Well, OK then everyone.

It is my idea to have a major plot thread running through a series of storylines for different teams and individual heroes over the course of a long period of time (note that none of this would begin untill after the current storylines are resolved). To put it simply and hopefully not reveal anything major, a powerful force is attempting to take over Earth (big surprise there). Over the course of many storylines, the heroes of YJUTT will discover that this entity exists, what its plans are, and take various actions to stop him.

Note that I am not talking about a single thread with all the heroes from Teen Titans, Outsiders, Young Justice and the JLA posting in it; that would be insane. I am talking about a series of seperate storylines that are all linked by their common connection to this threat, even if that connection is not clear at first.

For example, first the Teen Titans might be sent to the far side of the planet to investigate a mysterious theft.

Then, after the Teen Titans storyline was finished, the Bat-Team might investigate odd assasinations in Gotham.

Once that was over, the Outsiders would be called to Markovia, where they discover the villain behind the thefts and the assasinations.

Following that, the villian would be revealed to all and each individual team would have to do something different, on their own, to stop him.

Note that that was just an example, and I it's unlikely that any of the above possibilities would actually be used directly (otherwise I would have spoiled the surprise).

You get the idea? Now, since untill the very end this plot would only involve one team or small group of heroes at a time, the whole board wouldn't be revolving around this one story- for example, while Young Justice is involved in a story that has to do with this plot, the Teen Titans could be battling an entirely different foe, while the Outsiders would be involved in a fun, light hearted jokey storyline and the JLA was having some downtime. This wouldn't be an all-consuming plot; it would be a long term series of stories that will culminate quite some time from now, with little pieces pulled from the various preceeding storylines. The best part is, everyone can play a part in it at one time or another.

So, although it might take as much as a year for the full plot to unravel, it would come out piece by piece in individual stories, and would not require everything to be dropped (so other, normal YJUTT stories would be happening at the same time).

Everyone with an opinion on this, please post it; if there isn't support for this idea, I won't try it. Please, let me know what you all think.

Got you.

This sounds like a good idea. Kinda like a Zero Hour or Onslaught Story line or Underworld Unleashed.

I like this becasue it will give people alittle more freedom than one major story line.

Again great idea

Koodos and Cheers

Ike

NutiketAiel already told me about this story idea in detail. And although I do very much like the concept and think its a great story idea, I frankly don't think it could work.

The whole thing is just WAY to complicated for a multi-player RPG.

If we do this plot, a very large portion of the site will be reloving around it for a very LONG time. And not all players are as dedicated as we would like. Some of us don't post more than maybe once a week.

It takes us three to four months to complete one storyline alone. To complete multiple storylines that are all connected to one overall storyline will take a majority of the year, if not longer.

We won't be able to do any other storylines until this one is over, for fear of never completing it. Or we end up doing the story, then people get bored and just leave it hanging, never to be completed.

Plus NutiketAiel is expecting that all the players and characters listed will get involved in this story. We're talking about a story that will involve every single character we have, as well as many NPCs. There is no guarantee that they will get or stay involved. This story could end up only having a third of the players you listed involved.

One thing that is known for certain, is we all have short attention spans. After so much time has passes, many of us might end up wanting to do another storyline, that doesn't involve the crossover.

We have enough problems keeping people involved in the current storylines such as 'the Big Switcharoonie'. You all know what I'm talking about. Trying to keep them involved in a plot that will be run for a long area of time and ranging over different threads, teams, characters and locations, will be near impossible.

I'm sorry, but I personally don't think it will ever work. A story of this magnitude will most likely take forever to accomplish, if it ever does.

It's a good idea, but far to complicated and difficult for an RPG with as many players as we've got. I just don't think it could work.

I would just like to respond to a few of the points that Robin made, to clarify things.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this point, Robin. At any given time, only one team or one small group of heroes will be involved in the storyline, except for the very end. Look at what we are doing now- we have the Teen Titans and assorted friends in the middle of one storyline, we have the Outsiders beginning another and several small groups are doing side stories, all at once. If I were running a storyline for Young Justice regarding this plot, I would not at the same time run one for the Outsiders, the Teen Titans or the JLA. Therefor, only one group at a time would be engaged in advancing this plot, leaving the rest to deal with other missions, rest, or just have a fun storyline.

Robin is right on this point- for the storyline to proceed exactly as I have envisioned it, there are a number of characters that would have to agree to get involved. However, all of those PCs are in highly flexible roles, with only two exceptions. If one character I have slotted for a particuliar role declines to play, I adjust the story accordingly.

Now, I did say there are two exceptions. The first is Invisible Kid. If Invisible Kid fails to cooperate, things could get difficult. I do not anticipate that being a problem, however, as I control Invisible Kid. :D The second exception, I will not reveal at this time because it would give away a part of the story (Robin, I'll send you a PM telling you who I mean). However, to speak in general terms, I would talk to this person about their role before I began anything. If this individual declined, I would create a contingiency plan to carry on without them before I started the plot at all. Also, regarding the possibility of this character losing interest- the storyline that involves said character directly is very early in the program. After that, once the ball is rolling, it becomes a moot point.

Now, it is my intention that every single character get involved, and it is my hope, but it is hardly essential. What is important is that the teams get involved. If the Teen Titans go on a mission, but Raven and Changeling aren't there because they elected not to participate in this particuliar storyline, the mission can still go on with those members of the team who do elect to participate. Of course it would be better if everyone got involved somewhere along the way, but not everybody will want to, and my plan takes that into account.

In this regard, Robin is correct. However, none of the storylines in my plot would be analagous to the Big Switcharoonie because they would either incorporate only one team at a time or would incorporate a small group (3-5) of volunteer RPers who wanted to be in that particuliar storyline. I'll give you an example- this is the summary for the first storyline I have planned (I feel OK posting it because this one can be run independantly of the whole plot, and I was planning to do it anyway):

Storyline 1, "Back to the Future" (Solo Storylines & Crossovers)- Heroes: Invisible Kid and one or two others. Plot: Invisible Kid, stranded in the 21st Century, has gotten a lead on some materials that will help him complete a machine that will allow him to contact the 31st Century Legion, who will then be able to use their Time Platform to bring him home. But once they find the materials, will it be as simple as Invisible Kid thinks?

As you can see, the plot is contingent on a group of heroes who volunteered to be in that particuliar storyline. In the team oriented storylines, they would run much like the current Outsiders storyline, "The Blood of St. Dumas," is running. There will never be a single storyline that has as many people involved as the Big Switcharoonie does. Instead of one big storyline, it would be a series of small storylines that are linked together in one big plot, involving different characters each time.

On this point, I will agree with Robin 100%. This plot will take a long time to come to fruition. A good estimate, in my opinion, is 10 months to a year. My answer is simple- it's supposed to take a long time. This is a story that will develop, at first in the background, over a period of time. It is not something that will consume the thoughts and actions of every character 24/7, and it's not intended to be. Characters and teams will go on a mission relating to the plot, then act on something else, then later go on something plot related again when time has passed. That's the beauty of the idea- this story, like any other crossover, will eventually involve every character that wants to be involved, but it will do so in small groups, allowing each team and each hero to shine in their own way during the situation. Just like some people were saying the big DC crossovers like Crisis didn't.

I hope that this clarifies what I am trying to do further and answers some of the good points that Robin brought up. Everyone, please post your opinions so I know whether or not I should go through with planning for this.

Thank you all for your time.

My primary concerns about this idea are (A.) Whether the players are even going to stay involved. (B.) How long this story will take. (C.) How this story will effect the other stories and plot. And (D.) Whether this story will ever reach the finale.

I'm not trying to shoot down the idea, mind you all. I actually like it and think it would make fore a great story. But I just see a lot of problems that could and will arise.

First, you want to create a major storyline in every group, that is connected to the overall plotline, correct? Currently a the Titans, Outsiders and JLA are involved in their own stories. If we agree to do your story idea, we will need to put all other story ideas on hold.

I know that you say we wouldn't but if we ever want to finish your story, we actually would.

The reason is our stories will take 3 to 4 months if not longer to complete. So if we are in the middle of a storyline, when its time to continue with your 'ultimate' crossover, we will either need to do a rush job on the current storyline, to move on to your story. Or we would need to put the current story on hold to do you story. Or we would have to put your story on hold in order to finish the current story, and who knows how long that would take to complete.

One way or another one of the storylines will end up suffering and could result in players loosing their interest.

I mean if it takes us 4 months to finish one story just to finish one part of your story and to move onto the next part... well there are going to be problems when trying to keep people's interest.

Not to mention we all have our own ideas and such that will take place during the story. Relationship and character developement, if you will. Such as the Robin & Falcon relationship, and Sano fitting into the teams sorts of things. With that in consideration that could add another few weeks to each story.

One thing that can be said about all of us is we can sometimes have a short attention spans when it comes to stories. For example 'THE BIG SWITCHAROONIE'. When we started out we had dozens of characters/players involved. Now we've only got a small handful doing regualr posting.

This is MAJOR crossover you have planned. It involves every single team and almost ever single character. It will take more than entire year to complete, especially when you consider the posting habbits of certain players and how long it will take to finish one of the stories.

And what if an entire team of characters don't get involve. JLA for example started a storyline and that one is currently dead in the water. What if the same thing happens to this story?

Its easy to do crossovers with two teams, because that is just a handful of characters involved in one storyline. But when you are planning something that will involve the entire site, run on multiple threads and run for such a large amount of time, there are going to be a lot of problems to keep it running.

Well, we've seen my opinion, and Robin's opinion, and Dark Wolf's opinion...

Does anybody else have an opinion on this? Please, I would like to know.

I like this idea. Just as long as the seperate portions alone don't take around 6 months to complete. But I otherwise like the idea.

Kewl concept...it'll never work.

In short...as Robin said it's about attention spans...many of you may have noticed the serious lack of posting in the Switch story at the moment...I mean we're only on like the 19th page!!! Road Trip was waaaaaaaaaaay longer!!! And we've done other storylines in one night (Redemption)! RPGs have to either be short or quick...and my attention span personally is very limited.

If you could get the full co-op from certain people on the site who would vow to be fully involved in your story and not bail half way through then you could try and pull it off. It's a well niffty idea and if you could get it to work it would be DAMN amazing!!!

I have to agree with everyone else. It does sound like a friggin awesome storyline. But Switcheroonie is a very good example of how easily people give up on stories. Until we get more...reliable posters, I don't think it'd work.

Hey I'm dedicated I don't have to do anything in my time.Just your nights I won't be around but your morning I'll post like hell.I personally think that this story could work if you cut off solo stories that tie into this.Think this might work as long as the solo stories are cut off and one team finishes the villian off.it might take a while but it might be worth it