In my time RPing, I don't think I have ever seen many games last this long. Almost every single game I've joined tabletop-wise has never gone past session 2. Back when I was RPing in MMOs, they never lasted long either (and there were some toxic people). When I did delve into PBP-style games, they also did not last long. This is nice to see.

Happy Sunday from the (extremely hot) cargo bay!

I've been in Dallas since Tuesday, with plenty of triple digit temps to raise a sweat just walking in from the car. Had to abandon ship on our company's visitor lodge house when the AC failed...indoor temp of 91 is strangely nonconducive to decent sleep. Today we get 105. Tomorrow? 108. Wherever you are this weekend, I hope it's cool and comfortable.

Lots of exciting arrivals in game this past week. Quill Cassidy continues to leave Yuri tripping over his tongue. Our hapless 1st mate found his voice again with Imani Ozuka. And finally, Yijun Xun has come along to catch the boat for Pelorum. Welcome to all these new characters and their writers!

We're going to push the story line along in the coming week. As China Doll is short for crew with Abby sidelined, Yuri and Hook pulling double duty, and still down a pilot, Cal may find himself bringing our new passengers into the current caper. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground. There may be trouble coming.

Write When It's Fun,

sail

Exciting news, all. Welcome to @Herald and our new pilot, Tommy Pearson!

You should be seeing a CS soon, and Tommy will make his arrival shortly.

WWIF,

sail

Heya all! Just popping in to say hello before I start reading the IC chain.

Welcome to the Galley, @Herald! Joe Hooker always keeps a fresh pot of coffee on. He is constantly brewing a fresh pot if it is getting too old. He also bakes pastry from time to time. The last item baked was coffee cake. It was on Osiris after getting Abby back. It still should be good. Joe maintains an inventory of food in cold storage and the freezer including leftovers. There is food there. I think it was posted some time ago before landing on Osiris. May need to throw some science experiments out. :)

I am a slow poster and am working on catching up with reading.

“Slow poster…”

Says the man who just completed his book. Beware, Tommy. Joe Hooker is more than he seems…

Happy Sunday from the cargo bay!

It's been a good week of posting. Quill, Imani, and Yijun have all been shown aboard. There are some JP's brewing that I'm aware of, all of which involve our intrepid Captain and featuring Quill, Imani, and Abby in turn. And then, out of the blue comes our new pilot! Welcome aboard @Herald and his character, Tommy Pearson!

All in all, a happy day for China Doll and her crew. So of course, your humble hosts are gonna mess that up.

Cap'n's going to call an all hands meeting to talk about our next run and pick brains as to how we pull it off. All you passengers will be in on it, 'cuz a quick look about shows we're a might short handed. Writers can expect to see a link to a Gdoc as early as Monday night, 8/1.

Game Time: China Doll touched down Tuesday night at midnight. Cal is planning for her to stay put Wednesday through Friday, with a departure Saturday at 3PM. As the plot unfolds you'll see that there are opportunities for every character to participate. This also leaves plenty of leeway for individual character subplots to develop.

(This is the part where I chant the mantra about your friendly game hosts being more than happy to help your characters grow their individual subplots. Be sure to rattle our cage if there's any support we can offer as you tell your stories.)

All our gaming fun aside, let's all send best wishes and good karma to @Xandrya, who is on the verge of becoming a new mom! We'll keep you posted as we learn the latest.

WWIF,

Wolf and Sail

It's a real joy to let you all know that this morning, @Xandrya gave birth to a healthy baby boy! Let's welcome Alexander Ilya to the crew! Both mother and son are doing well, and hopefully getting lots of rest. CONGRATULATIONS and warmest regards, @Xandrya!

wolf and sail

@Theyra@Xandrya@PatientBean@Herald@sail3695

Joe Hooker and I are available for collaborations at any time. You can send me a PM here or on Gchat. If you would like to introduce Yijun Xun, Imani Ozuka, Quill Cassidy, Tommy Pearson, and Sister Lyen that would be wonderful.

Xandrya, Take care of that little peanut. Do you have more time to write or less now? I know it can go either way. You are home with him and not at work, but might be exhausted and less than creative.

I finished writing my first book a few weeks ago and can now get back to Roleplaying. But I have another I will start in November. Hopefully, I can get this one published. /crosses fingers.

@Gunther I may be poking you soon for a collab. Joe seems like a treat.

I have another vacation from 8/9 - 8/12...My son and I are heading to Lake George, NY. We are going to see Ft. Ticonderoga, Ft. William McHenry and Saratoga National Battlefield. Yes, another history tour. I will have my laptop with me.

On another note, my birthday is coming up on the 12th.

Happy Wednesday evening from the cargo bay!

The "All Hands" JP is officially underway. Each of you have received an invite in your email, and we've also posted the link in our group chat. Come on in, grab a drink, have a seat, and try not to stare at the girl who looks like five miles of bad road...

WWIF,

sail

Happy Sunday from the cargo bay!

You guys are killing it in the JP. @Xandrya, I still laugh every time I read your latest. Cap'n's delivered his final pitch to get everybody on board with the latest caper. There are tags for Hook, Quill, and Tommy. Once everybody weighs in, we'll post the last installment of the crew meeting and spring into action.

By the way, Wolf's got the 'rona, and he's feeling pretty crummy. He'll write when he feels up to it, but in the meantime I've been helping him out with the Captain-y parts, and trying to shuffle as much onto Yuri as I can to take the load off. Get well soon, Wolf!

NOTE: If you've got a tag from Cal, you'll likely be forced to write with me, a pitiful substitute indeed.

Summer always seems to end too soon. Mrs. Sail is on the road Monday, and I'm a bachelor all the way through Thursday, so I'll be available and excited to get some additional writing in. Yuri, Edina, Abby, and Backup Cal will be available for JP's. Send me a wave and we'll get started.

I take off Friday to meet Mrs. on the coast for Labor Day weekend, followed by a week at the corporate mothership and its' usual time constraints.

I have to say that I really love seeing so much character growth and the relationship dynamics that are sprouting. Y'all rule.

WWIF,

sail

Posting error. Senility isn't for the faint of heart...

sail

Hello you colorful gang of space-flying miscreants.

As you've all probably noticed, my posting fervor has been lacking in the last month or two or three. After discussing this with Sail, he floated the idea of a hiatus for me, and I accepted.

One of our guiding tenants here at FF2V is to Write When It's Fun. This is a game and we ought to be having fun!

That said, I need a little time to get my head screwed back on the right way so that I can enjoy writing Cal and the gang properly.

Sail will be running the whole shebang for now; he has graciously accepted writing for the Captain until I come back. I'll be around, and I'll be unreachable, I just need a little space to pursue some other evolving things in my life. And I'll still be writing in the game, in some capacities.

I'll drop this message in our GChat as well, but I wanted to say thank you all for your patience and collaboration with Sail and me.

May the road rise,
Wolf

In the winter of 2020/21, I was in the grips of a ferocious writer's block. Hadn't put two words together in months, a condition made worse by the crazed work environment at that time. It was @wanderingwolf who pulled me out of that funk, through a series of 1x1 RP's. He got my writer's synapses to fire once again, and the old enthusiasm returned. For that, I'm forever grateful.

I'm also grateful to him, and to all of you, for investing your energies into this little game we've put together. As Wolf and I laid down the foundations of Firefly - Second 'Verse, we honestly thought the game wouldn't grow beyond our latest 1x1 RP exercise. How wrong we were.

The past 14 months have been exciting, dramatic, frequently hilarious, and in many occasions, poignant. Watching the people who call China Doll their home form bonds and face challenges has inspired a very real sense of delight for Wolf and myself. On more than one occasion, we've thought to pinch ourselves over the characters and their talented writers who've chosen to come fly with us.

But at the end of the day, the wells from which we draw our creative resources are finite things, affected by all manner of external influence. Wolf's had an amazing year, with an exciting new job and increased workload/travel demands. While I hate the fact that Covid forced him to slow down and take stock, I'm also glad that he made a call which benefits his well being and, after a break to regenerate, will return him to us. Until he does, I'll continue writing "Backup Cal" while transferring as much load to Yuri Antonov as possible.

Wolf's hiatus and the coming Labor Day weekend have given me a couple ideas that I'll share with all of you through chat and PM. 'Til then, be sure to take the time to look after yourselves and your loved ones. And don't worry about China Doll. We've all got her covered.

Write When It's Fun,

sail

Happy Thursday from the cargo bay!

Everybody please check your PM's for an update and a couple questions.

Thanks!

sail

Happy Sunday from the cargo bay!

Hope you're all having a great Labor Day weekend. I'm on the coast for another round of seafood, sand, and sun (when it appears.) Just a reminder that we'll resume Episode 4 - "Redemption Road," on Tuesday, when I'm effectively back in the world.

But don't let that stop you. We've just finished the crew meeting in the galley. Feel free to engage characters in conversation or make arrangements to help the Captain's plan. Abby, Edina, and Yuri are available for JP, though their writer's posting will be somewhat sporadic for the next couple days.

In the meantime, hope you and yours are enjoying summer's last hurrah.

WWIF,

sail

Hey folks,

I owe you all a big apology. Travel and work have been pretty successful at keeping me away from posting and moving the plot here in FF2V, but life's about to slip back toward normal. I'm traveling Tue. and part of Wed., and will then be back in my plush, subterranean lair!

I appreciate your patience. However, the crew meeting ended with plenty of good ideas for folk to help out, so if you get a hankerin' to go do what's needed, make a fun post out of it! I mean, c'mon...Abby can't be the only one traipsin about buyin' blankets an' such...especially since doc grounded 'er for two whole days!

WWIF (or when you see cheap blankets,

sail

I am working as the gym teacher this week. Physically exhausting, but do get about an hour of free time to write during the day. After school, its getting my kids to and from their activities. Also my wife did not pick up a lot of Overtime this summer like she normally does. When she is home, I don't get to sit in front of the computer as much.