Epistolatory (sp?) novels

[hobbitomm]

I had an odd thought, whilst driving (yeah- I get those). I've always quite liked the victorian style of the epistolatory novel- where the story is told by journal entries, letters between protagonists, and even, in one case, a phonograph recording.

I think it might also be suitable for a form of RP- shared world fiction, if you like. So, my question becomes this..... if I were to write an epistle, to start off a story (probably in a seperate LJ, to reduce spammage for folks), would others also be interested in selecting their own character, and continuing the tale?

Comments

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

Maybe - I'd certainly be interested in reading it :)

[copperbird.livejournal.com]

I'll go with maybe :) I've tried to run games like this but it was hard to keep people's interest.

[bexfiles.livejournal.com]

What was the name of that RPG that was written for just these occasions?

[copperbird.livejournal.com]

Oh good call. De Profundis. I think that is intended for very Cthulhu like letter writing games, where it gets more sinister over time.

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

That's the sort of thing I'm thinking of. Go for it, ladies of my Hearts!

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Aah, so you'll be wanting to start a PBeM game them. Play By eMail. Check it out (http://www.pbem-portal.com/), it's big stuff. There are scads more sites to be found just a google search away :)

I'd certainly be interested to read it, but with my track record of letter-writing I can't imagine I'd be any good for a full campaign, so I'll say no to participating.

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Darn, and there was me pencilling you in as the lost innocent, abroad in a city of wickedness! (tm).

Feel free to give it a go with an occasional entry if you fancy it

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Feel free to give it a go with an occasional entry if you fancy it

Well, then, I shall keep an open mind :)

[goncalves.livejournal.com]

Id be interested, but I dont know if I have enough time for a full campaign. Any time I've gotten into a play be e-mail game at some point I've been distracted away from it long enough that too much had gone on when i got back.

Id love to read it though

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

As I've generally pointed out, people can post as rarely as they like

[bexfiles.livejournal.com]

Interested.. but with a MASSIVE disclaimer. I haven't RPed, or written anything in years. Literally.

[anthraxia.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd love to. But it would be useful to have a very rough outline of where you want the story to go. Sort of "wew start here at point a and at some point we need to get to point d, taking in points b & c along the way".
General theme and game rules are good too - Victoriana Steam Punk with goblins, elves et al, no making the Royal Family half-orks, no blowing up the USA without a good excuse, magic is optional but you still can't violate the Laws of Physics - type thing.
At the very least, it would be a challenge.

[ormsweird.livejournal.com]

Isn't any excuse good for blowing up the USA? I mean they do it to everyone else!

*hides*

[scrivener13.livejournal.com]

No kidding! I always love telling people that during the War of 1812 (between Canada and the States) we really enjoyed burning down the Whitehouse!!!! It's historical fact and they really hate it.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, what I was thinking was Steam-noir, rather than Steam-punk. Super-technology/magic possibly, but shrouded to our protagonists. Supernatural possible, but shrouded to our protagonists. Generally, in fact, it's a mystery novel. And I'm keen that people could be able to contribute rarely, if they chose- eg,


Letter, Colonel Mustard to Miss Euphemia Scarlett, from on board the troop ship 'Artifice', off Madras, 18th February, 1874.

My dear Euphemia,

This is the last chance I shall have to write whilst there is still time for my letter to arrive, via fast-steam-frigate before my own troop ship arrives, by way of the Cape. I can therefore write to you of the events of the last few weeks, and my experiences at the Temple of the One Eyed Yellow God!......."


And so on.

[loupblanc.livejournal.com]

What, like roleplaying without a GM? ;)

[(Anonymous)]

Very much so!

And without an overall plot!

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun!

Welcome back to teh IntaWebs, and welcome to The (outskirts of the) Conurbation, and hope to be seeing you?

[camele0pard.livejournal.com]

I like the idea, but I'm not sure my English is good enough. Or if I have enough time...

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Yer English is better than mine! Sounds like you're in ;)

Time is.... well.... occasional posts is cool!

[ggreig]

Realistically I don't have time, but have done something like this before. New Jerusalem continued after the fold of the face-to-face game as a collaborative fiction.

Even if everyone starts off interested, as was the case with NJ, it is easy for it to run into sand as you wait for each other to do something. Give it a go by all means, and I hope it's a success - but be prepared for it to fail.

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Oh, based on my own experiences (I posted one of the last 'Sundown' shared world fictions) I find these things do go crunch. On the _other_ hand, I have read a novel which started this way- rather a fun one, by Steven Brust and Emma Bull

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

I'm certainly game for this. I've done quite a lot of RP by email and would definitely like to do some more.

[hislady-malthus.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd definitely be interested. Used to do this with another from of mine, also "oddly" from the UK. We never did finish the "game/story". But it was fun while it lasted.

[scrivener13.livejournal.com]

That would be fun. Count me in.

[spenceraloysius.livejournal.com]

This is also known as playing the Letter Game. I would be interested in participating, depending on the genre. If you wish to write in the Victorian style/era, you may wish to check out Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Oh? Book?

[spenceraloysius.livejournal.com]

Yup, its a book. Actually, the first in a series of three. The other two are: The Grand Tour and The Mislaid Magician. Young adult fiction, so a very fast read.