Pro-Fun Troll RolePlay Community.... um.... HELP!

[capri0mni]

Okay, I was thinking, the other night, that I'd like to make a clean sweep of pro_fun, change its name to something that makes it clear that it's for a Doctor Who-themed par-tay (to something like "TARDIS_dancefloor" or "TARDIS_hoedown"), and change the layout, settings ... everything. Then, I couldn't find the FAQ for changing a community's name. Then I figured: if I'm changing everything why not just start a whole new community? So that's what I'm going to do.

I'm going to start a new community for the Hoedown roleplay story itself, and keep pro_fun for discussions between roleplay authors -- for the inevitable side discussions on plot developments, and for posting independent spin-off stories, and general comraderie and fellowship in the downtimes between our quasi-annual gatherings.

And then, I thought I'd put the (very general "plot recap" on the community info page, starting with this:

"Driving through a quiet suburban neighborhood one warm May evening, you notice the road ahead is lined with cars of all sizes and shapes. Slowing down for a closer look, you notice that the licence plates are from all over America, Canada, even England and Australia. Oddly, squeezed in between the cars, stand British police boxes, grandfather clocks, pipe organs, and even free-standing doors.

“What the hell is going on, here?” you mutter. ...

So began the very first "Pro-Fun Troll Hoedown," May 24, 2000, on rec.arts.drwho, a usenet newsgroup dedicated to an odd, long since cancelled, British science-fiction television program called Doctor Who.

And from there, I'm stumped. I mean, how much information should I give? I'm assuming, if people come to a LJ Comm with "tardis" in the title, they're probably fans of Doctor Who, already, even if it's only the new incarnation. And I'm thinking it would be helpful for them to know some details of our alternate universe (such as the fact that our TARDIS can pretty much morph into any avatar she chooses, that in our universe, the Valeyard is a good guy, and our resident Time Lord is from ancient Gallifrey), but I don't want to overload the poor, lost, soul curious fan who stumbles in.

And how should I do it? A Dramatis Personae of Recurring Characters? A caption-like synopsis (in two or three sentances) for each of the four previous stories? Or some other method, entirely?

---
Anyway, after that, I'm planning on setting forth the basic ground rules for pro-fun trolling and acceptible community behavior, and include links to other related communities, like: dwcanon_fodder, curse_of_meta, and thistimeround

And... do you have any other suggestions?

Comments

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Helpful links are better than a shitload of info being thrown at someone. I'd recommend a brief rundown of the "main cast" as it were and the first plot. VERY brief.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

:::Nods::: Yeah, after about 4 attempts at writing an umbrella synopsis, I tend to agree.

But I'm wnodering who all should be in the "Main Cast" == Eloise, Florestandrezoreptrizon, Sweetheart, of course, and who else?... Sailor Gallifrey? The Nth Doctor and Silence? A mention of KAiTaS (with a link to Paul G's Site)?

And links to helpful webpages, such as the Doctor Who Index, and the like... I should be in bed. I'm drawing a blank on names.

[scarfman]

Resending for accidentally having commented anonymously the first time

Sailor Gallifrey? The Nth Doctor and Silence? A mention of KAiTaS (with a link to Paul G's Site)?

I think that your set of characters, Alryssa's, and Gordon's (if I'm remembering correctly who are the hoedown-originating triumvirate) rate a paragraph or three of Main Cast description; and the rest of us, in a Supporting Cast section, a sentence of description each that's a link. If I were doing the work, that's what I'd do.

[narm00.livejournal.com]

Hm. I'd suggest, first, a brief explanation of the Hoedown and the intent behind it (as well as the habit of getting involved in universe-saving events), then a brief introduction to the Pro-Fun Trolls (as distinct from the Nasty Trolls), then capsule summaries for Sweetheart, Estrande and Eloise - perhaps Ruthie and Walter too.

If you covered /everyone/ who could count as a main character, it'd be a very long list. I'd suggest simply, well, asking people to submit their own summaries for their characters, and sticking them behind a link (or links) so people can read them as and when.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Good ideas. Seconded.

I was playing more of a randy Mary Sue time lady in the RADW one, wasn't I? Oh dear... knowing how Iris Wildthyme and purple prose irritate Whovians, I shall try to be more careful this time:). Half of RADW probably thought a naughty young Who fangirl was a mythical beast anyway;)...

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Half of RADW probably thought a naughty young Who fangirl was a mythical beast anyway;)...

Maybe they thought so once, but I doubt they think that anymore (though some of them may wish it were so). ;-)

As for being careful -- feh! We tried that, last time, and the result was an unmitigated disaster. We're at our best when we throw caution to the winds.

[scarfman]

That's a better idea than mine.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Right, then...

I'd better get to work, hadn't I?

IIRC, it's Eloise's birthday, coming up. I'll have to check RADW's archives, but I think it's Febuary 5th, 2000. ... Well, maybe not her birthday, 'cause as a magical earth-powers creature, she's probably into her hundreds, but that was her first appearance in my head. I have a distinct feeling that she'd squirm at the idea of being a guest of honor, though.

But still! she's Six Years Old! yikwa!