[OOC] Digital or Real?

[Genkai]

I'm fine with the game being released during a calm, more serene time. It just means the game isn't more for escape, as much as it is used for more pure entertainment. Which then would bring us to where we were still a bit stuck, the plot in-game. We did briefly talk about wanting to do some kind of quest or mission to bring both players back together but are we still assuming the game is more free form but still controlled so there aren't any situations where higher levels don't PK lower levels?

[Scout]

I feel it would be quite free-form, but as far as PK-protection goes... I think it wouldn't be too absurd to think there are high-risk/low-risk/no-risk zones. There would be a heavy emphasis on roleplaying, for everybody, and staying in character. We could even make it a rule, keeping anything real-life related to private conversation. The risk zones would likely be in a "low-risk," only players with similar levels can target one another, but high-risk would be anybody can attack anybody else.

Plot in-game is quite tricky... considering the game isn't really... dangerous. Nor is it the true focal point - it's more a medium for our characters through which to progress their own development. (Did that sound as good as it did in my head? XD)

[Genkai]

Keeping real life protected is a good idea. I would assume though that exchanging offline contact like text or email would then be a way to get to know people off-line which would be okay right? I figure there would be villages or cities/towns where killing isn't allowed and probably low level areas for newbies would also be off-limits as well, maybe some kind of police or moderation would be keeping tabs?

I know we wanted our character's in-game persona's to be higher than newbie status but should we consider making some quests or missions that would then bring them together? It would be dangerous but it could also have other aspects if people didn't want to deal with a lot of combat. We did have a division between those with fantasy or those with sci-fi tech if I recall, I think at one point we did think teaming up with the opposite character style would be necessary for some event.

[Scout]

With a game this massive, it wouldn't be unheard of for the map to be so expansively large that most people, even at the highest levels, haven't seen all of there is to see. It would also have a massive player base. Maybe even based out of a small number of servers, to ensure that everything is populated? And for such a large game, I think there would have to be a quest generator and NPCs that had real personalities and could respond to actual speech in order to make that plausible. It's technology that's currently in the works and many of its researchers are finding it to be very possible. But that's not really that important, seeing as this is fiction and we can do whatever we want. XD Therefore, quests which appear on the borders between Sci-Fi and Fantasy would likely almost require people from either side. I also think it wouldn't be too crazy to think there are even some cities/settlements on either side of the map that draw in both elements. Meaning some cities in the Fantasy zone have a high-tech style to them which is woven in with the natural and magical themes of Fantasy. On the other side, it would be the cyberpunk cities that promote agricultural/harmony with nature and technologically augmented magic (or vise-versa, magically augmented tech).

The risk areas would work fine, I think. I'm sure that mods and whatnot would still do patrols, but to a degree the "safety" would have to be programmed in for players to be protected from PK in low-level zones or from PK'ers of a crazy high level difference. Players could privately exchange e-mails/contact info if they liked, so that they could talk about the game outside the game, or kind of just chat when they didn't want to play their characters, etc.

[Genkai]

I think we're on the same page goes as far as the nature of the game, the themes we want from each side, be them fantasy or magic/logically based. I think we still need to come up with the sort of quest that would bring both players together. Perhaps some kind of scavenger hunt sort of quest that would require the verification of both a fantasy and a sci-fi character to say, access certain areas of the world that might be off-limits to the opposing type of role. Or if you wanted to do something other than that, it could be more risky and have to do with combat as opposed to something light/less-stress. Or we could have the quest have to do with quizzes that could mix both strengths from each role at different check points around the world/areas.

What do you think?

[Scout]

Hm... It'd be cool if whatever we did required one from each area, but could have no more than two people doing it together at a time. I'd suggest some kind of puzzle-intensive quest (as I imagine VR would promote greatly, seeing as First-Person is huge for the puzzle genre nowadays [e.g. Portal and whatnot]) but still have level requirements and combat incorporated. My problem is that I'm really bad at making puzzles. XD It's crazy hard for me. It'd be good to have it require tech and magic both. To be honest, I"m just more excited to play James in teh future XD he's going to be kind of an ass in game, but I'm more pumped to play him outside of the game.

On another note, I go to MEPS on Friday. My DLAB results came back with flying colours and I'm so excited for that, but now comes the part that I'm really nervous for... I just really hope my body fat percentage makes the cut.

[Genkai]

I could come up with some possible puzzles. Be them mental or physical. ^^ And yeah outside of the game will be good to navigate with too. I've been getting back into Dot Hack and I've missed online stuff for so long, such a great franchise...But where do you think James and Sasha would be offline after the skip? I assume we're doing something post-college or during? I thought we agreed post-college so they can be independent and such. I figure Sasha would be back in London.

And I'm just waiting to post because I wanna check if we're skipping now or still waiting, since we've done a lot pre-plot already. ^^ (not that I mind but skipping somewhere sounds like a good idea)

And oh, good luck with everything! Make sure you keep studying hard to get promoted (or whatever it's called, I forget) my brother works his ass off to make sure he passes his tests and shit, it sounds hard as hell but if you really love it and can deal with BS from higher ups (if they suck, some are terrible with paperwork and getting chits requested for you) then you will have a great time. Tell me you were joining five years ago and I wouldn't be as supportive. ^^;

[Scout]

If Sasha comes back to London, that's where James would be. So it would have to be one of those chance things, where they run into each other. ^^ She'd have a lot of catching up to do. It depends on whether it would be right after she graduates college at 22 or if it'd be a couple of years.

I enlisted successfully and ship out on Aug 19! ^_^ I don't have to worry about testing nearly as much. I enlist as an E-3 and graduate the DLI as an E-4. So after that, I've only three more promotions before I qualify for becoming a WO. ^^

[Genkai]

She'd likely go back to London after college then, probably to work as some editor while working on her own stories and publishing them. Do you think we'd want them to meet prior to them meeting online but before revealing themselves? Or would you want it to all sort of happen at once? I was thinking them hanging out offline and catching up irl might help spark conversation online in passing (small tidbits like being busy because they were catching up with an old friend over coffee or something small like that).

Oh congrats! Did you get your shiny ID card yet? Those things are pretty cool, get ready for some decent discounts at iHop. XD

[Scout]

I didn't get an ID yet, no. XD I didn't think I got one until Basic Training? If I get it sooner, that's absolutely spectacular, but I would be willing to doubt it... Who knows!

I'm wondering if maybe they've been online friends for a while and not know for a couple of years and have no idea that they're both in London. Then we could do some building on their friendship in-game (or their acquaintanceship, since James' in-game persona is going to be a real ass - some kind of "evil/chaotic" type and I'm not sure the type of character Sasha would want to play. Might be an interesting duo, depending on that...) and when they meet in real life again, it's going to be kinda funny to see that difference in personality. And how old do you think they are? Freshly out of college? Or mid-twenties? I kinda like mid-twenties, gives me some wriggle room with James' life.

[Genkai]

Have fun, and don't be shy about asking for discounts. They're often not much but hey, discounts are nice. I think many hotels offer them, etc etc.

As long as James' online persona isn't too grating or too much of an ass, after all, I can't give Sasha a reason to stick around with a jerk online when she could easily just find someone else to do the quest with. But I do think we could skip to them in London, after being away for several years. It would be nice for them to know each other in real life before they uncover their online selves also know one another. What if we had them interact a bit online prior to the big quest? Or we could say those who signed up were randomly generated to have their opposite partner be assigned to them. Would that work for you?

Also, I'm assuming James and Sasha would sort of stay together the rest of freshmen year and probably sophomore? Do you think they'd take a break during junior year only to get back together for senior and then break up for Sasha's college overseas?

[Scout]

Oh yeah, no doubt they won't discover the online thing for at least a while. My questions was more along the lines of do you think they've both been in London for a couple of years (since graduating) and haven't seen each other, completely unaware of one another's presence? If that makes any sense...

Ooh, I kinda like the quest idea. Maybe everybody who wants to be in on this tournament/quest-marathon type of deal meets in the city on the Fantasy/Sci-Fi border and register for it as an event. They don't explicitly state that it takes high levels, so everybody just assumes it's some kind of combat type of event, when in reality it's slightly more puzzle-based, meaning your stats don't really have to be so special except for maybe class choices can't be solely combat. I hope I'm not just rambling and not making sense here. XD

Their high school relationship could be on again/off again. I imagine their 'break(s)' wouldn't last more than a month or two though.

As for discounts... Yeah, I think I'd use it for big things like that, for sure. Even for a movie, but it's probably not something I'd want to whip out a lot.

[Genkai]

It might be more easy for them to purposefully reconnect in London. I figure as soon as Sasha lands back home, she'd want to catch up with everyone, James included.

No no, what you have in mind is what I have in mind. I have some thoughts so I'm hoping I can jot them down when I'm in class tomorrow and then I can run some of my thoughts by you when they're better organized. ^^;

Yeah, I don't see their breaks being too long. I think if anything, they'd take breaks over little things that would be easy to fix in a short amount of time.

I think you get sweet deals with airlines, it depends though. And maybe for travel like with hotels but it'll depend on how much you feel like bringing it. Some places don't offer but it never hurts to ask.

[Scout]

Fingers crossed for car rental discounts, since I'll have to be doing that kinda often when I visit home. Looking forward to it though XD I know you have to be like 25, but still... rental cars are niiiice.

Seems we're on the same page with most things except their reconnection. XD Do you think *just* out of undergraduate degree (22-24), or do you think they're post-grad (24-26)?

[Genkai]

Start saving up to buy a car, rentals are nice but I'm sure having your own feels way better.

Do you think James would continue his education? Or where would he be? I'd see Sasha either doing just four years or moving on for a masters if it mattered, in some cases the extra work isn't totally worthy the price...

[Scout]

He's either an aeronautical engineer or Astrophysicist. Probably the former and almost definitely a Master's or he'll be amidst working on getting it.

[Genkai]

Then probably 23-25? I could see Sasha coming back to do her Masters at home or at someplace noteworthy nearby.

[Scout]

That would make plenty of sense. They'd each be working while getting it and reconnect that way. James has a bit more going on than school ^^" do we wanna jump that far ahead? Start in-game or in London?

[Genkai]

I think we could do one huge skip soon. I think we'd need to settle on some facts before I do though.

So they're on/off until their final year of school, when summer comes, Sasha breaks the news she's studying in America and that they should break up to save them pain? They keep in contact online via texting but it's minimal and tapers off once they both get busy with college? Their parents still hang out together, pass snippets of their kids' updates along? Skip to Sasha back home in her own London flat, having already agreed to meet up with James for a drink...?

[Scout]

I can dig it. 24 sound like an okay age for you? Nearing the end of graduate studies.