The Intergalactic Highway

So it's been a few days, apparently everyone is stumped, confused, or MIA. So lets discuss the factors in the current story and present new ideas for the next story.

I think some of the confusion that happened is because in general the Predacon characters are not team characters, they'll try to wander free as lone wolves whenever they can. This mostly being the Predacons tend to be more like a "gang" then a "millitary force", they're mostly just poorly organized thugs out for number one.

Noticed problems: Due to Megatron's players disappearing and the importance of the character, it seems like Megatron should go to someone who keeps track of the mostly Predacon characters. Or at least someone who has shown to be fairly active on this forum's community.

Also notable:
Megatron, Tarantulus, Terrorsaur, Waspinator, and Scorponok are missing players. That is all five of the main Predacons for Season 1. Uh.. yeah. Some of the other Preds might want to chip in handling those since OOP is probably at her wits end (what with being willing to give away Rattrap.)

Next story:

Since the next story involves a new character (though briefly since it's mostly towards the end which is months away), we'll probably want someone to take Tigatron, I remember someone having dibs on him for the few short times he shows up.. though considering with the Side missions he could probably appear more.

the Story has alot of focus on the fliers, land group, and Dinobot and Optimus at the base. Specifically that the base was alone with only Dinobot as guard. Since the Maximal base only has one CR chamber and anyone else being there to repair damages fliers would defeat the point of the thing with Dinobot. Plus having those characters damaged for the remainder of that story is probably a bit boring for those players. The excess predacon players in that situation would also be a problem, as they could overwelm the Maximal base with enough warriors.

in other words, we may need another side story as an option. The options of which could be anything from Maximals testing some new equipment, an alien relic, maybe a empty stasis pod (or full one since there are some characters in the OC bios submissions..),Predacon experiment, Energon scouting, etc.

These are just a few things I've observed anyway..

Thank you for making this topic, NK. I've just been a little too busy this week after work to post anything worth while, so I apologize for that. And next week will be even busier, but I will try to keep up. After that, I'll have a week off of work and things will calm down. Yay!

I think some of the confusion that happened is because in general the Predacon characters are not team characters, they'll try to wander free as lone wolves whenever they can. This mostly being the Predacons tend to be more like a "gang" then a "millitary force", they're mostly just poorly organized thugs out for number one.

That's the biggest problem for me. I can't keep track of everything with Megatron; it's just too much when I'm already trying to keep track of all the Maximals with Optimus. And as for Terrorsaur, well, I hardly have the motivation to play him just fill in gaps. The Predacons need a wake-up call from Megatron and need to obey him as their leader. I don't know if there should be any others looking to disobey him as much as Tarantulas and Terrorsaur do. Well, Tarantulas is more behind the scenes with his own agenda, but Terrorsaur always wanted leadership. I think the Preds are just a bunch of scrambled eggs right now.

Noticed problems: Due to Megatron's players disappearing and the importance of the character, it seems like Megatron should go to someone who keeps track of the mostly Predacon characters. Or at least someone who has shown to be fairly active on this forum's community.

I think I would prefer if LadyJet, who has volunteered next to Venatrix, took care of him as long as she can familiarize herself with the Predacons that are present and know what's been going on in the game so far. It will give her something to do on the Predacons' side while she RP's Rattrap with the Maximals.

Also notable:
Megatron, Tarantulus, Terrorsaur, Waspinator, and Scorponok are missing players. That is all five of the main Predacons for Season 1. Uh.. yeah. Some of the other Preds might want to chip in handling those since OOP is probably at her wits end (what with being willing to give away Rattrap.)

I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! *implodes* Yes, I will miss Rattrap. But I think I'm better at the monkey than the rat. I have posted this opportunity on deviantART, and while I've had some responses, LJ and perhaps another, were the only two to say they would love to play, out of all the people who watch me on there. So I'm not having much luck. I've been tempted to change the two-character-per-player rule to three characters with one that MUST be a canon, just so we can have them all covered. I had sent PM's to Dinotor and Dalgaroth about a week or two ago but neither have replied, so their characters are up for grabs.

in other words, we may need another side story as an option. The options of which could be anything from Maximals testing some new equipment, an alien relic, maybe a empty stasis pod (or full one since there are some characters in the OC bios submissions..),Predacon experiment, Energon scouting, etc.

I had brought this up before but I don't think too many people offered their opinions on it, save for Blazemane and maybe another. Sorry, I can't remember. >_< Anyway, we could actually play two episodes at once, one being a "side story." If we do the energon scouting, we could play something like "Dark Voyage." A Predacon experiment could be something like "Gorilla Warfare" with Scorponok's cyber bee, or "The Probe" with Tarantulas's toy, or "The Low Road" with the virus. But what I suggested before was playing "Fallen Comrades" and then also doing "The Spark" or "Double Jeopardy." We can mix up the characters and get the OC's involved more for character development. At the same time, we'll be introducing two new canons and getting more progress done with the first season. But if you guys think it's too much and would rather do a smaller side-story, that's fine with me. The only part that stinks for me right now is that in "Chain of Command" I hardly played Optimus, and I'll hardly play him again in "Fallen Comrades." I guess that comes with the character, though, right? Slagging Predacons...

Please voice your thoughts on NK's and my suggestions! Let us know what you think, or what you'd like to happen, especially you guys with OC's.

I don't like playing canon characters simply because I'm not a fan of playing someone who's lines are pretty much already scripted out for me. However, if you guys need the help, then count me in. I'll go ahead and prepare an audition for a character with a smaller role (Scorponok?) and if the rules are modified, then I may pick up a third. I understand the need for more canon players, but these characters are rarely off course and away from the pack. If we're fussing over Predacons who are lone wolves, then let's talk to the Predacon OCs. Starshadow is running all over the place, I noticed that Snow Trix appeared late in the final battle and left early, and since I skipped some posts at the time, I was momentarily confused as to why Glowstick and Steelclaw were at the Axalon instead of at the Standing Stones. Sonar is often by himself (gone for over half the Blitzkrieg story) and is playing a role that Tarantulas should be filling in.

On the other hand, I think that the Maximals are the ones who are generally spread out (in the show). Tigatron, Airazor, Dinobot, Silverbolt, and Depth Charge were often doing scouting missions individually.

Glowstick was repairing his weapon system at the time and Steelclaw the same, they just happened to realize it was the perfect opportunity to go to the Maximal base to try to get information on Sonar,something they realized when they heard Sonar talking about Saber that happened to be both on their minds.

Hmmm... I actually like the idea of combining arrival episodes, but then... do we ignore character placement established by the show (something I have no problem with)?

In "Spider's Game", Airazor and Tigatron play important roles, but neither of them are around yet.

In "The Spark", Terrorsaur and Waspinator go hunting for Airazor's pod, but Megatron consistently emphasizes their strategic importance in "Fallen Comrades".

So if we added either of those episodes, we'd need to give specific roles to other characters (O.C.'s would probably work well for this).

In "Double Jeopardy", the plot doesn't really focus on Blackarachnia's arrival, so adding the story from that episode to "Fallen Comrades" would be very difficult. We could, of course, just have her pod fall to Earth in this episode and deal briefly with her becoming a Predacon, thereby cutting "Double Jeopardy" out of the picture almost entirely.

So we do have a lot of options here if we're willing to be flexible with our characters. I don't really have something in mind myself, so I think I'm set to go with whatever everyone else decides.

And we haven't been consistent with the rule of how many characters a specific player gets to play because of how many people have left this game, so I'm fine with officially allowing people to have more than two.

Considering my OC is months (if not a good year) away, i'm all for taking on Megatron. I know the character, have played him several times in the past in private RPGs and i know the character pretty well ^^ Course i'll need to go through and read about the Predacons i will be dealing with so i know how to whip them into shape. X3 Sorry but if anyone's looking for a Megatron that's a push over, i'm probably not the one top play him. I will play the Harsher side of Megatron wanting cooperation...or punishment. I'd figure i'd shove that out into the open so you know what everyone is getting into with me playing him. ^^

As for combining episodes, i'm all for it. especially with the episodes that seem to be rather broken up in the first place. like Double Jeopardy and what not. ^^

From what i'm seeing, it seems that the OC's are mainly the big problem in the game, I'm willing to Drop my Original character completely to pick up Cannon characters and lesson on the rouge Character syndrome that is running wild. It almost seems like there needs to be greater control over the players as well as the characters, but that's just my opinion and i don't mean to sound harsh to the people running it. I've seen this happen in games i've run on fourms elsewhere. Personally, i hate it when people who are suppose to be part of a team run off and do their own Vigilante/rouge/whatever things. it frustrates the GM, the other players and it really just tears the game apart from the inside out.

That happens all the time anyway.. In anycase, it seems Megatron and Terrorsaur are taken care of atleast.

As for your OC.. 1 year is very optimistic. Which has been making me think lately.. Supposedly Fusors are a type of Transmetal.. but considering they're made from a broken DNA scanner.. I think it would make sense for fusors to be possible just because of a glitch.. since I doubt such things were just limited to Silverbolt and Quickstrike (besides the fact they did a entire toyline on the critters..)

Ofcourse such things would be twisted monsters.. not "pretty unicorns with wings", more like bird head, horse body, wings, and claws on one set of the legs.

that does make sense, especially if the pod is damaged and is unable to get a complete set of DNA so it does the best it can by filling in the gaps.

Allo!

Hmm...

Okay, so I might be joining this discussion a bit early. n_n'

But, well, this is a brainstorm thread for the next part of the story, yes? Everyone's going back to their bases and recovering from battle, even the sidestory teams..?

Well, I like the combining episodes idea. Intro Episodes are fun and important, but if we can combine a couple of them at a time, we can move the RP along quicker.

How about, next part of our epic rewrite, we do Fallen Comrades and Blackarachnia's intro in one? We follow Fallen Comrades as a the main storyline, but a side team goes to investigate another pod, which is Blackarachnia.

Episode ?? Rewrite Idea

Two pods are detected early in the plotline. At the time Megatron sends Terrorsaur and Waspinator to take out Optimus, he also sends Tarantulas and a small team of OCs to retrieve a pod in a place that looks like, and might be, the American Southwest.



Just before Optimus acts rashly and steps right into the line of fire right outside his own base ( -_- ' ) he gives the order to his other fliers (whoever those OCs may be) to get to the pod in the desert first. Dinobot, however, doesn't let them leave. He insists on a scout patrol. He does his awesome glaring around. Then OP heads out and gets shot. When he's deemed incapacitated, both Maximal teams head out, splitting off into two directions. This leaves Dinobot and maybe one or two OCs behind to tend the base.

We now have two races.

The one retrieving Tigatron goes pretty much just like the show, except that given the number of flyers on the Maximal side with OCs and all, there's probably a flier there, too. However, Terrorsaur and Waspinator might shoot her out of the sky or something and then the show an continue as planne. OR the fliers get into a fight. Either way, the Preds reach the pod first way before the Maximals do.

Meanwhile, the other team is hurrying, hurrying, and headed straight for the desert. THey get there and head right into an ambush the Pred OCs have put together. Tarantulas makes off with the pod while the others distract the Maximals using one of his classic tunnel escapes. The MAximals drive off the OC Pred team but realize they've lost the pod. Boo hoo.

Meanwhile again, Rattrap contacts DB and tells him they've fallen behind and the PReds will get there first. Dinobot does his thinking. Instead of consulting Optimus's core consciousness (which was a weird glimpse into Beast Machines) he and the OCs come up with a plan to bounce a signal off the moon to the pod to relay proper scanning instructions. They do so.

MEANWHILE, (Let's rewind a little bit) Megatron gets Terrorsaur and Waspinator to Tgatron's pod. After that, he and Scorponok, and whatever OC might be left over, pay Dinobot a visit. Dinobot gets growly then tells Megs to EAT SLAAAG (Awesome. *_* ) and then he's shot by Scorpy and Leftover. Dinobot falls and gets himself to cover while the OC Maximals activate the defense system. (They were told by Dinobot to stay inside and wait for the right moment, or maybe they didn't see Megatron, or maybe they were all outside and they all got damaged in this brief scuffle. Details, details...) Anyways, Scorpy faces the Guns of Justice alone and when he's finished getting himself shot, Megatron orders a retreat and races towards the Tigatron Pod himself. He gets there and nearly shoots Snowstalker and Tigatron, you know the deal, blah.

As everyone eturns to base, Megatron stalks into the Darksyde and is all angry and pouty. But then Tarantulas introduces him to Blackarachnia and he's appeased. For now.

And that ends that combined epi. All the empty spots (like "What do Dinobot and the other Leftover MAxi OCs do until Rattrap contact them?" or "What does Megatron do until he finds out Terrorsaur and Waspy didn't actually kill Optimus?" or "What do the Preds on MEgatron's team do until he says its time to attack the Maximal base?") ... well, that's what RP is for. :3 Improv! 8D But nothing big. D: Like, a card game or bonding time. (Not that kind of bonding.)

As for the rest of the 'Double Jeopardy' Episode, it an be used in a future modified episode.

WOOO, well there we go. That's my idea. What is that? Like 3 different new Topics? What if we have one topic dedicated to this episode and the very first post sets the mood and necessary background info. (By now almost everyone's recovered from the last battle or something, etc. A pod has been detected and the Maximals race to get there first, etc. And then the oficial first post by Optimus Primal or something..) We then use a Labeling system - for every post we make, we put a label in bold at the top of our post indicating which part of the story we're in.

Megatron's Team

Rhinox's (whoever's the leader there) Team

Maximal OC (whoever the leader there is) Team

Wading through other teams' posts should not be a problem (it's all part of the RP experience, imo). This could also help some of us place where others are and who they are, particularly. I found it difficult to know who was even in the RP with two separate topics going at once simply because I wasn't reading their names or scanning over their posts. Out of sight, out of mind. I think it'd better for it to be all in one place.

On the other hand, separate topics could mean less confusion maybe....No, to me, either way is really confusing and I'd rather it all be confusing in one place. lol

So, what do you think? ._.

Sounds good, I figured it'd probably be kinda like that.

the Maximals have three fliers, but since it is estimated that the Maximal base is somewhere in south Africa. Sending Valkyrie, Skyfire(Maximal fliers), and maybe Orcariner and Icebreaker(The maximal marine unit) to get the pod would make sense. Maybe one more if.. they ride on an ice raft or inside Orcariner. Which would leave Saber, and Wintersong who wanders around.

Predacon wise I guess Tarantulus, Glowstick, Sonar, and who ever wants to ride on the back of the transport.. or take the icebridge across to alaska..personally I'd go with "transport" since it keeps the predacons from wandering around too much which was already a complaint. Either way that leaves Steelclaw, Starshadow,Venatrix, and Snowtrix with something to do. Though I can't imagine any being too willing with those three mad scientists. One could take Tarantulus's place on the Predacon assault on the maximal base and one go with Terrorsaur and Waspinator.


They do the separate threads because otherwise there would be so many posts and generally cause confusion like you said.

Oh, hey, yeah. Someone else could lead the BA Pod attack, and then Tarry can go with Megs as he did in the show. Then, when MEgaton goes running northward, Tarry and Scorponok can head back to base where he can reprogram BA!

Hmm..

Maybe

Rhinox, Rattrap, Cheetor, Wintersong, can go get Tigatron's pod, under the premise that it would be better if both left over fliers get to the North American continent ASAP.

Megatron, Scorponok, Tarantulas, and Ventatrix could go to the base where Dinobot is with Saber.

Glowstick, Sonar, Starshadow, Snowtrix, and Steelclaw (lol lotsa Ss) could be sent over the landbridge/use a transport shuttle to get to the pod first. Since Dinobot holds u the Maximals, they'll get a nice head start anyways. That and Beast Wars 'travel time' is a snap! 8D

Or, if someone would prefer, they could go with Terrorsaur and Waspy, like you said. Lol I forgot about them.

Yeah, the separate threads are cool, I'm jsut used to following one big confusing thread and dealing with it than trying to keep track of three. x_X :falls over: But whatever it is, I'm fine with it. n_n Just suggesting.

:sigh: My firefox browser has almost every single TF name I just mentioned underlined in red. :'D It's oaky, Firefox, they're valid names, I now how to spell. :'3

I now how to spell. :'3

Me to.

Glowstick, Sonar, Starshadow, Snowtrix and Steelclaw

Yay the same ol' gang!! GROUP HUG!!

One question, who's gonna RP Tigatron and BA?

...Wha -

Hey! lol

I know how to spell. And you do, too. Smart aleck. xDD

One question, who's gonna RP Tigatron and BA?

Um, I dunno. Who was it that volunteered to Temp RP him? And Black Arachnia... I dunno either. n_n'

Tigatron hasn't been established yet so he's up for grabs (considering the time length, we're not that worried) and Blackarachnia is going to be done by Venatrix since she's had dibs on her for a very long time.

Well if those four wanna ride with the squid that's fine. If they have other plans like going with Megatron that's also fine.