Questions and Scene Discussion

[Saber Sloth]

Excellent. Thanks.

A WHOLE NEW QUESTION COMMENT.

In the Cat's Meow Post just now. The way I wrote it might be a mistake. In my head I treated the area Viola was waiting as 'center stage' ... as if this is the area the 'audience is watching'. Which is the result of me spending too many years iin theatre and too few in creative writing.

So as I wrote the stumbling into view he trips on a shovel which.. really. Poor kid.

Then I had an inspiration as a writer that Odie would see some portent here and would want to address it immediately which basically has him finding a place... a place "offstage" to deal with it. Of course the way he deals with it isn't exactly quiet and part of what he's doing is heard from 'offsatge'.

While such antics are tolerable in theater. Not so sure about this milieu.

So if you see this post. Please me know. Was it mishandled? It's supposed to be third person but was my third person supposed to follow Odie or was it okay for them to hang out with Viola.

And yes. Spoiler. Odie's isn't quite finished. So my next post should I provide just sound effects or do a cut scene, like "Meanwhile, just around the Corner?"

I also realize Odie howling might draw attention but it is raining. Hopefully the only attention is other wolves who will appreciate the type of howl he's enjoying. But yeah. Rain can only cover so much.

First since this is a Werewolf question it should be asked in the Werewolf OOC.

Second, how is Odie howling? Are you imagining him as a wolf right now? If so, that's not right. He's still in his man shape as nothing has been done to indicate, or show him shape shifting, so he's just yelling at the sky. Which is fine. But it's something to consider.

Third, you don't need to do a second post about the howl/scream, you made the roll and you narrated the action, if you want to do it again that's a new roll and more narration.

My opening was to set the scene, resolve the rolls made in the previous one and to place Viola there. As I'm STing this she's acting more as an NPC so everyone else can be in the forefront.

You can't do something in a post and claim it's 'offstage' or you activated a power 'before you git there' the PCs are the focus, the cameras are no and on them.

It's like saying oh I did this thing. But it dosen't matter. So don't ask about it. But then why include it? If its important enough for you to include its important enough to happen 'on screen'.

There are exceptions of course, but normally your actions, narration and rolls are obvious, unless you're being sneaky. Which of course needs a roll.

We use third person narrative because its easier for everyone, but at the same time you are Odie, so you need to follow him, while also interacting with the other characters.

Traditionally the ST sets the scene, the players have their characters enter and react to the set up and to each other then we carry on from there.

If you're really and truly stumped, look at the wiki, or at other scenes and threads. The wiki is an amazing resource, providing rules and examples. While the stories told here are awesome and provide IC examples of what's been done, and how it's been done.

[Saber Sloth]

I wasn't saying I thought the howl was unimportant, or that he was using stealth, those were examples.

And there was definitely confusion there because Odie 'disappeared in the downpour' I didn't know if you were using that as a way to say 'shifted to wolf while disappeared'.


And on the Rite, you are using a the Rite 'Ritual Mind' right? Are you planning on performing more Rites? And with the way you narrated it i can't tell if you did the ritual properly.

Remember:

Preforming the Rite
A werewolf can only use this rite to assist in using another, and the same werewolf must perform both rites. She must prepare all of the materials required for the other rite before starting, and only enacts this rite when ready to start the other as well. The werewolf faces east if she cannot see Mother Luna or west if she is visible in the sky. From there, she takes one deep breath and howls her need for clear thought and balance to the four cardinal directions, turning clockwise. The rite takes less than two minutes to perform.

If you just wanted to howl, and exalt Luna's glory, a Presece + Expression roll would have done the trick

[Saber Sloth]

Unfortunately I will have to nip something in the bud.

Unless its explicitly stated in scene, you do nothave them. Nor do you know them.

Otherwise it's considered Metagamming.

Like the cat treats, the possibility of a Totem has been spoke of, but anything above being 'urban' has been completely OOC.

Or saying you thought Ritual Mind was just a 'yay Luna' that costs WP, then also saying in the same post you did it so you could Dedicate a shovel in the post after.

As for dedicating a shovel. Cool, but please do it in a glimpse and not in a plot where time is money.

...and about that shovel, you cannot just decide to not see it, trip and decide its an good omen from Luna.

We could have worked something out together, if you wanted to find something like that. I could have easily done a cool dream or something to tie it into the plot.

I know you're new, and honestly so was I. And I definitely made more then a few blunders, so I know it's possibly to stick your foot in it and get back to it, but please, please, please read the book, scour the wiki, and take the time to look at the OOC starter things, they are there for a reason, and I go back to all of them all the time to keep a grip on what's what

[Cayce]

Here's tips to help you out, since we were all new once and made all the veterans tear their hair out

1. Equipment and such must be stated EXPLICITLY during the introduction post of the thread. If you forget to add something (like me), PM the person running the plot and see if they OK your addition. A great way to do explicitly state equipment without wasting precious narration space is with spoilers: [spoiler] [//spoiler] (with only one / ) or with narration tags [wtf] [//wtf] . Both indicated OOC information.

2. Whenever you make a post, you want to be interacting DIRECTLY with either the Storyteller (and thus the plot), OR with another PC. Every. Single. Post. Remember, each post can take about 24 hours of real life time, and so it's very important we are always collaborating with each other to help tell stories together.

3. If you want to showcase aspects of your character that don't involve directly interacting with other PCs (like doing rituals), that belongs in a Glimpse like Saber Sloth mentioned. That way you can still add as much depth as you want, but it won't distract from what the other players are doing.

3. Lastly, just remember to be adaptable. Trust me, I've cussed at STs on this site over House Rules and ST decisions, and in the end, it's never helpful. Much better to adapt and try to see how you can continue telling an awesome story and having fun with everyone else.

[Saber Sloth]

I never said that Ritual Mind wasn't a rite that exalted Luna. I was paraphrasing what you already posted.

It's a pre-rite rite to call on Luna and ask of her blessing for your next rite, and yes there are those ritual actions. Which Odie didn't do. you narrated him disappearing into the rain and then howling, not doing the Rite properly.

We are in a railyard that is under construction, but it is still a functioning railyard. Meaning all those people wondering around getting on their trains and doing their business. So yes it's raining, but it one if those workers left something out and a kid got hurt the next morning there would be hell to pay. So knowing that they'd make sure their stuff's packed up right, or brought with them.

Knowing these things, I'd roll to see if something's been left out, then you'd roll to, not trip on it or to see it.

As for your other examples, I can understand those assumptions, but assuming they're there isn't good. There might be a plot reason why you couldn't find it, or the conditions, ie. weather, dinner rush, why they wouldn't be easily found or readily available.

Okay Odie can assume whatever he likes. That's completely fine and normal for a character. I just thought you might have wanted a real omen a real sigh from Mother Luna herself, instead of an assumption of one.

I don't think anyone's allowed someone to retcon an item the grabbed in a plot then do something to it to make it better outside of the plot, so they could use it in the plot they grabbed it from. So I'll not allow it either, but site vets? If this has been done before, how was it implemented and figured back into the plot?

If it has been we can work something out.

Cool, that makes more sense then trying to Dedicate the shovel, it's a rite to call on Luna's blessing for your next endever. Seeing that as a general blessing but still being an unlearned rite master not knowing he should do a follow up makes a TON of sense. I like that.

I don't think it's from lack if trying, or from not reading the books. It's just that there's so much information available just with the books, neveind the House Rules here or the tidbits added in the OOC forums.

I think it's a mix if an overload of info, and the completely expected excitement felt when you join and have your character ready to go and you just want to Do All The Things!

I get it I've been there. We've all been there.

But maybe the best advice I can give you is take a breath, go a little slower and if you have the Best Ifea Ever, maybe ask a question or two first before you post ICly.

Like Cayce said, the point of all of this is to tell cool stories, and while doing something cool or flashing a power around seems like it would be fun, I know from experience that the most fun I've had is making awesome stories with other players and their awesome characters.

[Saber Sloth]

Clarity is key!

I saw your use of nonlinear and thought you meant that unless a scenes a Sticky or Comms, then it enters continuity when it closes. So if I do a Glimpse about Dedicating the shovel then it's in Continuity so i should have it in the plot because the plot's not in Continuity yet.

Since that's not the case, unless everyone is okay with Odie taking the time away from getting into the plot to Dedicate it properly, rolls and ritual actions, you cannot have/Dedicate it durring my plot.

But after Cat's Meow feel free to have one (soon to be) Dedicated shovel.