I was thinking about the idea for the next contest I give as Tully, and I wanted to poll people here a bit to see if it would be worthwhile. This would be more or less org based.

I was thinking of writing up a synopsis--say, 1-2 pages, of a Play with the outline of a general plot, plus some notes on the characters, and then having each city submit a play based on that Synopsis. I would then watch each play and judge them. I'd have a first and second prize for it. (Maybe something like 1 million gold and 500,000 for the runner up).

The reason for me thinking about this is that I enjoy the plays, but I'd love to see what happens when multiple storytellers get the same outline and then run with it. I was watching a story about the Exorcist series of movies and how at one point two very different movies were made as prequels, and I also like looking at stories through various eyes, and how similar stories have different interpretations (such as movie adaptations of the same source material (think Michael Mann's Manhuntter vs. the more recent Red Dragon), or even things like the Four Gospels of the Bible. It might be amusing to see what happens when you take a general plot and flesh it out in detail, then watch each groups interpretation of it.

Any thoughts on this? Do you think this might be fun? Do you think it would work well? Do you have any questions?

I'm not gonna rush into it--it's something that would take time to judge and review, I'm just thinking of something to do with some extra gold that can be fun for the orgs.

Why org based? Why not individual based?

Because the way the play system works, only Orgs can submit--I think Lendren just said the Minster of culture does it. And you need actors--I'd want to see a full play acted out and recorded at each stage, not just the script for one.

If I'm wrong, so be it. But a Million gold is a lot and I think it might work well if it goes to the org and not an individual. (1 Million gold too is also about the equivalent of $70 if I use my usual way of generating it, so I think it best if I contribute to a city or commune--I've felt good about a few donations I've made in the recent past).

For an individual, it is a lot, yes. Does the same really apply to cities/communes though?

The Minister of Culture is the person who sends things up to the World Stage, sure, but anyone can make a performance assuming that someone with Stage Manager privileges has set them up as a director of one. And the only performances that a Minister of Culture would send to the World Stage would be the ones they want to represent their org in the every other year competition for Culture. They can only send one up, and only on odd numbered years.

Hmm. Okay, but I'm wondering if the actors would feel better if they were doing it for the org, otherwise it might be harder to motivate all of them to partake in it.

Plus, I've done several individual contests in the past Noola, I'd kind of like to do something different, and I could see this one being more popular, as it would benefit the commune or city and it doesn't involved any conflict other than making the best darn version of the play.

I like the idea, but I'm afraid no one would enter but Hallifax.

I'd have a go at it, even though I have no experience in the field in question.

And Hallifax would probably submit like three versions of it. Though the idea is lovely.

I'll consider it. I'll need to wait until I make another credit purchase, which I don't do as often as I now have an elite membership, so I only do that to get some gold for my character, so it would probably be a few months down the road--(maybe in time for the tax return). Also have to write the plot. I also need to spend some time watching the plays on the world stage for some inspiration, see what capabilities they have.

I just want to do something for the writers of the basin, rather than the combat/puzzle oriented crowd for a change.

Do consider it. It sounds really neat.

I don't know if I'd give the gold to the org then. You're just going to see it go to the combat crowd and the play writer won't see much of it, if anything.

How about alternatively, you split the prize among the script writers, directors and actors (and stage hands, if they had any) of the winning play? That way, there is incentive for the play to actually be performed, which I think is your intention, yes?