Academy TDI Reboot Thread (Paragon, Riaxh, BitSmall and Cyan ONLY)

[Paragon]

Hello again my friends. I'm currently working on raising the Academy back form the ashes.

I've made this thread for us to discuss what was bad about the previous Academy which needed to be improved. Also, this thread will serve as a way of thinking up anything new for the Academy or perhaps enhance what was already good about it.

Personally, I think that I will not be bringing back Angel. Her immense power (though needed for the plot I was planning) broke the gritty, serious nature of things. She could solve any problem very easily. When in reality, with powers you still don't understand fully in your body, you're going to have trouble regardless how powerful you are.

Instead I will be making a new character, much more balanced against the powers that others may take.

Moving on. With that out of the way, would you guys like to contribute something or should I proceed with the revival without any changes?

[BitSmall]

I kind of liked how it how was so I'm struggling to think of anything in particular that concerned me. although I would really like to have larger emphasis put on combat this time. something to keep people interested and actively posting.

Spoiler

I will be using the same character as last time

[Paragon]

Noted.

[Cyan]

Thinking about what has happened in previous version. This is a quick list of what I came up with, if you feel a particular point needs elaboration then please say.

The problem with Angel was she was supposed to be a leader of sorts for us and she spent too much time being moody and emoish, we had little direction on the ground as it were, which is fine for competent rpers but not everyone.

Atleast early on, don't let events pivot on one person because it will slow down the rp, let someone solve the problem in their own way. When the people still around can be trusted not to disappear this can be done.

I've learnt its better not to have any kind of structure, if you have a structure we need to skip time and all sorts. Give us a location to be and the opportunity to interact with each other. This includes NPCs. Even involving a bad guy, unless someone is going to play him.

You can give direction from the ground without being in a authoritive position. Being in the same position as us keeps you very involved and in the know.

Nothing wrong with passive abilities, means I can focus on being social.

I know this is really cheeky but I'd like ORACLE to be mentioned as the device used to find mutants. Actual spoiler below.

Spoiler

ORACLE was going to be a pair of twins with different abilities hooked up to a gigantic computer for processing the information. One was capable of seeing all possible outcomes of future events simultaneously so more probable outcomes of a single event he sees more off. The other twin, the girl, can read minds and was hooked up to the computer to act as a buffer for the computer by weaning out improbable results. The boy is shown an image of a baby, sees lots futures with superpowers at a particular level later in life. The girl sees the most probable and the information is transmitted to the vast array of the computer.

[Riaxh]

Going off what BitSmall said I agree that players possibly need to feel more involved, though I wouldn't say things need to get incredibly combat based, just that events need to move at a pace that keep people posting. (I don't mean rush the plot or anything though. I know we can't have everything kick off at the start).

I also mostly agree with Cyan, though I'd like to point out that I think the parts where the RP really seemed to slow down was when people were given the freedom with their posts and weren't really sure what to do with it. Of course thats very dependant on the RPers, but if Soul kept a tighter rein on whats going on I don't think thats necessarily a bad thing.

I like the idea of ORACLE though, not sure If i'll play Lambda again but it would give him an opportunity to freak out if he ever found out about it ^^

[Paragon]

Based on the recent suggestions, I came up with an idea.

Perhaps the Academy could train people in squads? For example, BitSmall's character Miles could be a vital member in terms of offense; he goes in and beats things up. In Maria's case, she would probably be in a more supportive role.

The advantage of specializing the Academy to teach this way is mainly that I can work with the plot very easily as we go. The Academy teaches the squad to perform as a team, then this squad works together to fulfill the objective of a mission. These missions could all relate to what happens in future. Failing causes one thing to happen, succeeding causes another.

Though a disadvantage is that this method is more elegant and calculated than the freelance sort of style we had in the previous Academy. Also, if more effort is being placed into a small squad, how many can we accept into the new generation of this roleplay?

Just some basic thoughts. What do you guys think? Want to ponder more about this or are we set on changing/improving the relatively freelance style of the old Academy?

[Riaxh]

I think thats a good idea. And if we have too many people then why not have two squads? or some people could stay behind for some missions and do different things. Either way I'm sure numbers won't be a problem with this method.

[BitSmall]

I do like the squad Idea, and organising people into groups (especially the ones that don't like each other) could lead to some more interesting relationships between characters as they are almost forced to work together. As for squad size and number, I think it would be interesting to limit the RP to two rival squads of about 4-6 people (the whole 'Rival' thing would be used allot in training as each team strives to out do the other) that way it should remain interesting without becoming two overcrowding.

[Cyan]

I agree with you Riaxh, our RP slowed in places because people didn't know what to do but I don't think it was because they had too much freedom.

Before exams I started a superpower rp with total freedom, I named a city, gave them a first post and gave little to no direction other than we were ordinary mutants and they went for it. Everyone felt like they owned the city and places to meet up or have brawls were just conjured out of thin air. We spent time in hospitals, schools and streets in the dead of night. I was "killed" with an icicle through the eye and this was ok, possibly better than ok. It ended up with me and another guy being hunted down by another character with no input from me whatsoever. I had to give up on it sadly because I had real life commitments.

I think the reason no one knew what to say is because they didn't know what was in the realms of possibility. We had classes and things to go to which made matters confusing especially when interaction had to be stopped and restarted in the new locations.

I like the idea of squads and missions, very much so. It gives a chance to really socialise with a group.

Maria is not support class material, you wouldn't call Wolverine support would you?


Oh, just had a thought. There is no need to introduce a bad guy if it doesn't effect all of us, regardless of its involvement in the plot. Just justify old events retrospectively when it is more appropriate for everyone. Keeps the mystery going a little bit.

[Paragon]

Okay fine Miss Wolverine xD

I'll just make the necessary edits. I think this thread actually served its purpose!