What is interactive fiction?
There have been many definitions of this, from its initial use by Infocom games like Zork, to books like Choose Your Own Adventure. But, we use it here to describe a style of fiction writing that is akin to a group of people telling a story, improvising situations, causing and resolving conflicts, in a world where anything is possible.
What is the difference between this and ’role-playing’?
Those familiar with role-playing game systems like D&D and World of Darkness will know what I mean when I say there is a definite difference. While certainly these stories told here are very character-centric, and are usually first person, this is not an RPG. There are no dice rolled, no rules pertaining to combat, no pre-determined characteristics. Feel free to immerse yourself into your characters, and do not feel restricted to one character. Try NOT to write the dialogue or actions of another writer. Be patient with other writers; it is not uncommon for users to be absent from the forums for a while. The emphasis here is to tell some amazing stories and have fun.
How are conflicts between characters resolved in a story?
All of the stories here are meant for the enjoyment of every user. Some writers thrive on action, and this naturally involves confrontations between fictional characters. We call these fights ’Battle Scenes’ and can be fun, and is the sole exception to the ’no dice’ rule. There is no standard for dealing with this here; I’d be happy to set up one. In general, these are prose descriptions of your characters actions, waiting for your opponent’s actions. There are to be NO lethal blows dealt to another author’s character. Such actions can and will be reversed, if the ’dead’ character’s author requests it. An author can kill off their own characters at will. Often what works best is for the battling authors to discuss via private messages how any random chance via dice or RPS (rock/paper/scissors) will influence a battle. A dice-roller has been supplied for such use.
What is sci-fi?
To most people I know I don’t really need to explain, but I will attempt instead to describe what I’d like to see here. We are all influenced by the ’standards’ of Science Fiction. From Issac Asimov to Douglas Adams. From Star Trek to Star Wars. The best sci-fi tends to explore the human condition by placing it in unimaginable new worlds. While certain technologies are invented to explain ’futuristic’ capabilities, often times many become stock, expected fare. Spaceships, lasers, teleporters, green-scaled aliens. There’s a line between using and abusing these technologies. I would love to explore as much uncharted territory as well as technology. But, please, feel free to use the known world of jargon and tech, so long as we can avoid TradeMarks. No Klingons, Jedi, etc., please.
What is gothic fiction?
The same can probably be said for this. Far too often, ’gothic’ is mislabeled as ’horror’. True, gothic fiction often involves vampires, were-wolves, angels, demons, blood, sex, etc. But ’gothic’ is more of an exploration of the darkness that pervades our world. Like sci-fi, these dark creatures are tools for delving into the human condition, the darker half of our psyche. Heroes can come from the darkest places in these tales, and evil-doers are people just like you and me. Immortality and its trappings play the largest role, and remarkably so does romance. These tales are typically set in the here and now, but background stories will be rich with history. Gothic creatures typically have weaknesses, or some can appear godlike. I’d like to see a happy medium here. The stories here should not become, ’let’s slay all of the vampires.’ Even the brightest creatures of the light cast shadows, and they will never be able to destroy all of the darkness. Embrace your fears and you might just learn something.
