Being a Storyline Writer

((JEDI Rules & Tips to help you get the best start within the community))
Post Reply
User avatar
The Jedi Council
Jedi Council
Posts: 4604
Joined: Sun May 30, 2004 7:49 pm
Contact:

Being a Storyline Writer

Post by The Jedi Council »

~ Being a Storyline Writer in JEDI ~
Guidelines and Tips.

> See also: Categories of Missions


For single missions, you only need to know that we expect them to follow a realistic storyline and center upon small, but interesting events and situations in the Galaxy.

If you plan to write Mini-plots or even if you are the Era Coordinator, you will be required to adhere to the following guidelines.



Preparation
  • The first and most obvious step in writing plots is to organize a plot in your mind, then write down a draft, outlining all of your ideas. When you write a storyline, you must always consider several factors:
    • 1. Does this story fit with our universe?
      2. Does this story fit with our storyline?
      3. How much might it come in conflict with other storylines run parallel to this?
      4. How do I expect this storyline to evolve in time?
      5. How much of what I'm writing can be useful in RP terms?
    It is necessary to have a good amount of flexibility in your storyline, so that you can adapt if something goes wrong during the execution of the plot that might cause cause your storyline to be suspended.

    Once you have gained the Council's approval, you will be supported by the Councilors in running your plot, who will help you in HoloNews publication and missions set up if necessary.
Story development and Missions
  • As an author, you may react differently to the missions undertaken IC independently to your storyline. This may occur if (IC) the Council decides to undertake an action pertaining to that plot. In this case, the consequences of this action will be decided by the author of that plot.

    Example:
    You (as a writer) inform the Council (by publishing HoloNews for example) of a current event, so the Council (IC) decides to send knight X to investigate.
    Whether this was something you had planned as a mission for your storyline or not, you will still control the mission, its development, and the outcome.

    However, if you can't set up this mission (for any reason), you will have to inform whoever organizes it about what happens in the mission and possible conclusions.
    Even if the mission itself turns to be completely irrelevant in the plot, the roleplaying experience will remain of good level and serve to provide an enjoyable time for everyone.
    (For example, if a drunken citizen causes problems to the Jedi during the mission, it won't concern either the storyline or the author, granting however a more or less exciting RP experience).


    This is the best way how IC stories may be developed, allowing also the involvement of most of our members with the least effort and full control by the story writer.
In Summary
  • A good plot usually allows us to run a rather large amount of missions of different levels of relevance:
    • Milestones: key missions in which the story evolves. Scheduled, organized and set up necessarily by the author himself and RPed on the server.
    • Low-relevance missions: missions used to transition between plot elements, requested IC by the Council, or undertaken by knights/masters on their own. In such cases, the author may decide to run it on the server by himself, to let someone else do it, or even to further a plot element outside of the server by utilizing a Paper/Journal role play.
    Shall you need assistance, or for any question regarding storyline writing, do not hesitate to contact the Era Coordinator or a Council member.

The Jedi Council of Duneeden

Post Reply