|
|
Post by DiscipleofBob on Aug 28, 2013 18:06:04 GMT -5
To say the site's in a rough spot right now is an understatement. We're not completely dead in the water, we still have several active writers on the site. First of all, welcome to the new blood! I promise the site has been and will hopefully be more active than it is now. But several dropped titles and one Schroedinger's admin have not just thrown a wrench, but an entire toolbox into the works. Overextended metaphors aside, I'm posting this thread not just to give my suggestions, but to open the floor for discussion and suggestions from everyone. At this point I'm not a full admin, so my abilities to help the site if all the admins vanish and stay gone are limited, so I won't be able to implement all of it nor make any "official" rules changes myself. As an additional disclaimer, all of these are just suggestions from me and in no way are guaranteed to happen. INCENTIVES:Currently the incentives on the site are post at least 6 issues of a title and resolve the current story, you can get it established in continuity. Then if you post so many reviews, you can get an extra claim per month. In my opinion, we need more incentive for people to write and actually complete titles or else we'll never get continuity off the ground. Obviously we can't pay real money as we're not actually DC. So how do we motivate writers to write? Some possibilities: - Original characters. It's been asked about several times before. Currently they're not allowed as the goal for the site is to use the DC characters to form an established universe, and we don't want it overpopulated with made up characters. But I see no reason we can't open up the possibility for a few original characters for established writers. My suggestion is to allow a writer to add one original character to one of their titles, either as a hero, villain, or support character, every time they complete X number of issues or complete an arc.
- Elseworld titles. The big reason alternate reality titles aren't a thing right now is because we need a main universe before we can really establish divergents, with a few rare exceptions. Perhaps we could open up the possibility for writing a few Elseworld stories for those who have actually completed one or two actual titles.
- Fan Art. I think it'd be nice if we could get some artists to maybe do some illustrations for some of our titles. Put some of our Ultimizations down in color (or black and white or whatever medium is used). Personally while I sketch, I don't consider myself good enough that my art would be in any kind of demand, but maybe we could find someone (or someone here knows someone) who could produce some quality artwork for the site.
RESTRUCTURING:IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The following is JUST a suggestion. It's not a sign of things to come. If and when this measure would be taken, everyone on the site would be notified well in advance and no existing titles would be affected. I understand that this next proposal is likely to be controversial. The crux of it is this: We need established titles. Dropped titles mean months of wasted work that no one else could have used to get something written down in stone. Many writers here let their ambitions get ahead of them and take too many titles without considering their ability to fulfill their first claimed title. Even moreso if they write for another site. What I propose is a restructuring of when and what kind of title can be claimed. New writers, or writers without a completed title, would be required to write at least one complete story for a Solo Title. At least 6 issues. Enough to firmly establish the character in continuity. After at least one completed Title, the writer would then have the opportunity to write a Team Title. The writer has shown that they can be reliable enough to complete a title so are allowed more flexibility with what they can write. After completing at least two titles (neither of which has to be a Team Title if unwanted), the writer would then have the opportunity to write an Elseworlds story. One that is either a full on parallel universe like what's in the new Infinite Crisis game, or one that's just mildly different from the main canon, allowing for writers to take on storylines that maybe our main canon or claims by another writer on the site would prevent. I have more suggestions, but I have to go for now. Discuss. Suggest. Nothing here is set in stone at all, so if something frightens or offends you here, don't worry. These are just suggestions on how to improve the site. Good luck to everyone here, new and old. Let's salvage this.  |
|
|
|
Post by JordanGuest on Sept 1, 2013 16:44:16 GMT -5
So here are some of my ideas based off what Disciple has proposed and a few questions pertaining to it:
The first question is:
You said that a complete story is six issues. Does this mean that, effectively, you can claim a title for six issues and then drop it at the end of said six issues if you so wish? Or, if you do not wish, you can continue with the title? If so, I really like that idea.
Onto the Elseworlds titles, I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of that. Elseworlds should be something that shouldn't be introduced till wayyy down the line. Using alternate universes for a storyline here or there is different than just telling a story and not connecting it at all to anything else.
I do agree that most writers let ambition get in the way of reality and it hurts the site as a whole, so placing certain restrictions on that is a really good idea.
My suggestion would to be to use whatever titles are currently established and to some sort of event with them, giving new writers a jumping on point for their series. It's always easiest if you have a built-in jumping on point. Especially with characters who have been established but not being used anymore, using those characters in an event and giving them a new direction could be a good way to get newer writers interested.
Those are my thoughts, take it or leave it. Even though the admins won't let me have an account I'll still contribute my two cents where I see fit.
|
|
|
|
Post by cross on Sept 1, 2013 19:06:00 GMT -5
Jordans idea of an event to bring every character together gave me some major inspiration. The event would be:
ULTIMATE DOOMSDAY
The story would consist of the warning from the Green Lantern Corps of the impending Doomsday Creature heading towards Earth. Then the story could shift to the perspective of some of the heroes preparing for the arrival. Then an issue telling the story of how Superman must leave earth to stop a different threat in space. (no idea who it would be, just need a reason to get Supes off of earth) Then the creature known as Doomsday lands on earth and demands earth to give up the Kryptonians known as Kal-El. The heroes battle, heroes are lost. Just as it reaches the darkest, the dawn arrives. Superman returns to earth and battles Doomsday. Superman falls in dramatic fashion as the whole world watches. Metropolis lies in ruins. The heroes prepare for the worst. After another heroes vs Doomsday battle, The Flash zips in and collides with the Creature taking it and himself into the speed force. The day is saved! At what cost though? The Cadmus organization secretly develops 4 clones of the fallen Superman. Kon-El, the Superboy! Kara-El, the Supergirl! Cy-El, the Cyborg creation Superman! Finally, Prime-El, the genetically perfect clone of Superman.
This was just a rough, off the top of my head idea for an event mini.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ultimate Silentking on Sept 1, 2013 20:59:28 GMT -5
Uh, I was hoping for a different use for Doomsday. And Superboy. And Supergirl. I was also gonna have Bizarro be a clone as well. But if everyone else likes it, I can work this to better fit what I had planned.
|
|
|
|
Post by cross on Sept 1, 2013 21:17:42 GMT -5
My idea was not planned out what so ever. If you want to change any details or not use any of it at all it won't bother me. If anything, the idea was just meant to get some creative juices flowing.
If the Ultimate Doomsday idea isn't a popular one, another idea I just thought of is the creation of the perfect being: Ultimate Amazo. I would base it's powers on the Justice League Unlimited version of the character.
|
|
|
|
Post by DiscipleofBob on Sept 2, 2013 0:15:32 GMT -5
RE: Completed titles. If a writer wants to, yes, they can write a title for six issues, complete the story, and drop it. The title is officially established in continuity and someone else can pick up where the previous writer left off. Or the writer can continue with the title if they so wish.
RE: Elseworlds. Agreed that such "parallel" stories shouldn't be introduced until main characters are actually established. Hence my idea about requiring completed at least two completed titles before someone can even attempt an Elseworlds story.
RE: cross's idea. Not saying that something like that can't/won't happen, but before we can do a Justice League title, we at the very least need to get Superman and Batman established. Right now we have at least Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and (maybe) Aquaman established in modern continuity. (I say maybe Aquaman because the majority of that story is in the past so we might need a bit more modern Aquaman before that's safe to use for a modern storyline). As for how we handle the actual Justice League title with claims/writers/plotlines/etc., that's a bridge we'll have to cross when we come to it.
|
|
|
|
Post by JordanGuest on Sept 2, 2013 10:01:13 GMT -5
Ultimate Doomsday is a rather good idea. What I was thinking was more along the lines of Demon Knights and Green Arrow (that ended, right?) and any other ended stories where the heroes haven't been picked up yet coming together and doing some story that gives those characters new direction and a new starting point for new writers to hop on to.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ultimate Silentking on Sept 2, 2013 21:55:14 GMT -5
No, Green Arrow is still going. Volume 1 just ended and is heading into volume 2.
|
|
|
|
Post by JordanGuest on Sept 2, 2013 22:36:30 GMT -5
My bad, I wasn't exactly sure on the whole status quo of it. I personally don't see the need to start a new volume instead of keeping the numbering and continuing forward with just a new story arc.
But my point stands on using unused or established and dropped characters to form an event and give some characters directions others can work off of.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2013 15:22:47 GMT -5
My personal feeling is that a crossover would be a bad idea. I've seen it tried a few times at other fic sites, and it falls over almost immediately. Different styles, people want to write what they want to write instead of what has been plotted/prescribed. It doesn't go well.
I see where you're going with this, but again, I've seen the whole 'You must write a single complete story with a solo title' thing before. People, forgive me, but people can't be arsed to write a complete story for a solo. That's not something people want to do. They want to write...Doom Patrol, as a whole. Although, that said, I think Robot Man is awesome enough for a solo, so...
I like the ideas, I think other people will prefer the incentives. I haven't got that much of an interest in Elseworlds, to be honest, or original characters but maybe others will?
Not trying to crap on anything here, either. If I am honest, I don't know what to suggest to fix the activity levels. Perhaps more active admin? I dunno, I realise that the admin situation isn't something that can be helped at the moment because, it's technical issues and stuff. It's not a lack of interest or anything.
I really don't know - more discussion, even if it's just about comics, to keep people talking? Maybe talking about writing points, or things like that? Just get people to turn up more, to visit and talk, and then the writing will follow.
|
|
|
|
Post by cross on Sept 3, 2013 17:40:58 GMT -5
Didnt think of the "Event Story" that way. bkole probably is right, it would become a mess quickly. I like the idea of one but not sure if the execution can be done.
Can someone explain the Admin situation to me? I don't know what is going on there.
|
|
|
|
Post by DiscipleofBob on Sept 3, 2013 18:46:42 GMT -5
Didnt think of the "Event Story" that way. bkole probably is right, it would become a mess quickly. I like the idea of one but not sure if the execution can be done. Can someone explain the Admin situation to me? I don't know what is going on there. To summarize, none of the admins, that is the people who can perform admin functions, including adding/removing boards for titles, are active anymore. Buck is still around every once in awhile but he's not even pretending he's going to stick around. Wachter claimed Batman as his second title shortly before having internet troubles and disappearing for about six months with very rare postings. Wachter was the last active admin. I was given moderator status shortly before Wachter's last contact, and I've been trying to salvage the site, but my capabilities as far as site maintenance are limited. |
|
|
|
Post by cross on Sept 3, 2013 19:40:43 GMT -5
Is there any way that Wachter or buck will make some active members here new admins?
If that isn't an option then another idea would be create a new site and forum for the UDCU. I'm sure that won't be a popular option.
|
|
|
|
Post by JordanGuest on Sept 3, 2013 20:20:26 GMT -5
Is there any way that Wachter or buck will make some active members here new admins? If that isn't an option then another idea would be create a new site and forum for the UDCU. I'm sure that won't be a popular option. I'm sure that it may not be a popular option to create a new board one when goes dead, but that is exactly where this board sprang from in the first place, so it is not impossible. That said, it, at this time, seems like the most viable option. But, that isn't to say that it is the only option or even the only viable option. Buck does exist on Universe: Omega Centuri, he's on there at least once a day and posts with his ideas some of the time. Someone could reach out to him there and see if he has the power to make others admins and, if he doesn't, then most likely Wachter doesn't have the power either, which leaves the board hanging on the hopes that C_Miller returns once more as the fearless leader. Assuming Buck does have that power to promote admins, he might show up for a week or two maybe and pick his top picks and let them have at it. |
|
|
|
Post by cross on Sept 3, 2013 20:37:55 GMT -5
What is omega centuri?
|
|
|
|
Post by JordanGuest on Sept 3, 2013 21:12:07 GMT -5
An original shared universe based on the design of this one at ocuniverse.freeforums.net. It's pretty cool so check it out. |
|
|
|
Post by DiscipleofBob on Sept 3, 2013 21:16:42 GMT -5
So I sent a PM to Miller on another site, and while I didn't get a written reply, I've suddenly got Admin status.
High-tech sorcery I tell you.
I can DO things!! ;D
No need for a new site then. I'll be doing stuff over the next few days.
|
|
|
|
Post by cross on Sept 3, 2013 21:21:43 GMT -5
Badassery! Good to hear.
Is the omega centuri thing based on DC like this place?
|
|
|
|
Post by jackalope on Sept 4, 2013 3:12:30 GMT -5
Hey.
cross- Omega Centuri isn't, it's original character but still a shared universe.
As far as UDCU I really hope this place can get inspired again. Personally I see it as a mix of a lack of a lot of the Core characters (Batman, Flash, Aquaman's finished up and Supes has barely started) plus a lot of the writers who have been around for ages have lost interest (at least it feel that way). I'm really glad you got the admin job Disciple, I hope you can do something.
One idea I just had would be to set out a plan. Take, say, the justice league and divvy out the characters: give everyone 6 issues to establish their characters, then create the justice league as a rotating title. Most of the writers could write their own characters while one writer writes maybe 2 justice league issues, then it passes around. To me it just feels like some direction might help the site.
|
|
|
|
Post by cross on Sept 4, 2013 20:16:41 GMT -5
I just want everyone to know here that as a new member I am VERY inspired to write an Ultimate version of a DC character. The stories that I have read so far have been very fun and have inspired the crap out of me. By the way 'Haven is amazing. Overall, just keep it up. The stories, the interconnectivity of the universe, and the site set up I think are really good.
|
|
