The Campaign Builder's Guild

Thanks for your input guys. There are two legitimate options I see here given your responses:

1) We put it on hiatus and come back to it once I've stabilized schedule-wise

2) We do something I've been considering for Haveneast for a long time: make it a community setting. What this would mean for the game is that we would have to develop a system by which we each contribute a "turn" to the game (kind of like that old "finish this sentence" or whatever forum game it was, but on a larger scale) where we can each have much more individual control over the story than the GM/players dichotomy presents. I've got some free time this weekend, so if anyone's down for this we can discuss it over IRC. I've been considering this because as much as I love the setting, I haven't been able to give it the proper treatment I've wanted to, and we haven't really had a community setting as far as I know for some time (somebody correct me if I'm wrong). Feel free to shoot this option down as it has its difficulties too, and I don't want to sound arrogant in thinking this is something everyone would be gung ho about, or that regulars like my setting enough to want to contribute to it as a side project of sorts. However, if this is enacted, people can contribute as much or as little as they see fit to a setting that's already got a definitive but very diverse and mutable theme. Going back to game-wise effects, would this be like what Storium wants to do? That's what I'm shooting for in this option.

Let me know what you guys think.

EDIT: Storium is also an option here, once I hear more from those who have used it and buy a copy myself (can do it at any time). The main issue with #2 or Storium is that it expands the role of players too into something they may not want, especially considering what everyones' roles were when you signed onto the game.

Well, option 1 is pretty simple. It has been so long since we've had a game I personally would already call the game "on hiatus," really.

As for option 2, it is quite an interesting idea. I sort of like it, and I sort of don't. I like the idea of continuing the game, of course, and (as you probably know) I am generally in favor of a more collaborative approach and mechanics that empower players to make a greater mark on the setting. I like Haveneast, and I think I'd be interested enough in continuing along this road. However, I do like Aliya as a character, so I sort of don't like that it might diminish the chance to get to play as her-- it feels more like I'd be "writing stories about stuff Aliya did" rather than "roleplaying as Aliya," if that makes sense. That said, no longer having to be stuck with Pathfinder mechanics for her actions and accomplishments would be fun. Anyway, as much as I like a collaborative approach, I also worry a bit that if the focus is on "community setting building" as such then everyone chiming in their own contributions might dilute the feeling of Haveneast or step on your toes, as I'm not 100% confident in my ability to add to the setting and I don't want to mess something up.

Quote from: sparkletwist
Well, option 1 is pretty simple. It has been so long since we've had a game I personally would already call the game "on hiatus," really.

As for option 2, it is quite an interesting idea. I sort of like it, and I sort of don't. I like the idea of continuing the game, of course, and (as you probably know) I am generally in favor of a more collaborative approach and mechanics that empower players to make a greater mark on the setting. I like Haveneast, and I think I'd be interested enough in continuing along this road. However, I do like Aliya as a character, so I sort of don't like that it might diminish the chance to get to play as her-- it feels more like I'd be "writing stories about stuff Aliya did" rather than "roleplaying as Aliya," if that makes sense. That said, no longer having to be stuck with Pathfinder mechanics for her actions and accomplishments would be fun. Anyway, as much as I like a collaborative approach, I also worry a bit that if the focus is on "community setting building" as such then everyone chiming in their own contributions might dilute the feeling of Haveneast or step on your toes, as I'm not 100% confident in my ability to add to the setting and I don't want to mess something up.

Maybe we can compromise with Option 2. I'd still be "telling" the story with you guys playing your characters with a little more freedom as to what happens to them, and then on top of that, the setting is opened up to more contributions from everyone. I'm not too worried about anyone "stepping on my toes (hooves)" as you say, as those who like the setting know it well enough to do it justice, and those who don't probably won't really read it. On the other hand, it gives a community who might be interested in working on an already-started project a good base (that has seen several revisions) to work with. I'd still contribute, too. I'd rather have it opened up than let it disappear as I have less and less time for it, and don't really feel I have the knowledge/skillset to continue working on it without a lot of help anyway, so if people were down to make it a community setting that's what I'd do.

Anyway, I'm sure we can come to a good solution that solves the issue of limited time, but doesn't turn everyone into an equal contributor on a setting when the original intent was to play one character in my game. I'll try and hop on IRC every night this weekend, but everyone who wants to chime in should feel free to continue posting here and join us in the chat.