[OOC] CLOSED - Ultimate One Universe: Season One

[Hound55]

and @Hound55 takes the 200!

@Sep

...and what a squandered 200th post it was.

[Byrd Man]

So as we have reached IC post 200 (Holy crap the game is moving), it's probably about the halfway point, maybe in terms of time if not posts, for us to do awards. For those of you who don't know, I shall explain. Essentially, people fill out the categories below. They say who their favorites are, and briefly explain why they picked them. It's not a serious thing and we don't count votes or anything like that. With the way a lot of our characters are all over the place, it's just a way to spread around positive feedback, give folks a shout out, encourage a kind of esprit de corps, and just to let folks know that they are part of the game and appreciated. Kiss each other's ass a bit as it were.

Best Character:
Best Character Concept:
Best Character Development:
Best Story:
Best Post:
The John Lees Memorial MVP Award*:

*MVP winner gets a personalized sex scene written by @Lord Wraith

[Hound55]

If it's in memoriam to John Lees the sex scene has to be in a skintight GL costume...

[An Outsider]

Who was John Lees?

[Lord Wraith]

*MVP winner gets a personalized sex scene written by @Lord Wraith

@Byrd Man

Featuring me.

[Byrd Man]

Who was John Lees?

@BlackSam3091

He's a former RPer some of us know. He went on to actually become a successful indie comic book writer.

[Retired]

Do I win for the most amount of posts in a four hour IC period? Or the least amount of posts total?

[Byrd Man]

Those are covered by the Technical RPG Awards, hosted at an earlier date.

[AndyC]

All right, let the brown-nosing commence!

Best Character: Spider-Woman (HenryJonesJr).
There are few things that irk me more than the current "everyone's replaceable" mentality with which Marvel (and DC to a somewhat lesser extent) treats its heroes, so for Henry to take one of those replacement-heroes and make her into something I genuinely look forward to reading is no small feat. Spider-Gwen has a distinct voice, a fleshed-out supporting cast, a rogues gallery that's filling out nicely, everything necessary to turn a character from the comics that I find 'blandly competent' at best and make her feel like an actual mainstay.

Best Character Concept: The Punisher (Simple Unicycle)
There are some genuinely great concepts that people have been putting out-- Bounce's police-procedural Green Lantern and Morden Man's Fantastic Four were very damn close contenders for this prize. But just in terms of sheer enjoyment to read, Unicycle's take on the Punisher from someone who usually wallows in self-loathing and ultra-seriousness into a Hong-Kong-action-flick who positively revels in spectacular gunplay has been a blast and a half.

Best Character Development: Thor (Lord Wraith)
It may be a bit of a slow burn compared to most of us jumping out of the gate, but Donald Blake's struggle with the identity of Thor-- and his literal struggle with Victor Creel-- has been very entertaining and engaging, with a very clear before-and-after, whereas a lot of us (myself very much included) have been more focused on future setups and plot-navigation and made our characters more or less fully-formed out of the box.

Best Story: "Welcome to the Jungle" (John Constantine [Byrd Man])
Byrd's been playing hard-boiled detective types so long I wouldn't be surprised if his house was lit like a set from The Big Combo. That said, when he's in his element his stuff is amazing, and his introductory arc for Constantine was genuinely excellent.

Best Post: Lord Wraith's Sex Scene For real, though, I'm terrible at picking individual posts to declare them the best, so let's go with the conclusion for Bounce's "Mary Jane's Last Dance" because that was a great arc that I would've given Best Story if not for Byrd being Byrd.

The John Lees Memorial MVP Award*: Master Bruce
How, how did you pull this off?! I've been trying for like three years to re-launch the old Hype Basement games, only for each of them to burn out after like a week. What's your secret? What dirt do you have on folks to keep them posting? What obscene hoodoo incantations did you perform? I demand answers, dammit!

For real, though, MB is doing the lord's work here-- and incidentally writing a Batman that utterly annihilates any of the current official incarnations of the character.

[Retired]

The John Lees Memorial MVP Award*: Master Bruce
How, how did you pull this off?! I've been trying for like three years to re-launch the old Hype Basement games, only for each of them to burn out after like a week. What's your secret? What dirt do you have on folks to keep them posting? What obscene hoodoo incantations did you perform? I demand answers, dammit!

@AndyC

If he doesn't respond to this with a certain two meme-worthy words in all caps, I will be seriously disappointed in him.

[Lord Wraith]

Best Character Development: Thor (Lord Wraith)
It may be a bit of a slow burn compared to most of us jumping out of the gate, but Donald Blake's struggle with the identity of Thor-- and his literal struggle with Victor Creel-- has been very entertaining and engaging, with a very clear before-and-after, whereas a lot of us (myself very much included) have been more focused on future setups and plot-navigation and made our characters more or less fully-formed out of the box.

@AndyC

Much appreciated, I honestly thought the lack of dramatic development kind of left Thor overshadowed by his contemporaries so thank you very much for the recognition and encouraging words.

---

Now before I begin, there's a few of you I could easily put in each category so I'm going to really struggle here but nevertheless, on with the show.

Best Character: Let me begin by saying I don't like the Fantastic Four. Their best movie has been a loving homage in the form of the Incredibles, I've had little to no exposure to them on the small screen outside of mediocre animated series in the early 2000's and I've never picked up an F4 comic in my life. That all said, the way @Morden Man writes the team makes me feel invested. I can't open the IC fast enough when I see a new post from Morden. The dynamic between the team is just so fluent and natural and how they've been coping with ending up not only in a different time but different Earth has been exciting to read.

Best Character Concept: This was hard to pick because there's a lot of concepts I've really liked and I know a lot of them are probably going to be covered by other people, so for that reason I'm going to go with a bit of a wildcard choice and give some recognition to @Nib. Making the most use of the Singular Universe concept, Nib has brought us an X-Men team that takes the best from both Marvel's team and DC's Doom Patrol. From the leadership being provided by a joint venture between Xavier and Magneto to the beautiful use of Danny the World, I see this X-Men team as having a lot of fun and potential and look forward to many more posts.

Best Character Development: This was a hard one to pick but ultimately there was only one true choice for me. @HenryJonesJr and his Spider-Woman has been worth tuning into each time a new post has popped up. It's not just the character development of Gwen either that sells me, but also Peter's and Otto's. Seeing Otto's transition to villain mirror Gwen's own into a hero is beautiful and I really hope that I have the opportunity to eventually introduce Thor to Spider-Woman down the road.

Best Story: There's a lot of great storytelling in this RP, and all of you should take this award in some capacity but, much like with Morden and the Fantastic Four, there was one writer who made me care about the Green Lantern Corps. I've never liked the Green Lanterns, in fact, I have a well-documented hatred of the colour green in general. But I was on the edge of my seat with each post @Bounce made during Mary Jane's Last Dance. When Ch'p died, a part of me died, it was agonizing to read that scene, knowing it was coming as Bounce employed some of the best tropes of the crime drama.

Best Post: To pick the best post is a hard task in an RP with such quality writing but for me, one of my favourite posts belongs to @Master Bruce. Hands down, the introduction of Nygma was exceptionally well done, he sent a shiver down my spine and I love how Loeb was forced to tip-toe around Gordon due to the perceived public favourtism. The second half of the post dealing with Dent, Bruce and Selina was always quite enjoyable and I'm dying to see Selina suit up in a future post.

The John Lees Memorial MVP Award: As much as I appreciate Master Bruce's hard work and dedication to bringing one of the best RPs I have participated in within the last couple years, for me this award has to go to @Sep. There's a reason the Surfer arc was set around the Flash and that's because Sep brings heart to this RP, he's active in both the IC and OOC and he's always there to bounce ideas with and just generally a far more agreeable person than I ever could be. Both Sep and Flash and the MVPs of this RP in my eyes and I look forward to seeing more of them moving forward. There's no doubt in my mind that whatever team forms first, Flash will be a cornerstone thanks to the incredible work and dedication of Sep.

[Byrd Man]

Best Character: The Flash @Sep

Wraith mentioned that Sep is the heart of the RP in a lot of ways. I agree, and would say that his Flash is close to being the heart of the IC thread. I was a bit afraid that Iris as Flash was going to be gimmicky, but Sep shut me the hell up the second he hit the ground running (pun) with Iris. I don't know if you guys know this, but he's doing something with the Reverse Flash that's gonna be great. But, seriously, you're doing an awesome job. If we get the chance to start playing villains, you best believe I'm going to take over the Rogues.

Best Character Concept: Captain America @Eddie Brock

It's got Captain America, American history, spies, and politics all mixed into some creamy-ass goodness. How could I not vote for Eddie's Cap? It's an idea he's flirted with before, Steve Rogers actually being alive during the years actually makes him more like Captain America than we realize. He's seen the sins of his country firsthand and had to reconcile with them in his own way. In a way, this version of Steve Rogers reminds me of one of my favorite spies, George Smiley. It's damn good stuff, sir. Now if only we could get some more posts...

Best Character Development: Thor @Lord Wraith

Andy sort of aped what I would have said (Damn you!) but it bears repeating. You're doing a great job with Blake/Thor and their development. You're not rushing yourself and letting us get to know his world before you blow it all up to hell and back. Snaps to you.

Best Story: The Fantastic Four@Morden Man

What am I sucker for? Let me check the list...

[X] Compelling characters.
[X] Comic book science fiction shit.
[X] Fantastic Four.
[X] Alternate universe shit.

Morden's ongoing story checks all those boxes. The FF has been redone a lot of ways, most of them in the meh range. But Morden came up with an interesting and new take on the group. Despite the Year One setting, the Four come into the universe fully-formed and with a rich history and stakes that are super fucking high. They're the characters we all know and love, but they've all been touched by the tragedies of their home dimension. Just for the reinvention of Johnny alone you deserve this. Knowing where you're headed with the story, I can't wait to keep reading it as it progresses.

Best Post:

Superman's Introduction by @AndyC

Nobody quite has a flair for the dramatic in the way Andy does. Especially when it comes to Superman related drama. Dude has it boiled down to a science and gives us an opening worthy of a #1 issue, or the first big set piece in a Superman film.

Best Sex Scene: @Lord Wraith, he teaches us how it's done.

The John Lees Memorial MVP Award*:

@Master Bruce

He's the reason this game exists. I was highly skeptical at first when he came to me with the idea and asked me to co-GM. But I'm honored he asked me, and happy that I got to go along with the ride so far. He's kicking ass as Batman and as GM. To my brother from another mother -- mothers named... MARTHA! -- keep doing what you're doing.

[Retired]

I'll be refraining from giving out my nominations for these awards as, due to being busy the past few weeks, I am so far behind in the IC that it isn't even funny. If there's another in the future, whether that be at the end of this season, or at the mid-point of the next, I'll be sure to give my thoughts then.

And, speaking of the IC, I plan to post today. It's finally stopped storming enough that my wifi doesn't drop every ten seconds.
Everyone commending Nate's patient development, which I echo, but as the slowest going player in this RP it's time I start moving BD towards some action. Even if it won't be in this exact post.

[Simple Unicycle]

I'm in the same boat as Retired. So far behind on the IC that it should be a crime. However, I am going to try and read through it today and tomorrow so I can toss in my two cents. Then again, not sure if my opinion means jack to anyone here.

Oh, and also, wanted to thank @AndyC for the nomination for Best Character Concept. My goal so far has been for everyone to have as much fun reading my posts as I have writing them, so it's good to hear someone's enjoying them.

[Byrd Man]

Oh, and also, wanted to thank @AndyC for the nomination for Best Character Concept. My goal so far has been for everyone to have as much fun reading my posts as I have writing them, so it's good to hear someone's enjoying them.

@Simple Unicycle

If I'd done a runner up, for sure you would have been thrown a mention with Chow Yun-Castle. One of the best concepts in a sea full of good concepts. Damn me and my love of murky jingoistic politics!

[An Outsider]

As you all must have figured out from the unsteady trickle of likes and laughs coming through on posts long forgotten, I’m not quite up to date with the IC yet. As of this moment I’ve just started page 8, and while it’s taking me a while to properly catch up, I have enjoyed my journey immensely. I’ve read every post by every player, including those that have dropped out, and can honestly say I’ve found something to enjoy in every one. I've been writing with most of you for a few years now, and can say that all of you guys have brought your absolute A-game, which made selecting my nominations especially difficult. That said, and without further rambling, here we are.

Best Character: @AndyC’s Superman.

I love Andy’s Superman. Not just this particular iteration of the character either, but every version of Supes of his that I’ve ever read. It might just be a case of practice making perfect, but I feel that Andy has an intrinsic understanding of both Clark and Superman and achieves a brilliantly compelling voice for the character that makes him so fantastically readable. Byrd says that Andy’s boiled Superman drama down to a science, but I reckon it’s more like an art.

Best Character Concept: @Morden Man’s Fantastic Four.

I love, love, love this concept. It seems like such a simple thing, but how many times have we all been forced to abandon old characters, for any one reason or another? I can’t even count the times I’ve done it myself. The thought that these characters we leave behind can go on to have further adventures of their own is one that has never once occurred to me, but works perfectly, especially when coupled with the multiverse trotting F4. The Four themselves have a great rapport with one another, similar enough to feel familiar but unique enough to still be fresh. On top of that I feel that the whole ‘Darkseid conquering The New Frontier-verse’/’ angle brings a wonderful urgency to this RP, making me wonder what calamities might be waiting just round Ultimate One’s corner … And I’m a sucker for his Guy Gardner.

Best Character Development: @Lord Wraith

It’s already been said here by Andy and Byrd, but it bears repeating. The slow burn development of Blake/Thor is a brilliant read, made all the better in my opinion by the obvious divide between the two personalities. They feel and read like two separate people, which brings a wonderful dichotomy to the table.

Best Story: @HenryJonesJr

So, so may contenders for this one. Like, it could have been anyone’s game. In the end though, Henry pegged it by a nose hair. I’ve loved following Gwen on her path to becoming our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Woman, revelling in her victories and feeling the pains of her defeats. Her ‘voice’ makes Gwen incredibly likeable, which makes it that much easier to get invested in her story. Then there’s all the dangling plot points that I can’t wait to see get resolved, principal among them being Peter finding out about Gwen’s role in Ben’s death, and her dad finding out just who’s under Spider-Woman’s mask.

Best Post: @Simple Unicycle

Again, another super-difficult choice, but I think I have to give it to Uni’s ‘And Then It Was Over’. It felt like a true conclusion to Frank's story so far, which I appreciate. Endings are tricky, and we don’t always do them justice, but I think Uni did. Couple what I feel has become his signature kickass action with Frank’s dry wit narration, and you get a fantastic recipe for a top-notch post. As an aside the Max Payne soundtrack went hand in hand with the post in question, really driving the energy and pace. I don’t usually listen to the music player's provide for their posts, because I usually feel that their choices don’t mesh nearly as well as they think they do, but Uni nailed it here. And if you meant for Jose Gonzales’ “Far Away” to begin playing as soon as I reached the part where Frank returns to his warehouse, then that was a genius move.

The John Lees Memorial MVP Award*: @Sep

There’s a fantastic energy in this RP, and I think a lot of that can be traced back to Sep. He’s put a massive shift in, both IC and OOC, and I can’t commend him enough for the effort he’s been putting in. I’ll be honest, I was sceptical when I realised his take on Flash was going to feature Iris under the cowl, thinking that she was just going to be a gender-flipped Barry Allen, but I’m quite happy to have been proven wrong. Iris under Sep’s pen is her own woman, with her own morals and values, and while similar to Barry in some regards, is entirely unique from him in others. Couple that with his good-natured contributions in the OOC – and I do believe a healthy OOC makes a healthy RP – and you’ve got a winning combination. Keep up the great work buddy.

[Supermaxx]

Best Character: Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme @ErsatzEmperor

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The sleeper hit of the RP for me, 'cause I'll be honest: I haven't read a Doctor Strange comic before, and outside of giving it to me for free, I probably never would. He wasn't the sort of character that ever interested me in the slightest, and I assumed it'd be the same here. Ersa proved me wrong. He gave Strange a sense of humanity that's difficult to put into words- though we saw almost nothing of his relationship with the Ancient One, Ersa has managed to convey just how much Strange's master meant to him. I can't wait to see the Doctor grow from here, and I'm super ready for all the magic craziness he's got in store for us.

Now if only you posted more than once in a blue moon.

Best Character Concept: Vigilante, the Spirit of Vengeance @DocTachyon

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I love cowboys. I love scary as hell demons. And I love the voice Doc puts on when he types up Vig's posts. I don't know jack diddly about Greg Saunders outside of his appearance in Justice League: Unlimited, but this incarnation of Vigilante has so much heart and soul put into it that I can't help but love the guy. It's probably the most distinct characterization of all twenty something characters we've got going, and that is a feat worth celebrating.

And I mean, come on. He's a cowboy turned Doomguy turned burning servant of the devil. How is that not the coolest shit ever?

Best Character Development: Frank Castle, the Punisher @Simple Unicycle

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Every post Unicycle has put out since the beginning has been a great read, but what really sold me on Frank Castle's transformation into the Punisher was Dirty Laundry.

Prior to that, he was a man that was slowly unraveling. From his first murder spree in the strip club to the deaths of those two cops, we could see bits and pieces of Frank being chipped away. His only drive was to avenge his family's deaths, and nothing but that mattered to him: it wasn't until the dust settled and Castle decided to pull the barrel of a gun out of his mouth that he realized he still had a chance at life- at having a purpose beyond simple vengeance.

I can't express enough how much fun the gun-fu is, but it's the underlying journey toward purpose that really drives Unicycle's version of Punisher over the edge from 'enjoyable' to 'great' for me. Can't wait to see where he takes it from here.

Best Story: John Motherfucking Constantine in 'Welcome to the Jungle'@Byrd Man

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Reading Byrd Man's introductory arc was what hooked me into joining the game. He writes John Constantine better than John Constantine could write John Constantine. It feels like he ripped his style right out of the pages of an old detective serial, sprinkled in some nutso voodoo magic, and let it fly, and it works incredibly well. All of his arcs have been excellent so far, but the first one really hit it out of the park in my opinion. Mad props for that one.

Best Post: Captain America's The Liberators @Eddie Brock

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In less than two thousand words, Eddie managed to make me more invested in Abdul al-Rahman than every Captain America villain put to the big screen. Seriously, this was a first class post. There's almost nothing I can say about it that could do it justice. The man made my heart bleed for a fictional little boy, and despite spending perhaps six minutes with him in total, I feel as if I know Abdul better than I know my own mother.

And let me tell you, I love my mama, so that is a feat and a half.

The John Lees Memorial MVP Award: Either goes to @Lord Wraith or @Inkarnate

---

I can't remember which one of you fuckos it was but stalking your profiles is what got me here, so thanks for that.

[Lord Wraith]

The John Lees Memorial MVP Award: Either goes to @Lord Wraith or @Inkarnate

---

I can't remember which one of you fuckos it was but stalking your profiles is what got me here, so thanks for that.

@Superboy

I know I thanked the post, but after writing on your wall and everything, you still managed to confuse me with Gowi. Moderately insulted over here.

[Supermaxx]

<Snipped quote by Superboy>

I know I thanked the post, but after writing on your wall and everything, you still managed to confuse me with Gowi. Moderately insulted over here.

@Lord Wraith

I’m like 50% sure you only wrote on my wall because you saw me lurking here already!

The other 50% is me having the worst memory on planet earth, so I went the safe direction and called you both out.

[Lord Wraith]

<Snipped quote by Lord Wraith>

I’m like 50% sure you only wrote on my wall because you saw me lurking here already!

The other 50% is me having the worst memory on planet earth, so I went the safe direction and called you both out.

@Superboy

Nah, I would have written on your wall because you lurked my profile. It's a standard thing I do.