Suggestion Box

[Avalikia]

I've actually already written a guide on the subject of becoming a staff member.

[Deleted]

Ok thanks.

[Deleted]

Could we have a "Character Relations" section? It can help us form and organize past relationships and histories with various characters! Like who are their enemies and why are they enemies? Or who are their friends and why they are friends! How did the meet? Just an in detail description. So on and so on! I think it would help with everyone know relations between characters for rping and also for new members to make their applications.

Thanks just trying to benefit to the site! ;-)

Love,

Canary

[Avalikia]

Done!

[Deleted]

I think it would be really swell if there was like a list of links to threads that make up the sites canon? Like, its touched upon a little bit in the General themes but it would be cool if it was more expanded and easier to find. Maybe just more detailed timeline?

[Avalikia]

I agree, that's a great idea! However, that's one that I believe would be too difficult to create and maintain. See, we don't really have a set in stone site canon, even though some things definitely have happened.

Let me try to explain that further. We like to keep a balance here between the current players and those who are joining. When someone new joins we like to let them have as much say over their characters as possible, including their past history. But if their character was previously involved in something awesome, the older players like it if they join in and continue old plots. Sometimes the new player agrees, and sometimes the new player thinks the old ideas are stupid and want to do new things. And generally speaking, the older players can figure out what to do with that. To further complicate things, that player who hates the old plots may leave, and get replaced by the old player who wants to pick up all the old plots.

What this all means is that the site's canon is basically always open for discussion and change. It's fluid, not solid, and beyond any one person's ability to keep track of. Each player ought to be able to tell you about their character, but a general reference list is just impossible. Which sounds complicated, but once you get settled in and have your character's current situation figured out it's not difficult. My best advice is to not be shy about PMing other players, asking about what your character likely does and does not know about this and that, to try to get on the same page. And if you're totally lost, the staff members in general usually know what's what - or at least they know who to ask.

[Deleted]

I'd personally like to see the clock tower

[Deleted]

Ah! I see! I guess what I was getting at it like: what stuff definitely happened? Like what site wide events are considered canon more than an indivudal thing? I'm mostly bringing this up because I was confused if the FBI event was still going on, like is Gotham still like no one can come in kinda dealio? And like who is site dead?

But I understand! The fluid and flexible plot is how to ensure the site doesnt stall out when people leave and also its fun not to be tied down to what someone use to have! Or to just jump in, some people like framework like that! I'll totes PM people and ask them about stuff when I get around to going through the archives! Thank you!!!

[Deleted]

A list of dead people would actually be helpful, so if I'd like to play a character and I found out they died a year ago, I won't have that option.

[Avalikia]

@jervis The clock tower is a location I don't think would get enough threads to justify its own board right now, especially as the Birds of Prey haven't formed yet and the process of that happening is liable to happen slowly. You can still have your characters go there if you want to since it exists in Gotham (in South Gotham, to be precise) - it just doesn't have its own board. I'd be happy to make a board for it if it starts to be used a lot.

@alfred The site's only official site-wide plot to date is the FBI Plot, and that's completely finished. In fact it happened long enough ago now that the city has pretty much recovered.

Also, in response to what you said in the ChatBox - if you think that the current themes are awesome, just wait until the site's 4th anniversary!

@alfred and gordon Making a list of the 'definitely dead' is a more feasible option, though it would honestly be mostly a short, no-brainer list since we don't normally allow people to kill off FCs who aren't supposed to die in the comics. And even then we tend to be flexible if someone wants to play a character and it wouldn't do horrible things to the timeline - like I believe that Jason is still supposed to be dead right now, but we let him back early since that's not really a big deal. In fact the only one I can think of that tends to trip up people is that Roman Sionis is definitely dead, and that's because Dr. Arkham is transitioning into the role of Black Mask #2.

Most of the time, though, if someone's dead/not dead status is unclear and someone wants to play the character then we can work it out. Like I know that Dick and Kory were doing a plot involving Wondergirl having been killed, but I don't know if they're still doing that or not, and even if they are she doesn't stay dead so if someone showed up wanting to play Wondergirl it wouldn't be hard for them to shift what they're doing accordingly. We like characters to be alive if someone wants to play them and it doesn't really throw anyone off for them to be alive.

[Deleted]

So basically what you are saying is
Clicky Clicky

[Deleted]

Ah! That's good to know about the event! I saw it and wasn't sure and didn't want to ask 'cause I was a big scared baby and did not ask (lol).

OOOmg im very excited to see the 4th anniversary theme! the sites old enough to go to preschool soon!! but yes omg all the themes are awesome

jason todd the fastest zombie alive; but yeah omg that's basically what i meant the black mask thing and maybe like the state of the gotham gangs? like the batfamily is so much farther ahead than the villains so it was sorta hard to figure out what had and what hadn't happened yet! or more importantly what there was to know but i guess everything is in a constant state of what has and what has not anyway like you said! and it does encourage members to talk to one another and get over the fear factor of it!

[Deleted]

Alright, I just wanted to know cause since Roman Sionis is dead Falcone and Maroni should be long gone, yet they're up on the wanted list. Sionis preceeded them in the timeline, mainly because that's when masks started really getting big and they were killed off rather early.

I mean, that's the one thing that mainly had me confused. To some extent, I still don't know where everyone stands in this RP timeline.

[Avalikia]

Basically, the more intertwined a character is with the timeline of the Bat Family itself, the more important it is that their timeline stick to the canon. The less that a particular character's evolution messes with the Bat Family timeline, the less it matters whether or not they're at the exact point that they're supposed to be. This means that yes, lots of characters are all over the place with regard to exactly where they are in their own timelines.

But the way this all still works is that nobody is allowed to put their character in a position that's in conflict with the Bat Family timeline so that's an anchor point, so to speak. And especially with regard to many of the villains it turns out that it doesn't really matter what part of the timeline they're in - Joker, for example, doesn't really change and develop over time at all because no matter what decade it is he's still the insane clown we all know and love and the only difference is which heinous acts he has and hasn't done yet.

That said, the point that the Bat Family are at right now is just before Babs gets paralyzed and becomes Oracle, so that's the anchor point. Falcone and Maroni are therefore alive and well at this point (unless for some reason we decide it's funner to say otherwise). Yes, it's too early for Roman Sionis to be dead, just like it's too early for Jason to be back, but that's just because Jeremiah is becoming Black Mask early. Which isn't that big of a deal since he's just as capable of doing Black Mask things as Sionis is. The key thing to remember as you try to orient yourself though is that the timeline is 'supposed' to be at the anchor point - Sionis is dead early, and Babs is not being paralyzed late.

Which is a bit chaotic, I admit, but it allows for a lot of flexibility. But not too much flexibility - I've lost count of how many times I've had to tell people it's too early for Damien. Some things are just pushing it too far, lol.

[Deleted]

i mean it should be obvious that daimen isnt up yet! but im not surprised people keep asking!

i kinda like everyone growing at their own pace cause it isnt exactly nessisary that they follow the ~canon~ timelines it was just hard to know what to do with your own character! like with alfred it was easy cause i had the batfamily to play off of but i can imagine its harder for less connected characters but thats really the same with anything! people just need to be sure to read through others bios! and since the site has thread trackers a lot of players denote whats in and out (which i hadnt checked out before suggesting this) which is nice!! and also helps with first joining confusions!!

i like thinking of them as anchor points! maybe those can be complied into a list of some sort even if its a short list (just to avoid people asking the same questions about the black mask and daimen all the time!)