Flipz

Odd question (because I can TOTALLY see this coming up in the near future): if someone throws a Smoke bomb, but one of the party members wants to stay and fight, is it possible for them to ignore the smoke bomb while the rest of the party escapes? What if said Party Member has Flee; can they use that to Flee the party and rejoin the battle?

I honestly don't like the idea of "1 Quest, 1 Episode". That would actually make things harder to do, in terms of keeping things interesting; many Quests involve a LOT of talking/out-of-combat encounters, followed by big, long battles, lather, rinse, repeat. A TON of editing would be required to keep things from getting monotonous. By having multiple groups, however, and cutting back and forth between the two, though, we can stay true to the source material without being too boring, plus it makes the Hall work as a viable source of plot. Also keep in mind, the point of a TV series is to stretch out the story so that there's enough plot and character development to last for multiple seasons; if we use up our source material too quickly, we'd have to come up with new material that would then disregard whatever happened here in the RPG after that point. As I see it: Episode 1/Pilot: Introduction to Heroica (involves flashbacks of the general history of the world and the Orcish Wars LotR-style, followed by a brief overview of the House rivalries, the Test Quest, and the massive massacre of Heroes). The second half of the episode would follow Atramor as he walks into the Hall (just as the actual Heroica Hall topic has it) and meets a few Heroes (Docken, Rufindel, and Nyx, naturally, because they were the first 3 party leaders, as well as, I think, Ellaria and Boomingham, as they would round things out nicely), ending in the arrival of messengers to the Hall with the sign-ups for Quests 1, 2, and 3. Episode 2: Roughly the first half of each of the first three Quests, interspersed with each other so as to increase drama and tension. Would focus in a little bit on new characters, like introducing Hybros, Cronk, Tensi, Jess, Althior, and Daggerfall, so the actual ratio would probably be closer to 1/3. Episode 3: The remainder of the first 3 Quests. As the Quests wrap up, we'd have a few segments back at the Hall introducing new characters, focusing primarily on the Heroes that would go on Quest 4. Episode 4: First half would be Heroica Hall, as the first batch of Heroes come back and focusing in on the Quest 4 Heroes. Alexis would be officially introduced here, even though she appeared as a background character in Quest 2 (remember, this is actually a viable tactic for introducing new characters!), as this would be the point where the online-only webisode about Cave Sounds would spin off from. The second half would be the start of Quest 4, interspersed with Hall stuff. Episode 5: Elphaba arrives. Quest 4 would continue, Quest 5 would depart to be covered by webisode, and Quest 6 would take most of the spotlight; the episode would end just as Quest 4 meets the Brobric Elves for the first time, and the Heroes of Quest 6 meet Donny Dozenhands (but before they speak to him). Episode 6: Quest 6 conclusion, interspersed with Quest 4 business and the mysterious sign-ups for Quest 7. This episode would end with the Heroes signing up for Q7 and with the Quest 4 Heroes signing the treaty with the Brobric Elves. Episode 7: Quest 7, full stop. Fully the first half of the Quest would take over the episode; the opening of the Quest is a perfect cold open for an episode, and the action wouldn't let up until around the Arena fight between Jess and Henry. As they ride up the elevator, we would return to Quest 4. Episode would end with Quest 4 making a discovery in the Lion Knights' camp, and with the Heroes conspiring to begin their escape in Quest 7. Episode 8: Conclusion of Quests 4 and 7. Unlike here, small portions of Cronk's side-Quest would be seen, mainly when the Q7 Heroes are talking about him. The creation of Zoot's Bane and Zoot's Reaper would be given special focus, indicating "this will be important later". Episode ends with the Heroes all returning to the Hall, safe but uneasy about what has happened. Mid-season finale. Webisodes: Quest 8 would take place as a webisode series, being released weekly during the mid-season break and contiunuing once the main serises resumes. Episode 9: After a good amount of time at the Hall (including the departure of Elphaba), Quests 9 and 10 would depart, and Tarn would get a proper introduction to the main series (even though he's a regular from the webisodes), as would Hoke. Harkenshire would be introduced as well. Episode 10: Quest 11 departs, and Quests 9 and 10 continue. Quest 9 will probably finish up during this episode, depending on pacing. Episode 11: The Quest 12 Heroes chat at the hall, before signing up for the new Quest, which would depart about halfway through the episode. Meanwhile, Quests 10 and 11 continue, 10 likely to completion. During the Hall scenes, hints are slowly dropped for Quest 13, and one of the Q13 Heroes might be introduced. Episode 12: Quest 11 definitely finishes in this episode, and Quest 12 as well. Meanwhile, back at the Hall, the rest of the Q13 Heroes are introduced, and at the end of the episode the Quest Notice for Q13 is posted. Episode 13: Quests 13, and 14 depart. Unlike most of the previous Quests, there is no notice for Quest 14; from this point on, Quest notices are only featured when something important needs to be foreshadowed. To fill in the gaps, there might be a little Hall material. Quest 16 begins via webisode and goes viral. Episode 14: Quests 13 and 14 are NOT covered; instead, 15 and 18 depart the Hall. Episode 15: Quests 13 and 14 continue up to their respective climaxes; Quest 15 continues, Quest 18 reaches its climax. Tension at the Hall builds as we near the Season 1 finale. Episode 16: Quest 15 reaches its climax, and there is a TON of action in the Season 1 finale as all four active Quests reach their conclusions. The Heroes begin their long journeys back to the Hall, some triumphant, some saddened, but all victorious in some way. Meanwhile, back at the Hall, new Heroes (Q17) arrive, and a notice of great portent (Q19) is posted... So yeah, that's Season 1. Season 2 would pick up with the dual epics of Quests 17 and 19, as the Heroes back at the Hall deal with the consequences of their actions. Quest 20 would also leave in the second episode of the season, with the De'kra-Arthur communication being a convenient narrative device for switching back and forth between Quests. Meanwhile, the web series would, for the first time, feature two Quests running at once (Quests 21 and 22), though unlike the main show each webisode would still focus on only one Quest in a given issue. I could go on (and probably will in the near future), but you probably get the idea by this point.

WARNING: Off-Topic Content Ahead! This is one of three main reasons why Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is not as good as the others, as well as why The-Indiana-Jones-Movie-That-Must-Not-Be-Named was so terrible: both overused CGI. Now, contrary to popular belief, it's not just the looks that cause audiences to rebel against it; the big problem is the effect on the actors. Speaking as an actor, I can testify firsthand as to how hard it is to deliver a convincing performance on a featureless stage. A huge portion of acting is about finding and using mental image to transform your perspective into that of the character; for example, on-stage you don't see John the plumber who acts in his spare time, you see Tybalt, or Horatio, or Banquo, or whatever other character he is playing. The problem is, in order for a performance to be emotionally moving, you need a mental image that is excruciatingly specific, one that will affect you precisely like the real thing would. On a completed, fully-dressed set with all props and in full costume, you can draw from the reality of these elements, and so you do not have to create an image for them; they are there. On an empty blue- or green-screen stage, you have to create everything, and given the fact that film actors do not get nearly as much rehearsal time as theatrical actors, it's no wonder that actors thrown up in front of a green screen can't help but make vague, unspecific choices that are emotionally vague and unmoving. Of course, it is the actor's job to come on set fully prepared to the absolute best of their ability, but every tangible element you can give your actor represents a huge amount of mental effort that the actor can then devote to some other element of their performance; even if you end up erasing the entire physical object and adding a new one in later, the actor's performance will be exponentially better because of the immersion of the physical environment.

It's actually quite possible, a la LOST, to have several plotlines going concurrently. So, for example, Quests 1, 2, and 3 could go on at the same time, interspersed with bits from the Hall. Not unlike how things are currently run, actually. Speaking of Dastan, it, naturally, would have a season all to itself. It'd also be possible to have a "main series" that followed the "primary" plots at the time (generally speaking, this would be the Sandy Quests interspersed with material from the bigger Quest arcs like Wren, the Lion Knights, the Proggs, and Haroka), with a series or two of "webisodes", which would cover the smaller, one-off Quests (i.e. Cave Sounds, Winter Problems, etc.)

Heroica would work rather well as a television series, I think--the episodic, serial nature would be well-suited for it, and TV shows can support a far larger cast of characters than most other "complete" forms of media. It would work well as a comic book series as well, though, for somewhat similar reasons.

Can someone in the Hall please post something? Double-posting in the Library is one thing since it hadn't been posted in for over a month. DP-ing the Hall, though...

I thought "Croise" rhymed with/sounded similar to "choice". I thought CJP was foreshadowing something. Random irrelevant question about Wren (until Zeph gets on with an answer, let's speculate like crazy to pass the time ): Would Wren appreciate the idea of a mashup/medley? I'm imagining in particular really complicated and seamless mashups like the ones created by musical geniuses and , along with all their .

We need more NPC-Hero and Hero-NPC bribery in Heroica, period.

Quest 44 is basically failed already, I think. The Heroes have a choice between making all Heroes who could POSSIBLY deal area-damage sit the Round out (and thus taking a bunch of Free Hits that will KO most of the party), or else killing Shaun. Wait...the Pheles rod was Mechanic. Shouldn't that make it completely immune to a Wind spell, thus meaning it's still there?

*stops saying what I was going to say and PMs Brickdoctor instead*

I'm slowly warming up to the concept, but if they mess with EU canon the deal's off. Relevant quote from a discussion I'm part of on another (MUCH smaller) LEGO fan forum: "George Lucas has the same problem that Gene Roddenberry had in the later years of his life: he started to see himself as a visionary, as a person gifted above the rest of society. As a result, he lost touch with the rest of the world, and ceased to produce works that would connect to said world on the same level as his original masterpieces." Pretty much sums it up. As long as Disney doesn't mess with the canon and doesn't make the same mistakes as Lucas (and Roddenberry), it'll all be fine.

Quote from a discussion I'm part of on another (MUCH smaller) LEGO fan forum: "George Lucas has the same problem that Gene Roddenberry had in the later years of his life: he started to see himself as a visionary, as a person gifted above the rest of society. As a result, he lost touch with the rest of the world, and ceased to produce works that would connect to said world on the same level as his original masterpieces." Pretty much sums it up. As long as Disney doesn't mess with the canon and doesn't make the same mistakes as Lucas (and Roddenberry), it'll all be fine.

I approve of this concept. Speaking of which, I can't wait for your Quest, Pie!

Boost their stats for future battles and then debuff them, then! Right now this Quest could use more Proggsbane-like components, and if you can convince the players to roleplay more/roleplay more consciously, all the better!

Endgame, you should totally give the Heroes a temporary morale buff for this, and give the Proggs a morale debuff for what The Bleeding said about them!

Snark bait, ooh ba ba! (finding Nemo reference. )

This is pretty much the ONLY way Disney could avoid a massive fan revolt. If they do ANYTHING that alters the canon status of the Thrawn trilogy, the franchise will be killed in a single swift stroke. Basically, Disney has to respect the EU. The EU is what keeps Star Wars alive--I (and many other fans) hate The Clone Wars because of what it's been doing to continuity--and because the new material that is replacing the continuity is, to use SW parlance, "bantha poodoo." If Disney continues that tradition (only on a more massive scale thanks to movies being a higher tier of canon than the countless novels and comic books that have been produced), then SW will quickly find itself up the Maw without sublight engines. Also, Pie--I did kinda riff on Obi-Wan's classic reaction to the destruction of Alderaan, over in Culture & Multimedia.

I sense a disturbance in the Force. Like countless fans cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. As I said in the topic linked from the front page, if they throw out the EU like Paramount did with Star Trek, I may have to burn my Jedi robes in shame. EDIT: Damn, this means the end of the Dark Horse comics, doesn't it? Disney already owns Marvel, they'll probably want to put the SW license under their own comics brand to increase their own profits.

Crap. Watch Disney throw out ALL of the Expanded Universe, like Paramount did with Star Trek... I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but if they do...I may have to burn my Jedi robes in shame.

Punii's awesome. Hopefully Arthur'll get a chance to really chat with him, beyond "oh hey let me accidentally reveal to you that your ex-girlfriend was cheating on you the whole time you were together." That said, Endgame, I really liked the interaction we worked out between Roni and Punii. (Even the names match well! ) If you want to use Roni for anything, just drop me a PM.

Say, Sandy, when is Elphaba going to pay her visit? Also, when you update the Marketplace for that, you might want to update the basic description to mention altering stats in the Hero Statistics topic, rather than altering the stats in signatures.

Arthur notices Siercon walking over toward the Quest board and decides to follow. It had been too long since he had left the Hall, it was time for him to strengthen himself. He sees a notice seeking neutral Heroes. "Neutral...I suppose that is one interpretation of the Gray." His eye falls upon the line regarding a 'political issue.' "Yes...a fine chance to exercise my power." He glances to the table where Thormanil and Alexandre still sat, chatting idly. "So be it. Their plans require time. Time I cannot afford to spend idle, if I am to face Wren once more. I must be at my full strength." With that, Arthur signed his name for Quest #51: A Shanty for Science.

*cough* staves are unsuitable for Rogues.

And suddenly Sorrow is struck by an enormous bolt of lightning, right before he is frozen in a giant glacier and dragged, body and soul(s?), to a dimension of pure shadow.

The finale to the Wren Quests will depart a few days after Christmas. It's a quest I and a lot of other players highly look forward to.