[Hawkeye]

All right, I've noticed discussions about Linear. I'm sure there's discussions about pros and cons of sandbox. So what I'm interested in is what would you all feel about a site that combines in some ways the two. Almost a hybrid.

In this case we'll take sandbox to mean this

Sandbox
An open world where the plot is able to be influenced by member input to the threads. Also where some world building is allowed to create the world - this may be more or less depending on how developed the game is - eg a fandom may have less space to have extensive world building compared to say a full original world.

And linear to mean this

Linear
A world where every action goes towards a predetermined resolution by all characters. The world is already fully built and the game is run by a game master who's job it is to weave a tale to engage the characters roleplaying until the 'end game' point.

So from those descriptions would you say a hybrid of the two systems that allows for a flexible approach to roleplaying would be interesting mechanic to use, and allow for a more efficient use of Fluid Time.

---

As someone who uses this system style on my own site I find that while it's a bit more of a headache to get everything in the 'right' order - considering I also run fluid time - it works. The set up may be slightly different but I find that by using a more linear style in mission where there is a predetermined outcome - which the members don't know the full determined end until they reach it - and Game Mastering, providing the NPCs challenges etc, but otherwise allowing for a world exploration you manage to get the continuation of storylines without taking freedom from the roleplayers themselves.

I also write plot arcs or chapters with multiple outcomes - the current one depends very much on how quickly they find the mole, and realise who the real threat is. The only hint is in its promotional banner of "The Dragon of the East Stirs" which is also the title of this 'chapter'.

So discuss?

[Egao, Egao Everywhere]

Sites generally have a hybrid of their own these days. Elements of a sandbox RP like world building and exploration could easily still have a linear plot.

A good example that I could think of are GM/DM-based Pokemon sites. Characters are free to roam the world and it is their actions that create their own story but it's collaborated by a mod who you do not plot with. It's really sandbox - the site itself has no plot. It's all about being a Pokemon Trainer going on a Pokemon journey. But with the addition of a GM, the process becomes more linear.

I think the hybrid system you cited is similar to that. It's pretty common around GM sites especially mystery sites like Ambidex. Kirbop's been doing that and she's actually the same GM I had in mind about the Pokemon sites I mentioned. She's really good at linear plots while making the story fluid and dynamic. I think that's the challenge in it. From the discussion about linear RPs, it seems many people have never really seen a good one in action.

[Elena]

I would like either a linear plot, or a hybrid one which allows me to write a coherent story, not unrelated separate scenes which are never bound to match into something.

I hate sandbox and I got offended when somebody called my site a sandbox because I considered I have strived hard to make it as little of a sandbox and as much of a coherent story as possible.

It turned out that she was half right (or 1/3) simply because HER definition of a sandbox wasn't exactly mine. She was simply trying to point out that there were sideplots not directly related to the main plot (but they were indirectly related, so my point was true too).