[b]@Arbirus:[/b] I've seen merit in either case, I've seen people do well with choices boiled down for them, or hell, even rough ideas sketched out. And I've seen people come up with good things by themselves but in the same regard, I've had people squabble over the stupidest things when a role is up fro grabs. I'll probably take a day to mull it over since I am sure it would be a deal breaker for some people.

[b]@Hebigami Shiho:[/b] No I don't mind at all. Glad to have another wanderer come aboard!

[b]@Dead Cruiser:[/b] You bring up a good point, if anyone has a concept they are thinking about fleshing out, as a GM I'd be happy to hear what is rattling inside your heads. It would make my job easier with knowing what to expect while tweaking ideas before people get too attached to them. (ex: Considering some dragon tamer? We'd have to talk first.) ANd it is possible that someone's idea may spark another player's concept to take shape. 

And in regards to your recent idea about some people on good terms, no terms or poor terms...I really want to avoid bad blood. I've had RPs get derailed because two characters couldn't work together and in a fantasy setting, people need to mesh well. Do they need to be bffs? No but they should be able to talk, travel and fight together. An issue with stranges mixing with say, old friends is the issue of feeling left out of a loop. If we did mix the two together, it would need to be done in a way that isn't damaging to the team as a hole and doesn't leave anyone out.

[b]@Astarael42:[/b] I will say that said characters will not know about their fate until half way through their adventure, it is possible for one or two to know up front but the event of them finding out and trying to find a way out of it or seeing who might be willing to give up their life, is a concept that will be very present during the latter half of the massive storyline. 

And as you pointed out the pros and cons of each, either friends or strangers, it is something to consider. I find in many RPs when given the chance to have pre-existing relationships or bonds, people don't utilize them as best as they could so hopefully in an Advanced setting, it could be done in a way that is useful and not suffocating. (ex: two former friends spend most of their time slinging inside jokes back and forth)

[b]@Everyone:[/b] I may need to clarify expectations on posting because it is a big deal. Ahem.

I do Rounds, which pretty much means I ensure no one is left out, it can be a slow pace or a quick one, depending on the players. But this is Advanced, people have lives and I don't consider things to move fast. Fast for me would be two round a week which...I've seen happen maybe once before. A Round for me is each player posting once in no order, once every has posted, I will post and things will begin again. 

Ex: GM, Player 2, Player 4, Player, 5, Player 1, Player 3. Then a new round would begin as follows: GM, Player 1, Player, 3, Player 5, Player 4, Player 2. 

This eliminates people speed posting or lagging. Should a player skip two rounds or hold us up for several days, their ass is out, but only after they can write themselves out without damaging the story too much. This also gives people room to collab on posts so their turn isn't wasted on petty things. This also makes sure people interact with each other and have things to respond to, depending when they get their post in during a single round.

Now personally...I'd like to expect a round a week, which means one post a week. At least.

I'm not capping anything and saying you can't post more than once a week but it will depend on the pace of your fellow writers. If you're impatient, you're better off in Casual or a one on one but this system hasn't really failed me yet and it's been tested for about...3-4 years. I know it might not make some people happy but it is something I will enforces for the greater good of the story.

Make better sense...?