Post by princess on Jun 8, 2011 9:20:55 GMT -7
The process of this is simple, tell your cat's story. Do this however you want: summary, or full fanfic style story with chapters and everything. The choice is yours. It's your cat.
The rules in this board are simple:
I. The cat's tail
1, be true to the site
~ It's been said a few times on here: Nothing is set in stone until it's written down. And it is true. Don't write things that didn't happen. The furthest in time the stories can go is how far in the story they are. You can update as many times as you want, but you can't storytell the future. The closest you can get is your cats hopes of it, or maybe a dream.
2, be courtious to other players
~in relation to rule 1 be careful about what you write about the opinion/motives/actions of other cats that come in contact with your story unless they have no owner. You can write as much as you want about your cat's feelings for them. For example (and purely such): Bluestar can write about how she has a growing affection for both Redtail and Tigerclaw that is becoming hard to ignore. She can also write that Redtail may feel the same way towards her. She cannot write that Tigerclaw does because he has already become Princess's mate and it's not likely he feels much for Bluestar anyway. Princess onthe other hand can write about Tigerclaw liking her because he's already shown that he does.
3, Keep your cat real
~ Common sence on this one: The story of your cat is just so, your cat's story. If (again, example) Skystorm decides to write Skystorm's story telling of how she came to the forest then she can. (plus we already know that it did happen) however the things that happen in the story have to be real. I don't want to see Skystorm take down a bulldozer single pawed ok?
4, watch what the cat does/says
~Keep your stories in the mindset of a cat, just like you would when rping. Even though I said bulldozer a moment ago when Skystorm is running from them she's not going to know much more than big yellow monster. Same goes for terms like 'step-parent' or 'cousin' or when they 'cry' or 'blush' and others. For things like step-parent they are just mates, or possibly parents if the cat accepts the relationship. (ex: Rainpaw doesn't accept Barley as his 'step-father' so he would just be his mother's mate. Silverpaw on the other paw does so he is her parent or father). Anything else: aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. are just kin. And, in my bordom I looked this one up, cats physically can't cry/blush. They can tear, but that is because of a medical condition, not emotional. That kind of goes under #3 but oh well.
5, Keep your cat as it is
~Each cat has it's own story, it's own personality, it's own way of thinking and doing things. The only thing it can't do is rewrite history. Things that have already happened cannot be told as not happening, or happening differently. example: Iceheart can't say his mother is alive and living in a twoleg place because it's already been shown that she is dead and Iceheart always runs off to her grave all the time
6, The case of a Loophole
~~Now here's where things can get a little tricky. In rewriting and retelling history there are always what Graypaw started calling 'loopholes' and they can be confusing unless properly explored. In a loophole there is what is said/done, what is implied, and what is not said/done. The third (not said/done) is essentially what makes it a loophole. Answering the not said/done 'closes' a loophole. In my opinion Graypaw has become an expert of exploiting the loophole as she does it so many times. So far she hasn't used it for serious things in the site, but minor changes in her characters. Loopholes can be used not only to minorly add personality to characters (whether obvious to the reader or not) ordurrasticaly change the plot. I will give an example of each as well as a 'possible' which is a loophole that has not played out.
~~~ simple Loophole example
A simple example of the Loophole is Graypaw's actions towards other cats. In this case particulary Skystorm and Sparrowfligt. We'll go through this in the steps i mentioned earlier:
1. What is said:
~Graypaw has never seemed to like Skystorm. He doesn't do much with her and, contrast to the books, has shown that he does not like so many outsiders in the clan.
~After Sparrowflight is cat-napped by leaf he yells at Skystorm.
2. What is implied
~Graypaw yelled at Skystorm because he does not like her in the clan.
3. What is not said/done
~In this example Graypaw never explained why he yelled at Skystorm when he did. He just did and she left. Because of this the implication is left. Therefore the 'why' is not said. The 'why' is what makes this a loophole.
4. closing the loophole
~after Sparrowflight is rescued he reveals that he yelled at Skystorm because he was worried about Sparrowflight. this is the first time (as far as the site goes) that he's shown any sign of effection for Sparrowflight, but he shows others as time passes.
~~~~complex Loophole example
Of course we'll visit the most dramatic loophole senerio the site has so far: Iceheart killing deadfoot. Complex loopholes combine many 'not knows' as well as 'implied' information. Also we get sort of complicated information that blends between categories. In this case that info is called a lie
1: known
~Raccoonpaw is Falcontail's kit (duh)
~Iceheart just became Riverclan's deputy, however in the past most of the clan does not trust him
~Raccoonpaw wants to be leader
~Falcontail does not like his kits
~Raccoonpaw wants to impress his father
~Raccoonpaw is a known thief and not trusted by most of Thunderclan
~Iceheart is trying to be good to all cats and help when he can
~Raccoonpaw runs to Riverclan and finds Iceheart and tells him that Deadfoot is attacking his father.
~Iceheart helps and fights Deadfoot, killing him
~Raccoonpaw goes to Windclan saying Iceheart is attacking.
2, what is implied
~Because what Raccoonpaw says, that Deadfoot is attacking Falcontail, then at this point it is implied knowledge just as much as givin. at this point we truly believe this is what's happening even though it hasn't been seen yet. Also, everything about what actually happened is what Raccoonpaw says meaning it has full potential to be a lie (which it was) and thus can be implied (which it is), but his memory doesn't show what really happened at this point.
~Raccoonpaw's final story is the most believable. Thanks to #3 category, most cat's havn't believed Iceheart over Raccoonpaw at this point.
3, What is not seen/done
~At the time it was not said why racccoonpaw did what he did without it being a lie.
~In Raccoonpaw's memory Falcontail says that Loudbelly, Stonefur, and Iceheart are going on a hunting patrol the next day. How?
4, closed?
~The first part of the implied is answered and as readers we know why Raccoonpaw did what he did, through a flashback that shows that the event was planned secretly between Falcontail and Raccoonpaw who are closer than they let the clan see. But because of the relationship they present of Falcontail hating his kits the other cats at this point, except Iceheart partially understands, do not.
~currently the second part has not been answered. How Falcontail managed to know what he did about Riverclan's patrols is still open and unanswered.
~~~~Possible loophole
A possible loophole is one that could be small, or complex, but hasn't compltly come to the light yet. A possible example we could use is what was mentioned before: Iceheart's mother. Because she is a kin to an OC pretty much anything could happen with her
1 Known
~Iceheart like his mom
~goes to her grave a lot and doesn't tell cats where he's gon
2, implied
~Iceheart's mother is dead
3, not known
~What I have not seen anywhere in the forum is how Iceheart's mother died.
4, closed
~because we never see the event happen, through Iceheart remembering either it or someone telling him what happened this loophole has not been closed. It is quite possible that Iceheart was not there/was not told or simply that Skystorm hasn't thought up a story for her death. It is highly possible that she was captured by Twolegs and Princess is going to find her somewhere . . . That's Skystorm's playing grounds.
The world of Loopholes can be really cool, or confusing when looked at it from this angle I know. It gets easier as you use them, subcontiously or not. back to the rules part of the thread.
II. Keeping you tail straight
1, one cat per thread
~The thread you make is about the cat in it. I can't make a story about both Princess and Raccoonpaw. They both need their own threads.
2, don't post in other's threads
~That's not your cat. Don't add your own comments or things like that. Let the player tell the story of their own cat from start to finish without inturption.
~~The only exception to this is if you are a certain cat and they portrayed your cat doing something you think they would not do. Like, if Brookenstar's story included a portion about Tallpoppy running away and stealing Thunderclan kits to impress him then yes, Skystorm can have her say in it.
I think that's all for now. I know the loophole part got long and probably confusing, but once I started explaining it I just went with it. Should probably start something about loopholing . . . man I'm so easily distracted . . . Anyway, those are the rules for now on the story telling board. It really looks like more than it is when you think about it. but as always, nothing's solid at this point. Things can be edited to make things smoother in the long run.
The rules in this board are simple:
I. The cat's tail
1, be true to the site
~ It's been said a few times on here: Nothing is set in stone until it's written down. And it is true. Don't write things that didn't happen. The furthest in time the stories can go is how far in the story they are. You can update as many times as you want, but you can't storytell the future. The closest you can get is your cats hopes of it, or maybe a dream.
2, be courtious to other players
~in relation to rule 1 be careful about what you write about the opinion/motives/actions of other cats that come in contact with your story unless they have no owner. You can write as much as you want about your cat's feelings for them. For example (and purely such): Bluestar can write about how she has a growing affection for both Redtail and Tigerclaw that is becoming hard to ignore. She can also write that Redtail may feel the same way towards her. She cannot write that Tigerclaw does because he has already become Princess's mate and it's not likely he feels much for Bluestar anyway. Princess onthe other hand can write about Tigerclaw liking her because he's already shown that he does.
3, Keep your cat real
~ Common sence on this one: The story of your cat is just so, your cat's story. If (again, example) Skystorm decides to write Skystorm's story telling of how she came to the forest then she can. (plus we already know that it did happen) however the things that happen in the story have to be real. I don't want to see Skystorm take down a bulldozer single pawed ok?
4, watch what the cat does/says
~Keep your stories in the mindset of a cat, just like you would when rping. Even though I said bulldozer a moment ago when Skystorm is running from them she's not going to know much more than big yellow monster. Same goes for terms like 'step-parent' or 'cousin' or when they 'cry' or 'blush' and others. For things like step-parent they are just mates, or possibly parents if the cat accepts the relationship. (ex: Rainpaw doesn't accept Barley as his 'step-father' so he would just be his mother's mate. Silverpaw on the other paw does so he is her parent or father). Anything else: aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. are just kin. And, in my bordom I looked this one up, cats physically can't cry/blush. They can tear, but that is because of a medical condition, not emotional. That kind of goes under #3 but oh well.
5, Keep your cat as it is
~Each cat has it's own story, it's own personality, it's own way of thinking and doing things. The only thing it can't do is rewrite history. Things that have already happened cannot be told as not happening, or happening differently. example: Iceheart can't say his mother is alive and living in a twoleg place because it's already been shown that she is dead and Iceheart always runs off to her grave all the time
6, The case of a Loophole
~~Now here's where things can get a little tricky. In rewriting and retelling history there are always what Graypaw started calling 'loopholes' and they can be confusing unless properly explored. In a loophole there is what is said/done, what is implied, and what is not said/done. The third (not said/done) is essentially what makes it a loophole. Answering the not said/done 'closes' a loophole. In my opinion Graypaw has become an expert of exploiting the loophole as she does it so many times. So far she hasn't used it for serious things in the site, but minor changes in her characters. Loopholes can be used not only to minorly add personality to characters (whether obvious to the reader or not) ordurrasticaly change the plot. I will give an example of each as well as a 'possible' which is a loophole that has not played out.
~~~ simple Loophole example
A simple example of the Loophole is Graypaw's actions towards other cats. In this case particulary Skystorm and Sparrowfligt. We'll go through this in the steps i mentioned earlier:
1. What is said:
~Graypaw has never seemed to like Skystorm. He doesn't do much with her and, contrast to the books, has shown that he does not like so many outsiders in the clan.
~After Sparrowflight is cat-napped by leaf he yells at Skystorm.
2. What is implied
~Graypaw yelled at Skystorm because he does not like her in the clan.
3. What is not said/done
~In this example Graypaw never explained why he yelled at Skystorm when he did. He just did and she left. Because of this the implication is left. Therefore the 'why' is not said. The 'why' is what makes this a loophole.
4. closing the loophole
~after Sparrowflight is rescued he reveals that he yelled at Skystorm because he was worried about Sparrowflight. this is the first time (as far as the site goes) that he's shown any sign of effection for Sparrowflight, but he shows others as time passes.
~~~~complex Loophole example
Of course we'll visit the most dramatic loophole senerio the site has so far: Iceheart killing deadfoot. Complex loopholes combine many 'not knows' as well as 'implied' information. Also we get sort of complicated information that blends between categories. In this case that info is called a lie
1: known
~Raccoonpaw is Falcontail's kit (duh)
~Iceheart just became Riverclan's deputy, however in the past most of the clan does not trust him
~Raccoonpaw wants to be leader
~Falcontail does not like his kits
~Raccoonpaw wants to impress his father
~Raccoonpaw is a known thief and not trusted by most of Thunderclan
~Iceheart is trying to be good to all cats and help when he can
~Raccoonpaw runs to Riverclan and finds Iceheart and tells him that Deadfoot is attacking his father.
~Iceheart helps and fights Deadfoot, killing him
~Raccoonpaw goes to Windclan saying Iceheart is attacking.
2, what is implied
~Because what Raccoonpaw says, that Deadfoot is attacking Falcontail, then at this point it is implied knowledge just as much as givin. at this point we truly believe this is what's happening even though it hasn't been seen yet. Also, everything about what actually happened is what Raccoonpaw says meaning it has full potential to be a lie (which it was) and thus can be implied (which it is), but his memory doesn't show what really happened at this point.
~Raccoonpaw's final story is the most believable. Thanks to #3 category, most cat's havn't believed Iceheart over Raccoonpaw at this point.
3, What is not seen/done
~At the time it was not said why racccoonpaw did what he did without it being a lie.
~In Raccoonpaw's memory Falcontail says that Loudbelly, Stonefur, and Iceheart are going on a hunting patrol the next day. How?
4, closed?
~The first part of the implied is answered and as readers we know why Raccoonpaw did what he did, through a flashback that shows that the event was planned secretly between Falcontail and Raccoonpaw who are closer than they let the clan see. But because of the relationship they present of Falcontail hating his kits the other cats at this point, except Iceheart partially understands, do not.
~currently the second part has not been answered. How Falcontail managed to know what he did about Riverclan's patrols is still open and unanswered.
~~~~Possible loophole
A possible loophole is one that could be small, or complex, but hasn't compltly come to the light yet. A possible example we could use is what was mentioned before: Iceheart's mother. Because she is a kin to an OC pretty much anything could happen with her
1 Known
~Iceheart like his mom
~goes to her grave a lot and doesn't tell cats where he's gon
2, implied
~Iceheart's mother is dead
3, not known
~What I have not seen anywhere in the forum is how Iceheart's mother died.
4, closed
~because we never see the event happen, through Iceheart remembering either it or someone telling him what happened this loophole has not been closed. It is quite possible that Iceheart was not there/was not told or simply that Skystorm hasn't thought up a story for her death. It is highly possible that she was captured by Twolegs and Princess is going to find her somewhere . . . That's Skystorm's playing grounds.
The world of Loopholes can be really cool, or confusing when looked at it from this angle I know. It gets easier as you use them, subcontiously or not. back to the rules part of the thread.
II. Keeping you tail straight
1, one cat per thread
~The thread you make is about the cat in it. I can't make a story about both Princess and Raccoonpaw. They both need their own threads.
2, don't post in other's threads
~That's not your cat. Don't add your own comments or things like that. Let the player tell the story of their own cat from start to finish without inturption.
~~The only exception to this is if you are a certain cat and they portrayed your cat doing something you think they would not do. Like, if Brookenstar's story included a portion about Tallpoppy running away and stealing Thunderclan kits to impress him then yes, Skystorm can have her say in it.
I think that's all for now. I know the loophole part got long and probably confusing, but once I started explaining it I just went with it. Should probably start something about loopholing . . . man I'm so easily distracted . . . Anyway, those are the rules for now on the story telling board. It really looks like more than it is when you think about it. but as always, nothing's solid at this point. Things can be edited to make things smoother in the long run.