Announcement
In order to improve fluidity and decrease lags and hold-ups, I would like to introduce Scene-framing. Let's face it, transitions are boring, because only I can really write them (as of yet), and moving about is boring, too. The process of cutting from one scene to the other has, so far, been a bit crude, and I want to improve that.
So, some basic ideas (which are up for discussion):
Definition of a scene:
An encounter or a sequence of events in close proximity of each other, both geographically and temporally. Usually should concern itself with one topic. Once the topic is resolved we should move to the next scene.
Rules:
Anyone can call for a scene, once the last scene is done (or in the process of being concluded). If several people want a scene, majority vote decides or we split. The person calling for the scene or I have to write the transition. If you want some NPCs request them, of course there can also be unforeseen NPCs. If there is an in-character issue as to people following your suggestion, we have to work that out, at best in character. (But it doesn't actually have to be the character who wants to do the scene, the player calls for it, and I provide the backdrop, i.e. forcing the character into the scene.)
The person calling for a scene has to specify the following:
Who
Where
When
Transition how and when
Maybe I should make a new thread for this.
Also, I can veto a scene call if there are obstacles, such as: There is danger on the way, the desired NPC is unavailable or it is improbable you will be able to talk to him directly. Sometimes such obsctacles will directly create a new scene.
For example:
Mael wants to talk to Councilman Bob in Ladydove, and offers to take everyone.
OoP calls for the following:
Who: The party + Councilman Bob
Where: Bob's office
When: The following morning (of whenever)
Transition: Walk from the current location (which in this case should be in Ladydove);
OoP writes up the transition to the doorstep. Since Mael is a respectable citizen, there is no reason he should not get an appointment. I take over to write for Bob.
Now, Daelric wants to talk to king of whereever. But I veto, because the king won't be directly available, so you'll have to talk to the secretary first, and then to a minister, and then to the king.
Now I realize all this has implicitly been used so far, BUT I want to move to formally using it. Why? Because it gives you the right to demand an encounter with someone, for instance, a person who can help you along. It works better formally than implicitly, because implicitly some things get in the way, such as thinking too much about the details of how and when and why. Your characters have a lot of time on their hands to think about these things, you don't have to do it all. We can also assume more things, for instance, in a lot of games groups tend to miss each other after splitting up (well, I've experienced this kind of thing), because the dialogue for where and when they meet again wasn't formalized. But it's not necessary, let the characters think about that off-spotlight. Just assume they arranged things, because they are actually splitting up, but the group of players isn't.
