Define Cynical Fan Forums

A while back, in <a href='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... st&p=52595' target='_blank'>this post</a>, DCS mentioned that the beginning may not be the best place for a reader to start. That they could understand the strip faster if they were given a few key storylines. Well, I was thinking that this would be a good thing to do. I was considering doing this, but ran into an issue. I do not consider myself to know what is best for the new readers.<br><br>So, I would like to ask what storylines would be best to orient new readers. Remember that this should not be a long list, as the goal is to quicly familiarize the readers.<br><br>Here are my thoughts:<ul><li><a href='http://www.abort-retry-ignore.net/ozyan ... tm#1998-06' target='_blank'>Llewellyn Revealed</a></li><li><a href='http://www.abort-retry-ignore.net/ozyan ... tm#2000-07' target='_blank'>Dragon Family Reunion - Part II</a></li><li><a href='http://www.abort-retry-ignore.net/ozyan ... tm#2002-09' target='_blank'>Millie's Father</a></li></ul><br>I am also considering putting in the <a href='http://www.ozyandmillie.org/cast.html' target='_blank'>Cast page</a>, and also a page describing the recurring jokes, such as the Zen references.<br><br>(If you need help with the storylines, <a href='http://www.abort-retry-ignore.net/ozyan ... oryarc.htm' target='_blank'>use the Story Archive</a>.)<br><br><br>Also, if you have any other suggestions, let me know.

That's a pretty good idea, as most new readers don't have the time to read every single strip in the archive just to get aquainted with the strip and it's characters.<br>As for the best storylines for newcomers, i would reccomend ones that help introduce characters, and ones that don't use too many recurring jokes or refer to other strips.

i was hooked with the early strips actually because they really reminded me of Calvin and Hobbes.<br><br>I'd say you should read the original Locke strips before suddenly clicking a link and finding a kid on a pirate ship who for some reason is Millie's father.

<!--QuoteBegin-Dr. Dos+Jan 6 2005, 09:09 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Dr. Dos @ Jan 6 2005, 09:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I'd say you should read the original Locke strips before suddenly clicking a link and finding a kid on a pirate ship who for some reason is Millie's father.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>Hm. Good point. That <i>would</i> be confusing to the uninformed.

I'd not choose that storyline for an introduction either because it was great and suprising to find out Locke was her father. You didn't suspect it until that story and it could be a nice mystery resolved for new readers. If you put it in an introduction they'll know about it all along.

Hum, I still think the beginning is the best place to start <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

<!--QuoteBegin-Jacob+Jan 7 2005, 05:08 AM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Jacob @ Jan 7 2005, 05:08 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I'd not choose that storyline for an introduction either because it was great and suprising to find out Locke was her father. You didn't suspect it until that story and it could be a nice mystery resolved for new readers. If you put it in an introduction they'll know about it all along. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>Good point. This may take some rethinking. I'm not entirely sure storylines are the way to go.

You know, incidentally, if you guys come up with a good new reader guide thingy, I *will* use it on the main site.<br><br>I think this is one of those issues where the hard core fans might know better than me. <!--emo&:ph34r:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /ph34r.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ph34r.gif' /><!--endemo-->

spooky.<br><br>The way I see it, you need a storyline for each character... Although maybe if you're pressed for space, you could leave out Jeremy and Felicia, they're kinda self-explainitory, but I wouldn't reccomend that, even though I just did.<br><br>spooky.

hi =) When I read it new, I read it from start to finish so easily. It was a little harder to get into at the start, but after Ozy's dad was introduced and things just followed stories instead of seperate cute little scenes, it was a lot easier to get into. There are a few things that could probably be skipped over without missing anything important, but even before Milly first sees Llewellin's shadow, you get a feeling about what she's about, and it makes how she reacts to him even more satisfying. I think if they get that far, you'll have them hooked and they're going to read the whole thing like I did anyway. A new reader guide might actually rob a new reader of so much good stuff. You'd have them skipping around and they might not know where they stopped and started again and forget to read the in-between later. That's just what I think, as a kinda but not quite new reader.

I understand what you're saying there. The main reason for doing this (well, what I feel is the reason at least) is because some people may not have the time or the patience to read through close to 1500 strips. <i>ESEPECIALLY</i> if they're on dial-up.<br><br>I'm still working on sketching out this site. It has to be done very, <i>very</i> carefully. It needs to give the reader basic information about the strip so that they can understand the current strip 90% of the time. However, it also must be balanced so that if they decide to read the archives, the storylines will not have been spoiled for them. It's a very elaborate balancing act. Similar to holding a ball aloft with one finger.<br><br>I should have some basic rough draft up by around Tuesday for you people to comment on. But no promises.

Another possibility is like the <a href='http://www.newshounds.com/intro.html' target='_blank'>Newshounds intro</a>, starting with a simple written introduction and going into a short visual one. Although how much this could be applied to Ozy and Millie I'm not too sure. Perhaps Ozy's arriving at school could be held as a starting point if an intro of this sort is made.

<!--QuoteBegin-GhostWay+Jan 8 2005, 01:40 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (GhostWay @ Jan 8 2005, 01:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I understand what you're saying there. The main reason for doing this (well, what I feel is the reason at least) is because some people may not have the time or the patience to read through close to 1500 strips. <i>ESPECIALLY</i> if they're on dial-up. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> Well, you could download the archives one by one, then when the first year was ready, I'd extract it and started reading while I let the other years download. That way I really only had to wait for the first year to download, and a year is only a few megabytes, so it required waiting maybe 10 minutes at most.<br><br>This reminds me I have to download the 2004 strips.

PROJECT UPDATE:<br><br>I decided it would be ungood to use storylines. Instead, I'm going to use a few strips that capture the essence of the particular character. I could very well get these from the first few years, but I'm also going to try and find a few in the more "modern" style. I might also see if I could find a few extended strips.<br><br>

<!--QuoteBegin-GhostWay+Jan 10 2005, 12:36 AM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (GhostWay @ Jan 10 2005, 12:36 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I decided it would be ungood to use storylines. Instead, I'm going to use a few strips that capture the essence of the particular character. I could very well get these from the first few years, but I'm also going to try and find a few in the more "modern" style. I might also see if I could find a few extended strips. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> I think that's a very good call.<br><br>I think I've written some good storylines and some less-good ones, but the truth is I consider myself a better writer of individual strips than of overarching storylines. I also think a new reader is more likely to stick around if you can make him/her at home in the O&M universe with as much brevity as possible.