Extra, Extra!: A proposal of sorts

[solo_patria]

And I do wish I had thought of this a bit sooner. Now, I realize that we have the networks and radios and such to convey news here on the Turtle, but have we ever had a newspaper of sorts? I've not seen anything mentioned about this lately, and it's occurred to me that this might be an excellent idea.

I was thinking, specifically, that a newspaper by and for the foreigners might be an excellent element to introduce to gameplay. In general, it would include war news, information on important events and how they might effect the foreigner population, perhaps feature stories on key businesses and other important places on the island, and generally other newsworthy events that happen to crop up.

I had also considered that we might handwave a lot of the actual writing, though it would be a nice way to build up CR by having characters who wish to be involved in such a venture attend meetings which could be logged out on the communities, etc. It would also make a great way for reporters to end up in various places that they might not otherwise have opportunity to visit and thus improve potential CR that could span off of this. There's also a huge potential for translators in this venture, given all the languages that the characters here read and write in. And of course, paperboys and girls could easily be hired to distribute the papers as they are produced.

This is all very much a proposal, and I have not approached official channels yet, since I'm mostly putting out a feeler to see if anyone would like to be a part of this before I do so!

-Sar

Comments

[raavashing]

I think it has some potential, but it would really depend on how you organized it (both ICly and OOCly) and how it might be presented to the the game ICly.

While writing most articles can be handwaved as you've said, would you be putting up an IC summary of events and/or stories the paper has covered on a regular basis? Perhaps once a month? Would you let characters do IC 'advertisments' for whatever (events, shops, personals, etc) during such summaries if you go that route? How prominent do you want this to be as a way of giving out plot and/or CR hooks for people? Will you be flagging logs or missions for IC reporters to report on for this? In addition to players keeping an eye out themselves, obviously.

Basically, will this be a background thing that everything related to the actual newspaper content is handwaved for in favor of just having reports out doing reports, or will there be a mix of having employees out and about AND actual 'content' shown ICly somehow?

[solo_patria]

I was thinking along the lines of a background/handwaved thing like a lot of the work done in various businesses. I do see the potential for linking this information to things that are going on, but I think right now, it would probably be more feasible to simply handwave a lot of things. In terms of interaction, I'd like to have logs where potential staff might meet and discus things, much like what's going on at the hospital, but no actual IC reporting. I could certainly see reporters showing up to some of the major public events like the Jubilee, and CR generation could also include interviews,etc.

It feels like IC articles might be difficult to pull together and that the group cooperation levels needed for that would be hard to work with OOC'ly. I don't want to be that jerk pestering people to write articles as their character so that the paper can be posted within a certain time frame/etc. It would be a really cool option, but it seems like one of those things that are better in theory than in practice.

So bottom line would be establishing a paper that people may work for, open logs for meetings to discuss what is going on and when, and reporters potentially being sent along to major public events. I think that the missions and such are better left alone, due to their sometimes being secret. I'd ideally like for people to be able to generate CR by potentially meeting to ask interview type questions and the like, but I would draw the line at actually putting stories together ICly, due to the player coordination that would take.

[raavashing]

Honestly, I wasn't thinking of full fleshed out or written articles. More of a summary of stuff that's been covered. Like:

The Problem with Peanuts: A Nutty Controversy - by Sum Po Wan
Peanuts are delicious! But some people are allergic. How to find out if you can eat these nummy beans of the earth.

Advertisment: The Lantern Festival!

Potentially with a link to a log if it's not handwaved so people can read through the event - or join in if it's still going on.

Not actual, full blown articles.

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But I do like that it's more of a CR organizational means than anything super detailed. I think it has major potential for getting a lot of involvement, particularly for new players like me. It would actually be cool to have a "new arrival interviews" type log to help pester new characters with older ones while ICly being for a "learn about other worlds" type news section.

[solo_patria]

Ooh I love the new arrivals suggestion! that could potentially be tied into the welcome logs as well! And the header and link idea IS pretty awesome.

[raavashing]

then glad I could be of help! I don't think Wan would get involved as a reporter, but he'd definitely be happy to keep up with the paper. Assuming it'll be written in chinese along with whatever other languages it's written in.

[akito]

I think it's a good idea!

And if said newspaper needs a person to deliver them... :'|b

[andaway]

Haha actually! Clark and Lois, being journalist, wanted to do a newspaper but the language thing was brought up and they decided to go for the radio instead. Now that there's less people around maybe it'd be easier to deal with the language thing? Clark speaks a lot of them and would be more than happy to cooperate because newspaper!!!

[solo_patria]

I did think of you two when this occurred, actually! The languages thing would be a HUGE plus, especially since my idiot here only speaks French and languages that are loong dead. :D

[lostundercover]

Hayley would be down for helping to write stuff, if it works out.

I like the idea that things would be mostly handwaved, like the businesses, and just exist to help with ambiance and world building.

I also like the idea above of doing new arrival interviews - and possibly lists of departures where possible.