Threads

They're called Threads, the most basic structure of game-play. Each thread ties all posts related to a specific subject/action/plot together. You follow a thread to follow one particular plotline. Together, threads add up to the game-story.

You identify individual threads by title...that's where the fun comes in.

Some titles are place-holders. They tell you where you are physically in the game. Some of these include the names of the characters currently included inside a thread. Like At the Warehouse - you know the location. At the Warehouse--Inside split the action to keep confusion down - some of the characters were interacting inside, others outside. Another place-holder is Market Day. Gives players information & is also a subtle invitation to come & play inside this thread if your character is at loose ends.

Some titles relate to specific characters. For example, Worm's Dream was simply what occurred to this character & was a single-post thread. Stranger at the Mall ran for many posts & played out the experiences of a new character (Tori) as she started interacting in a single place. Island Life is a bit broader; it involves one player's multiple characters & their journey from their island home into the heart of the game's storyline.

When a character-thread is being built & isn't ready to have others come inside, that thread may be closed. The most recent in-game example of this is Hopeless, marked as "Closed to Chyna." When that thread is ready for others to participate, the "closed" notice will come off & other characters can choose to interact if they want. (A cardinal sin of game-playing would be to violate the "closed" sign & have your character barge in on an unready thread. Our players are very good at honoring "closed" signs--thanks guys!)

Other titles are like the names of chapters in a book. These are the creative ones, the ones that describe or tease you with just a few words that point to the essence of what's happening inside the thread. These are also the hard ones! (Got any idea how hard it is to distill the essence of a plotline into just a few words?) Some examples . . .

= Moth. Flames. - Girl character drawn to bad boy. Will she get burned?

= Tortured Confessions - Self-explanatory. Torture. Truth. Pain.

= Broken Promises - People who make promises they can't possibly keep, and what happens when they try to make good on them.

= Coming Home - This one's kinda fun. The grand opening of a new bar in town named "Home." Invites others to join in & play along.

So now you know about Threads. Time to create one of your own?

. Chyna