Maximum Comics: Reboot

[Gowi]

What do you mean it lost a lot of steam a month ago and I let it die out peacefully? Hush voices in my head!

Right. Maximum Comics, formerly known as Ultimate DC / All-Star Marvel (pre-Dedonus).

Despite a discouraging amount of role-playing responsibilities and real life bits I keep having this RP gnaw at me day-in and day-out. I want it to work as challenging as that may be and I want to see it come to fruition. But before I do a hard reboot I think I should get a discussion going with former players and interested parties to see if I can’t communicate how to make this time work. Was the activity drop entirely my fault? If so—was it the extensive lore, the lack of an active OOC, maligned expectations, poor luck, or bad timing?

If I can fix any of these factors I’d like to give it another look and perhaps diminish the timeline a little—rewinding the IC to the early years of the “modern” timeline (2001-2005) rather than the later years which I threw everyone into (2010-2015).

I’d like to hear thoughts to better realize the fault, how to remedy it, and how to make an enjoyable long-lasting and quality experience for everyone.

Please reply.

@Byrd Man @Blue Demon @Vandy @Nightrunner @dblade26 @Sloth @Morden Man @HenryJonesJr @ErsatzEmperor @Ruby @FacePunch @Rade @Kal-El @Sep -- Probably missing a lot of games from all incarnations of the game, interest checks, and sister/brother games.

[Sloth]

I'm listed after Nightrunner? Nightrunner? I am ashamed.

[Lord Wraith]

I'm listed after Nightrunner? Nightrunner? I am ashamed.

@Sloth

Don't worry, I'm an after thought lol

[ErsatzEmperor]

Honest opinion? Inactive OOC murdered the previous incarnation for me. However, for the most part I was only an observer, due wholly to my own schedule at the time. It probably holds wait that I didn't do as much to stop it. I don't feel the onus of blame is on the plot, or on the plotters, though I recognise that there are probably things that can be changed.

As for timeframe, I've always maintained that it should be determined by the player on a character-to-character basis, rather than in fitting the time constraints of the game. For me it's not a question of whether this is a 'Year One' story, or a 'Year Four' story.

As GMs, perhaps a bit more cooperation on the lore front as well?

[Lord Wraith]

As for timeframe, I've always maintained that it should be determined by the player on a character-to-character basis, rather than in fitting the time constraints of the game. For me it's not a question of whether this is a 'Year One' story, or a 'Year Four' story.

@ErsatzEmperor

This, so much this.

[Rin]

Um... So I don't usually go in for advanced stuff but I might just lurk here for the time being. ^^;

[Sloth]

As for timeframe, I've always maintained that it should be determined by the player on a character-to-character basis, rather than in fitting the time constraints of the game. For me it's not a question of whether this is a 'Year One' story, or a 'Year Four' story.

@ErsatzEmperor

Hasn't this always been how it's been? I don't think anyone's actively been forced to play, say, Year Three when they themselves wanted their character to be in their Year One? Unless of course you mean that players should be allowed to, say, have a character doing stuff in 2005 whereas the "present" is 2015, in which case I can't say I agree. I think that'd be more trouble to organize and implement coherently than it'd be worth.

As GMs, perhaps a bit more cooperation on the lore front as well?

@ErsatzEmperor

I don't recall anyone being particularly uncooperative in any previous incarnation? Granted I obviously don't know everything and was only around for like, two incarnations of "Big brother UDC" or whatever we refer to that as, though it would be nice to be able to say "Hey, what if we modified this event in 20XX so we can do (insert plot here)" rather than thinking of the timeline as set in stone. As long as the change isn't game-breaking or something.

Um... So I don't usually go in for advanced stuff but I might just lurk here for the time being. ^^;

@Rin

I promise we don't bite. Well, most of us don't bite.

[Gowi]

Sloth bites.

[Sloth]

Sloth bites.

@Gowi

No I don't.

Not hard, anyway.

[Morden Man]

I've voiced this privately but for the sake of discussion I'll say it again, I agree with @ErsatzEmperor in regards to the lore, the rigidity of it definitely left me a little perturbed although I managed to make it work for Captain Atom, albeit briefly before the game ended. A little more freedom, a little less micro-managing, and I think this thing could have legs.

I'd definitely be onboard in such an instance. Though I've been hankering to play Bucky Cap for a while (even wrote some stuff out in advance just in case) and now I've picked him up in Guardians of Infinity I'd feel self-indulgent picking him up in two games.

[Ruby]

Me, personally, it comes down to three factors:

1) I hate sample posts. (HaveIevermentionedthisbefore?)

2) Are the great characters taken, especially women? (There's just not a lot of great female characters in comics--subjective, I know.)

3) Can I jump into a scene with a friend from the get-go? It can be insanely difficult for me to keep focus and post a number of times before I can start collaborating; the very reason I do Group RPs to begin with.

During the heat of the semester, like now, I can sometimes only average one good post a week. So if that's not an issue for anyone, I could join a new comic game.

[Gowi]

Admittedly as a GM I am very constructive on my settings with defined lore and guidelines within a timeline. But do know that any timeline I setup is not entirely concrete in Maximum Comics but rather a sort of "alpha build" that's waiting for a suggestion from another player. I am cooperative even if I am very pro-structure. I think I can try to work with everyone to making sure there is a balance between creative freedom and structured lore though I might need some suggestions and input down the line regarding that.

I think a lot of Maximum's problem was it was a decade into the "return" of Superheroes in the public eye which is why in the reboot I will be setting it three to four years after the resurgence. This leaves a lot of superfluous lore yet to be made and leaves a lot more creativity for players to utilize whilst still having a good background skeleton to launch from.

Me, personally, it comes down to three factors:

1) I hate sample posts. (HaveIevermentionedthisbefore?)

2) Are the great characters taken, especially women? (There's just not a lot of great female characters in comics--subjective, I know.)

3) Can I jump into a scene with a friend from the get-go? It can be insanely difficult for me to keep focus and post a number of times before I can start collaborating; the very reason I do Group RPs to begin with.

During the heat of the semester, like now, I can sometimes only average one good post a week. So if that's not an issue for anyone, I could join a new comic game.

@Ruby

1) I've been considering replacing a sample post with a link to a reference post instead. Showing what level you write at rather than the old system I've had.

2) Make them better! or perhaps redesign a character that isn't great into being excellent.

3) That's up to you and that friend, of course. People don't have to focus all the time on solo arcs, if there's a group story you want to work with then that is probably ideal and fine.

[Ruby]

Admittedly as a GM I am very constructive on my settings with defined lore and guidelines within a timeline. But do know that any timeline I setup is not entirely concrete in Maximum Comics but rather a sort of "alpha build" that's waiting for a suggestion from another player. I am cooperative even if I am very pro-structure. I think I can try to work with everyone to making sure there is a balance between creative freedom and structured lore though I might need some suggestions and input down the line regarding that.

I think a lot of Maximum's problem was it was a decade into the "return" of Superheroes in the public eye which is why in the reboot I will be setting it three to four years after the resurgence. This leaves a lot of superfluous lore yet to be made and leaves a lot more creativity for players to utilize whilst still having a good background skeleton to launch from.

<Snipped quote by Ruby>

1) I've been considering replacing a sample post with a link to a reference post instead. Showing what level you write at rather than the old system I've had.

2) Make them better! or perhaps redesign a character that isn't great into being excellent.

3) That's up to you and that friend, of course. People don't have to focus all the time on solo arcs, if there's a group story you want to work with then that is probably ideal and fine.

@Gowi

Nothing can be done about 2. It's just when you come into the game. Although I also force people to focus on one character for a while, so.

Yup!

[Rin]

There's one thing I want to ask, actually, although if it was answered in a previous incarnation of this RP then I apologize for bringing it up. Basically, was just wondering if we're restricted to just Marvel and DC stuff, or if we can use things from any kind of superhero media? Just wondering is all. ^^; It's fine if it's the former so yeah.

[Gowi]

There's one thing I want to ask, actually, although if it was answered in a previous incarnation of this RP then I apologize for bringing it up. Basically, was just wondering if we're restricted to just Marvel and DC stuff, or if we can use things from any kind of superhero media? Just wondering is all. ^^; It's fine if it's the former so yeah.

@Rin

I added Independent Comics (Dark Horse, IDW, Image, Mirage, etc.) to the allowed continuity awhile back.

The verdict is still out on Manga/Anime material though.

[Punished GN]

The verdict is still out on Manga/Anime material though.

@Gowi

This is obviously an anime tiddie free RP.

[Rin]

The verdict is still out on Manga/Anime material though.

@Gowi

But what about my beloved live action Kamen Riders I mean okays. XD Makes it easier to figure something out if there's a bit less choice really.

[Gowi]

Sloth & Kal-El have been trying to convince me for a year now to let anime/manga into Maximum, so the lobbying efforts aren't completely a minority. I'd have to discuss the idea if I were to, though. I mean it's not like you haven't written Amethyst amazingly before and she's a big influence on superhero stuff in japan.

[Sloth]

Sloth & Kal-El have been trying to convince me for a year now to let anime/manga into Maximum

@Gowi

I always figured I was more-so saying "I can totally make Dragon Ball work." as a joke whenever it was brought up.

[Gowi]

Let's be honest, it was more half-joking.