Juliann says, "Coming up Next, Brody will speak about Other SPace MUSH. In the other Hall we will have XXA on Graphical Mapping Systems."

Juliann goes down the few steps to the seating area.

Juliann comes down the few steps from the stage.

Kingpin says, "Q:"

Kingpin says, "What is Graphical Mapping Systems?"

Brody carefully walks up the narrow stairs to the stage.

Brody smiles and shuffles through his index cards.

Kingpin wows at all the people he knows from TrekMUSHes. :)

Juliann asks for silence, please.

Yosh grins

Kingpin nods

Brody says, "Can everyone here me?"

Brody says, "Hear even?"

Kingpin nods

Brody grins

Trispis nods.

Yosh nods

Brody says, "Okay, sorry about that. Malfunction in the audio factory."

Brody grins

Brody says, "Thanks for coming. My name is Wes Platt - online I'm known as Gavalin Brody - and I'm the creator of the theme for an evolving roleplaying environment called OtherSpace. It operates on the Pennmush platform and just last week opened for players on a 24 hr./7 day basis. You may wonder just what makes OtherSpace so innovative that it has me standing here in the virtual world, pitching it to you. Well, that's why I am here: To explain just that."

Brody says, "First, it is probably important to explain what we're not. We're not a MUD, where players come to slay skeletons or rabid fidos. We're not a typical MU** based on an existing work such as Star Trek, Star Wars or Babylon 5. We're not a netsex parlor. We're not a playerkilling arena. We're not a virtual fiefdom where out-of-character power struggles reign supreme. So - that brings us to the big question: What the heck are we?"

Brody says, "OtherSpace is a story brought to life in an original science fiction universe. The players are the main and peripheral characters. If we're doing things right, our players will feel like they are living a science fiction show, participating as events unfold. They key difference that I believe sets OtherSpace apart from other online roleplaying games is the use of story arcs, a la Babylon 5. We've got six large story arcs - plots that will sweep OtherSpace along over time - that will impact players in three factions - the human-centered Stellar Consortium, the renegades of the Fringe and the reptiloid-dominated Parallax."

Brody says, "Does the application of story arcs eliminate the possibility of spontaneous or random roleplaying without a script? Not at all. In fact, the only people who see the script for the *big* arc are the directors - and we have to be as flexible as writers on a TV show must be. Actors come and actors go - sometimes you have to write them out of the script. Sometimes you have to toss the script and improvise. And we're not *always* going to have something happening from the large arc - which means that while the big events will draw the most participation, our meat and potatoes is going to be spontaneous RP on a daily basis among players."

Brody says, "OtherSpace is about roleplaying for the fun of it. For me, it's a chance to render the portrait of a universe of my creation on a virtual canvas. For players, it's an opportunity to assume the roles of characters in an evolving story in a new world - wondering what twists and turns await them."

Brody says, "Now that I've covered, generally, what OtherSpace is about, I'll tell you about the people who have helped me bring it to life. Some are friends of mine in real life - others have become friends through online interaction on other MU**es. Jamie, who has probably forgotten more about coding than I'll ever learn, made it possible for us to go online with his knowledge of Linux, Pennmush and MUSH coding. Kalouri, our roleplaying director, is the conductor driving the story train. Abersol is the director of the Consortium. Beaudreaux is the director of the Fringe. Dolfan is the director of the Parallax. I'd like to thank them - and their admins - for getting us open for business."

Brody says, "I'd like to thank you for your time and attention, and to invite you and your friends to OtherSpace to check us out. The web page is otherspace.home.mindspring.com. The MUSH is at Otherspace.dyn.ml.org 1790. Feel free to send e-mail to me at gavalinb@hotmail.com. I'll now entertain any questions you might have."

Brody looks toward Saidar. "I think you had a hand up :)"

Saidar says, "Do you have any tips, based on your experience, for admin who would like to consider adding story arcs to their games?"

Dybs @@@

Brody says, "Be flexible. Have a destination in mind for the story, but be ready to bob and weave at any time. I have a general idea where the story will begin, climax and end. But the *players* are going to determine just how that course goes. I have to roll with those punches, which is where the fun comes for me. It forces me to be creative and nurse the story along in its evolution. I think arcs are a great idea for giving a framework - a big picture - to the game."

Brody nods to Trispis. "Your question?"

Trispis says, "Do you welcome 'lesser experienced players'? (M*U*S*H and 101 in particular often have people inquiring about places to RP.)"

Brody says, "We welcome any and all players, so long as they come to RP within the parameters of the universe we've created. If you are just starting out in MU**ing, that's great. The people who are helping me run OtherSpace are mainly experienced RPers who can help newbies along. The more, the merrier."

Brody says, "Kingpin, you were next."

Kingpin says, "Babylon 5 is a show that is planned to go for five seasons and then end, like a novel. You said that your MUSH was based on six story arcs a la Babylon 5. Does this mean your MUSH will shutdown after a point, restart an entirely new story, or will you start creating more story arcs? Also, what space are you running?"

Brody smiles. "I hope we don't shut down after six. I'd like to go on forever. I started with six just so I would have stories in the hopper for the next year or two. I'll write more. And space is currently down - we are RPing *that* too, which is fun - but we use PSE 0.9.12."

Brody nods to Dybs. "You had your hand up."

Dybs rises

Dybs says, "How many people are regularly involved in running this?"

Dybs sits

Brody smiles. "We have three *empires*, with a director in each responsible for overseeing building, recruiting and day to day ops. They've got a couple of admins helping them build. We have three system directors - myself included - who handle everything from systemwide code bugs to registration to outline writing for plots."

Brody says, "If there are no other questions, thanks again, and thanks to the folks at M*U*S*H for inviting me here. I'll be around later for more questions."

Brody smiles

Brody goes down the few steps to the seating area.

Brody comes down the few steps from the stage.

Juliann says, "Thank you, Brody, for that informative speech. Well everyone, we're going to have a break in this room for the next twenty minutes. You're welcome to go to the other Hall where Fulcrum will be speaking on Space Systems. I do ask that if you just want to hang out and chat that you do so in the lobby, as it will make it easier for us to resume order in here when it is time to begin again."