I've had an idea that I wanted to try for awhile. It's inspired by an anime trope I've noticed; that being of characters fighting vicariously through something else. The best examples of what I mean are Pokemon or Digimon, where the main characters have creatures fighting for them. Other examples include Yu-Gi-Oh, Shaman King, or Custom Robo. This is meant to be the same kind of situation. However, it also barrows heavily from the movie Tron, as the story takes place in a digital setting.

There are a total of six creatures, each corresponding to six main characters. I have characters written already, or I could let people use their own character. If I did that, though, they'd have to be normal humans. Also, they'd have to fit with one of the six creature's themes. Said themes would be Strength, Intelligence, Agility, Defense, Charisma, and Bravery.

As far as plot goes, you'd start by going to an arcade for whatever reason makes sense for your character. All of the machines are full, save for one in the back. The six main characters would end up sitting down at the machine and putting on the helmet. Each character would then wake up in a tron looking world, where they'd meet up with their Monster Fighter. They'd make their way to a small "town" where they'd find out that the digital world (referred to as "The Board") is being corrupted by six powerful viruses, each one worse than the last. The party would then set out to vanquish the viruses, finish the game, and return to their bodies and the real world.

I do have other things in mind for this, but I want to stick with this until I know people are interested.

So, any thoughts? Questions? Concerns?

@AllHollowsEve

This sounds like something I would be interested in. This premise sounds closer to Digimon than anything with the virtual setting and the single partner for each character while the structure seems like a JRPG with the quest to defeat six bosses; maybe a JRPG is what the game appears to be from the outside?

I like the idea of each creature fitting a certain theme, but I would question why bravery is included in that list. With the other five themes you have almost matched the classic DnD character stats of strength, intelligence, agility (dexterity), defense (constitution) and charisma, but you have bravery instead of wisdom. If the similarity to RPG stats wasn't your intention then I'd still say that bravely seems oddly out of place alongside the others.

@King Cosmos

I'm actually really glad you asked that. Bravery is necessary to make it feel more like an anime. Bravery is supposed to be the spiky haired protagonist, the one that has no notable skills, but is still gonna try their best, and through the power of determination/faith in the cards/manliness of their own soul/humanities uncrushable spirit, they WILL win the tournament/save the world/graduate/be the very best that every was!!
Where as the other characters are all more skilled, but also specialized and don't always get along without their token leader.

@AllHollowsEve

So they are the archetypal shounen protagonist essentially. Fair enough, I can get behind that, though will power or spirit might be a better word for it than bravery.

Well I'd definitely be up for being a part of this and would like to call dibs on Defense if that is ok.

No problem. I haven't been working on it, since it didn't look like anyone was gonna join. I'm gonna start on it now.

Im strongly leaning towards agility if you don’t mind. This concept sounds noice

@HokumPocus

No problem.

Alright, so, let's talk about characters. Specifically the humans. As I said, I already have characters written up for each theme. Would you rather use the default characters, or make your own?

@AllHollowsEve

Would it be ok to make that decision after seeing what characters you've come up with? I have some ideas I could use but I am also open to using a pre-made character if I thought I would be able to do that character justice.

@AllHollowsEve Sounds complicated but interesting. I wouldn't be comfortable allowing someone else to pick my character. I would have to think of a reason for my character to go to the arcade since none of mine are usually into that kind of thing. I am also curious if these characters are from different cities or the same city. Are they aware of each other or how do they met?

@King Cosmos

No problem. I'll get some pictures and brief descriptions up, though it looks like we may be leaning towards OCs.

@KatherinWinter

The default characters? Some are from the city, others came from a different city/region. Each of them is vaguely aware of the other, but none of them have ever actually met. They meet for the first time at the arcade, for no reason other than there's only one machine available. As for OCs, I'll leave it up to the creator whether or not they're from there and if they know anyone else or not.

Does this unfold in a particular country or will the location be left vague? Also, I think my character idea could fit agility pretty well, even more so now that you've revealed it's represented by a butterfly symbol.

@HokumPocus

Actually, the butterfly/moth isn't agility. The racing arrows are.

@AllHollowsEve

So what are the symbols for each trait? Are we going to be designing our own creatures or did you have something in mind for those as well?

Eh, I can make it work

@King Cosmos

Strength is the fist, Intelligence is the brain, Agility's the arrows, Defense is the shield, Charisma is the butterfly/moth, and bravery is the heart.

@AllHollowsEve
Ok that is a major problem. You have one machine and atleast six characters. That means that they can not interact. Unless once hooked to the machine they are transported inside the machine. And if you did that you would need a reason for those disappearances not to be reported before everyone gets into the game.

@KatherinWinter

I pictured it as being a six person machine myself which, if it a VR based game which it sounds like it is, isn't too far-fetched. If it is a machine which is pulling people in one at a time then you could say that time passes differently inside the game world and out, in a Narnia or Digimon-esque manner.

@King Cosmos Arcades don't generally have that kind of technology. I have never seen a place where six people could play at once.

@KatherinWinter@King Cosmos

The machine is supposed to seem out of place. The more perceptive characters would find it odd that people are crowding at every machine, yet this is completely ignored. There's a reason for this, but I'm waiting until later on in the story to reveal it. I'm also holding onto why no one notices or does anything, but King Cosmos got part of it.