Okay, gonna be getting Anwar's next post up soon so he and Griff can reach their destination and we can talk about some work.<br/><br/>Before I do, though, I feel the need to address something that's been on my mind.  Some of you may take offense, and I'm sorry if you do, but honestly, someone has to say it, and since I'm notorious for speaking my mind and tend not to care if people don't like what I have to say, then I guess I'll be the bad guy.  It's not that I enjoy doing it, but when it needs to be done and everyone else is afraid of looking like an ass, then I don't mind being that ass in the interest of getting things out in the open that need to be dealt with.<br/><br/>Ridiculously long posts.  I understand some people love to show off their writing talent, and that's fine.  But honestly, some of the posts in this game are just reaching ludicrous lengths, and it's becoming more and more of a chore to wade through twenty paragraphs of fluff to find two or three relevant statements that actually contribute to the story and help it progress.  There's nothing wrong with being a great writer, and wanting to show it off, but when you're writing with eight or nine other people, you have to remember you aren't writing alone.  There's no need to write a novel every time you post.  It becomes taxing, and starts to feel more like a chore to constantly have to wade through a five thousand word count to get a simple point across.<br/><br/>A person can be very descriptive without having to take five paragraphs to explain actions that can be compacted into one, and truthfully, the word count on some of these posts are starting to intimidate some players, I think, which is why we're not seeing them post very often.  In a group game, you have to curb it a bit if you want to preserve the flow of the story and keep it moving along at a decent pace, otherwise it will eventually come to a screeching halt and die as more and more people lose interest in watching people measure their virtual penises.  I understand sometimes it is necessary to have an extra long post, and in many of my solo role-plays I'm just as guilty of it as anyone, but a group has a different dynamic, and honestly when people are constantly having to pick their way through fifteen paragraphs to single out a few points that could have easily been made in five or six paragraphs, interest wanes and eventually fades away completely.<br/><br/>Sometimes less is more.  As I said, there are times when a lot is happening, and some people are having to include more than one character in many of their posts, so they have to be a bit long.  When you're controlling one character, though, there's really no reason to spend five paragraphs describing that character every time, and honestly a very good writer can include quite a detailed description in one paragraph so the rest of them can actually help push the plot forward.  Quantity does not equal quality, though at times quality forces the need for quantity.<br/><br/>This post is in no way meant to antagonize anyone, or to try and make myself feel better because some of my posts aren't reaching an epic word count.  Personally, I'm pretty happy with most of my posts, and am able to describe plenty and advance the plot in about four to six paragraphs.  If I want to spend an hour reading about what an outfit looks like to the last stitch, or reading about every single feature of a character's face down to the last blemish, then I'll go read Tolkien or something and let him take three pages describing a blade of grass to me.  It's fluff, and serves no other purpose than flexing peoples' writing muscles, or waving their paper penises around to show off how big they are, and personally, it just gets tedious.<br/><br/>Once in a while, sure, but every post?  No.  Eventually people get bored with it and disappear.  Anyone notice a couple of people have been very lax in posting lately?  I'm one of them, but for different reasons, but is it really a coincidence that there are two or three others we're seeing nothing from at the moment?  I don't think so.  Maybe if we drop the word count on these posts a bit, say what needs to be said, add in a bit of fluff to beautify it a little, but stop being so melodramatic and going so ridiculously overboard, then we'd see a bit more activity from these people because they'd feel a bit less intimidated as if this is some competition of who can make the longest posts.  Me, I'm not intimidated.  I just find it annoying and tiring.  Like I said, group games have a different dynamic, and the first thing that will kill that dynamic is constantly making people wade through an insanely long sea of words.<br/><br/>So, now, I'm here and wide open to antagonism from anyone who feels insulted by what I had to say, but I'm fairly certain I'm not the only player who feels this way.  I'm just the only one who was willing to be the bad guy, and I'm fine with that.  I'm the new guy and all, but I was also asked to join this game because of what I had to contribute as a writer as well as my views and opinions on what could help improve things, and I've been lax in that latter aspect until now.  So have at it.  Whether you agree or disagree, whether you tear me down or support me, that's my honest opinion on things.  I enjoy the story, and all of the characters, and would love to see it continue and be a part of it, but I also understand I might have just made myself a pariah, and I can live with that if it comes down to it.  I'll find other role-plays if I have to, and I'm sorry if I offend any of you, but I just felt this issue needed to be addressed and since nobody else seemed willing, I'll be the villain.<br/><br/>So there it is.  Love me or hate me, this is the Scotty that Mike asked for and is notorious for being willing to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done, whether it opens eyes or damages egos.  I imagine there will be a bit of both.<br/><br/>Feel free to comment, of course.  I've said my piece, and now back to our regularly scheduled programming.<br/><br/>(On a side note, Cassie, you did a wonderful job with your portrayal of Griff, and I look forward to your contribution to things around here, even when you step out of his skin.)