Common Ground

Hey Guys.

I've got a problem.

It seems to me that there is a deep fucking divide in this goddamn forum. None of us have any fucking common ground.

We can't just be here for pixel comics anymore. Nobody is doing them! Nobody gives a shit anymore! Which is why I keep saying we have to try to be "friends," as stupid as that sounds.

You know what I have in common with you people?

Definitely not sprite comics.

The only reason I'm here is because I have good friends here.

A community of likeminded and united individuals will be strong enough to take care of itself and attract other individuals.

So here's a question for the Pixel Pagoda:

What can we do to find some common ground between all of us now that pixel comics are dead?

Does seething misanthropic hatred of all life count as common ground?

That's a good one.

No I'm serious.

:D

Yes it could, I guess.

There's about three things that I see as vague commonalities: a lot of the members are fans of anime, video games, and sprite comics.

I don't know anything about anime but I like video games and sprite comics. So do plenty of people.

So we've got three good things that bind us all together right? That's a good start.

Now here's a question.

Say a video game forum falls on hard times, having trouble keeping membership up, etc. What would this theoretical forum do?

In my belief, nothing. Since the members still at the forum will still like Video games, sprite comics, and anime even if the forum were to close.

What I'm trying to say is that we can't just focus on having loads of amazing content if there's too few people around to really appreciate it. I seriously doubt that if someone were to "start" updating their comic again that there would be very much of a to-do about it.

Which is why I'm grasping for different ways to get things back together. Maybe if we tried actually being a community we'd have more luck.

The problem is there's a lot a video game forum can do as a community, since alot of video games are multiplayer. For example, if the Pagoda focused on video games, we could easily form guilds on MMO's or set up tournaments in an FPS. Sprite comics by nature are usually a solo affair. It's difficult to transition a bunch of antisocial sprite comickers into doing community activities. Our RP section failed, and aside from a handful of Smash Bros. sessions, community gaming hasn't really taken off her either.

Rave, you say if we tried actually being a community we'd have more luck. I agree. However, our all our previous attempts have flopped. So if you have some genius ideas on how we go about that, I'm all ears.

EDIT: I just thought of 2 suggestions.

First, possibly some kind of shared sprite comic? Something like, one person makes a page, then passes it off to another, and so on, organically developing the plot as it progresses.

Second, I know there's alot of free MMO's out there, and alot offer guild-type play. I'm going to DL and try some and see if a few are any good. If so, we can set up Pixel Pagoda guilds.

This post has been edited by robertllynch on Jan 27 2009, 05:09 PM

I've been toying with the idea of organizing an anthology project that would feature works from selected sprite comic artists (may or may not include those found outside of the Pagoda). Each author would submit a completely independent short story in comic format, with each comic following a predetermined theme (ie. desperate revenge, crushing hopelessness, dawning horror, etc.). Each author would have total freedom in how they want to approach their segment.

Would anyone be willing to participate in something like this? If so, I'd be happy to create a separate topic to organize the details.

Astro Empires is a pretty kick-ass MMO, and it plays right in your browser. I'm in server Ceti if anyone is interested.

I'd be willing to work on some kind of sprite comic anthology.

As for MMO's, I'm DL-ing Anarchy Online now; I'll give my recommendation on it in a few days.

Spritescaper: I gotta say, that's a great idea. So an independent kinda story thing? That sounds great. I'd be very willing to throw my two cents into that.

And while I'm not a big fan of online MMOs anymore I might think about jumping on Astro Empires if I get some spare time.


As for the RP section, I DO Still host a DnD game on Saturdays, I just don't post results anymore.

But I suppose that's completely different from forum RP. I was actually toying with ways to jump start the RP section, since I have the most experience with that kind of stuff (Having run an RP forum for a few years in the past). And I have been toying with a new Pen and Paper game that I've been writing. Of course, I probably wouldn't run the game on the forum (Unless I wanted to spend all my time running it on the forum). But I do need to design a detailed storyline for it and I think I could work what I've got so far into a decent RP.

It would help me write my game AND get some good RP in as well. I'll just need some time to get it together.

I think I'll work on it some then pitch the idea soon.

Spritescaper's idea is intriguing, <pessimist> though like all our past attempts at community projects, it will probably fail miserably. Doesn't hurt to try, I guess. </pessimist>

I know Sgtlion and Lukki both play that. I really don't have the time or the computer required for an MMO. Also, I hate MMOs.... I'll probably end up playing anyway...

The community sprite comic idea sounds pretty good. Reminded me of the battle of the strippers I'm currently doing, although slightly different.

As for MMOs, I recall people trying several of those with not much success. Although, like Meeko said, I have been playing Anarchy Online for a good while now (several years, I lost count after the third). If you need help with that, I'd be happy to be of assistance.

~Lukki

Community sprite comic sounds cool, it just needs someone to organize it. Perhaps we could do one on a regular basis or something? Even if it was something like every year.

MMOs, they might work, but I'm not sure they'd bring us together. I don't see it working because it's trying to make us something we're not. This community is of sprite comic artists and sprite comic readers, I'm guessing few of them are actually people with the time to play an MMO. I do play AO as well as Lukki, but I'm not sure it'll work too well.

Sounds like another YCM.

There's the n00bs and "popular" idiots on one side, and the intelligent assholes on the other.

No one gives two shits about the card maker, they just argue all day.

Actually, we're a pretty close community.
We have no large divides or rifts.
We kinda stick together.
That's why we were trying to find some common ground.
I think things are getting back on track with the new RP and the influx of new blood.

New members are always an important asset in keeping a community alive as it rekindles discussion and strengthens bonds. Getting those members can be an issue at times, but through word of mouth and being linked on various sites, a forum can grow and thrive.