ATM II Planning/Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Feanor of the Peredhil · 10-18-2006, 10:35 AM

Hi folks.

How's it going? How is everybody?

I notice that we're running a little slow. Running dry on creativity? Confused? Buried with work? Captured by really big spaghetti monsters?

How about we make a master list of what still needs to be done to make life easier for everyone? We can weave plotlines together all we want, but a list of what should be taken care of before The End might be helpful.

So if you could take a moment or so to answer these questions:

Quote:

What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story?

How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end?

What is my character currently in the midst of doing?

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?

We can all read what's been written. We know what's currently going on in the story.

What we need to do is start tying up loose ends and pulling the plot back in again.

What I would like to happen is for everybody to, nearing the end, come face to face with the Blue Wizards. Before we can reach that climax, though, we need to simplify a little. You've done wonderfully in writing your characters into fun situations. You've done exactly what I hoped you'd do. But now we need to bring the diplomats back together (physically) so that they can face their greatest challenge thus far, making their ice breaker and ice cream difficulties seem (gasp!) trivial in comparison.

Celuien · 10-18-2006, 10:44 AM

It was a curious thing. A Giant Spaghetti Monster flew overhead and made me go to work.

In all seriousness, Panakeia currently has a cozy place to rest in the hippie valley. I'm planning a few posts to chronicle her time there, then she'll be back with her new-found friends to meet those blue Istari who ruined her romance whenever they make their reappearance.

Hookbill the Goomba · 10-18-2006, 11:02 AM

What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story?

Personally, I want to kill him off right at the end in a big shocking climax that no one will expect... ... erm... ignore all that.
Seriously, I want him to quit working for Roggie and go off on his own adventures into the mists of time...

How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end?

A little more aware of how annoying he is, but still refusing to do anything about it.

What is my character currently in the midst of doing?

Smilog is trying to get back to Mount Doom.
Tollin and The Barrow Wight ate investigating the Were Ducks.

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?

Get back to Mount Doom and confront Roggie with his resignation.

Formendacil · 10-18-2006, 01:37 PM

We're nearing the end? Doesn't feel like it, I must say...

Unfortunately, Lhuna and I keep each other at a good slow pace, our stories being rather entangled...

What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story?
To have found his daughter, and either made arrangements to bring her back to Gondor, to stay behind with her, or to be sadly, lovingly, tearfully parted.

How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end?
Not too much. Old men are set in their ways. But possibly to have softened. A bit.

What is my character currently in the midst of doing?
Meeting Bobawen in the tavern, thinking she is his daughter, finding out if she is, and being generally entangled with Elrogorn who needs to have a blockbuster, adrenaline-filled battle with an army of wereducks.

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?
Erm... besides that army of wereducks... we'll see.... I don't know exactly.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 10-18-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formendacil

We're nearing the end? Doesn't feel like it, I must say...

It's not so much that we're nearing the end...

Think of it more like we're nearing the place in the story where things really start to lead toward other stuff that leads to the end.

This is just an organizational idea I had so that we can get a good idea of what needs to be written at some point in the future.

Diamond18 · 10-18-2006, 08:25 PM

What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story?

Mayhem. Confusion. Killing things.

How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end?

Ha ha! Change is for the sane.

What is my character currently in the midst of doing?

Hunting Wereducks, standing by ineffectually while other people make Hissyfit do funny things.

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?

There should be a massive battle with wereducks. Many innocents will die before then.

Anguirel · 10-19-2006, 12:35 AM

What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story?

Having thoroughly confused everyone and then revealed himself as a pawn of evil, he needs to redeem himself with some last minute deed.

How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end?

He should be content with his true nature as an angelic-looking blond sweetie and leave behind (ish) his superiority complex.

What is my character currently in the midst of doing?

Stalking Lola ineffectively, looking for Alli to keep their appointment and accuse her of lycanthropy, and trying to dodge the Blue Wizards and Auntie Bellatrix who he double-crossed.

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?

Give up on Lola, change sides a few more times, be exposed as a Werewolf, change sides again, betray the Blue Wizards again, defeat Fenrir Greyback and be cured of lycanthropy by Severus Snape.

While negotiating the treaty and all that jazz.

littlemanpoet · 10-21-2006, 08:46 AM

What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story?

Anakron is to have become reconciled to being the Grand Anakronist, AND get hooked up permanently with Panakeia. Whether he will succeed, however .......

How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end?

He will become less hung up.

What is my character currently in the midst of doing?

ISMing everybody in sight.

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?

Get really mean ISMing folks, start a war, cause mass annihilation of orcs, trolls, and other former Mordorian baddies who have become various kinds of ISMs, get confronted by the Blue Istari who make him get his head straight, fall deeper in love with his erstwhile female side-kick, and get hitched up.... and enjoy it.

Any more questions?

Celuien · 10-21-2006, 09:53 AM

Filling in the rest of the form...

What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story?

Panakeia would like to hear wedding bells for Anakron and herself. She'd also like to convince him to drop the Grand Anakronist job, but whether or not she'll achieve that goal remains to be seen.

How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end?

Hopefully freed of any of the ISMs she has picked up...or will be picking up.

Become a little less self-righteous and lose some of her tendency to slightly pompous speeches directed at Anakron.

What is my character currently in the midst of doing?

Wearing flowers in her hair and living with hippies.

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?

Make it back from her current residence, probably bringing the Werehippies with her, confront the Blue Wizards and Anakron (again), be involved in general chaos, and (hopefully) get Anakron to come to his senses.

littlemanpoet · 10-21-2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celuien

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?

Make it back from her current residence, probably bringing the Werehippies with her, confront the Blue Wizards and Anakron (again), be involved in general chaos, and (hopefully) get Anakron to come to his senses.

Good luck.

Kath · 10-24-2006, 01:27 PM

What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story?
Igor should have regained the lost accent over his name, had a wealth of new experiences, and just had a good time really.

How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end?
Apparently he should have developed full use of both eyes, as well as learning that people really are as mad as he always thought they were.

What is my character currently in the midst of doing?
Watching Anakron go steadily more crazy in the midst of various other Mordorians. Attempting not to get attacked by Hissyfit and/or Skittles.

What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal?
Very little. Standing around ineffectually and accosting people in hallways seems to be working.

10-18-2006, 10:44 AM	#2
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	It was a curious thing. A Giant Spaghetti Monster flew overhead and made me go to work. In all seriousness, Panakeia currently has a cozy place to rest in the hippie valley. I'm planning a few posts to chronicle her time there, then she'll be back with her new-found friends to meet those blue Istari who ruined her romance whenever they make their reappearance. __________________ People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect. But actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff.

10-18-2006, 11:02 AM	#3
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story? Personally, I want to kill him off right at the end in a big shocking climax that no one will expect... ... erm... ignore all that. Seriously, I want him to quit working for Roggie and go off on his own adventures into the mists of time... How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end? A little more aware of how annoying he is, but still refusing to do anything about it. What is my character currently in the midst of doing? Smilog is trying to get back to Mount Doom. Tollin and The Barrow Wight ate investigating the Were Ducks. What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal? Get back to Mount Doom and confront Roggie with his resignation. __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

10-18-2006, 01:37 PM	#4
Formendacil Dead Serious Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers. Posts: 3,328	We're nearing the end? Doesn't feel like it, I must say... Unfortunately, Lhuna and I keep each other at a good slow pace, our stories being rather entangled... What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story? To have found his daughter, and either made arrangements to bring her back to Gondor, to stay behind with her, or to be sadly, lovingly, tearfully parted. How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end? Not too much. Old men are set in their ways. But possibly to have softened. A bit. What is my character currently in the midst of doing? Meeting Bobawen in the tavern, thinking she is his daughter, finding out if she is, and being generally entangled with Elrogorn who needs to have a blockbuster, adrenaline-filled battle with an army of wereducks. What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal? Erm... besides that army of wereducks... we'll see.... I don't know exactly. __________________ I prefer history, true or feigned.

10-18-2006, 08:25 PM	#6
Diamond18 Eidolon of a Took Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: my own private fantasy world Posts: 3,460	What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story? Mayhem. Confusion. Killing things. How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end? Ha ha! Change is for the sane. What is my character currently in the midst of doing? Hunting Wereducks, standing by ineffectually while other people make Hissyfit do funny things. What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal? There should be a massive battle with wereducks. Many innocents will die before then. __________________ All shall be rather fond of me and suffer from mild depression.

10-19-2006, 12:35 AM	#7
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story? Having thoroughly confused everyone and then revealed himself as a pawn of evil, he needs to redeem himself with some last minute deed. How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end? He should be content with his true nature as an angelic-looking blond sweetie and leave behind (ish) his superiority complex. What is my character currently in the midst of doing? Stalking Lola ineffectively, looking for Alli to keep their appointment and accuse her of lycanthropy, and trying to dodge the Blue Wizards and Auntie Bellatrix who he double-crossed. What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal? Give up on Lola, change sides a few more times, be exposed as a Werewolf, change sides again, betray the Blue Wizards again, defeat Fenrir Greyback and be cured of lycanthropy by Severus Snape. While negotiating the treaty and all that jazz. __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso

10-21-2006, 08:46 AM	#8
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story? Anakron is to have become reconciled to being the Grand Anakronist, AND get hooked up permanently with Panakeia. Whether he will succeed, however ....... How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end? He will become less hung up. What is my character currently in the midst of doing? ISMing everybody in sight. What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal? Get really mean ISMing folks, start a war, cause mass annihilation of orcs, trolls, and other former Mordorian baddies who have become various kinds of ISMs, get confronted by the Blue Istari who make him get his head straight, fall deeper in love with his erstwhile female side-kick, and get hitched up.... and enjoy it. Any more questions?

10-21-2006, 09:53 AM	#9
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	Filling in the rest of the form... What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story? Panakeia would like to hear wedding bells for Anakron and herself. She'd also like to convince him to drop the Grand Anakronist job, but whether or not she'll achieve that goal remains to be seen. How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end? Hopefully freed of any of the ISMs she has picked up...or will be picking up. Become a little less self-righteous and lose some of her tendency to slightly pompous speeches directed at Anakron. What is my character currently in the midst of doing? Wearing flowers in her hair and living with hippies. What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal? Make it back from her current residence, probably bringing the Werehippies with her, confront the Blue Wizards and Anakron (again), be involved in general chaos, and (hopefully) get Anakron to come to his senses. __________________ People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect. But actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff.

10-24-2006, 01:27 PM	#11
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	What do I want my character to have accomplished in this story? Igor should have regained the lost accent over his name, had a wealth of new experiences, and just had a good time really. How should my character have changed, if at all, before the end? Apparently he should have developed full use of both eyes, as well as learning that people really are as mad as he always thought they were. What is my character currently in the midst of doing? Watching Anakron go steadily more crazy in the midst of various other Mordorians. Attempting not to get attacked by Hissyfit and/or Skittles. What does my character still need to do to meet my end goal? Very little. Standing around ineffectually and accosting people in hallways seems to be working. __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”