3:57pm *** FLMutant has joined: #stfeline
3:57pm *** Mapmaker has changed the topic to: PM Chat whenever they get here -=- msg Mapmaker with your question(s) to get in line | End credits are up at www.schmeldritch.com | Spukhafte is MAD @ www.consultantbunker.com/fallout/bargain.html | Art and BA and Bryce oh my | http://bseeingu.com
3:57pm <Dav|Flamerock> the trick is trying to word questions so you don't just get the "sorry, Spoilers" response
3:58pm <FLMutant> evening folks :)
3:58pm <Dav|Flamerock> sup
3:58pm <nawoR> what the hell are they gonna spoil now?
3:58pm <GC> hey
3:58pm *** FLMutant is now known as: Brian_Clark
3:58pm <nawoR> and that is NOT my first question
3:58pm <Dav|Flamerock> XD
3:58pm *** Mapmaker has set mode #stfeline: +o Brian_Clark
3:58pm *** ChanServ has set mode #stfeline: -o Brian_Clark
3:58pm <Mapmaker> sigh
3:58pm <WolfHawk> Hi BC!
3:58pm <Brian_Clark> Happy Birthday!
3:58pm *** ChanServ has set mode #stfeline: +o Brian_Clark
3:58pm <JJason> Her Mr. jazzhands
3:58pm <JJason> *hey
3:58pm <dante> howdy
3:58pm <Brian_Clark> shhhh :)
3:58pm <Dav|Flamerock> wait whose birthday is it? O_o
3:58pm <Lovek> ha
3:58pm * Lovek dances... for no reason at all
3:59pm <Brian_Clark> Wolf's tomorrow, right?
3:59pm <Rowan> maybe he's Frosty the Snowman
3:59pm <Brian_Clark> oh, RAVENWolf
3:59pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
3:59pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
3:59pm *** imbri has joined: #stfeline
3:59pm <WolfHawk> Whew! I was about to ask!
3:59pm <Brian_Clark> I get me wolves confused occassionally :)
3:59pm <Dav|Flamerock> hai imbri
3:59pm *** Mapmaker has set mode #stfeline: +o imbri
3:59pm *** ChanServ has set mode #stfeline: -o imbri
3:59pm <imbri> hi
4:00pm *** ChanServ has set mode #stfeline: +o imbri
4:00pm <imbri> chanserv hates me
4:00pm <imbri> chanserv loves me
4:00pm <Brian_Clark> hates me too
4:00pm <Brian_Clark> then loves me
4:00pm <Brian_Clark> :)
4:01pm <Mapmaker> should we wait for others?
4:01pm <imbri> shhhh it's very quiet
4:01pm * Lovek hides
4:01pm <Brian_Clark> where's labfly?
4:01pm * Dav|Flamerock takes a quick break from homework for intense questioning
4:01pm <imbri> i dunno what others are coming
4:01pm <imbri> jan will be late, i do believe
4:01pm <imbri> there is traffic. she is stuck in it. twitter tells all.
4:01pm <Brian_Clark> she's scwared too?
4:02pm <Brian_Clark> ah, I saw the one tweet
4:02pm <Rowan> why would you be scared of us?
4:02pm * Addlepated pelts Brian with bananas.
4:02pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
4:02pm <Brian_Clark> I've seen many of you dance now!
4:02pm <imbri> the only other one that i knew might attend was Mark?
4:02pm *** Mapmaker has set mode #stfeline: +v Addlepated
4:02pm <Brian_Clark> he just texted my phone and is stuck out
4:02pm <Mapmaker> ok then
4:02pm *** catherlog is now known as: catherCook
4:02pm <Mapmaker> might as well start
4:03pm <imbri> (though i bet we could get him here if we had cheesecake ;))
4:03pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
4:03pm <Mapmaker> so yadda yadda I'll say someone's name they get to ask a question please be quiet
4:03pm *** Scaurus has joined: #stfeline
4:03pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
4:03pm <Brian_Clark> LOL
4:03pm * JJason zips his lips
4:04pm <Mapmaker> blah blah imbri = Brooke Brian_Clark = Brian both of them are PMs in some capacity
4:04pm <WolfHawk> Will you type the name too? ;oP
4:04pm <Brian_Clark> love the informality :)
4:04pm <dante> we're all old friends
4:04pm <Brian_Clark> indeed!
4:04pm <Mapmaker> so
4:04pm <Mapmaker> Brian, you were Exec. Prod on Book 3R
4:05pm <Mapmaker> (wherein 3R = reboot)
4:05pm <Brian_Clark> and occassional bottlewasher :)
4:05pm <Mapmaker> and Brooke was Lead PM or whatever
4:05pm <Brian_Clark> but Brooke and Jan get most of the credit!
4:05pm <Mapmaker> and probable bottledrinker ;-)
4:05pm <Mapmaker> yes, and Jan who is not here was also Lead PM?
4:05pm <Brian_Clark> indeedly
4:06pm <imbri> Jan focused, mostly, on the story & on the Riley arcs
4:06pm *** labfly has joined: #stfeline
4:06pm <Brian_Clark> couldn't resist finally getting an opportunity to collaborate with her
4:06pm <imbri> also the NYC event
4:06pm *** catherCook is now known as: catherwood
4:06pm <Brian_Clark> speak of the devil!
4:06pm <dante> and right on cue
4:06pm *** catherwood is now known as: catherCook
4:06pm <labfly> :) me?
4:06pm <Dav|Flamerock> yee
4:06pm *** ChanServ has set mode #stfeline: +o labfly
4:06pm <Brian_Clark> squeee!
4:06pm <labfly> good eve everyone
4:07pm <Mapmaker> just to clarify things: I'm giving ops to PMs and voices to nightmare confessors ;-)
4:07pm <Brian_Clark> so do you want to dive straight into questions?
4:07pm <Mapmaker> sure
4:07pm <Mapmaker> Rowan goes firstly
4:07pm * Mapmaker looks at Rowan
4:07pm <imbri> rowan!
4:08pm <Rowan> okay, i'll be the bad guy. Just what was supposed to happen in February and how did it get so out of control?
4:08pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
4:08pm <Dav|Flamerock> lulz
4:08pm <Brian_Clark> +1 boldness!
4:08pm <Rowan> woo!
4:08pm <labfly> :)
4:08pm <Six> ha
4:08pm <mrjudkins> :)
4:08pm <Brian_Clark> So here's scoop
4:08pm <Brian_Clark> there were a variety of things that happened all at once
4:08pm <Brian_Clark> one was that GMD got a big project with Ford that took away me, The sculptor and Devon :)
4:09pm <imbri> two was that Brooke got called out to CA during the week
4:09pm <Brian_Clark> another was that I ran into a wee bit of legal trouble after one too many drinks and turning my lights on my car when leaving a film festival party :)
4:09pm <labfly> & you were waiting for me to exit lonelygirl - teehee
4:09pm <Brian_Clark> bad PM, bad PM
4:09pm <Brian_Clark> indeed
4:09pm <Brian_Clark> my big lesson was: I kept thinking losing one from the bench would let us keep rolling
4:09pm <Brian_Clark> and then we'd lose another from the bench
4:09pm <Brian_Clark> and then another
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4:10pm <Brian_Clark> so each of the plans of the get it back on the rails ended up throwing another curve ball at the project :(
4:10pm <catherCook> 3 benches short of a picnic
4:10pm <Brian_Clark> indeed
4:10pm <Brian_Clark> so there was still a massive lot goig on behind the scenes
4:10pm <Brian_Clark> but the tempo of the live events was FUBARed beyond belief
4:11pm <Brian_Clark> so my call, as questionable as it was, was that it was better to have the plan before we announced it being back on the rails
4:11pm <Brian_Clark> in retrospect, I should have handled differently
4:11pm <Brian_Clark> and used more of the back channels rather than leaving my friends hanging like that
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4:11pm <Brian_Clark> which was why we knew the reboot had to be even better
4:12pm <Brian_Clark> and personally, it meant I totally understood everyone's frustrations
4:12pm <imbri> and, i have to say, eldritch is a work of passion, even more so than most ARGs- which is good and bad. emotions run high and when we can't meet what we want to, they run low - which makes it really hard.
4:12pm <Brian_Clark> and wanted to let you be frustrated at me, but still love the project :)
4:12pm <imbri> it's the one project that you never want to let down
4:12pm <Brian_Clark> totally
4:12pm <imbri> so it makes it hard when you have to
4:12pm <Mapmaker> so cath followsup with the simple question: "but why a reboot?" Indeed, why a reboot and a (seeming) abandonment of what came previous
4:12pm <imbri> and makes it hard to know when you have to
4:12pm <dante> but why should it be okay for us to be frustrated at you?. that bleeds over.
4:13pm <Brian_Clark> two questions there
4:13pm <Brian_Clark> to Mapmaker's point ... it didn't really abandon what came before
4:13pm <Brian_Clark> what we asked ourselves was ... if time had continued, how would it have progressed that still lets us deliver each of the elements we had planned
4:13pm <Brian_Clark> in terms of the universe, you got the same elements of story we had planned
4:14pm <Brian_Clark> and some that would have come from a book 4
4:14pm <Brian_Clark> like Bryce being released from the asylum
4:14pm <Brian_Clark> to Dante's point, I agree: I could have handled that differently, and would the next time it happened
4:14pm <Brian_Clark> but I realized I had to prove to you you weren't put your faith in the experience in there wrongly
4:14pm *** CSJava4848 is now known as: sidtheduck
4:14pm <Brian_Clark> rather than just tell you that you weren't
4:15pm * enaxor interjects honesty always the best policy
4:15pm <Brian_Clark> anything to add to that, Imbri?
4:15pm <enaxor> :)
4:16pm <imbri> it was hard, when working on the story
4:16pm <Brian_Clark> sometimes honesty isn't always possible when people get dragged away to things with NDAs :(
4:16pm <imbri> for this one
4:16pm <imbri> because there were definitely bits & pieces from Jan/Feb that were important but what was more important was where those pieces were going to wind up
4:16pm *** Signoff: varin (Ping timeout)
4:16pm <imbri> and how to take the story to that point in a way that made sense
4:17pm <Mapmaker> some sort of sense
4:17pm <imbri> and answered some questions while leaving some things open to explore a bit more fully
4:17pm <Mapmaker> ;-)
4:17pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
4:17pm <imbri> heh
4:17pm <Brian_Clark> you have many more pieces than had, Map
4:17pm <Brian_Clark> parts of the story bible that were there since book one and unrevealed
4:18pm <Brian_Clark> you just got some of them revealed through slightly different experiences
4:18pm <Mapmaker> I think I'll take the questions into more story-centric stuff for the moment
4:18pm <imbri> eep
4:18pm <Mapmaker> a few people have a bunch
4:18pm <labfly> & if i may... we also wanted to create a story that could be enjoyed by new sentries as well
4:18pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
4:19pm <Mapmaker> ooh
4:19pm <Mapmaker> fine Jan
4:19pm <Mapmaker> bait me
4:19pm <Mapmaker> dante can ask his question
4:19pm <dante> well this isn't a story question per se....
4:19pm <dante> but since Jan raised the issue... this is directed more at Brian
4:19pm *** Transtar has joined: #stfeline
4:20pm <dante> with this episodic ARG structure... what's can you do to attract new players? now that there's so much backstory?
4:20pm <dante> is it even possible?
4:20pm <Brian_Clark> absolutely
4:20pm <imbri> it's absolutely possible
4:20pm <imbri> (sorry, go brian :))
4:20pm <Brian_Clark> so this is a bit of reveal here, in terms of what we have planned
4:20pm <imbri> (though i've got loads to say on this ;))
4:20pm <Rowan> an exclusive!
4:20pm <Brian_Clark> but I'm already in development now of the comic series
4:20pm <Dav|Flamerock> w00t
4:20pm <Brian_Clark> which starts at book one
4:21pm <Brian_Clark> but is informed by what you know now in book three
4:21pm <WolfHawk> Cool!
4:21pm <Dav|Flamerock> sweeeeeeet
4:21pm <Brian_Clark> my hope is that these will appeal to a whole new audience
4:21pm * Obtusitivity will spell-check mohompador
4:21pm <endercoaster> awesome
4:21pm <Brian_Clark> who will suddenly discover that this is all "based on actual events"
4:21pm <Brian_Clark> and actual people
4:21pm <Brian_Clark> who continue to live and breath and continue their investigations: YOU
4:21pm <Obtusitivity> just like the jughead comics -- i get it.
4:21pm <enaxor> oh graphic novels?
4:21pm <Brian_Clark> yes, in a sense
4:22pm <enaxor> nice
4:22pm <Brian_Clark> we're still working that out entirely
4:22pm <Brian_Clark> the initial plan is likely traditional: comic series that then gets bundled into graphic novels
4:22pm <Brian_Clark> giving you smaller installments more regularly rather than waiting for a whole big book to be done
4:22pm <Brian_Clark> now, that's not all of the solution
4:23pm <Brian_Clark> but it is part of it
4:23pm <Brian_Clark> in terms of reaching people who will get into the story without feeling like they have to know everything before they can even start
4:23pm <Mapmaker> what do you have to say about this Brooke? Jan?
4:23pm <Brian_Clark> I know Brooke has strong thoughts on this as well :)
4:23pm <imbri> well, i love the comics :)
4:24pm <imbri> but I don't think that you have to know the entire backstory in order to get involved
4:24pm <labfly> fantastic :)
4:24pm <imbri> there was little backstory in this book that wasn't revealed throughout the run
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4:24pm <imbri> PopeTattles was designed explicitly with that in mind
4:24pm <dante> imbri, i would like to believe that, but experience this book has shown otherwise
4:25pm <imbri> we covered chorazos, we covered the sentries, we covered bryce
4:25pm <Rowan> (i dont buy that at all dante)
4:25pm *** varin has joined: #stfeline
4:25pm <imbri> but, at the same time, i have to admit a reluctance to bringing in new players during this book
4:25pm <Brian_Clark> yup
4:25pm <imbri> if they came i was thrilled
4:25pm *** CS-Guest491 is now known as: cabal
4:25pm <imbri> but this book was about reearning your trust
4:25pm <enaxor> and coins
4:25pm <imbri> and removing some of the negative feelings
4:26pm <imbri> (which were understood)
4:26pm *** Scaurus has left: #stfeline
4:26pm <imbri> but it would have been difficult, unless we had a large new player base, to bring new players into that environment
4:27pm <WolfHawk> True
4:27pm <imbri> i go back in forth in my mind over that decision
4:27pm <Brian_Clark> I hope you folks take that as compliment that it is intended as
4:27pm <Brian_Clark> that we did this for you guys, for the small audience
4:27pm <Brian_Clark> for the loyalists that we didn't mean to hurt
4:27pm <imbri> oh! yeah! i didn't mean that in a bad way
4:27pm <Rowan> that gives me warm fuzzies
4:27pm <imbri> "you guys suck. we had to fix you first" - that's not it at all
4:27pm *** varin_ has joined: #stfeline
4:28pm <Dav|Flamerock> XD
4:28pm <WolfHawk> I do. Personally I was hoping we would all get back together without having to introduce a lot of new folks.
4:28pm * sidtheduck has the warm featheries
4:28pm <Mapmaker> ok
4:28pm * Dav|Flamerock has warm fuzzies... and still managed to get a friend in on the game during B3! (sorta)
4:28pm <imbri> woo!
4:28pm <Mapmaker> quick side question from Dav: can you say anything more about the comic, brian?
4:28pm * Lovek is cold-blooded
4:28pm *** Signoff: varin_ (Quit: Rooms • iPhone IRC Client • http://rooms.derflash.de)
4:28pm <dante> i'm still curious about new players for book 4, then
4:28pm <Lovek> but happy
4:29pm <Brian_Clark> sure, I can talk about where the thinking is right now
4:29pm * endercoaster may have another grinnellian sentry for book 4
4:29pm *** varin_ has joined: #stfeline
4:29pm <Brian_Clark> the current thought is that it will take 8 comics to tell the story of book one
4:29pm <Brian_Clark> and the working title is "Cryptix"
4:29pm <Brian_Clark> as a play on Triptych
4:29pm <Brian_Clark> each comic starring a different person
4:29pm <Brian_Clark> half of them characters, half of them players
4:29pm <Brian_Clark> each telling their story
4:29pm *** Scaurus has joined: #stfeline
4:30pm <Brian_Clark> with the nightmares as the connecting bridge
4:30pm <dante> um, players are characters, remember :)
4:30pm <Brian_Clark> I don't want to give away too much, but I can give one example
4:30pm <Dav|Flamerock> :P
4:30pm <Brian_Clark> indeed, Dante :)
4:30pm <Brian_Clark> one could imagine a Bryce comic
4:30pm <Brian_Clark> that ended with him being carted away to the asylum
4:30pm <Brian_Clark> and one could imagine a Marie comic
4:30pm <Nicko> :)
4:31pm <Brian_Clark> that didn't have to spend much time on the beginning
4:31pm <Brian_Clark> but really picked up with her arriving to clean up Bryce's apartment
4:31pm * WolfHawk nods in agreement
4:31pm <enaxor> I love the idea of the revisit for new players and a way to refresh old players memories, like mine
4:31pm <Brian_Clark> the nightmare CLs provide a nice repeating motif
4:31pm <Brian_Clark> that can knit the group of them together, so BA is likely a character in each
4:32pm <imbri> (but i am not writing any new craigslists!)
4:32pm <imbri> (ever again)
4:32pm <Mapmaker> hehehe
4:32pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
4:32pm <dante> woooooooo
4:32pm <WolfHawk> lol
4:32pm <sidtheduck> huzzah!
4:32pm <Brian_Clark> I also have to say I'm most inspired by "The Watchman"
4:32pm <Brian_Clark> that mixed graphic novel with other kinds of media as well
4:32pm <Mapmaker> there's only one now? ;-)
4:32pm * sidtheduck decomissions the dreamcatcher
4:32pm <Obtusitivity> (my favorite was the post about the leather daddy looking for the silent dreamer)
4:32pm <endercoaster> hahaha
4:32pm <Brian_Clark> LOL
4:33pm <Mapmaker> ok
4:33pm * Dav|Flamerock is so ridiculously juiced for said comics
4:33pm <Brian_Clark> :)
4:33pm <Mapmaker> so let's get this back on something
4:33pm <Obtusitivity> (the live event was a little upsetting at first, but then I just sort of blocked it all out)
4:33pm <imbri> so, dante, on book four and new players...
4:33pm <JJason> Not the dream catcher! It's constant error messages were my only reminder during the hiatus
4:33pm <imbri> i did a small little rabbit hole this time around - a press release sent to all the usual folk and some not so usual
4:33pm <imbri> from Eddie
4:34pm <imbri> modelmotion picked it up
4:34pm <imbri> but other than that, there was little outreach done
4:34pm <labfly> mm was v nice to us
4:34pm <imbri> yes :)
4:34pm <imbri> i don't think that we would make that same design decision in the future
4:34pm <Brian_Clark> indeed
4:35pm <imbri> but, with things like the comics and other ingame tools (perhaps akin to popetattles?)
4:35pm <imbri> we'll be able to provide means for new players to get involved
4:35pm *** varin has left: #stfeline
4:35pm <imbri> and, sure, some will want to know more
4:35pm <dante> i just think that new players like to feel like they've been there to build it from the beginning.
4:35pm <imbri> but rowan's written an amazing guide
4:36pm <imbri> and the wiki - the work that you guys have done on that is amazing
4:36pm <Rowan> *blush*
4:36pm <Dav|Flamerock> ;)
4:36pm <Brian_Clark> and Dav's stories
4:36pm <Brian_Clark> all kinds of good stuff there
4:36pm <Dav|Flamerock> don't remind me--I still have soooo far to go on that wiki
4:36pm <imbri> so there are tools there for players who need and want to know more
4:36pm <Mapmaker> yeah, I've had fanfic written about me now, which is sorta weird ;)
4:36pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
4:36pm <dante> map slash!
4:36pm <imbri> but you've done a great job so far - i have a feed for it and i get all excited with every change :)
4:36pm <Brian_Clark> Dante, in general though ... this is the challenge of every series
4:37pm <Brian_Clark> how to make it accessible to someone just watching their first episode, but also rich enough for those immersed in the universe of the series
4:37pm <Brian_Clark> that's a major design goal for Book Four
4:37pm * imbri has many ideas
4:37pm <dante> you can't go out and watch the DVD. it's not the same.
4:37pm <Brian_Clark> comics will help there somewhat
4:37pm <Dav|Flamerock> that's what I'm trying to do with my "fanfic"
4:37pm <Brian_Clark> especially for getting people to know the "old Sentries"
4:38pm <Dav|Flamerock> (the DVD thing)
4:38pm <Brian_Clark> yup, you folks are important storytellers in this
4:38pm <dante> that's why you want to be on our good side :)
4:38pm <endercoaster> well... I think that answers my question about whether to do summaries on PR, or do something non-PR till book 4 :-p
4:38pm <Brian_Clark> Indeed!
4:38pm <Dav|Flamerock> summaries!
4:38pm <Mapmaker> ok
4:38pm <Mapmaker> so
4:38pm <imbri> it's definitely an overwhelming challenge, but it's not unsurmountable
4:38pm <Mapmaker> I wanna move off this
4:38pm <Mapmaker> as we probably don't have all day
4:39pm <Brian_Clark> aye aye
4:39pm <Mapmaker> and I wanna ask Jan what she was told jumping on board
4:39pm *** Signoff: varin_ (Quit: Rooms • iPhone IRC Client • http://rooms.derflash.de)
4:39pm <Mapmaker> so Jan
4:39pm <Mapmaker> what were you told jumping on board
4:39pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
4:39pm <Mapmaker> and how did you acclimate yourself to it all
4:39pm <labfly> i was given all the links and back story and bible & then i fainted
4:40pm <WolfHawk> LOL
4:40pm <imbri> :)
4:40pm <Dav|Flamerock> XD
4:40pm <labfly> brian and brooke held my hand but also told me to feel free to create something new
4:41pm <dante> creepy riley!
4:41pm <labfly> lovely riley
4:41pm <Dav|Flamerock> yeah, not gonna lie, that voice was really strange at first
4:41pm <dante> yes, she was indeed lovely. with a creepy voice.
4:41pm <Brian_Clark> <3 Riley
4:41pm <labfly> she's just turned on by creepy stuff
4:41pm <Mapmaker> poor Wendy Way
4:42pm <j5> exu would hit that
4:42pm <dante> she goes to raves. you gotta respect.
4:42pm <enaxor> I love dr. riley
4:42pm <Dav|Flamerock> but as the PMs know, I was pushing for more interaction with Riley because she was awesome :P
4:42pm <Brian_Clark> LOL @J5
4:42pm <Mapmaker> tru dat
4:42pm <imbri> hahaha
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4:42pm <labfly> email seemed like the only way to have her interact, dav
4:42pm <Dav|Flamerock> yeah, but that didn't stop my emails, now did it :P
4:42pm <labfly> couldn't really see her stepping onto so
4:43pm <labfly> and she did enjoy your emails
4:43pm <dante> she was edicted
4:43pm <j5> exu again?
4:43pm <Brian_Clark> XD
4:43pm *** varin_ has joined: #stfeline
4:44pm <Mapmaker> I wanna turn towards the story now if I can
4:44pm <labfly> riley + exu = wild thing eeek
4:44pm <Dav|Flamerock> D:
4:44pm <Mapmaker> lol
4:44pm *** sidtheduck is now known as: sidtheduck-temp
4:44pm <Mapmaker> so
4:44pm <dante> oh map. you're so responsible.
4:44pm *** sidtheduZzz has joined: #stfeline
4:44pm <Mapmaker> two people have basically asked me "WTF safeget"
4:44pm *** sidtheduZzz is now known as: sidtheduck
4:44pm <Mapmaker> so yeah, what the eff Brian Clark
4:44pm *** Signoff: sidtheduck-temp (Quit: sidtheduck-temp)
4:44pm <Brian_Clark> we haven't see the last of MLM
4:45pm <Mapmaker> did we fail to figure something out?
4:45pm <Brian_Clark> but wanted to be clear "nothing to find there yet"
4:45pm <Brian_Clark> conceptually, here's the idea
4:45pm <Brian_Clark> what if confidentiality didn't matter?
4:45pm <Rowan> i jsut wanna know who screwed up the solve
4:45pm <Brian_Clark> no one
4:45pm <Rowan> cuz i worked really hard on that stupid thing
4:45pm <dante> yea none of this conceptual crap :)
4:45pm <Brian_Clark> you guys did great
4:45pm <Brian_Clark> it was about using multiple cyphers
4:46pm <Brian_Clark> to indentify who was writing
4:46pm <JJason> Don't listen to Dante, I want to here the concept
4:46pm <Brian_Clark> to fuel the mule exercises in the first book 3 :)
4:46pm <Brian_Clark> so we'll see more of that in the future, I'm sure
4:47pm <Brian_Clark> conceptually, though, we deactivated that, because it is an "endless space"
4:47pm <dante> but if i recall, there was a job for which we tried every gibberish key possible.
4:47pm <Brian_Clark> ah, yes ... but you could make jobs
4:47pm <Dav|Flamerock> #3, I believe
4:47pm <Brian_Clark> and players were making jobs
4:47pm <Brian_Clark> so that's what I mean by "endless space"
4:47pm <Brian_Clark> without the right key it doesn't exist, really
4:47pm <Brian_Clark> didn't want you bashing your head against a brick wall
4:47pm <j5> no we were replying to jobs
4:48pm <Brian_Clark> indeed, the jobs you had keys for
4:48pm <j5> yes
4:48pm <j5> we had a solve, that wasn't
4:48pm <catherCook> but that letter, wasn't a key?
4:48pm <Brian_Clark> I'd have to review your solves again, but I think you were hitting a non-PM-job
4:49pm <catherCook> article, sorry
4:49pm <Brian_Clark> thus the "turn safeget off to save you from trying to solve"
4:49pm <Brian_Clark> the one from the NYC party?
4:49pm <Rowan> i can send you notes
4:49pm <j5> that's the q on the table. the "article" we used emet for to extract the 128 byte code
4:49pm <Brian_Clark> yeah, we can take that out of chat ... happy to look that up :)
4:49pm <Mapmaker> yeah
4:49pm <Brian_Clark> old man's memory doesn't remember off the top of my head
4:49pm <dante> consider our heads bashed
4:50pm <Brian_Clark> blame me for that
4:50pm <Mapmaker> someone post something as a comment to Schmeldritch
4:50pm <Brian_Clark> Imbri was all WTF about that :)
4:50pm <Mapmaker> and we can extract a promise from Brian now to make him answer it
4:50pm <Brian_Clark> I so swear!
4:50pm <Rowan> i'll write up notes tomorrow and send it to him
4:50pm <Mapmaker> k
4:50pm <Rowan> since i just reviewed that whole saga
4:50pm <Brian_Clark> <3 Rowan
4:51pm * j5 makes BC do a secret safeget dance
4:51pm <Dav|Flamerock> LOL
4:51pm <Brian_Clark> +1 obscurity!
4:51pm * Dav|Flamerock shells out $5 to actually see it
4:52pm <Brian_Clark> what next?
4:52pm <Mapmaker> so generic question now: What went wrong
4:52pm <Mapmaker> specifically
4:52pm <Brian_Clark> arooo?
4:52pm <Mapmaker> what did you have to change about NYC
4:52pm <Brian_Clark> oh, the final event?
4:52pm <Mapmaker> generic BTS horror stories as well
4:52pm <catherCook> reschedule a lunar eclipse ;)
4:52pm <Brian_Clark> snow
4:52pm <Brian_Clark> ah!
4:52pm <imbri> snow
4:53pm <Brian_Clark> the first NYC or the second?
4:53pm <Rowan> i'd settle for either
4:53pm <Mapmaker> both!
4:53pm <Dav|Flamerock> yeah
4:53pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
4:53pm <Brian_Clark> well, the second went pretty damn well considering the weather
4:53pm <Brian_Clark> in fact, I'm going to do a Schmeldritch on that
4:53pm <Rowan> (we're we supposed to get to the cloisters before 5?)
4:53pm <Brian_Clark> listening to the conference bridge all day was wonder :)
4:53pm <Brian_Clark> that was the big change
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4:54pm <Brian_Clark> we had done a walk-thru and misestimated the time it would take you
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4:54pm <Brian_Clark> because we had no blizzard :)
4:54pm <imbri> i was disappointed that, because of the weather and such, there wasn't as much webcam action for the folks at home
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4:54pm <Brian_Clark> so part of a scene happened outside the cloisters instead of inside
4:54pm <labfly> not much really.. the design always included getting players inside but we did clip the ending but i kinda liked it better
4:54pm <dante> yea i have to say we were pretty puzzled most of the day
4:54pm <imbri> certain struggles between Art and Peter's guy, etc
4:55pm <Obtusitivity> yeah -- nice fucking timing on the finale :) the 1 week where my actions are monitored for the entire work day.. :)
4:55pm <Brian_Clark> LOL
4:55pm <Dav|Flamerock> XD!
4:55pm <Brian_Clark> sorry :(
4:55pm <imbri> we rock!
4:55pm <Brian_Clark> promise more PST lovin' next book
4:55pm <Dav|Flamerock> heh
4:55pm <Mapmaker> and HST!
4:55pm <Brian_Clark> :)
4:55pm <Mapmaker> we have a lot of mounds out here
4:55pm <Obtusitivity> yeah!
4:55pm <imbri> map, i already told you
4:55pm <Mapmaker> speaking of which
4:55pm <Obtusitivity> we can all throw notes in bottles into the ocean..
4:55pm <imbri> we're going to hide a cache in that maze
4:55pm * j5 likes that imbri is in atl
4:56pm <Mapmaker> who's idea was the mounds?
4:56pm <imbri> and give you the clue of "bush"
4:56pm <Mapmaker> er whose
4:56pm <Brian_Clark> Jan :)
4:56pm <imbri> Jan's
4:56pm <Dav|Flamerock> I thought so :P
4:56pm <dante> poor Rance
4:56pm <labfly> i wanted to have the story reach into rural places
4:57pm <labfly> rance deserved everthing he got
4:57pm <Dav|Flamerock> had you read "The Mound" before jumping into Eldritch?
4:57pm <sidtheduck> rance = dick
4:57pm <labfly> no and i selected the mounds before i knew lovecraft wrote it
4:57pm <dante> rance is bleeding dots. be gentle.
4:57pm <Obtusitivity> right on -- tell peter to suck my rance.
4:57pm <j5> bleeding idiot
4:57pm * Obtusitivity is a class act.
4:57pm <Dav|Flamerock> omg lol that worked out well XD!
4:57pm <Mapmaker> how about the whistling?
4:58pm <labfly> was doing research and found the mounds and fainted ... again :)
4:58pm <labfly> only way to get space into game
4:58pm <catherCook> because all of this is real, based on real science
4:58pm <Rowan> lol
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4:58pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
4:58pm <j5> it works for fringe
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4:59pm <Mapmaker> back at the mounds: were we right about the intent of the spooge?
4:59pm <imbri> um, what was your thought on the intent?
4:59pm <Mapmaker> even if I can't remember what we thought it was now
4:59pm <Rowan> i accused eddit
4:59pm <Rowan> *eddie
4:59pm <j5> butoh
4:59pm <dante> lol. did we have a theory?
4:59pm <Dav|Flamerock> the version I went with was eddie
4:59pm <Mapmaker> it was j5's question
4:59pm <Dav|Flamerock> courtesy of Rowan
4:59pm <imbri> there was definitely something with the spooge
4:59pm <Obtusitivity> did we skip over the whistling bit?
4:59pm <j5> my question was: what was the intent of the spooge
5:00pm <imbri> also, i hate doing this in a meta way
5:00pm <imbri> but as I've already told Dante....
5:00pm <imbri> his mailbox is cursed
5:00pm <imbri> :(
5:00pm <dante> yes indeed. :( :(
5:00pm <Mapmaker> seriously dante wtf
5:00pm <j5> EE mail
5:00pm <labfly> lillian is still upset
5:00pm <imbri> dante talked to Riley
5:01pm <imbri> who knew that lillian had found something in St. Louis
5:01pm <dante> i'm upset too, if it helps
5:01pm <imbri> and she didn't want anything to do with it because it was strange and scary
5:01pm <imbri> so, of course, riley figured the sentries must have it!
5:01pm <labfly> and spoogish
5:01pm <j5> jar of spooge?
5:01pm <imbri> so, Lillian sent dante a keyboard
5:02pm <Dav|Flamerock> a spooged keyboard?
5:02pm <imbri> but some of the keys had some strange substance on them
5:02pm <dante> a spoogy keyboard? who ever heard of such a thing
5:02pm <Obtusitivity> i have one of those
5:02pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
5:02pm <imbri> now, if those keys were rearranged
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5:02pm <imbri> they would spell out, across the top
5:03pm <celina63> yay I finally made it
5:03pm <imbri> STU5KEYBOR3D
5:03pm <j5> paul is dead?
5:03pm <labfly> :)
5:03pm <imbri> and there were a few other random things
5:03pm <imbri> but, if they were placed in that order
5:03pm <celina63> paul is dead was the Beatles one?
5:03pm <imbri> that strange substance made a handprint
5:03pm <celina63> like the whole 'play the album backwards" thing?
5:03pm <j5> shh
5:04pm <enaxor> were there little pickles stuck between the keys
5:04pm <imbri> no little pickles
5:04pm <Mapmaker> ok
5:04pm <WolfHawk> dag - had to leave the puter cause I'm at work missed this
5:04pm <Dav|Flamerock> woah trippy. Sad that the mail failed :(
5:04pm <Mapmaker> so spooge
5:04pm <dante> i missed out on stus spooge. bummer.
5:04pm <labfly> took forever to jam that pickle
5:04pm <WolfHawk> I had a pickle!
5:04pm <Mapmaker> o.O
5:04pm <imbri> but interesting, i think, that the handprint would have been complete only if the keys were as stu had them and not in their qwerty state
5:05pm <Brian_Clark> damn cursed mail!
5:05pm <Mapmaker> that ... that is interesting
5:05pm <labfly> so all items but the first had a print
5:05pm <Transtar> stu always struck me as a devorak guy myslef :p
5:05pm <j5> y
5:05pm * WolfHawk wonders if my pickle took for ever
5:05pm <Mapmaker> ok
5:05pm <Rowan> wait - no
5:05pm <Rowan> or at least one spooge wasnt reported
5:05pm <j5> stu's keyboard, so yes
5:06pm <Six> I vote everyone sends dante a postcard to uncurse his mail
5:06pm <Rowan> oh, okay
5:06pm <Mapmaker> other story stuff
5:06pm <WolfHawk> Wait! Was I supposed to get something else?
5:06pm <Dav|Flamerock> no, you got everything
5:06pm <imbri> so, yes, stu's keyboard was much like alan's record
5:06pm <WolfHawk> ducking, sorry
5:06pm <catherFood> so the spooge wasn't Butoh make-up?
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5:06pm <Mapmaker> will we see more of A) Eddie Pope B) Bryce Droher C) Brian Clark
5:07pm <imbri> a handprint appeared on that record when it was in it's full state, but that record couldn't fit in the box unless it was broken
5:07pm <Brian_Clark> I won't be doing anymore confessions, that's for sure
5:07pm <Nicko> D) All of the above
5:07pm <Brian_Clark> now that I know I can be voice recognized :)
5:07pm <Mapmaker> and E) Howard Philips
5:07pm <imbri> no more confessions?!
5:07pm <Rowan> but will you dance for us?
5:07pm <imbri> but you were great!
5:07pm <Dav|Flamerock> Brian: you weren't the only one that was voice recognized ;)
5:07pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
5:07pm <Obtusitivity> that's true.
5:07pm * imbri has BIG ideas for howard. someone remind me to tell brian about them
5:08pm <Brian_Clark> A & B probably ... E definitely
5:08pm <Mapmaker> seriously, WTF Howard
5:08pm <Obtusitivity> my voice was recognized as sploits twice..
5:08pm <j5> wait, no
5:08pm <j5> answer the spooge
5:08pm <Obtusitivity> and it's starting to get offensive :)
5:08pm <j5> we got that the record had to be broken
5:08pm <imbri> the spooge was not butoh makeup
5:08pm <Brian_Clark> Howard was on a strange journey of his own, and you only saw bits of it
5:08pm <imbri> beyond that, i dunno
5:08pm <imbri> ;)
5:08pm <j5> bah!
5:08pm <catherFood> but you have to know! you invented it!
5:09pm <Mapmaker> hehehehehe
5:09pm <imbri> ok, it was not eddie either
5:09pm <dante> journey back to Miles' mom i bet
5:09pm <Mapmaker> ok
5:09pm <Mapmaker> so dante has two questions
5:09pm <Brian_Clark> Love it when you act all mysterious, imbri :)
5:09pm <j5> who retrieved the artifacts?
5:09pm <Mapmaker> he can ask 'em
5:09pm <Mapmaker> after this discussion is finished I guess
5:09pm <Brian_Clark> no, save us :)
5:09pm <Mapmaker> no
5:09pm <Rowan> lol
5:09pm <j5> go ahead
5:09pm <Brian_Clark> from our artful dodging!
5:10pm <dante> first: how much of the podcast info is 'flavor' (a la butoh) vs. useful info?
5:10pm <dante> that is, riley talks about a *lot* of stuff in all of that
5:11pm <labfly> yeah but she had a lot to chat about and it was actually related to what was going on... l
5:11pm <labfly> like the butoh was intro-ing the idea of ritual being used to reach beyond
5:12pm <labfly> the power of sound related to the signals which triggered the mound doors
5:12pm <dante> the uh whistles?
5:12pm <imbri> they were fun!
5:12pm <catherFood> this is horror, not fun
5:13pm <labfly> args are about fun
5:13pm <Brian_Clark> and you all know about the origin point :)
5:13pm <imbri> ah, but there can be horror in fun
5:13pm <labfly> william castle
5:13pm <Brian_Clark> LUV HIM
5:13pm * WolfHawk channels Fear Factor
5:13pm <Nicko> or...fun in horror ;)
5:13pm <Nicko> ok ok...i need help i know
5:13pm <Mapmaker> ok, so #2 dante
5:14pm <dante> well the other was why there was such a sudden dump of the dreammap. after being so confused about the dreamscape for so long, i mean :)
5:15pm <imbri> ah the dreamscape
5:15pm <imbri> the dreamscape is so my baby :)
5:15pm * dante is looking at imbri yes :)
5:16pm <imbri> i had so many plans for it this time around but slightly underestimated some of the time i'd be needed to be a producer type
5:16pm <imbri> i've produced before, but never quite in this sort of environment
5:16pm <imbri> anyway....
5:16pm <imbri> since book 1, i've wanted you guys to be able to visualize the dreamscape
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5:17pm <imbri> i wanted it to hit your senses in ways other than obscure craigslist posts
5:17pm <dante> bloomin' buzzin' confusion has always been my visual.
5:17pm <imbri> and so we had nightmare confessions which was good, but it was still pretty expository
5:18pm <imbri> and something that was fairly easy was a map
5:18pm <imbri> especially when sploit was emailed by both mapmaker and obs with maps!
5:18pm <imbri> wooo!
5:18pm <imbri> i've had it mapped out (and there more that y'all haven't seen!) since book 1
5:19pm <imbri> so that was really fun and, i thought, would be a fun experience for you guys
5:19pm <imbri> there were some pacing issues, especially when the calls contained specific location cues (which you caught on to dante)
5:19pm <imbri> but it all came together really well
5:19pm <Brian_Clark> (in many ways, that was also what the MUD was about too -- visualizing the dreamscape's geography)
5:19pm <imbri> yes
5:20pm <j5> but it's not yian ho
5:20pm <imbri> it was a tool that you guys could use to sort of work out where she was talking about
5:20pm <Brian_Clark> <- was all about making bookends
5:20pm <dante> it was fun.. but... well speaking for myself... it seemed really quick and really delivered on a platter.
5:20pm <imbri> yes
5:20pm <labfly> and poor george is still in his room drawing it again and again
5:20pm <Brian_Clark> J5, I can tackle the inspiration
5:20pm <dante> george is quite the artiste
5:21pm <imbri> but you had a week or so and, i gave you guys too much time to work it out before pushing it at the last moment
5:21pm <Brian_Clark> in Lovecraft, he wrote that we were all haunted by the collected memory of Yian Ho
5:21pm <labfly> 4 years in art school :)
5:21pm <imbri> and so it felt even more pushed
5:21pm <Brian_Clark> because we were once ruled there when we were slaves to the horrible things
5:21pm <imbri> yes! george is awesome!
5:21pm <imbri> (and my desktop)
5:21pm <Brian_Clark> but the dreamscape <> Yian Ho
5:21pm <dante> book 4: mrs. compton's revenge
5:22pm <Dav|Flamerock> @Brian: Just for reference, which story does this come from? (the collective memory of Yian Ho and such)
5:22pm <Brian_Clark> just like The Drummer <> Exu
5:22pm <Brian_Clark> At the Mouth of Madness, in part
5:22pm <j5> but he was
5:22pm <dante> wha? drummer <> Exu?
5:22pm <Brian_Clark> as above, so below
5:22pm <Brian_Clark> the cat <> Sploit
5:22pm <Dav|Flamerock> Yian Ho was in Madness? I don't remember that O-o
5:22pm <labfly> mrs compton :)
5:22pm <Brian_Clark> it is across several of HPL's works
5:22pm <Brian_Clark> and inconsistent at that
5:22pm <Dav|Flamerock> k
5:23pm <j5> dreamscape is the shadow yian ho casts
5:23pm <catherFood> wikipedia sez: In the short story "Through the Gates of the Silver Key" (1934), a collaboration between Lovecraft and E. Hoffman Price, Yian-Ho is a "dreadful and forbidden city" on the Plateau of Leng,
5:23pm <j5> ;)
5:23pm <Mapmaker> I think it's more drummer≈Exu but drummer≠Exu
5:23pm <Mapmaker> anyway
5:23pm <Brian_Clark> nice, Map
5:23pm <Brian_Clark> that's a fair<br /> 5:23pm <Dav|Flamerock> oh yes, inconsistency is HPL's speciality ;)
5:23pm <Mapmaker> few more questions
5:23pm <Brian_Clark> true, Cath
5:23pm <Brian_Clark> also mentioned as being in Upstate NY
5:23pm <dante> i didn't understand map's' ascii weirdness, but okay :)
5:23pm <Brian_Clark> and also mentioned as being in China
5:23pm <Mapmaker> any feedback from the actors in NYC and how they felt stuff went?
5:23pm <Brian_Clark> equivalent but not equal to
5:24pm * catherFood also finds it in The Diary of Alonzo Typer
5:24pm <Brian_Clark> except for the cold, they had a blast
5:24pm <Brian_Clark> :)
5:24pm <labfly> saw exu in az a few days ago and he said the players were so good hearted it made the day in snow well worth it
5:24pm <Rowan> yay
5:24pm <Brian_Clark> <3 Exu
5:25pm <imbri> omg yes
5:25pm <imbri> best casting ever
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5:25pm <dante> yay for rowan trying valiantly to keep it all together
5:25pm <Obtusitivity> but how does any of this explain the arizona cardinals in the fucking nfc championship game?...
5:25pm <Brian_Clark> she was amazing
5:25pm <Brian_Clark> I wish you all could have been listening to the conference bridge
5:25pm <labfly> exu wife was golda mier in steven sp film
5:26pm <Brian_Clark> so much amazing stuff there, so many wonderful little moments
5:26pm <imbri> brian and i sat in on that conf bridge allllll day long
5:26pm <Brian_Clark> Team Conference Call gets mad props too
5:26pm * WolfHawk doesn't know what the "conference bridge" is
5:26pm <Brian_Clark> and we shuttled messages to the teams on the ground
5:26pm <Brian_Clark> ah, there was a telephone conference
5:26pm <Mapmaker> the party line
5:26pm <Dav|Flamerock> I think conference bridge = PM conf call
5:26pm <Brian_Clark> that we setup
5:26pm <sidtheduck> yes, conference callers were teh awesome
5:26pm <Brian_Clark> as the inverse of WV
5:26pm <Dav|Flamerock> lulz
5:26pm <imbri> i fell asleep at the very end though and then woke up to a really cool discussion about an earlier book
5:26pm <imbri> it was awesome
5:26pm <Brian_Clark> force you guys to cross communicate instead of cut you off
5:27pm <Brian_Clark> and then YOU GUYS bridged it to the Web
5:27pm <Brian_Clark> and then it was broadcast live in Grinnel for like 3 hours
5:27pm <Dav|Flamerock> heh
5:27pm <Brian_Clark> and players read PSAs and everything :)
5:27pm <Brian_Clark> so we got to hear Rowan and crew check in
5:27pm <dante> it was still kind of frustrating
5:27pm <Mapmaker> hehe
5:27pm <Rowan> i'm still not sure how i got elected phone girl
5:27pm <imbri> you should see the chat logs between brian and i that day
5:27pm <Mapmaker> that was my radio heritage coming out
5:28pm <imbri> it's like hours long of "omg omg omg no no no no YES! NO! YES! YES
5:28pm <imbri> !"
5:28pm <labfly> i was running around ny handing out props, cams, freaking out, placing stuff, watching you guys, texting brooke & brian & robert
5:28pm <Brian_Clark> Robert Wood was another of the real unsung heros
5:29pm <Brian_Clark> coordinated so much stuff behind the scenes
5:29pm <Brian_Clark> and turned in an awesome vocal performance for Sploit :)
5:29pm <Rowan> oh, the gatekeeper
5:29pm <Brian_Clark> yup
5:29pm <Dav|Flamerock> so does that mean he has to be Sploit from now on?
5:29pm <dante> when sploit isn't being played by Obs
5:29pm <Brian_Clark> he's probably a keeper, eh?
5:29pm * imbri votes yes
5:29pm <Dav|Flamerock> well we might notice that the voices don't match up :P
5:30pm <Dav|Flamerock> (if he isn't Sploit)
5:30pm <Brian_Clark> and how creepy is Jeff Himmelman?
5:30pm <Mapmaker> hehehehehe
5:30pm <Mapmaker> oh speaking of voices
5:30pm <Rowan> very :)
5:30pm <Dav|Flamerock> he's awesome :P
5:30pm <dante> who is jeff himmelman?
5:30pm <Dav|Flamerock> Spukhafte
5:30pm <Brian_Clark> Spooky :)
5:30pm <imbri> spooky
5:30pm <Mapmaker> did Wendy (Dr Riley) have to take a lozenge after each podcast show?
5:30pm <dante> oh, i haven't been able to watch any of the video
5:31pm <Mapmaker> if I had to talk with an accent like that for that long my throat would be sore
5:31pm <j5> speaking of, where are the himmelmans?
5:31pm <Brian_Clark> probably dancing!
5:31pm <Dav|Flamerock> and more importantly: will she have to keep that crazy voice during any future live events?
5:31pm <enaxor> lol @ mapmaker
5:31pm <Dav|Flamerock> because that was a pretty crazy voice
5:31pm <enaxor> I loved riley's voice
5:31pm <labfly> she had to listen to the previous week to get back to the voice & she could only record in the morning & there was much recovery time for her
5:31pm <dante> it was her podcastshew voice
5:31pm <Dav|Flamerock> it was jarring at first, but I got to like it.
5:32pm <Mapmaker> aww, it sounded like it would be a hard voice to do for a while
5:32pm <labfly> wendy got the voice from someone named dee sabastian on bbc
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5:32pm <JJason_> arg, damned internets
5:32pm <enaxor> tell wendy thanks
5:32pm <Mapmaker> ok
5:32pm <labfly> i will - she loved doing it
5:33pm <Mapmaker> so a question from me, now: What is in your opinion(s) the biggest obstacle for a successful book 4
5:33pm <enaxor> :)
5:33pm <dante> give wendy sammeeeee thanks as well
5:33pm <labfly> :)
5:33pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh, Map
5:33pm * WolfHawk hopes we don't have to wait a year for B4
5:33pm <Mapmaker> yeah
5:33pm <Mapmaker> curveball
5:33pm <Brian_Clark> one is greatly broadening the audience
5:33pm * Dav|Flamerock wants to know what the title of B4 is :P
5:34pm <Brian_Clark> oh, we haven't decided yet :)
5:34pm <Dav|Flamerock> lulz
5:34pm <Brian_Clark> but now we're on to the meat of the story, aren't we?
5:34pm <dante> no more moons, i'm guessing.
5:34pm <Brian_Clark> Exu and Spooky
5:34pm <Mapmaker> was B3R "Red Book Setting"?
5:34pm <Brian_Clark> and Howard's adventure
5:34pm <Mapmaker> er, Moon
5:34pm <Dav|Flamerock> wewt
5:34pm <Dav|Flamerock> "Red Moon Falling" was the week before February 20, for sure
5:34pm <Mapmaker> ok, so one is the audience
5:35pm <Mapmaker> what else
5:35pm <Brian_Clark> and you can cut the tension between Nodens and the Sentries with a knife
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5:35pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
5:35pm <Brian_Clark> so there's so much good meat of the story there now
5:35pm <Rowan> thats just cuz peter is a dick
5:35pm *** Signoff: Six (Quit: )
5:35pm <Brian_Clark> do people still believe that?
5:35pm <Rowan> :)
5:35pm <Dav|Flamerock> yes :P
5:35pm <dante> uh, yea.
5:35pm <WolfHawk> Uh huh
5:35pm <Nicko> Hey now...he could just be misunderstood you know
5:35pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
5:35pm <imbri> heheh
5:35pm <Mapmaker> no
5:35pm <Mapmaker> he is a dick
5:36pm <Brian_Clark> I think the second interesting challenge
5:36pm <imbri> what about exu? what do you guys think about him?
5:36pm <imbri> err, sorry there brian
5:36pm <Brian_Clark> is how to make the comics work in timing with the advancing story
5:36pm <j5> we are his puppets
5:36pm <Brian_Clark> :(
5:36pm <Rowan> i learned a lot about exu - but at the same time, he's even more of a mystery
5:36pm <Brian_Clark> Peter is kinda growing on me!
5:36pm <JJason_> I don't know how to feel about Exu anymore
5:36pm <dante> exu probalby doesn't mean to be a dick.. but he just is.
5:36pm <imbri> heh, brian, do we need to have the peter talk again?
5:36pm <Dav|Flamerock> I don't know how to feel about Spooky anymore :P
5:36pm <j5> he's just cryptic
5:37pm <j5> exu that is
5:37pm <JJason_> Cryptic is nothing new. I'm not sure if he's evil or not anymoer
5:37pm *** hmrpita has joined: #stfeline
5:37pm <imbri> pita!
5:37pm <Dav|Flamerock> pita!
5:37pm <imbri> pita did a couple calls for us :)
5:37pm <dante> so did we hear the second challenge?
5:37pm <j5> he has his own interests I'm sure ;)
5:37pm <j5> pita!
5:37pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol yeah I totally called her out in private :P
5:37pm <WolfHawk> timing the comics with the advancing story
5:37pm <Brian_Clark> yeah, how to make the comics work with the advancing narrative
5:37pm <dante> right sorry
5:38pm <Brian_Clark> so that as the comics draw in new people
5:38pm <Dav|Flamerock> I like the way B4 is starting to look :P
5:38pm <Brian_Clark> that works with the timing of the new reveals happening in the "real experience"
5:38pm <dante> but doesn't that mean that the comics have to come into play relatively quickly?"
5:38pm <catherFood> and with new players like Scion trying to advance their own storyline in the forum?
5:38pm <hmrpita> did i miss it all?
5:38pm <hmrpita> ;)
5:38pm <Dav|Flamerock> not quite
5:38pm <Dav|Flamerock> but most of it
5:38pm * WolfHawk wonders about Scion
5:38pm <hmrpita> woo!
5:38pm <Dav|Flamerock> Scion wasn't here long
5:38pm <Brian_Clark> the comics are on a fast track
5:38pm <Dav|Flamerock> it looks like he just vanished :/
5:39pm <Dav|Flamerock> is Sinyx doing them? :P
5:39pm <Dav|Flamerock> jk
5:39pm <hmrpita> (hi everyone. i;ve had a glass of chianti classico with dinner, so.)
5:39pm <Mapmaker> I think you're not the drunkest person here
5:39pm <labfly> cheers
5:39pm <Brian_Clark> LOL
5:39pm <imbri> cheers!
5:39pm <hmrpita> *tink*
5:40pm <Mapmaker> so any more questions?
5:40pm <Brian_Clark> our turn?
5:40pm <Dav|Flamerock> heh
5:40pm <Mapmaker> sure!
5:40pm <Rowan> sure
5:40pm <endercoaster> sure
5:40pm <catherFood> oh, do ask us!
5:40pm <Dav|Flamerock> shoot!
5:40pm <WolfHawk> go for it
5:40pm <dante> yes, peter is *really* a dick
5:41pm <Dav|Flamerock> LOL
5:41pm <Brian_Clark> so what do you folks think the biggest barriers are to new players getting involved?
5:41pm <Dav|Flamerock> the hueg backstory, and the difficulty explaining it all
5:41pm <endercoaster> yeah
5:41pm <j5> no
5:41pm <Rowan> the stigma of being too far into the story
5:41pm <j5> that should just be filler
5:41pm <Mapmaker> our "occasional" cliquiness
5:41pm <Tonamel> Cthulhu is a bit of a niche mythos, too
5:41pm <WolfHawk> "too far into the story" depends upon how long the story will contuinue
5:41pm <dante> yea the sense that too much has happened already
5:42pm <Rowan> doesnt matter wolfhawlk. it could go on for 5 more years and peopel will still say 'so much has happened'
5:42pm <j5> rename it each time
5:42pm <notgordian> i think also finding effective means to target other communities / interest groups
5:42pm <WolfHawk> Ok. I see your pont.i
5:42pm <Mapmaker> and yet people still watch Dr Who
5:42pm <catherFood> depends, some Lovecraft fans come in expecting it to be more strictly Cthulhu, and (perhaps) leave when they confront the EE characters and setting (totally a guess)
5:42pm <Rowan> newcomers think that they HAVE to get into a game at the very beginning
5:42pm <Mapmaker> who didn't start watching in the '60s
5:43pm <Brian_Clark> that's the challenge, Map
5:43pm <Rowan> i know map.
5:43pm <dante> yea i offered an idea once.. start a 'new' arg that has no surface connection to this game. let new players discover it, enjoy it... then slowly reveal the connections.
5:43pm * endercoaster is wearing his dalek shirt
5:43pm <Rowan> i tried to address that fact in the intro to the guide i wrote
5:43pm <imbri> dante, i've thought that same thing :)
5:43pm <Brian_Clark> Dante, that's likely part of the approach we'll take.
5:43pm <endercoaster> I was actually considering running a mini-feeder arg at grinnell, to get even MOAR players here :-p
5:43pm *** sidtheduck is now known as: sidtheduck|eating
5:43pm <Dav|Flamerock> :P
5:43pm <dante> but for that to work, you have to keep us out of it ;) at first at least.
5:43pm <Brian_Clark> There's a trilogy that is done.
5:44pm <Brian_Clark> Or give you something else to do.
5:44pm <imbri> dante, don't tempt me ;)
5:44pm <notgordian> i think also the graphic novel plans, if/when they materialize would really help
5:44pm <dante> touch?
5:44pm <catherFood> did the comics help Catching the Wish?
5:44pm * catherFood looks over at cabal
5:44pm <endercoaster> I can't say much for people in the ARG community, but, not that it's any different for any other ARG, a lot of friends I've told were interested but afraid of the time committment
5:45pm *** Signoff: JJason_ (Ping timeout)
5:45pm <Brian_Clark> That's definitely a challenge for ARGs in general, yeah.
5:45pm <notgordian> i think that's why the comics might help -- giving an easy to explain initial entry point
5:45pm <notgordian> that would feel like more of a standalone that could be more
5:45pm <j5> popetattles was a decent first stab at it
5:46pm <dante> the other alternative i mentioned this afternoon is to structure it like L&O: eldritch threat assesment, where the backstory doesn't matter, only the plot.
5:46pm <Brian_Clark> L&O?
5:46pm <WolfHawk> I like the idea of another ARG leading to EE - although that doesn't always help (DC)
5:46pm <j5> doink doink
5:46pm <imbri> law & order
5:46pm <imbri> ?
5:46pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
5:46pm <dante> yes
5:46pm <Rowan> yeah
5:46pm <labfly> stand alone
5:47pm <WolfHawk> Episodic with an overreaching arc
5:47pm <Brian_Clark> yeah
5:47pm <Rowan> but then again - if you watch L&O long enough - previous story lines do creep in
5:47pm <Rowan> (see benson & stabler)
5:47pm <Brian_Clark> exactly
5:47pm <Brian_Clark> that's part of the next rhythm we need to find
5:47pm <endercoaster> or maybe have an occasional standalone plot to draw people in
5:47pm <j5> thing is, there are more episodes in which to hide that
5:47pm <Brian_Clark> in the same way, each comic needs to be a whole story
5:47pm <Brian_Clark> but also drive through the plotline you know as Book One
5:48pm <Rowan> true - but what really did you need to knwo from books 1, 2, and 3a to play 3b?
5:48pm <j5> then you need mini-books
5:48pm <dante> "play" very little... "understand" a lot!
5:48pm <Brian_Clark> So if "books" were shorter but more frequent, what would your reaction be?
5:48pm <Brian_Clark> in that "stand alone" concept?
5:48pm <Dav|Flamerock> depends on when they happenh
5:48pm <j5> arg snacks
5:48pm <Dav|Flamerock> happen*
5:48pm <Mapmaker> they better be longer than an hour
5:48pm <Rowan> (oh, and change the name from book to chapters because ppl do not get the whole "book" idea)
5:48pm <Brian_Clark> LOL
5:48pm <endercoaster> personally, my feeling is that there should be a mix
5:48pm <Brian_Clark> EldritchoRang?
5:49pm <enaxor> argetizers
5:49pm <notgordian> haha
5:49pm <Brian_Clark> Ringothulhu?
5:49pm <labfly> but chapters makes u feel like you better read up on the others.. doesn't it?
5:49pm <Rowan> i'm beginning to think that brian does nothing all day except dance and answer trivia questions
5:49pm <notgordian> topsecret.schmeldritch.com
5:49pm <Brian_Clark> hah hah
5:49pm <endercoaster> some short and standalone, some longer, both standalone and overall arc (but mainly the latter for the longer ones)
5:49pm <Brian_Clark> oh, I can aspire to that, can't I?
5:49pm <enaxor> lol rowan
5:49pm <Dav|Flamerock> I could see a cool thing going where after the main plot is finished (defeat Chorazos or something? I dunno) then various PMs could (through you, Brian) run those mini-ARGs as standalone missions for the Sentries that are vaguely Lovecraftian
5:49pm <Rowan> i dunno - all i know is that i've gotten more than one person saying they didnt understand the concept of "books"
5:50pm <Rowan> and when i said "chapters" they got it
5:50pm <Brian_Clark> interesting feedback
5:50pm <Brian_Clark> easy presentational change to make really
5:50pm <WolfHawk> You could use "seasons" like tv
5:50pm <dante> that's because there's been a continuous thread.
5:50pm <Brian_Clark> at that's entirely an OOG description
5:50pm <labfly> maybe just title them w/some tie into ee
5:50pm <j5> you need the EE powerpoint version
5:50pm <Rowan> i mean, i'm constantly pimping EE in chat
5:51pm <Dav|Flamerock> but I just don't like the idea of Sentry Outpost ever losing all activity because the main plot arc is over :P
5:51pm <Rowan> and i've been working on getting a pitch to play the game down
5:51pm <Brian_Clark> I think the key is to reach outside of this community, the ARG community.
5:51pm <dante> EE is rowan's ho
5:51pm <Brian_Clark> that's part of what makes each "big ARG" successful
5:51pm <Brian_Clark> the influx of people for whom this is their first example of this kind of experience
5:51pm <Rowan> i kept leaving Pope Tattle leaflets in lovecraft books around town
5:51pm <Brian_Clark> <3 Rowan :)
5:51pm <Dav|Flamerock> I want to see the Sentries hanging out on Sentry Outpost long after any ARG is over, even just to hang out together :P
5:51pm <imbri> calling each "chapter" a "book" came about when we thought each "book" would be a standalone comic book
5:51pm <dante> yea you need that imprint experience.
5:51pm <Dav|Flamerock> omg Rowan that's awesome
5:51pm <imbri> but we've moved away from that
5:52pm <catherFood> Jack Chick tracts
5:52pm <j5> omg!
5:52pm <imbri> rowan, just when i think i can't love you more ;)
5:52pm <Rowan> aww
5:52pm *** Six has joined: #stfeline
5:52pm <Brian_Clark> Remember, folks, at least from my perspective ...
5:52pm <j5> getting disinterested third parties is always the catch, innit?
5:53pm <Brian_Clark> one of the key strengths of eldritch is the opportunity to try things that we'd never be able to convince a "client" of
5:53pm <Brian_Clark> experimentation is the key, and you folks are collaborators in that
5:53pm <Mapmaker> ooh
5:53pm <Mapmaker> hire a serial killer!
5:53pm <Brian_Clark> so I like these kind of give and takes
5:53pm <Rowan> lol
5:53pm <j5> "casual ARG" is an oxymoron?
5:53pm <Brian_Clark> I hope not, J5
5:53pm <Brian_Clark> or maybe it will require a new phrase than ARG
5:54pm <Mapmaker> you can choose from dozens, Brian
5:54pm <Rowan> you do have players like sifaka
5:54pm <dante> um, there's nothing casual about driving to indian mounds
5:54pm <j5> redefine the G as "genre" and you're goof
5:54pm <j5> good
5:54pm <notgordian> noooo not new words!
5:54pm <endercoaster> incidentally, if the comics ever need it, feel free to ask me for pictures of what campus looks like :-p
5:54pm <Brian_Clark> :)
5:54pm <Rowan> she's never posted, never even hinted that she's following anythign argy - and runs around with us for hours in the snow
5:54pm <labfly> depends on what your driving ;)
5:54pm <j5> friend of rose maybe?
5:54pm <Tonamel> Well, like any group-based game, you need content for the casual AND the hardcore
5:54pm <Rowan> yeah she is j5 - but rose says that she actually follows the games
5:55pm <Rowan> she just never posts
5:55pm <j5> ok
5:55pm <imbri> yeah, she does
5:55pm <Brian_Clark> but seriously, this does have some of the elements of what you would think of as "table top gaming"
5:55pm <Rowan> but keeps up on almost everything
5:55pm <Mapmaker> the dumba^H^H^H^H^H hardcore can drive and the casual can watch
5:55pm <dante> but the longer games go on, the more the casual drift away until you're left with the hardcore *cough*
5:55pm <Brian_Clark> in that who we are designing for isn't some anonymous crowd
5:55pm <Brian_Clark> we know you folks
5:55pm <imbri> her twitter a couple days later about having a cold because she was running around for eldritch errors and, yet, she'd do it again in heartbeat
5:55pm <Brian_Clark> better than we've known the people we've designed other games for
5:55pm <imbri> seriously made my week
5:55pm <j5> but BC, that goes against the basement dweller target
5:55pm * Six rolls for insanity
5:55pm <Tonamel> Only if there isn't anything to keep them interested, dante
5:55pm <Brian_Clark> not sure, J5
5:56pm <Brian_Clark> it's more like having a stable fan base
5:56pm <Brian_Clark> we know what you guys like
5:56pm <Brian_Clark> the challenge is where to find more people that like that
5:56pm <imbri> because not only did it remind me that there are lurkers out there and that they are able to follow along even when so much seems to be in backchannel
5:56pm <Brian_Clark> not to just find new people and figure out what they want
5:56pm <Rowan> i dunno dante. during ILB there must have been 10 people showing up to the local dead drop that i never saw online - so by definition wouldnt be "hardcore"
5:56pm <imbri> but that we can engage them in a great experience
5:57pm <imbri> and that we do
5:57pm <dante> ILB was a little different. it was organized as an act locally, interact globally game.
5:57pm <Brian_Clark> that's rather easily solved though, Dante
5:57pm <Brian_Clark> that's a mechanic :)
5:57pm <j5> niche^2
5:57pm <Brian_Clark> plus a media spend
5:58pm <endercoaster> well I just want to thank you guys for giving me a good first experience in ARGing
5:58pm <Rowan> i just think its really hard for us, as the 'hardcore players', to know how many casual players there are
5:58pm <WolfHawk> Yeah, when things are in swing some media ecposure would be great.
5:58pm <dante> okay so you might get casual players who have very little idea what is going on story wise who want to do an live event for a lark. that's good i guess.
5:58pm <Brian_Clark> thank you for all you've done too, Ender :)
5:58pm <labfly> yay ender
5:58pm <Mapmaker> any more non-meta game-related questions?
5:59pm <catherFood> is there a minimum audience size, below which you'd stop?
5:59pm <Mapmaker> otherwise we can end the official portion of things
5:59pm <j5> tables turn then? advertise in traditional media for what was once an advertising mechanic?
5:59pm <Brian_Clark> yup, my cats are telling me it's time for old men to go to bed :)
5:59pm <Rowan> yes - has brian learned not to schedule events in december in nyc?
5:59pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
5:59pm <Brian_Clark> Cather, I'm not sure about that
5:59pm <endercoaster> so... book 4 title?
5:59pm <endercoaster> :-p
5:59pm <Brian_Clark> our model so far has been "this is like the production of the indie film, but with an audience"
5:59pm <Dav|Flamerock> Ender: He doesn't know yet
5:59pm <Dav|Flamerock> they haven't decided
5:59pm <endercoaster> ah
5:59pm <Brian_Clark> Ender, I'm not promising
5:59pm * endercoaster facedesks
5:59pm <j5> coins?
6:00pm <endercoaster> that's what I get for coming in late
6:00pm <labfly> all nyc events on nice sunny days in october :)
6:00pm <Brian_Clark> COINS!
6:00pm <Dav|Flamerock> I expect a Schmeldritch about Book 3 coins :P
6:00pm <Brian_Clark> designed, in production :)
6:00pm <j5> the emet coin?
6:00pm <Brian_Clark> going out with something extra special in addition
6:00pm <enaxor> thanks for the chat
6:00pm <endercoaster> when are book 2 coins getting sent? :-p
6:00pm <Dav|Flamerock> do we know when they're going out?
6:00pm <WolfHawk> Are the Book 2 coins still available?
6:00pm <Brian_Clark> yup, book 2 and 3 coins going together
6:00pm <Tonamel> Did book 2 coins ever go out?
6:00pm <Rowan> woo
6:00pm <dante> sploogy coins this time
6:00pm <Dav|Flamerock> lulz
6:00pm <Brian_Clark> nope, meant to go out with 3
6:00pm <j5> yay!
6:00pm <Tonamel> Aha :D
6:00pm <Dav|Flamerock> just for you, Dante :P
6:00pm <Brian_Clark> because of the Emet reference :)
6:00pm <j5> send it ups to dante
6:00pm <Rowan> send his registered mail
6:01pm <Brian_Clark> so if you haven't, email us your address to inquiry@eldritcherrors.com
6:01pm <Dav|Flamerock> I thought it was inquiry@schmeldritch
6:01pm <dante> make sure that mike the intern doesn't get involved either.
6:01pm <Brian_Clark> schmeldritch!
6:01pm <Brian_Clark> you're right :)
6:01pm *** unknownwarrior33 has joined: #stfeline
6:01pm <endercoaster> hey jake
6:01pm <Dav|Flamerock> <Dav|Flamerock> do we know when they're going out?
6:01pm <Brian_Clark> before the month is out
6:01pm <unknownwarrior33> hello
6:02pm <Dav|Flamerock> sweeeeeeeet
6:02pm <Brian_Clark> haven't gotten them back from China yet :)
6:02pm <enaxor> send dante's fedex, I'll pay for it
6:02pm <WolfHawk> Awesome!
6:02pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol!
6:02pm <unknownwarrior33> Glad I didn't completely miss everything :)
6:02pm <Brian_Clark> apparently, all US makers just outsource to China ... so we cut out the middleman :)
6:02pm <unknownwarrior33> stupid addictive Paper Mario
6:02pm <j5> dante's landlady is making an ARG museum
6:02pm <labfly> dantes should be a dead drop in chicago
6:02pm <Brian_Clark> LOL
6:02pm <imbri> ha! i'm thinking i'm going to need to go home to visit mom and take a little trip to chicago and hand deliver them to dante
6:02pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol!
6:02pm <dante> no ideas. :)
6:02pm <Rowan> you sure you dont have a hoarding mailman?
6:03pm <Mapmaker> Dead drop clue for dante: Under the snowy patch in the park
6:03pm <unknownwarrior33> I think we have a hoarding mailman
6:03pm <Brian_Clark> hey, and watch your local pawn shops
6:03pm <unknownwarrior33> we haven't been getting our mail
6:03pm <dante> oh, i'll accept hand deliveries though. honestly i have no idea what the problem is. chicago mail is notoriously bad.
6:03pm <Brian_Clark> since our burgler stole a bunch of 'em
6:03pm <Dav|Flamerock> yeah that was all wtf
6:03pm <Brian_Clark> can't imagine what the pawn shop told 'em when he tried to pawn 'em
6:03pm <Rowan> mean burgler :(
6:03pm <enaxor> make him come to argfest for it
6:03pm <Brian_Clark> tells you valuable they look!
6:03pm <labfly> to the left of the the dough boy
6:03pm <unknownwarrior33> I like school, where mail is fast and reliable
6:03pm <imbri> yeah and the keyboard?!
6:04pm <imbri> who would want a foldable little keyboard for and old palm?
6:04pm <imbri> some crazy mailman
6:04pm <imbri> i guess
6:04pm <Mapmaker> it's weird
6:04pm <labfly> homeland security
6:04pm <Brian_Clark> the mail xray detected the spooge!
6:04pm <Mapmaker> you should report it
6:04pm <Brian_Clark> I'm sure Peter is using it
6:04pm <Mapmaker> there seriously may be a hoarding mailman
6:05pm <dante> or Ted Wheeler
6:05pm <unknownwarrior33> stupid mailmen
6:05pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
6:05pm <Rowan> peter is addicted to his blackberry
6:05pm <unknownwarrior33> with their mail
6:05pm <Brian_Clark> Peter is a man on the go!
6:05pm <Brian_Clark> :)
6:05pm <unknownwarrior33> Speaking of Peter's blackberry, I liked the exclamation point :)
6:05pm <Brian_Clark> heh heh
6:05pm <Dav|Flamerock> lol
6:05pm <Brian_Clark> he's trying to be less cocky
6:05pm <Brian_Clark> so he removed the ! from his BlackBerry sig :)
6:06pm <unknownwarrior33> so were those emails actually sent from a blackberry?
6:06pm <WolfHawk> He's got a ways to go! lol
6:06pm <Rowan> i think peter could come and give me a pony and i'd still be worried that he'd kill it
6:06pm <Brian_Clark> UW, naw ...
6:06pm <enaxor> he'll just be peter the ick now
6:06pm <unknownwarrior33> I'd be less worried about the pony and more about myself, Rowan
6:06pm <Brian_Clark> LOL
6:06pm <Brian_Clark> okay, my carriage is turning into a pumpkin
6:06pm <Rowan> well, i'd figure there would be a bomb in the pony
6:06pm <unknownwarrior33> I suppose
6:06pm <Rowan> night brian!
6:06pm <j5> thanks BC!
6:06pm <WolfHawk> Night Brian and thank you!
6:06pm <j5> jazzy
6:06pm <endercoaster> night
6:06pm <Rowan> thanks!
6:06pm <unknownwarrior33> goodnight!
6:07pm <Dav|Flamerock> goodnight Brian!
6:07pm <Brian_Clark> love you folks, thanks for making it fun, and thanks for forgiving my shortcomings :)