History of the Galaxy II Discussion Thread

[Captain Kwok]

I'm glad this game is getting back on track. I'm looking forward to having some time to write some fiction connected to the game again.

[Unknown_Enemy]

the most difficult thing about writing game stories?

To link what's happening in the game with the main plot I have in mind for my specie. To keep the plot running despite what others are doing.

[sachmo]

The hardest thing about this game is trying to create interesting characters/plotlines. Since I'm not fighting for my life in this game, I have to be more creative than in the Remorhaz story!

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by capnq:
A question for my fellow Historians, and anyone else who's tried their hand at game fiction: what do you find to be the most difficult thing about writing game stories?

I have trouble ending a scene. I haven't been quite satisfied with where my Last two vignettes stopped, but I couldn't figure out where the dialog would go from there.

Yes, endings are hard, and beginings are too. Writing is a lot like flying a plane. The takeoffs and landings are the hardest part. Once you are up in the air the plane does most of the work, you just have to point the nose in the right direction and let it fly itself.

Originally posted by Unknown_Enemy:

quote:

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the most difficult thing about writing game stories?

To link what's happening in the game with the main plot I have in mind for my specie. To keep the plot running despite what others are doing.

---

I think you will find the stories are more interesting and have a more natural feel if you don't try to hard on this point. Simply write about what you want to write about, from your empires point of view. Try not to react to what the others write, unless they have direct communications to you in their Posts. Write about what they do in game. Allow the readers to put the two together in their minds. It will leave more to the imagination, and make them (the readers) feel more like they are part of what is going on.

Originally posted by sachmo:
The hardest thing about this game is trying to create interesting characters/plotlines. Since I'm not fighting for my life in this game, I have to be more creative than in the Remorhaz story!

This will come. You will have times in this game where you are fighting quite hard for your life. (Escpecially if you are close to the Katana. )

[Unknown_Enemy]

I think you will find the stories are more interesting and have a more natural feel if you don't try to hard on this point.

I disagree.
Problem is not to try too hard, but to keep the focus on it despite other specie's actions. But a condition to that would be to have a long plot that COULD fit in the game. To have one of such is players choice when they create their race.

Try not to react to what the others write, unless they have direct communications to you in their Posts.

And this seems to contredict your first sentence. Without interaction, you could just play alone....
I will take it as "what you read is not what your specie is aware of".

You will have times in this game where you are fighting quite hard for your life. (Escpecially if you are close to the Katana.)

They are my immediate neighbourgs, so, what if you are struggling NOT to fight ?

[geoschmo]

Yes you could write alone, and many people do. Sachmo has done so in his Rehmoraz story and it's one of the most popular pieces of SEIV fan fiction out there.

The idea of the History game is not that people are cooperating on a single story each writing different pieces, but that each of us are writing the same story from a different point of view. It is not neccesary at all for your Posts to relate to the other peoples Posts. Write them as if they are completely different stories, and let the reader make the connections where they are appropriate.

The whole idea of the reader knowing more than the characters is the basis of the classic literature form of tragedy.

The bit about the Katana was just a poke at Sachmo since he was saying he was having trouble because of not enough fighting. The fighting will happen, sure enough.

EDIT: Of course I am not saying you cannot coperateivly write a story arc with another player if you want to. The only rule in the History game is you can't "rewrite history", that is you can't lose a fleet in a battle and say your fleet wasn't destroyed. The rest is up to you.

Geoschmo

[ December 04, 2002, 03:01: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Unknown_Enemy]

each of us are writing the same story from a different point of view

I don't think so. Is that what you think or what you would like to happen ?

That statement was ok for Hystory 1, when all was evolving around two races in a small quadrant, but now there are much more players right from the beginning, and the universe is huge.

With the current universe helped by the mod, you can bet the 5 tribes will have nothing to do with the Katanas for a very long time, while most of the Imperium's neighbourgs will focus on it with almost nothing related to what's doing the tribes.

All we will have is different stories happening in the same universe for a very long time.

[Gimboid]

Hey come on! you people have such limited information to go on and u assume the Katana is an all out hostile race

Now it could well turn out that way, but if it does its one of those situations where it turned out like that because other people said thats how it would end up. So be careful what u say about my race

The fuedal aspect of my race does indicate warlike, but doesnt neccessitate that they be that way. Noone here can claim to have seen a large Katana fleet poised for assault on the neighbours... they are too busy concentrating on their own internal clan strife to worry about other races atm. That could change instantly if another race was todo something that caught the attention of the Mahatsuhito clan however

[Unknown_Enemy]

From geoschmo
I can't be sure

Ignorance Is Strength.

From Gimboid
u assume the Katana is an all out hostile race

War Is Peace.

[sachmo]

Maybe I could buy the Katana empire...Invexus is making some serious cash at this point. However, the natives are restless...