Comments on: Project Proposal http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2006/09/21/project-proposal/ "You never paint what you see or think you see. You paint with a thousand vibrations the blow that struck you." --Nicholas de Stael Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:04:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Scott M http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2006/09/21/project-proposal/#comment-77 Scott M Fri, 22 Sep 2006 20:33:30 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2006/09/21/project-proposal/#comment-77 I think you're absolutely right about the "allow sketchy notes or people don't even start". The easier to develop material is interesting... there are a lot of cool things out there across the net for various systems. Some things work for everyone (name generators, etc.), while other support is more system specific. The big problem with system specific support is that the systems you haven't go to yet will always feel underdeveloped-- and the systems you do tackle are often full time projects on other people's sites. The second category of features sounds very cool to me, and would probably be the bulk of the features unique to this site. (I've already accumulated links for the aides in many systems.) I think you’re absolutely right about the “allow sketchy notes or people don’t even start”.

The easier to develop material is interesting… there are a lot of cool things out there across the net for various systems. Some things work for everyone (name generators, etc.), while other support is more system specific. The big problem with system specific support is that the systems you haven’t go to yet will always feel underdeveloped– and the systems you do tackle are often full time projects on other people’s sites.

The second category of features sounds very cool to me, and would probably be the bulk of the features unique to this site. (I’ve already accumulated links for the aides in many systems.)

]]> By: Jeffrey http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2006/09/21/project-proposal/#comment-76 Jeffrey Thu, 21 Sep 2006 23:44:02 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2006/09/21/project-proposal/#comment-76 Scott, thank you for the food for thought. If you'll forgive me for restating part b from your comment, the big question to be answered is, "What's in it for the GM putting stuff online that makes worth the effort?" The more I think about it, collaboration with other GMs is good, but it's probably not enough. I don't have a ready answer to this, so I'll have to do a little thinking out loud here. At the very least, it sounds like it should be as easy as possible to enter sketchy notes. If users have to fully develop their ideas or produce complete write-ups, nothing will get put online. I'm also starting to see the features of the site in two categories. First, there's features that make it easier to develop material. While there's plenty of room for gee-whiz eye-candy features, there's probably no combination of features here that will ever be as easy to use as a pen and pad of paper for a GM with an improvisational style. The second category of features would be things that help organize everything from hastily scribbled (or typed, in this case) notes to full campaign worlds and output them in a pretty, understandable, and usable way. The graphical relationship map you described above is a good example of this. It's the pay-off that entices someone to put in the names and relationships of the NPCs. Perhaps the lure to get GMs to put their material online is providing more features along that same line -- to give them back as organized and navigable material as possible given whatever the GM puts in (no matter how complete, incomplete, or anywhere in between). Scott, thank you for the food for thought.

If you’ll forgive me for restating part b from your comment, the big question to be answered is, “What’s in it for the GM putting stuff online that makes worth the effort?” The more I think about it, collaboration with other GMs is good, but it’s probably not enough. I don’t have a ready answer to this, so I’ll have to do a little thinking out loud here.

At the very least, it sounds like it should be as easy as possible to enter sketchy notes. If users have to fully develop their ideas or produce complete write-ups, nothing will get put online.

I’m also starting to see the features of the site in two categories. First, there’s features that make it easier to develop material. While there’s plenty of room for gee-whiz eye-candy features, there’s probably no combination of features here that will ever be as easy to use as a pen and pad of paper for a GM with an improvisational style.

The second category of features would be things that help organize everything from hastily scribbled (or typed, in this case) notes to full campaign worlds and output them in a pretty, understandable, and usable way. The graphical relationship map you described above is a good example of this. It’s the pay-off that entices someone to put in the names and relationships of the NPCs. Perhaps the lure to get GMs to put their material online is providing more features along that same line — to give them back as organized and navigable material as possible given whatever the GM puts in (no matter how complete, incomplete, or anywhere in between).

]]> By: Scott M http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2006/09/21/project-proposal/#comment-75 Scott M Thu, 21 Sep 2006 16:40:45 +0000 http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/2006/09/21/project-proposal/#comment-75 It sounds very interesting. To answer your questions: a) I'd definately steal other people's ideas... if it isn't too painful to access the good ideas. b) I might, though it does seem like it'd often be done only to share with others (not for my own benefit). After all, the path would be random idea -> quick note -> idea development -> logon and present idea -> print idea in pretty/useful format. Plus, I'm leaning away from intimately pre-detailing my worlds-- trying to leave them looser and more responsive. It'd be a handy way to keep track of what's been created in play though. c) Graphically interrelating NPCs (like a Relationship Map) would be the most useful aid I can think of. It sounds very interesting. To answer your questions:
a) I’d definately steal other people’s ideas… if it isn’t too painful to access the good ideas.
b) I might, though it does seem like it’d often be done only to share with others (not for my own benefit). After all, the path would be random idea -> quick note -> idea development -> logon and present idea -> print idea in pretty/useful format. Plus, I’m leaning away from intimately pre-detailing my worlds– trying to leave them looser and more responsive. It’d be a handy way to keep track of what’s been created in play though.
c) Graphically interrelating NPCs (like a Relationship Map) would be the most useful aid I can think of.

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