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Post by Leon Loire on Dec 2, 2008 2:38:51 GMT 1
I know. You're surprised to see me. I told you I'm a ghost.
Well everyone, I'm here to make an announcement about a pretty significant idea. Tonight, just a half hour before this thread was made, Tyler - Kyukaku - IMed me to talk about the future of Hircine High. This discussion was brought about by some changes that are going to take effect in the board's staff, but when he asked me for ideas, I had a pretty radical one.
I'm sure this isn't an entirely new idea to all of you; we've seen this happen to plenty of great franchises in our media. My idea, thereof, is essentially "reboot": to completely solidify the current plotline of Varron Academy-Hircine High into history, push it aside, and start with an ENTIRELY fresh slate. I'm not talking about a new school; I'm not talking about a change of structure. I'm talking about a return to this community's origins. A fresh start - back at Varron Academy.
For those who are familiar with the concept when used in franchises like the James Bond series, that means that the continuity of the last events are not considered to have happened in the new one. In this new Varron Academy, the Evil Five never happened, Kvist never happened, Stern Mason never happened, etc. It would go right back to the first days of school, and we'd all be given the chance to make a new story.
Now, I'm all for this, but Tyler and I both recognize wholeheartedly that this is a really, really big decision, and even he has his reluctance to something so massive in effect. If we do this, that means that all the progress you've made with your characters would be lost - unless you chose to modify the character's histories to allow particular events to be revived if you chose to install them in the new Varron. But that means that the old stories would be essentially closed, forever. He and I both recognize that many of you will be upset by this, so I made this poll, with two other alternatives I thought of.
If you're up for rebooting the entire board and trying something new, then please choose that option. But if you're reluctant to accept this as Hircine's end - since if that won out, we'd have to consider a finale of sorts for the storyline - then there are other, less "conclusive" options. The second option that comes to mind is something we've done in the past: a new school, and a new direction. Veterans know how this works: we explain what happened to the old school, and send everyone to a new school, with a different circumstance. It's similar in idea to the reboot, but it keeps ties to the old events. Therefore, if you want to keep connections with your friends, then this is your choice. Just understand that, while there will be a change in direction and school, the complexities of the old schools will still be there; one of the reasons I'm proposing the reboot is so that we can all start over, find some new experiences out of making friendships again, and beginning our development all over again. But if you don't want to reboot, but want a new school, then please pick this option.
Further still, there is a third choice, and it's pretty simple: if you feel comfortable with how things currently are, and want to keep Hircine High, Paragon Institute, or both, and just have a change of school administration or something, then pick this option. Understand, however, that the changes will be less severe, and will keep ties on the board that will make it difficult to revive its spirit, since we can all see the stagnation that has occurred over the last few months.
And of course, these aren't your only choices. If you have an idea of what to do, please feel free to choose "other," and let us know what your idea is. Just because I'm staff doesn't mean I have supreme rule over what happens, and the same goes for Tyler. If you have an idea that sounds good to everyone, then we'll use it, or at least look over it. So don't conform to the other choices unless you agree with them.
Now please, let's get some replies made here folks. This is serious. Either way, whatever choice is made, I'm hoping to work with everyone to figure out a way to finalize or move the current plot forward, and lead it to some kind of conclusion, whatever it may be. So tell us what you think, and let your voices be heard.
Thanks, and talk to you guys soon.
- John
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Tai Yang
Dreamer
Junior
Are you even trying? Cause I'm not.
Posts: 147
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Post by Tai Yang on Dec 2, 2008 2:50:02 GMT 1
Don't really like any of the options, yet I don't have an option in mind for what can be done in exchange.
Now, the one I don't like the most is the complete Reboot. It just... Well put plainly it does in fact eliminate everything that our characters have done. Now, I could easily keep Long Tai Yang, and even have him move to Varron after having been the Captain of a psycotic school, battled whomever, and destroyed plenty of people mentally and physically. In that terms, yeah, I'm fine, it's basically like a new start to this character.
But, what if I wanted to replay my other character, go back to Odin, whose past was in Varron. Couldn't do that, unless there was some sort of time loop where he graduated from there without incident, but that's no fun.
The past I've created for him, and had him create for himself, would become viod. The tournaments, jobs, everything. That sounds like bullshit to me. Want to restart everything... Fine, but you can't take away Varron. And, you can't remake what already was, just won't be the same.
Guess I'm leaning more towards a new school, but even that sounds retarded.
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Post by Aden Allett on Dec 2, 2008 3:00:46 GMT 1
Just to say, Tai, you’re being overly critical here. It’s just open discussion and nothing is set in stone, not even what is in the poll. One of the points John made was that you can offer your own idea. I’m assuming for you, you don’t want to touch the current situation at all, and that’s perfectly fine. Option three is about as close as you can get to that without offering what you really want, so voice your opinion about what you would enjoy rather than just what you wouldn’t.
Personally, I could go either way. John’s idea of the reboot peaked my interests, hence why I voted for it, yet I am perfectly content with the new school option or tweaking the current storyline while keeping the majority the same. A return to Varron is just really tempting at the moment. Especially with my lack of activity I’m finding here at Hircine. I’d enjoy the fresh start more than nothing at all. There are also options for you to bring back your other characters, just with revamps on histories. If you want to use them, use them, they just won’t be as powerful or as respected as they once were. Though I can understand why you would dislike that.
Either way, I’m leaning towards the reboot. Go for the fresh start and get me active.
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Tai Yang
Dreamer
Junior
Are you even trying? Cause I'm not.
Posts: 147
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Post by Tai Yang on Dec 2, 2008 3:03:42 GMT 1
I'm a pessimist, I state what I don't like, rather than what I do like.
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Karrick
Newcomer
Sophomore
Posts: 9
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Post by Karrick on Dec 2, 2008 3:44:02 GMT 1
I only have two concerns at the moment. Are these changes going to be immediate? Also, since I just made my character should I try to get involved in something IC or wait until this poll is finished?
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Post by Leon Loire on Dec 2, 2008 3:53:19 GMT 1
In response to that Karrick, these changes - whatever they are - would take affect depending on the majority's choice and however long it takes to confirm them. For example, if a reboot was approved by January, then we'd likely make some rapid events in our current plot to see a truly epic ending to the board. If it's just a new school that is our direction, then that could take us slightly longer, perhaps ranging into February. But if the third option is chosen, or another accepted, the changes could be immediate, once the votes as accepted. So it all depends.
Secondly, it's definitely best you start roleplaying once you're ready. This poll will be open for a few weeks, and it is going to be a heavy debate I'm sure, so there's no point in you waiting on it. Besides, while you'd have to "restart" your character with the reboot, there's no guarantee that it'll happen, and even then, roleplaying now gives you the chance to get a feel for roleplaying. So start when you're ready, no matter the decision. Just be wary of the upcoming changes.
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Post by Pain Killer on Dec 2, 2008 4:10:53 GMT 1
Absolutely not. If the board's rebooted, I'm not coming back.
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Post by Leon Loire on Dec 2, 2008 4:16:41 GMT 1
... It'd be nice if you could give me more than that, Adam. Don't just protest an answer, pick an answer and let us know.
I get that you don't like the reboot, but in that case, what do you want to do? New School? Closure to the current plot and move on to something else Hircine-Paragon oriented? Something else entirely? What?
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Post by Pain Killer on Dec 2, 2008 4:23:20 GMT 1
At this point, I'd go for anything over a reboot. Moving everyone to a new school is alright, though it reminds me too much of moving everyone to Hircine in the first place. Keeping things as they are isn't quite working at the moment, and I'll admit that it's in no small part due to my lack of doing anything, but I think it still COULD work.
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Keith Richards
Dreamer
Sophomore
All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.
Posts: 146
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Post by Keith Richards on Dec 2, 2008 4:27:27 GMT 1
I'm straddling the line between a hard reboot and a re-visioning of Hircine and Paragon story-lines. I'll give it another day in my head and then I'll vote, but I'm fairly sure everyone can see that it's not a cut and dry decision. Until then I see opportunities on the reboot and good story lines gone to waste, and I haven't worked out the pros and cons to my personal satisfaction yet.
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Victoria Alexander
Dreamer
My life will be collateral and should be sufficient enough.
Posts: 335
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Post by Victoria Alexander on Dec 2, 2008 4:30:17 GMT 1
Im against.
Simply for the fact that you just put two years into this and you want to turn around and just say oops lets start over cause we are bored. I think its giving people an escape route to do something they have already done.
I've put everything into Victoria and to jump her back two years or more is stupid and shouldn't even be an option. You cant just rewind the time at your pleasure.
You need to sit down with everyone discuss new ideas to get the ball rolling. Im always on msn and you sure in the hell know where to find me if Im not.
Now you guys probably don't think what I say matters but I will be damned if you just wipe clean what you guys have accomplished. If you can't evolve and become creative then the site will then die worse than its doing now. Changing everything back wont matter.
I say, keep it the same, get new ideas and storylines, then decide on change that will benefit instead of erase time and effort put into what you have now.
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Post by Kyukaku on Dec 2, 2008 5:14:10 GMT 1
Like John said, I was on the fence with this from the get go. On one hand, I've put hells of a lot of work into my characters, especially Tiao and Kyukaku. To erase everything they've done makes me sad on the inside. I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye But on the other, the reboot is nice and fresh. We're coming onto a new age. Almost all the Veterans are gone. The fact that I'm considered a Veteran is testament to that. The flash cartoon is long over, and its time to look to the future. I'd like to hear more newbie opinions on what they'd like to see as well. A reboot could put everyone on even ground again, and not the seperated cliques that have been problematic over the years. However, this brought me to the option left unvoted for til now. I know the new school thing has been done, but rather than move everyone away it would be more of one that would be built up for whatever IC reasons we can muster up. It provides all the fresh starts, but no erasing of characters. So that's what I'm voting for. ALL IDEAS SHOULD BE SHARED.
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Post by Kei on Dec 2, 2008 5:16:35 GMT 1
I voted for the Conservation option. I think it's the best thing we got before destroying everything we've built. It really is a radical decision, and maybe its because of personal experience... but I'm fucking tired of having forums reboot. We don't need it. We really created a magnificent world on this board, with almost FIVE years of history. You know it means much, so I'm not going to go deep into that.
This is our board... we were beyond mad two years ago when shit went down the gutter, but at least we had our characters. I'm not going to lie, I felt a little happy that we would start all over. Kei... to feel that way again, as I did four years ago... it's a feeling that I've missed constantly, and you all know that. But, I can't feel that way again. I was thirteen, and at that time my life was in such a state where my feelings were mixing awesomely with Kei's. I'm growing up, albeit slowly, but I'm doing it. A fresh start for everyone sounds really nice at first, it really does. Especially if goin back to Varron. But.. why can't Hircine be the same? It's just story... but the locations are the exact same... save for story-related importances. Everything we could do there has been done here. And again, I'm completely against transferring the students to new schools. Overplayed, completely.
I wanted to cast my vote, and therefore I did. I started thinking about something though, because of this thread. Zerreth, if you see this, I need to talk to you about something.
~Manuel
PS; My grammar is really bad, i know, but I can't seem to focus. Sorry.
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Conner
Dreamer
Senior
I R HURT
Posts: 131
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Post by Conner on Dec 2, 2008 5:36:29 GMT 1
Cliche as it may be, I feel like reuniting into one school would be for the best one way or another. John and I also worked on a story for an inter-board tournament that never happened, so it could also be adapted for here.
The abridged version: Both schools fight tourney-like style, and the winner gets the funding for their school. Losers get demolished and re-located.
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Post by Kira Karyuudo, Hikari on Dec 2, 2008 5:50:25 GMT 1
Peek-a-boo? -SHOT.- x 3x;; Ow. I'm not really opposed to anything. A Reboot sounds like it could be interesting, however, I feel that it's not right to just say that everything has been just "non-existant". Our reboot could be something either set years before "our" time at Varron (which has it's own complications), or, it's also possible that we could set it several years after this point (newbies would be allowed to revamp their characters and whatnot), and for some reason/s, Varron could be rebuilt and reopened under new staff. "A New Generation" of sorts. The events here would have shaped the future, but it's obvious "the good guys" didn't win, otherwise we wouldn't be on the Corporal Punishment System (thus, what would be the point, right? )... Instead, they've come back harder (better faster stronger~ (you were thinking it!)), and they've brought a helluva lot more to the table this time around. Will your character survive?
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Post by Ran Ling Xiao on Dec 2, 2008 6:42:05 GMT 1
I could deal with Tanya's idea, personally.
A reboot with everything wiped as though it never was? No no no. I won't vote yet, though. I still need to do something thinking.~
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Post by Aryck Venn on Dec 2, 2008 7:02:27 GMT 1
I'm with Dain's little soulmate.
Why don't we just do something like "FOUR YEARS LATER" and give a bit of "this is what happened" backstory, even if nothing much happens.
All our characters' histories will remain intact, all of the developed storyline still exists, we just all get to have new people. Like... X-men, the new generation or some shit.
Failing that, we COULD just have a massive tactical nuclear warhead drop on the school and have Hircine High: Fallout Edition.
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Post by Valencia Donahue on Dec 2, 2008 7:02:39 GMT 1
Lemme get the venting out of the way first before it muddles up my thinking.
If an all out reboot happens, I WILL FUCKING QUIT AND NEVER COME BACK. Erasing everything and starting over from scratch JUST because a couple of fogeys lost interest (MONTHS, if not HALF A YEAR OR MORE AGO) in hopes that the move MIGHT pique it again? Call me evil, but no wonder I'm so bitter towards folks who don't know how move on. Screw "staying together for the children", just get damn divorce already. The people who ARE keeping the board active, or TRYING to, are being penalized because the people who AREN'T don't do shit. Wunderbar. I see how it is. Me, I'd rather said old members move on and quit going halfway with the "ideas that might make things interesting". Oh, not just old people. Just anyone like this, really. Admit it, Paragon, as well as a couple other storylines, didn't quite work as well as it could've because of this. How many faculty members are regularly RP'd characters? How many characters turned faculty members (and one officer) were just spur of the moment interests that didn't last?
How about some CHANGE we can believe in for once? <--- went there
Now, I'm on the fence on how to approach this since I'm biased towards my own storyline(s). Gimme credit, I give a damn about the things I do instead of making accounts I'll never touch again.
Paragon vs. Hircine in whatever form is only effective if people beat the crap outta one another (which may happen in the near future out of compulsion if Paragon survives that long). This is dependent on more people beating the crap outta one another... What a surprise! I see a solution! Just RP! WHAT A CONCEPT!
I can see it going either way: Either Paragon stays or chucks everyone back at Hircine to cause yet another issue of blood versus blood (I dare someone to come out of that saying that they're a third Varronite, a third Hircinian, and a third Paragon-ese, once removed). Thank goodness for no insta-action 'cause I can think of a current event that'll easily ship everyone back aside from just taking a wrecking ball to the building.
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Post by Director Troutman on Dec 2, 2008 7:09:28 GMT 1
...Don't forget to vote in the poll too...
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Post by Valencia Donahue on Dec 2, 2008 7:09:46 GMT 1
Which one?
My post mentioned the two options I like, but the effectiveness of the vote relies on what the board's members will DO.
::flips coin::
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