Hello again.
I have another announcement to make regarding the RP, this one specifically concerning the “Big Water” subplot, wherein Ozzy and Strut, having been convinced by my character that there is better egg-hunting to be found at the edge of the Big Water, are escorted there by a small group of valley dinosaurs and GOF members.
As I stated in my last announcement, I personally prefer a more lighthearted and playful tone when RPing; while I’m not against incorporating some dark elements, I dislike excessive violence, angst, and grimness. I certainly won’t force these preferences on the rest of you, but at the same time I’ve been longing for an opportunity to RP the way I want to. It is for this reason that I devised the Big Water subplot; to give myself and whoever else was interested a vacation of sorts from the darker RP storylines that up to this point had been prevalent.
My vision for the Big Water subplot was that it would be primarily about Pangaea and Sparky’s interactions with Ozzy and Strut as they attempt to influence the two egg stealers to become more amiable to them and their other favorite LBT characters, while at the same time taking the opportunity to explore the prehistoric wilderness. Ozzy and Strut themselves are going of their own free will; they will NOT be a threat to the other members of the group, and do NOT need anyone to keep them in line. I also would rather not have any of the adult Great Valley dinosaurs come along; Pangaea and Sparky are leading the group, and it would be redundant to have a more "qualified" authority figure in attendance (not to mention that it would suppress the natural exuberance and/or attitude of the other characters).
If you’re an Ozzy and Strut fan who wants an opportunity to hang out with our two favorite egg stealers, or if you’re looking for a comedic adventure full of hijinks and encounters with Mesozoic wildlife (mostly small creatures that Pangaea and Sparky try to catch and observe, and occasionally large ones that we try to observe, and then run from
), then this is the subplot for you. This is NOT the group to join if you like constant action and peril, or you're just looking to give your characters something to do. The Big Water subplot is only recommended if you are acutely interested in what it has to offer.
I just want to make sure that everyone who may have wanted to participate in this subplot knows what they are getting into. If you were previously interested in joining, and are now having second thoughts, that’s more than okay. It’s hard to say this without sounding selfish (which I definitely do NOT want to be), but I have an easier time RPing when there are only a few other players to interact with; I get to talk with their characters more often, with less concern that I am inadvertently monopolizing them and keeping other players from their own fun. That said, I am not excluding anyone from participating, but I do think a lot of players would enjoy themselves more in a different subplot than the Big Water one.
While the Big Water subplot is going on, I would really like there to be something happening in the Great Valley that will give the players whose characters are staying there something to do. I’m concerned that a lot of players who were thinking of joining the Big Water group wanted to do so because they felt there was nothing for their characters to do in the Great Valley. I’m sure it would make things better for everyone if we rectified this.
I would like to use Red Claw, Screech, and Thud for something, but I'm concerned that their attacks on the Great Valley dinosaurs are getting a little old, so this time I've come up with a different idea. Red Claw will yet again send Screech and Thud into the valley; not to attack anything, but to spy on the inhabitants and find out when and where they are most vulnerable (sleeping spots, etc.), so that Red Claw can surprise them the next time he does attack. I was thinking that the fast biters wouldn’t be discovered right away, but characters will eventually begin to suspect their presence (perhaps from finding footprints, hearing their movements or catching glimpses of them in the undergrowth, or even detecting their scent). Once word spreads that Screech and Thud are in the valley, Great Valley residents and GOF members alike begin assembling into groups to find the fast biters (either to capture them or drive them out of the valley), seal up unguarded openings in the Great Wall that they might have entered through, and so on. Does anyone like this idea? Suggestions, feedback, and requests on how you'd like to be involved in this storyline are welcome! I want no player in this RP to be left without something to do.
I sincerely apologize if anything I have said in this post came off as overly forward, selfish, or control-freakish. I really want this RP to be fun and enjoyable for everyone participating. I don't want to limit anyone's freedom, but at the same time I feel that everyone (including me) should be able to pursue their idea of enjoyable RPing in a setting that is comfortable for them. (I hope this makes sense; it's so difficult to put into words…)
Thank you all for listening, and I hope we can get this RP back on the road soon.
Pangaea
