Sorry for being a dick

I don't want to be the guy who disagrees with things and offers nothing. So I did more research on voodoo to get some ideas for story. There is old school and new school voodoo, originating in african culture, more popularly hatian and then there's Louisiana voodoo. We can do one or the other or mix, or make a whole new thing. So here are basic story line concepts, using a variation of that kind of information. It is somewhat difficult to make a story where voodoo is the protagonists ability just because voodoo is typically evil. Most always actually.

#1:
African voodoo. Main character, young girl with little mascot character: zombie bushbaby (also known as a Galago). Young practitioner who uses the necromanced bushbaby as a voodoo doll. She's a prodigy, daughter of the voodoo queen of the old african tribe. The tribe is outstretched and has several other members in small villages. For her training she is to travel to these villages, learn the methods and abilities from these outstretched teachers, and take her crown as voodoo queen. However, an opposing tribe, come in and murders everyone in the protagonists village. She survives, and attempts to find her way to the other villages, garner her training from the surviving voodoo teachers, and decimate the opposing tribe. She must face wild animals, violent strangers, and being chased down by the opposing tribe, all along the way garnering a better grasp of her power.

2#
Louiiiiisianna. FAST. Ok im done. Anyways, so a little more modern, Louisiana, which we can have any time between 1830's to modern.Girl/woman wants to resurrect her brother, who died after both were attacked on the street by a gang of (depending on the time, we can be creative, white supremacists, whatever). So she tries to do it herself, ends up fucking up, and releases a whole to the spirit world, which begins to infiltrate the world. A spirit tries to posses her, but something in her, some spiritual strength, overcomes it, and instead imbues her with some magic. She wants to stop it, she goes to the church. (saints had often been associated with voodoo in history, or at least thought in similar terms power wise). So she goes, receives instructions of the church, uses both those teachings and black magic to try to stop the flow of demons. Basic structure, probably will meet others, probably will face a hierarchy of demons.

3#
So, depending on how evil we want to be, we can fight the catholic church (or whatever religion you want). The concept is definitely not unheard of, like Assassin's Creed. If we play off more as voodoo as close to nature, wanting to heal, and more of the church wanting to eradicate without mercy voodoo in all it's terms. Definitely a very big power, vs small power set up. Think on terms of Legacy of Kain, playing sort of like evil against REAL evil. Story board on this one is far looser, can't think of a good original dropping point for us to fight the church, besides having the protagonist being a survivor from a church raid, which is pretty unoriginal.

4#
If we want to, we can be evil, really or we can do the free choice thing if you guys are set on those (personally Heavy Rain was my favorite game of that year, Beyond 2 Souls does have a lot less freedom when it comes to significant story change). So here we go, time connection, we have the present uprising of voodoo culture, on the verge of allowing the great god of voodoo into the world. A rag tag team on voodoers who see the horrors of what can come from this, offer the protagonist a chance to go back, like way back into the past, where the antagonist, an immortal, has been working toward this goal for a hundred years. Go back, spoil his plans undercover, save the future. Or not, or you can find ways to betray these good people, and allow the god to enter and destroy the world.

That's all I got. Very loose, but all voodoo themed at least.

I don't know. I think there are problems with voodoo, especially if (like was previously said) we want to get all Skyrim with this. From what I can tell, y'all want to enter an action/adventure, adventure, maybe rpg, kind of way with this. I mean voodoo has limitations. Powers are very passive, not like shooting fireballs, or telekinesis or whatever. Having few valid enemies (besides other voodoers and normal humans) there are really not too many. Voodoo is often depicted evilly, so having the protagonist have those powers, we make them either evil, or it ends up like a Devil May Cry or Bayonnette to that degree.

Any feedback is great. Thanks
John

4-Man Wolf-Pack Meeting

So four people showed up.

We thought you loved us.

But we persevered. 

Steve walked us through his writing process and talked more about his Voodoo idea. He mentioned we needed a central event to kick off the story, like "I, Robot" or other dystopian movies. He talked more about how to tie in the Voodoo idea.

We all discussed what of Voodoo we would want to use, and talked about making our own Voodoo and bringing in elements from Wiccan as well (apparently, Wiccans and Pagans are the same; the more you know!). We talked a bit about Satanism because fuck white conservative suburban moms who would never buy this game. Our thoughts then moved on from Voodoo to all religions. Each "magic" user in each world has powers derived from that religious theme, and their powers grow by studying their religion.

We suggested the big central event as maybe being a tear in time and space, allowing alternate reality travel and ALTERNATE ENDIIIIIINGS. Gaming staple, y'all. Maybe Deja Vu could be the character experiencing things in different alternate worlds.  The main character (X) is a dabbler in magic and X finds this technology that allows X to travel between alternate realities. This action causes all of X's alternate reality clones to be able to travel between alternate realities as well. Each of these alternate realities has a different religious theme, and one of X's clones wants the religion from their world to reign over all the worlds, providing a conflict and an antagonist to X. 

Next we briefly discussed whether this was going to be a one-character show, or have a party. We liked the idea of more than one character who are, knowing or unknowing, working together towards one goal. 

Madison propositioned a game considering multiple people's lives. The player is an entity who can travel from anybody in the game and play through their story. The stories could be mundane or fantastical. The player could even be an animal for a day. Of course with a bigger, over-arching storyline. We thought it could be interesting if inserted into the idea we talked about before. Universal Consciousness. 

The gamer could be a good entity or a bad entity. This could affect the storylines of the people. The entity can fully control certain characters to advance the storyline. We questioned whether the characters would be conscious of being controlled, and if they would welcome it or not. Later on, the characters that were controlled could meet up and start to piece things together, and realize this entity that controlled them is using them for its own purposes, either good or bad.

Games/Movies We Referenced:
Final Fantasy X (game)
Kingdom Hearts (game)
Click (movie)

Sliders (1993 TV show)

Portal Runner (game)

Beyond Two Souls (game)

This isn't set in stone, but the four of us would like to go in this direction. 

Please comment your thoughts, and maybe we can all meet up in two weeks' time.

Bitches.

MEETING 10/15 - ABLAH RM 324 @ 5

Hey guys! We've decided that our group meeting is going to be on Tuesday in the Ablah Library on campus, in room 324 at 5pm.

This room is a reserved study room that holds up to 14 people, and we have it from 5 to 6:30. There is a group in there right before us, so hopefully they get out pretty quick.

We're going to try to decide fully on one theme together, so bring anything you've made. That can include baked sweets as well.

New Members: Even if you haven't posted anything on the blog, please come! This is an excellent time to meet you all. :) And bring stuff you've made, too!

Shelley will be there early as the reservation is in her name. She might try to have crackers and cheese, but she's broke and is making no promises. But let this slim possibility of food entice you to come. Y'all might get a jug of water and ketchup packets.

Make sure to check the blog once in a while!
Madison & Shelley

Meeting Times

So as I'm sure everyone knows, fall break is next Monday and Tuesday. I would really like to take advantage of this time and try and get together to decide on a story line so that everyone can start making work.

Anytime on Tuesday works for Shelly and I, so if anyone has a specific time in mind that is best for them, please post in the comments so we can decide what time to meet.

Also, I'm open to meeting just about anywhere. If anyone has any good places in mind, post that as well. I actually think a library would be good, as they'll have big tables and lots of chairs and it will be quiet and not crowded. Maybe the downtown library or the Ablah?

Let me know what you think!

Member Introduction

Hello Everyone!

Sorry for the late intro. I will make this short and simple. So let's see here...

I am not that great of a writer or a drawer although I have tried and failed most of the time.

Aside from large doses of school projects, friends, video games, and suffering from acute insomnia I do like making music every now and then as a hobby to remind myself that I am somewhat creative.

Most of the tracks that I have made were just me messing with music programs. Overall things turned out pretty decent.

Anyways a few examples of my work can be listened to by clicking the link below. The tracks have a space-arcade theme for the most part. Let me know what you think if you have time to check it out.

I will try my best to contribute my thoughts on ideas, just throwing out what I have to offer. Thanks for reading!

Link to music tracks
https://soundcloud.com/regen_t

New Members!

Hey guys! We have four new members, and we've encouraged them to post their own introductory bio and examples of their work, so make sure to take a look.

New members! Please look at everyone's work and our discussions so far. And please Pleas PLEASE join in on the discussions! We want to hear from you as well!

Let's keep moving forward!
CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!

Concept Doodles

I know it's a little dangerous to start posting concept art when we haven't picked a theme yet, but I was really inspired by the Voodoo theme we tossed around. Don't think that since there's concept art that we've chosen that Voodoo theme, I just want to show some quick sketches that I was inspired to draw.

I did a quick and kind of crappily done concept for a female protagonist.

Zane researched that... "In West-African Voodooism women are hold priesthood. Sometimes the priestess passes her position to a blood daughter. In the first meeting Madison said she would prefer a non-stereotypical protagonist and a priest's daughter might be interesting." 

So I took it and ran with it.

Those are beads of different colors hanging down her front.

I swear it's not puke.

The hair I was inspired by an episode of America's Next Top Model from a few years back, where the models had to do a big-hair bird-themed photoshoot. I researched current (more like editorial magazine looks) and traditional West African fashion and dress.

I was planning to do a couple more versions playing with different styles of looks. This one is a little on the traditional dress side, so I think it'd be interesting to try and find a futuristic look that incorporated traditional aspects into it.

I also drew a monster! First one ever. It looks like Arbok and Ghastly are hanging out, but I decided to post it anyways. I have a little blurb on the picture from Wikipedia. I played with a Snake/Astral-Soul look.

So...what do you guys think? These were done super fast and quick, and should be viewed as doodles.

Once again, this isn't us deciding on the voodoo theme for sure. Just me doodling.

Fiction Reading

Hey gang,

hope your week is wrapping up well. I just wanted to mention that tomorrow (Friday) Alice McDermott is doing a reading on the WSU campus. I plan on attending. The reception starts at 6 in the Ulrich Museum and the reading will be at 7 in the CAC Theater. She is a good writer and I recommend the writers especially go to hear her. But everyone would enjoy it I think.

If anyone wants to meet up before the event my cell is (620) 968 8060.

Also, I know the general consensus was to interact online from here on out, but I think it would be beneficial for the writers to meet up (and anyone else in the group that wants to) soon with some ideas so we can get the ball rolling. I would suggest meeting at the Donut Whole or something and everyone bringing some character sketches and setting sketches just to get some ideas out there.

If you think it is a good idea, great, if not, I'm still on board.

check out this link for a character sheet, this would be great for developing characters and sharing with the group!
http://rpmadesimple.com/rp_files/backstory_worksheet.pdf

The Brainstormer

The Brainstormer

Hey, in case anyone is having any issues thinking of ideas, this is an interesting way to start doing something creative. This is made by a guy named Andrew Bosley, who has worked on quite a few really cool video games!

Also, at the top of the page there is a link to his work. Really fantastic, inspiring work. I hope someday to be awesome like this!

UPDATE: Post 2

Thanks for the feedback guys and gals, looks like I have a notion of what you guys want, so I will expand on the ones interested and throw in other ideas below for more awesome fun times.

Suburban war idea: Neighborhood Walk (working title)

Early settings: Perfect suburbs. Green grass, as perfect and neat as carpet. Houses of the same nature: cookie cut perfection, in style, form, and upkeep. Garbage men look like models, with a plastered smile, fit and clean. Dad's walk out in suits (moms too if you want to keep modern, but I was thinking show like old ideas of domesticity, so for when aftermath occurs we can pervert and subvert gender roles). From the neighborhoods we enter cities. City is also clean and industrious. Keeping things straight lines all the way, from buildings to rows, even plotted trees are sheared in perfect circles. Sun bright, fluffy happy clouds. From city to school which looks old, but in a regal idea. High walls, stone, pleasant and warm colors.

Basic storyline intro expanded: We have young little whats-her-face (you can think up the name if you want, makes no difference to me). We have her walking halls, being a little angel, like god's daughter. She is pure, simple, unsoiled. Long flowing brown hair cascades down her back in a simple neat form. She wears a school uniform. Her sister also attends to school, much younger, showing much more naivety, still in pigtails. In class the protagonist sits near an open window, clear and large towards the sunny sky, but as she gazes absently out the window, herds of shadows can be seen rustling through the nearby wooded area. As she gazes curiously, a distant light twinkles in the sky. It approaches like lightning, a missile, which destroys one of the towering buildings in the distant city.

If this story continues to interest, I will broadly apply more until we decide.


Monster Mash

Early settings: Village. We are talkin' bout some Frankenstein village stuff here. I'm talkin' hay stacks, wood sheds (if we are thinking cute, more rounded, cartoony, if we are thinkin' sardonic, take a look at trailer for the game "Papers, Please", more rough, but with sense of humor). Little villagers with tight hoods borderlining their faces. Lots of woods. For monster environments, we can go cliche (if we are going full parody) Swamp things in swamps, frankensteins in evil labs, full on with fetus test tubes and operation tables. For fun I kinda want the Vampires in a nightclub. For giggles. Anyways this is just concept, and totally not final notes.

Basic Storyline Expanded: Oh no! A sheep is missing! Must be those pesky monsters roaming around. What assholes. (Really wanna play off the unjustified hatred stuff here). Ugly frankenmonsters, damn vamps, hairy uncouth them werewolves are, etc. We must poke them to death with out pitchforks! And then off we go, level by level. The monsters we make super sympathetic, like before invasion levels start, we have the monsters doing wholesome activities (gardening, feeding wildlife rabbits, playing shuffleboard, what have you).

Cultastic Fantastic:
Down on your luck? Need friends? Need cash? Look no further! Have we got a job for you! Do you know the top grossing industries in the nation are cults??? You didn't? Well you're stupid. What do you think those gold chalices are made of? Cheese? Well anyways, I (your fearless friend who already started a cult) will give you the fine tips you need to get started!

Settings: We get us some down home basement environments, completely filled with characters that "look" like they would join a cult. Scruffy bearded outcasts. Easily swayable yokels. Naive housewives (not to be sexist with housewives, they are very important pillars in the community, for the sake of using parody of stereotypes). Anyways, we get us some fliers, some meetings, some figures for cult leaders, etc. Other stuff. (Probably, as concept, a lot harder for me to think up cool stuff for you artists to draw). Maybe some cultastic rituals? Ehhh?

Like before, if still interested, will provide more info.

Other ideas:

1. Ghetto Pokemon -
Now of course we can't say pokemon, but same concept (so parody). Anyways, pokemon is so gold hearted. Nice kid loves his creatures, fights evil, love, respect, mom, dad, etc. We take a similar world, we make the kid from the 'hood. Yep. So he got that backwards flatbill cap, baggy shorts, all them stuff, but instead of guns, this kids got some pokemon. He want to go to each city, take down the gang leaders in each, and rule over all! Muhahahaah! More dirty environments, smog, fog, dark night life here. We have fighting rings to the death, we have track races for big cash, we have black markets, poke-drugs. (FYI, lots of good music that can be attributed to this. Examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zk2sHKE84Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF6PPz8LunY

And others)

2....  nevermind. I had others, but I'm tired. Will post when my head is clear.

Other Ideas for the sake of other ideas

Casting a wide net and see what's a good catch. Spit-fire ideas to roast a fine meal, my colleagues. Just want to throw out flat ideas, not gonna work on specifics until we set out a theme we all agree with, so these are all just conceptual. Not talking gameplay either. I left out specifics to be worked once we dedicate ourselves to a single theme. I don't want to go all out developing characters, spaces, story boards, etc. until we all agree and can do it together. With as big a group of writers, were gonna need to collaborate.

"Real" Ideas (by which I mean marketable to the mainstream masses to at least some degree):

1. Blight -

Concept: Attempts to forgo global warming by diffusing chemical substance in atmosphere, which is meant to deflect dangerous solar energy from the sun, backfires. Light energy is enhanced and multiplied causing a massive increase of solar energy making surface living impossible. This causes discord and massive exodus to below surface civilizations. Factions break up civilization causing underworld civil war. Meanwhile, remaining scientists attempt to end the inhabitation of surface world through sending expedition teams to surface world in special heat resistance suits. But the alteration of solar energy, and its dangerous radiation that is attributed with it, alters surface life to hardskinned beings. Some humans are effected, and result in madness.

Story: Protagonist team of expeditioners venture to the top world, facing new creatures, altered humans, and other factions trying to regain control of surface world.

2. Untitled -

Concept: Lovecraftian in all retrospects. 1950's era Americana. The slow, but sure, entrance of Cthulu invasion into earth world. Protagonists are normal 1950's family, which must then face and survive the coming of Lovecraftian gods, face off with the demon infested world of Cthulu mythos (i.e. tentacled drooling horrible eldritch abominations, puss filled faces of boils, dead eyes, scaled skin, morphing into nightmare fuel creatures). Both in present human world with infestation, then into demon world itself. Throw in black magic, occultists, etc. Spiritual and real

Story: Family attempts to survive the demon spawn, and stop it.


Indie Ideas (for fun):

1. Suburbs -

Concept: Modernized American-esque. Unknown military forces infiltrate a quite suburban town. Start in a middle school. Lockdown. Main protagonist (I'm thinking 5th grade girl) must find her way out of the school without being captured or dying. Once free, sees world for what it is, has to find family on her own. But damn, she is a little girl. Eventually gets home. End openly for sake of not making a Hit Girl out of her.

Story: Girl finds way home in horridly war torn suburbs (blow up a Starbucks why don't you?)

2. The Monster Mash:

Concept: All those cliche movie monsters? Let's make them real. Lets stab them with pitchforks. Control a ragtag group, nay, a town of pitchfork wielding townsfolk and send them out to exterminate the monsters with extreme prejudice. These monsters aren't bad per say, just misunderstood. But when the villagers come to destroy them with unbelievable numbers, they gotta defend themselves.

3. Cultastic

Concept: A start your own cult game! Complete with swaying believers to come pray with you, give you money, etc. But watch out for those feds! They are quite the party poopers. Set up fliers, soap box speeches, protests, blow up some competing religions. Get the biggest and best cult EVUH. Praise be to [insert a thing here]


Bleh. I have more concepts somewhere in my brain. This is just set one. They mostly suck. But hey, maybe something to work on. Like I said, just wanted to throw ideas against the wall.

I mostly came up with some of these just so there would be interesting things to illustrate for the artists in the group. I would be perfectly fine with a real world story without hints of supernatural, futuristic, or scientific anything for that matter. But so far these are just themes.

Lets get this party started!!

Alright team here it is,

First idea to work off of.  Voodoo RPG.  Kind of like a cross between skyrim and bioshock.  Just wanted to bounce it here so that we can get some stories going.  I am working on a story line right now so stay tuned.  It would be awesome to hear some opinions on this one.  Some way some how we can turn this towards a dystopian world most def.


Thoughts.....?

.......ANNNNNND.......GO!!

Hello! I'm Baxter Burchill, a sophomore majoring in English. I'm so awful at describing my own writing, but if it says anything, I basically pray to David Foster Wallace and Samuel Beckett and all those crazy Latin American authors (Borges, Marquez, Bolano, etc).
So here is an example of my writing that I did last year

John (writer)

Hi. I write words. On papers. Here are some words linked below.

This ones got cowboys in it:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IfB8I-vZqCiciSX5NhBJdyO2Lg5hQ_RBnA6wgk1yu3Q/edit

This ones got dystopia in it:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s7zkhZbb20LGEp9pi5az7evUlTfBZDbOeJNAlBqHnsU/edit

Favorite game: Portal

Read: Bukoaski, Faulkner, Hemingway, Lawrence, Kerouac, Vonnegut, and others.

Zane (Writer)

Hey, my name is Zane, I'm 22 and I am fascinated by many things. I write short fiction and poetry. A few of my favorite writers are Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Allen Ginsberg, Ray Bradbury, Elmore Leonard, Tolkien, William Golding, Anthony Burgess, Joseph Stroud, Robert Hass... I'll stop there.  I was a graphic design major during the first two years of school and I still sketch and paint. I envy the German Expressionists and the German painters of the 60's 70's and 80's. I haven't been an avid gamer since high school, but my passion for gaming was the reason I studied graphic design. The last games I enjoyed playing were L.A. Noire, Skyrim, Saint's Row 2, Gears of War 3, and yes (World of Warcraft). I am excited for this project and getting to know each of you better.

Short story
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k9g2AGYQpd34u0yIztFJ2_tIAcvwim-R0u8VTdcQhng/edit

Here is some visual art.

Hi I'm Thomas Benz this is my first semester at WSU so right now its mostly just gen ed classes and my major is in Graphic Design.  All these pictures are from either Cinema 4D or 3D Studio Max.

Member introduction: Stevo!!

Hello all!! My name is Steve Arias but you guys can call me Stevo.  I'm a third semester freshman and currently in LAS.  I want to move to the creative stirring department.  When I write I like to write about my environment or whatever comes to mind.  I'm 28 years old an I am originally from Texas.  I joined the military after I failed out of college.  I spent 7 years active.  3 years as airborne infantry and 4 years as a black hawk mechanic.  I spent a total of 27 months in iraq  I'm an open book so ask me anything...,within reason.

The persistent beeping of a construction truck loomed in the background as the roar of a single jet engine passenger plane flew above in the sky.  The sky was a baby blue color with random whisps of thin clouds strewn about. The wind wasn't soft enough to be a gentle breeze but not strong enough to be a consistent wind yet it still managed to rustle the trees and blow the leaves around as if they were chasing after papers that the wind blew out of their hands. The sun was still high enough in the sky to nor cast long shadows but it was definitely starting to dip in the sky.  The cicadas were fewer in numbers and were dying off like the leaves on the trees.  Mixtures of yellow, fading green leaves and brown cicada carcasses were all swirling around. 

As the afternoon word off and the day started to settle into the evening things were calm. The roar of all the 20 somethings had stopped hours ago and the older crowd taking night classes were slowly starting to trickle in like that of a light drizzle turning into an afternoon thundershower.  This is the time of day I enjoy the most on campus.  The part of the day that the campus takes a moment to breathe before starting its evening class hussle and bussel.