I've Got Two Guns, One For Each Of You!
I have never been a fan of time jumps, personally, however, that being said, perhaps a bit at Christmas, but as a whole yes, jump during the winter months.
The range war, well there's rustling going on, a sodbuster and his family were murdered and burned out. Although the boy survived and is walking to town. Earlier one of the Evergreen riders killed one of the Lost Lake hands, there was no response to that. The bank robbery of what, a year or two ago? That went well, but we can't have a bank heist every other threat. To have a range war or any other action thread we need participation.
Yes, I admit, I have all of the bad guys, but I am willing to share. As far as the railroad coming, yes, that will bring a good deal of good and bad to town. I have some shady or outright crooked characters in mind.
The bottom line, I will go with the flow. I'll keep writing the rustling and attacks on sodbusters. I have ranchers and farmer NCP types who really are looking for a leader, Guyer has no jurisdiction outside town limits. I had hoped to get some reaction to the latest Union edition, and Capt. Barlow came through, thanks Wayfarer! There could be more, Leah is trying to get to see Lt. Green at this point.
Plus the election doesn't have to be in November. September would work just fine. The Pikes will be back fairly soon Like September 1st. That's my 2 cents worth.
Like Javia, I don't have any characters directly tied to the range war, but Lucinda Dietrich has started a relationship with Aurelian Redmond, who would definitely get caught in the crossfire as his farm is between the two ranches.
I created my Turk Flagg character specifically to allow me to participate in the range wars on the side of the good guys.
I have been following these threads too:
Flip wrote "The range war, well there's rustling going on, a sodbuster and his family were murdered and burned out. Although the boy survived and is walking to town. Earlier one of the Evergreen riders killed one of the Lost Lake hands, there was no response to that."
Yes, I have no one on the Lost Lake ranch so I can't do anything about. The Lost Lake players need to do the reacting. My guess is they have not even been reading those threads. But to have a war, you need two sides.
The Dealer had a knife and the dog had a gun and the cat had a shot of Rye.
I confess! I have not caught up on reading threads yet. Barely got started posting and 'wham' decided to move us. I am trying to push this move on through though so I can focus on reading and writing.
I've Got Two Guns, One For Each Of You!
My response to this forum was not 'aimed' at anyone. I simply made a statement about participation, or lack thereof. For whatever reason. People have lives and commitments outside of this hobby, and I consider this a hobby.
I have no idea where this is going premise wise, I know what I have in mind with the characters I have as well as those I have yet to introduce, though most all of them will not be created as NCP's, just small avatars added to a main character in posts. Much is in the future for this game with the railroad, the hospital, the rustling, etcetera.
If I had my wish granted, it would be for more writers and the characters they would create. End of whine, no cheeze.
The Dealer had a knife and the dog had a gun and the cat had a shot of Rye.
For my part, I did not feel "aimed" at. All's good with me.
We do need more writers and as soon as we're settled and I'm rid of the old site, I'll re-up my memberships on advertising boards and the like. Right now, in middle of the move, I think it'd be counter-productive to try advertising.
If I can haul butt and get the rest of the move done, I feel like I can focus on getting the basics flowing again.
I don't consider your post as whining. I asked for feedback and opinions and I appreciate everyone that stepped up. I needed the feedback to kind of know where to focus my efforts once this move is complete.
Y'all are awesome and everyone's opinions are valuable to me!
I've Got Two Guns, One For Each Of You!
Just assuring everyone that I was not singling out anyone. I love this game and want what's best for it going forward. If that means adjusting what I do/Write, then I'm game. Just sayin'. Whatever it takes to get this thing rolling once more.
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho Marx
Re: The entertainment aspect - Ben Simons owns the White Rose Theatre which is essentially a small music hall/theatre which can see about 100 people. I already have a theatre company in town and some town folk are already or will be involved. So, there is some scope for stories there.
We missed the centennial celebration (4 July 1876) - so maybe we can have Kalispell town anniversary day and have something happening with that.
Also got the mayoral elections in September but since we have already decided on who the winner will be, I don't know if can do anything with that. However, with a new mayor, there will be the job of selecting a new town council, so that be a possible plot. Also there will be other possibilities with town politics.
Hello!
I'm Johnny come lately here, but I am a fan of the three-point conflict plot design.
In the beginning, the good guys demonstrate their intentions and skill in conflicts against the bad guys. They have early victories, and it is clear why the bad guys are bad.
In the second act, the bad guys rise up and deal serious blows against the good guys. There is a period of 'evil victory' where we see what happens when the baddies get their way. The good guys are challenged. Perhaps they despair. Things seem bleak.
In the final act, the good guys return for a daring and triumphant victory. They vanquish the baddies against great odds. They may suffer damage and losses, but ultimately prove victorious, ushering in a brighter day.
For the Range War, I feel we are already in the first stage. There have been some early skirmishes. There can be a few more. We need some direct contest between The Authority (the Marshal) and The Baddies where the Baddies lose.
But it soon becomes clear that this is just one phase of the baddies' plan. They are bringing together an army. And not just an army of gunhands, but a political army as well. They start by making sure the town is flooded by rowdies and desperados. They try to make it clear the Mashal hasn't got things under control. But some new or existing figure in town and allied with Evergreen starts demonstrating their worth by dealing with the miscreants more successfully than the Marshal. Perhaps the Marshal is even grievously wounded in an encounter.
The town becomes convinced they need a new protector. Sure, some loyal friends vote to keep the Marshal, but the replacement seems more effective and promising. The Marshal is voted out (or de-selected from office if he is an appointee.)
This begins the Phase II where the villains achieve success. The new Marshal recruits shady deputies, and is openly partial to Evergreen. This puts the competing good-guy ranch at a severe disadvantage, as they must deal with Evergreen's violent trespasses and the Marshal's indifference or even aid of their malfeasance. The town is now overrun with thugs who wear a badge, and they push people around and give everyone a bad time. Maybe they even put the Mayor under their violent thumbs and refuse to be fired.
Things seem bleak. The previous Marshal is recovering, but perhaps his self-opinion has taken a hit. Perhaps he doubts he is the man to make things right.
But finally, things get bad enough that the townsfolk and the good-guy ranch come to the old Marshal and ask for his help. They agree they made an error, but they believe the Marshal is the man needed to make it right. They'll back him, in any way they can.
Buoyed by this support, the Marshal forms a plan. The town comes together. And on a fateful day, a series of confrontations with the baddies tells the tale.
Hard won victory. Celebrations.
And a time of peaceful success... until the next danger brews...
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho Marx
The town becomes convinced they need a new protector. Sure, some loyal friends vote to keep the Marshal, but the replacement seems more effective and promising. The Marshal is voted out (or de-selected from office if he is an appointee.)
There might be a problem with this part of the scenario...my character Matt Wentworth is set to become mayor and he is well aware of the Steelgraves and what they have been up to. Matt worked for the Secret Service and is resigning due to his mayoral commitments. He's already installed a new Secret Service agent - Kurt Albrecht who is now the assistant manager at the hotel. Currently the Secret Service is keeping an eye on the situation as they don't have enough solid evidence to convict Elias Steelgrave on anything.
However, the situation might work if the new town council (that will be appointed after the mayoral elections) has a couple of men that are beholding to Elias in way or another (e.g. being paid, blackmailed or owe him something). Elias has some information about Judge Ben Robertson that would ruin his career and life - hence the reason why the man was delaying the hospital deal as much as he could.
One plan we were going with was having Case Steelgrave become County Sheriff so you might get your "bad guy" lawman there in order to make the second act work.