Machel pointed out, early on, that a simple conversation would take over a month to pursue, if the twice-a-week turns were followed, and suggested an alternative. The alternative worked beautifully, and is now How It’s Done in Equilibrium. Later, I used this as a springboard to speed up the fighting sequences that will undoubtedly occur, and this, too, seems to be working. So, thanks, Machel.
Conversation Mode
Say that Sluggard and Cornelius are in the same room, and are going to talk. They entered the room using the normal turn sequence, saw one another, and posted me their intentions for speaking. I return their actions, and they’ve begun a conversation. So far, they’ve gotten this, out of the normal turn sequence:
Sluggard, slack-jawed and carrying a bucket of water and a mop, enters the janitor’s closet and sees Cornelius reclining on an overstuffed velvet chair, reading. He looks startled for a moment, and says, "Why—hello, Corny." Cornelius marks his place in the book he was reading, A Medicine for Melancholy.
This is where things would bog down, but we apply Machel’s solution ™, and everything is dandy. Sluggard has just spoken, a conversation is obviously about to take place, and the GM will announce that the two of them are in Conversation Mode. Cornelius knows this means he can reply directly to Sluggard, adding a CC to the GM, showing his actions and words in narrative form. He posts:
Cornelius looks at Sluggard coolly. "Don’t call me Corny, you slovenly brute," he says.Since they are in Conversation Mode, Sluggard replies immediately, keeping Cornelius’ post in its entirety and adding his next action. He posts to Cornelius, with the CC to the GM, and they go back and forth like that, responding as quickly as they receive the posts. Eventually, this results in:
> > > >Cornelius looks at Sluggard coolly. "Don’t call me Corny, you slovenly brute," he says.
> > > Sluggard grunts and kicks the ottoman out from under Cornelius’ feet. "I’ll call you what I please."
> > Cornelius sits up, slapping his feet to the floor, and glares at Sluggard. "You’ll treat me civilly, or pay the price."
>"I guess I better pay the price, 'cuz I don't know what 'civilly' means," Sluggard sneers.
Cornelius’ eyes harden, his jaw sets, and he throws his book at Sluggard’s face.
You see how this goes. This method speeds things along, and maintains continuity of the conversation with some ease. This is a good thing. If the conversation becomes so long that the >’s become unwieldy, break it off and start anew. The subject line for these should be "Conversation".
Now the confrontation in the janitor’s closet has reached a point where Conversation Mode is no longer adequate. So we go to - -
Fight Mode
This is similar to Conversation Mode, in that responses should be posted as quickly as one receives new information. The difference is that you will post your responses directly to the GM. When I’ve received a response from everyone in the area, I’ll post the newest sequence of events. In other words, it's pretty much normal turn mode, but at the accelerated rate to expedite the scene The GM or either character may declare Fight Mode. If no one declares it, the GM will when it’s obvious that combat will occur. I won’t declare it if someone is slapping someone else, but…oh, you get the idea. Sluggard posts:
I’ll jerk my head out of the way of the book and throw the bucket of water on him, aiming for the middle of his torso. Then I’ll try to hit him with the mop, right in the kisser.And Cornelius posts - - directly after he posts that he throws his book and Fight Mode is declared:
I’m going to launch myself out of my chair, clawing for Sluggard’s face, screaming, "I’ll scratch your eyes out, see if I don’t!" If that works, I’ll only take out one eye, and if it doesn’t, I’ll stamp my feet while I pound my fists on his chest. And scream in frustration.I’d send back something like:
Sluggard jerks his head out of the books path, and hurls the bucket of dirty water at Cornelius, sloshing some on his own leg from the sudden motion. Cornelius launches himself from the armchair, catching a facefull of smelly water in the process. His hands curled into claws, he reaches for Sluggard’s face, shrieking, "I’ll scratch your eyes out, see if I don’t!"Sluggard, however, has brought the mop to port arms, and brings the mop’s head up under Cornelius’ jaw, driving him back.
Note that not all of the actions requested were enacted; beating on Sluggard’s chest wasn’t reasonable with the mop between them, so I just didn’t return that part. If Cornelius still wishes to try to beat ineffectually on Sluggard’s chest, he needs to put that in his next action request. As soon as the players receive my post, they may respond to it, and I will respond as quickly as I can, once I’ve received actions from both characters involved.
The detail of the requested actions isn't necessary. If you wish, you can say such things as, "I'll hold him back with my sword, giving a little ground if necessary, and look for an opening." That'd be fine; if the battle is a bit dry, I'll throw some detail in myself. So if you're not a fencing master, a black belt, or a world-class wrestler, don't despair, you'll be fine. I do require details if you're going to do something unusual, like distract your opponent with a bucket of water or hit him with a dishmop...you all get it, I'm sure.
Any questions?
