorate of Man faction. Since Lonestar will be absent for an indefinite period of time, how should I manage that story arc?

Leaving it to rot or "grow mold", or leaving unanswered plot lines isn't exactly the best way of writing stories.

How about this? We take it in our own hands, if the author has absouletely no intention of coming back, or kicked out like Mellian?

For example, to "tie-up" the story arc I had planned with the Protectorate of Man...

I'd have to take up the mantle of the Protectorate, controlling both the Protectorate and University. So I can keep the story arc going on, with posts between both sides. I keep doing this for the remainder of the story arc. Then when I finish the story arc, I leave the Protectorate as a neutral faction, open if anyone else wants to write for it, or if Lonestar does come back.


That way, we can still maintain a sense of continuity, without agonizing dead-ends or unresolved plot lines that could have been interesting ones, etc.




These 2 ideas are the only ones I can think of right now. More are coming to a computer near you very soon!


Laters.

[Mr. President]

Both of those sound fine to me. I think you're right that plotlines probably shouldn't be left hanging, particularly ones that were once major like the University-Protectorate relations. So go ahead. Urban Ranger doesn't seem to be coming back, so I can pick up the Gaians again for a while, if need be. (I sort of started a plotline but never finished it. )

If anyone has ideas for Beyond Alpha Centauri Secret Projects, I suggest they post them as they think of them.