Daily Entertainment.

[muji]

A hypothesis, as asked in as circuitous way as possible and via my own characters. Many apologies.

Sallie, after her recent very un!Scooby-Doo like ghost antics, went to the infirmary to get checked out, which eventually happened with Kim Ford. Her main goal was yes, to get looked at, but also to not run into Simon Tam, as that would have led to more questions than she felt like answering. Batya later pinged me with something along the lines of "He could always find her chart, you know".

I guess my question is this: Do you often read other pups' threads (especially pups who are friends with your own) and think of ways that your character could get involved and then offer that involvement to the original player? Or do you more wait to be approached? This goes to spontaneous plot development, this goes to keeping an eye out at other folks' threads, etc etc. It's just something that was in my head.

Comments

[aberration]

I'd probably wait to be approached. Unless I really, really knew the other muns well, or there was some necessity for a character like mine in the thread. I'd feel like I was imposing otherwise, whether that's really the case or not.

[muji]

Y'know, as soon as I wrote this my brain went "A lot of people would probably feel like they were encroaching on whatever the original situation was, Mu Ji."

I imagine it all depends on the context, then -- There's no reason for Ned to start baking pies for Elle if they have never even met, but if the opportunity came up I'd certainly at least wave hello at ya.

[innerbrat]

Mostly, yes.

When I'm reading a thread with Steph or Mike, the part of my brain that writes and thinks of ideas for Mel is always switched on, and affects my interpretation of that thread. Also, I'm a player, not a writer in approach I recognise the a validity of playing to create stories, but I'm always looking to get involved if I can - or to not get involved if I need to. Stuff is happening in the place my pups live, and I like to know how it's affecting them. Also, it gives me more fun things to do with my pups.

Probably because I've been a Security player for so long, but I do often ping people with a "so, you want a Mel in that?" if I've read it.

But OOC contact comes first. Batya would never dump on me that Simon has read the chart and will be involved, so I can just lump it, and that's one of the reasons Batya's awesome.

[muji]

I think that's where I was headed -- I can read Kaylee, River, Inara etc etc threads from now til the cows come home, but what is making them especially important in my brain is what Mal would think or say or do.

(And word on the OOC contact. No imposing! \o/)

[sir-gareth.livejournal.com]

What Deblet said where it concerns my pups' close circle of friends/family.

I tend to read those threads more than any others, to ensure my own play is reflective of the current 'IC life' situation. OOCly I'll then typically discuss the situation with the muns and test the water for my potential involvement. Because my Bread n' Butter Muns™ are all super cool, this typically leads to a suggestion of spin-off involvement more often than not, even if that involvement is just a hand-waved passing of news/acquisition of knowledge.

[muji]

I read Deblet as 'doublet' and confusing images ensued. [/unhelpful]

[tinylegacies.livejournal.com]

I try to keep track of what my canon-mates are doing since it might have impact on my own game play.

But beyond that? I don't really know anyone well enough to jump into a thread. I barely get responses to my own EPs at this point.

[muji]

I'm trying a process of resuscitating my less-established pups: EP, then tag three to five EPs immediately before or after my own. *crosses fingers*

[naelwyn.livejournal.com]

I'd be the type to wait and be approached, even for threads where I'd really be wanting to help out on. But only because I'm a shy/paranoid person and approaching people about anything takes a lot of closing my eyes and praying to not seem like an idiot. Yes, even over the internetz! Although I think I've gotten better. I think.

[muji]

But but but no shyness plz! :O!

[sdelmonte]

I really ought to approach people more. Not just in terms of pups that my pups know, but in terms of things that could be fun or interesting. And lord knows that I haven't really taken enough of an initiative on making plot happen.

Let me say that I am approachable, generally by e-mail since that is the best way to reach me (though if it's not 9 to 5, AIM is good too).

And while I am thinking about it, it occurred to me on the way into work that it would be interesting to have the Question meet John Constantine, since the latter is formerly of the DC Universe. If Spiderine is lurking, I'd love to touch base.

[muji]

Ditto on the approaching, with (surprisingly?) Mal more so than others at this point.

[timjr.livejournal.com]

Having stepped on toes (or, in some cases, entire feet) in RPs past, I really try to stay back and only get involved with stuff if asked.

Though I'll spring in on open-y posts that seem plotty-ish.

Hence how Eric O'Grady ended up embroiled in the Kate stuff.

...even if I totally dropped the ball on his involvement.

[muji]

I guess what I'm trying to get at is, hopefully, if someone contacts another player with an idea? There will be either a reply of "yes plz!" or "Sorry, plans are headed in another direction".

[agonistes]

Mm. Not often, maybe? If only because I am not playing as much as I used to. Although the other night I did make an offer of a thread to somebody -- mostly because their character seemed to be in a pretty bad space, and when their character has previously been in a similar place we did something like that with our two characters.

I concur with most everybody else -- OOC communication is paramount. The couple of times I've gotten contacted to say "look, this is here if you want it", I've really appreciated it. Sometimes people have Sekrit Plans -- you don't know what's going to happen, and you don't want to ruin what somebody else has put a fair amount of work into.

[sdelmonte]

Let me ask, then, if you've been following the Question, also known as Charlie. He is, in fact, the character who Charlie Crews reminded me of from episode one of Life (which might in part be why I was tempted to app my Charlie in the first place). I think that your Charlie and mine need to meet at some point, just to what happens when these two men with vested (but every different) interest in the Zen of things talk.

[pheliskougra]

I did something similar a couple times... asked a mun 'hey, I read X thread and your pup said Y thing, mind if I tag one future thread?" But was rare.

[muji]

It's definitely not something I would really recommend doing every single thread you read, but it's something to keep in mind.

[imthegoodguy.livejournal.com]

I usually wait to be approached, 'specially since I haven't been reading threads much in the recent past. That's ... slowly starting to change? But even when I did read a lot of my friends' threads, I don't think I had the urge much to have my character interfere with the plot. I figure if they needed me, they'd let me know.

[muji]

Lemme pose this question to you then: What if that unknown-to-them idea that you have makes their original plans that much better?

[ashen_key]

I...I tend to wait, although sometimes it depends on how well I know a person, or their pup knows mine. I often have great difficulty in predicting pups and how they react, so the pups are unfamaliar, the most I can say is 'this might be interesting'

In this case of my pups being friends (or lovers) then, yes, my brain tends to come up with ways, and sometimes I'll suggest them.

Or, depending on the circumstance, point out my pup'd notice something, or get pissed if they knew, or would be going 'ohh, shiny', or what have you. But, aside from pointing out reactions, I tend to wait and see.

[muji]

I definitely like having other pups (canonmates, friends etc) let me know what people's reactions would be to my character's actions. Example: POTC3 plot, where plot got delayed and Mal was out of the bar for two months. If people hadn't let me know what was going on elsewhere, I could not have edited plot participation to have Mal come back and deal with things at home.

[wakeupnew]

My involvement usually takes the form of saying 'HAHAHA THAT WOULD MAKE SO-AND-SO'S HEAD EXPLODE' to the player, and then going from there. I mean -- I really don't usually get involved; I read pretty much everything, but I haven't had a ton of time for playing lately. But when something catches my eye, I'll totally offer my character. I'm less likely to if I don't know the player, but it has been known to happen.

[muji]

*high fives*

I'll let you know when teh lingerie happens.

[saphyria.livejournal.com]

I tend to keep up with what the characters that mine are close to, or are affected by. If something catches my eye, I don't hesitate to ping and say "[X] would be cool, in light of the recent [Y]!" or even little ideas such as "[Y] would so pounce your [Z] right now!"

You never know what little idea might turn into plot or previously-unexpected character development, and it won't get the chance to happen if you don't share the idea.

At the worse, you can both laugh at the AU possibilities, after deciding not to go through with the idea.

I looooove spontaneous/organic plots. Too much planning restricts spontaneous brilliance.

[muji]

*approves*

[misslucyjane]

It depends on how well I know the mun and how well/if our pups know each other. I have pinged people in the past to say "Hey, what if . . ." but I prefer a bit of planning beforehand.

Having plot dumped on me without warning is a sure way to make me very unhappy.

[muji]

Even if it's just a random idea that you don't have to go through with?

[candied-rabbit.livejournal.com]

I'm much more in the "wait-to-be-asked" category, which is probably bad, because I don't really talk OOC with a lot of other muns, even the ones whose pups know Momiji better than most.

On the other hand, Momiji's like the neediest headvoice ever - he wants to be friends with everyone, and, if I let him, he'd probably start trying to drag people home to his world to play. Which would end badly, just in IC terms. *snickers*

[mogget_cat]

Yrael already wants to visit and meet the family.

*innocent beam!*

[mm_madb]

I read, and offer if I think I've got something that works.

Although, I admit, I do so less and less often with players I don't know well. See Madb, see Madb become a hermit. I need to get out more.

[whisper2ascream.livejournal.com]

I might ask in chat since easiest to get who's playing who, but I sometimes read other threads just because they're interesting. But usually figure my pup can only get involved if they know one of the pups there. I rarely randomly ping only since sometimes unsure who's got what, or figure they already got plans in the works or would have said something in the ooc notes or back room for open involvement.

Also since only pups like Pan tend to get a lot of threads, and my work schedule limits my playing time, usually can't get in to RP, or things have already progressed, or people seem scared of me or my pups possibly.

[ceitfianna]

I try to read a lot of threads so that I'm aware of the IC stuff of pups who are good friends of mine, but I also just enjoy reading them.

A lot of my roleplaying experience is from Larp where eavesdropping and then doing stuff with that is part of what makes the game interesting.

The way I play that in Bar is if say Will and Atton are doing something embarassing, I might say in chat wouldn't it be fun if someone heard or saw this.

I agree that's its all about the OOC communication, which is so key and I tend to think about that stuff less for major plot stuff and more small silly stuff.

[gorgonfondness]

If I think I have an idea, I go out and suggest it instead of waiting to be asked. I'd rather ping someone and say, "If you like, I could send someone over to help/complicate/pounce on your character" for them to respond, "I was going in a different direction, but thanks anyway =)" than twiddle my thumbs waiting for someone to go, "Hey, we could probably use you over here for cracky goodness!" A few of the threads I believe were the best I've ever taken part in were ones where I offered up a pup to jump in.

[genarti]

Like most people have been saying, it depends a lot on how well I know the other mun. If it's a good friend or canonmate, I'm a lot more likely to ping with something like, "Eeheehee. Let me know if you ever want my character to find out about that! I am easy either way, but it could be interesting." Or something similar.

Given River's psychicness, if it's a character she threads with a lot or something really major, I might ping in any case to say "Hey, do you want me to make sure River doesn't find out about that? I can work stuff any way you want, but let me know." And sometimes it might necessitate having River not run into them for a while, even, if it's something big. But I try very hard not to step on toes, because it's no fun to have something all planned and worked out and then someone else coming in going HEY HERE HAVE A CURVEBALL TO DEAL WITH! But spontaneous plot development is also tons of fun, so... it's a balance.

If I don't know the mun very well, I'm more likely to either hold back, or say "Ahahaha if Lan knew about that he would so not be happy" or something like that in general chat, and let the other mun pick up the cue or not as they like. I wouldn't ping or email if I didn't know them well, or if they didn't have some kind of OOC note saying that any and all involvement was welcome in the plot.

[vivien]

I do, as much as I can, with the folks I know best and play with most. Like with Di, I'll often see a thread and say "Ooh, can Tom come help?" A lot of spontaneous cool plot comes up that way. I LURVE spontaneous plot. I also like to do the total stranger (or stranger character) tag out as much as I can, if I think my characters will get along with them.

And hey, any time you guys need a wizard/opener, a nice, brave kid, etc. just holler! If I'm too tired, I might beg slowtime, but I am open for just about anything. Just give me a ping!

I think it helps that I was an early Milliways mun - you threw your characters into all manner of plot with no communication back then, so it's easier for me.