PLAYER ROLES:In past games using the Absolute Comics format, the idea has been to submit a character and then write that character and its numerous supporting cast. This system has had mixed results with some players excelling particularly well with where others felt locked out of the game very quickly. Unfortunately, the biggest downside to that system has been the latter result with numerous fan favourites being locked up in another player's NPC list. For Sensation & Wonder, I wanted to take a crack at changing that system. Instead, we'd like to encourage those players who enjoy driving their own plots to do so but to also consider taking on other players in the place of NPCs. Almost like a 'micro-RP' within an RP so to speak. Below are the three player archetypes, each with more information laid out about the expectations of each role.
D R I V I N G:Driving Characters are built around the idea that a more assertive player will produce an application containing not only their desired character POV but also a story arc that encourages other players to join up with them. To give this idea a practical example, say Player A applies to the game as Batman in a Driving Role. The player could then state in their sheet that they are desiring to play Batman at a later point in his career when the Joker after a long time absent has returned to Gotham to torment the Bat.
This gives others an idea of what sort of plot they'd be signing up for if they applied as a Supporting Character or even a Roaming. Player A could then state in their application that they're specifically looking for two or three other players to help them out, or one dedicated supporting player to portray Robin while one or two others are encouraged to jump in as Roaming Characters to aid for shorter Chapters or arcs.
R O A M I N G:Roaming characters are the middle ground for players who don't quite want to commit to driving plots constantly but also don't necessarily want to tether themselves to another player. A Roaming Character is designed to jump in and out of various plots where there's a role or need they can fill. That said, being a Roaming Character doesn't give you a free pass to jump-in where you please. You as a player should still be invited to the plot.
Keeping with my theme, Nightwing works well as a Roaming character because he can easily aid Batman for one arc, pal around with the Titans the next, and then face off against a villain player for a third arc. Roaming characters are aided by having a loose personal plot connecting the reasons why they bounce around, but it's not necessary if you just want to have some drop-in and out fun.
S U P P O R T I N G:Supporting Characters are a more passive role in this game. Closer to traditional roleplaying, a Supporting Character is created to fulfil a particular purpose or plot. Keeping in line with the above example, if a Batman player wanted to play through a retelling of 'A Death in the Family', a supporting character could sign up as Robin or Joker. Both characters have an expiration date at the end of the plot, but the Driving Character would go on to create a new story to carry out upon its completion. Supporting Characters are also ideal for players who like to write as a character for a bit and then swap to someone new.
Supporting characters do not necessarily have to be dropped upon the completion of an arc however if you're enjoying your character, you can continue to play them and change to either a Driving or Roaming character if your original writing partner has no further plans for you or you could join up with another Driving player.
ROLE SWITCHING:You may switch the role you wish your character to play as at any time it makes sense to do so. By this, I mean that if you're currently driving a plot, don't decide to suddenly want to play only in a supporting capacity. However, if at the completion of that plot, you decide that you'd prefer to play a Supporting Role moving forward, you are well within your power to do. Likewise, someone who started in a Supporting or Roaming Role may take the reins and become a Driving Character when the opportunity presents itself. There is no requirement to resubmit a sheet when switching roles, however, if transitioning to driving you should make your plot known so others have the opportunity to express interest.
CHARACTERS:Players are allowed and encouraged to apply as either heroes or villains. Players are not allowed to shoot down other apps unless they are A) already accepted to the game and B) that particular character is directly named in their plot and they already have someone lined up to play the part. If a player expresses interest in a character you want to appear in your plot, it is highly preferred that you take the time to work with them and collaborate instead of simply denying them. That said, I understand some players are about as compatible as oil and water.
If two players truly can't get along, the GM will side with the player who was accepted first. For example, if Player A was accepted as Green Arrow and detailed a plot involving Brick, they can't protest if Player B applies as Deathstroke. If Player A however did include Deathstroke in their plot, then it would be preferred they find a way to include Player B. If neither player is accepted and have conflicting applications, then it is encouraged they find a way to compromise. GMs will intervene when necessary.
With the inclusion of villains, there is potential for player versus player combat. Players should discuss in advance the desired outcome of their story or collaborate on it in some way. If both players were accepted with plots separate from one another and Player A finishes their plot and decides they want to fight the character that Player B holds next, they must coordinate with them. They can't poach the character, nor can they force the ending they want. Likewise, if Player B for some reason found themselves without a plot, they can't simply jump into Player A's story unless it is agreed about outside of the IC thread.
COMIC BOOK TIME & GHOST WRITING:Sometimes as a writer, you're tied up in your own plot but another pops up that you'd like your character to be part of. As a comic book game, posts in the IC thread do not necessarily need to be linear. If you as Player A are running a plot but Player B is doing a Cross-Over with a team your character is affiliated with, you can write both simultaneously.
Likewise, characters appear in numerous issues each month written by several different authors. In Sensation & Wonder, we're inviting you to also use that to your advantage. If you're particularly fond of someone's interpretation of a character and would like to use them in a 'Supporting' or 'Roaming' spot for a Chapter, you may approach the controlling player and ask to do so. That player is allowed to flat-out deny you, or they can lend their character out with as many or few guidelines as they see fit for you to write the Chapter with. In this instance, you're given temporary control over a character as a guest or ghostwriter to carry out a Chapter elsewhere while the controlling player continues their own story. The controlling player may ask to proofread any or all posts or ask for you to retract or edit posts as they see fit if actions or instances don't match their vision.
CHAPTERS:'Chapters' is simply a fun name for contained player plots and story arcs. These are the stories told by you the player and governed by those of you who take on the 'Driving' role. Sometimes these Chapters may be the work of one person, other times it may be the work of a duo or even a small party of players who created something together.
This is the bread and butter of the RP, moving it forward and filling out the world as players work together to tell stories and build the setting that directly impacts not only their character but also those playing alongside them in 'Supporting' and 'Roaming' roles. There's no defined length for a Chapter, it could be as short as a single post or as long as a story spanning over thirty posts. Think of a Chapter as an episode of a television show or a single comic issue.
It is essential that all players contribute towards the Chapters in the IC and drive their characters both independently and together. Equally, it is important to read other player's Chapters and make note of significant events or even just 'broadcasted' ones to reference and relate to within your own posts. Small efforts like this go a long way in making the world feel alive and connected.
Don't feel you have to be joined at the hip at all times though, the same plot could be told through two characters without them constantly need to be in the room at all times. To bring about a great recent example, re-examine 'Falcon and the Winter Solder', while Sam and Bucky spent the impactful scenes together if it wasn't for the events they accomplished apart the story would not have fully come together.
CROSSOVERS:Crossovers are the icing on the cake, this is where the larger picture starts to form. A crossover is defined here as a player coordinated and driven interaction between two or more character plots in the IC. To phrase it another way, it's when two or more 'Driving' character plots converge on the same thread. Like a 'team-up' between Flash and the Green Arrow that brings in all those associate characters. A Crossover may be as simple as a one-time team up or a small part of a larger over-arching story depending on the ambitions of the player(s) coordinating the story and those involved. There is no limit as to how many crossovers can take place at any one time as they will be completely moderated by those involved and not the GM Team.
Crossovers may take place in a single city or even multiple, spanning up to a national event depending on the number of players involved in the current crossover. Players are not required to participate in a crossover if they do not want to, and if you have approached a player and they have turned you, we ask that you please respect their wishes. That said, all players should consider participating in a crossover from time to time if only to recharge and avoid burnout due to lack of interaction. You will never be required to remain within the crossover for its entire run unless you become integral to its story, which case it is only respectful to do so.
Ultimately, the structure of each crossover will be dependent upon the player(s) organizing it. It should be noted that a crossover should never change the status quo of the game, and while consequences and fallout is encouraged, it should be limited to only those involved unless special permissions have been granted.
CRISES:Crises are large-scale events that affect the roleplay on a massive scale. These events can be global, universal or even multi-dimensional. Ideally, the occurring Crisis will affect all players, but all players need not directly contribute to the Crisis at hand. The outcome of these events will affect the roleplay's status quo, wiping the slate clean or drastically changing the present world. This could mean something like DC's Rebirth where abandoned characters can be reset allowing new players to assume their roles without the need to continue previous stories, or Marvel's Civil War where characters and their beliefs will be challenged, changing the alignment of different characters and the shape of different team rosters. These events won't take place often but when they do, they will be designed to directly impact the RP.