monele Posted September 4, 2016 Share Posted September 4, 2016 I'm still discovering how storylines work mechanically, and how to come up with them and keep them going creatively. I thought it would be interesting to have people just say how they do it, because I can tell from various threads that there's a LOT of different takes out there. First, one should give the name of their company and, if it's not a default C-Verse one, give the 2 or 3 highest features in their Product... as I understand this might influence things quite a bit. Then, here's a list of aspects that seem to vary depending on Product and playstyle and for which the answers might be insightful for new players like me, to understand what's possible and what good tricks exist. Feel free to go beyond the list, it's just for inspiration. Storylines (feature) Do you even use them when they're not required by the Product? How many do you have at a time? How many do you advance in a single show (TV/Event)? How long do you keep them going / when do you stop one? Why? Do you make use of the add/remove worker feature to keep some going forever or at least a very long time? In which case do you find it effective? Do you make storylines for singles or teams mostly? Or is it balanced? Do you ever go for more than two major sides? When/why? How do you make use of "independant" participants? Have you ever "tricked the system" to do storylines outside of the "A vs B" template? Say, a story about someone's climb to fame without a specific opponent. Do you use the feature strictly mechanically, or do you try to come up with actual stories? Do you fill out the description field? Do you keep it updated or let the history talk for itself? Do you use it for "todo notes"? Overall, what kind of setups do you use and with what goals in mind? Do you put someone over with multiple wins and terminate the story with someone with a negative outcome? Do you try to go for "double positives" (and if so are there tricks to this?) Do you sometimes use Storylines explicitely to lower someone's popularity? Do you only use them for main eventers, or for anyone? Stories (creativity) For people who go beyond mechanics and come up with narratives... What kind of stories do you run? Do you go with a small set of basic templates or do you try to come up with something new everytime? Do you build up storylines to have plausible motivations? Or do you use "sudden starts" where so-and-so suddenly becomes central to a story? Do you think about motivations? If so, what have you used in the past / what's your favorite? When it comes to title races, do you ever vary the usual template of "A wants belt because it's great"? If so, in what way? Have you ever had stories where someone goes for a title for a different reason than the title's prestige itself? Do you have stories going beyond the Storyline feature? Do stories influence how you deal with other things such as hiring? Planning Whether it's purely mechanical, or heavily narrative, or in-between... Do you plan your storylines? Or do you improvise? If you plan, what's your thought process? How long in advance do you plan? Do you make use of pre-booking or do you have external tools? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monele Posted September 4, 2016 Author Share Posted September 4, 2016 <p>Answering my own question...</p><p> </p><p> My company is Supernaturals. Main features are: Traditional (heavy), Mainstream (heavy), Modern (medium)</p><p> </p><p> I use Storylines because my product means I need some, and because I do want stories to happen around matches. Something "pure" would probably bore me fast.</p><p> I'm 8 months in and I haven't stopped any storyline so far. I have 7 going right now.</p><p> I'm using them to inspire matches to come, and hopefully I'll reap some mechanical benefits when I stop some, making some workers more popular. I do struggle to get mostly positives so far. Someone's always on the losing end.</p><p> </p><p> I don't have any team-based storyline so far, but that's because I don't have established teams yet.</p><p> </p><p> So far I've sometimes felt constrainted by the "Major vs Major" requirement and have tried to cheat my way around it. I'm not sure why but I tend to come up with stories revolving around one character's struggles, with no clear-cut opposing force. At so far, in TEW. But as my characters get established, it should become easier.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> As such, I definitely don't use this strictly mechanically. I love coming up with actual stories and I feel I must have them make sense (at least some!). So far I'm sticking mostly with storylines where worker A goes against worker B mostly because of clichéd enmities (outlaw vs justice, geek vs jock, that kind of thing).</p><p> Because of my product and its fantasy setting, I can also base stories around unrealistic kayfabe things that happen outside of the shows, such as wars, magical happenings and so on...</p><p> </p><p> Where I'm struggling is with the title picture. I've created a title recently but given the story setting, I have a hard time thinking of titles as "just titles", acting as proofs of superiority. So I'm doing what I did in my WWE2K14 game and making them into powerful artefacts that, more or less, grant wishes. I find it easier to get behind characters who may have motivations beyond "I'm the best" and might actually want the title to prevent wars (or win them), to save someone from death, etc... Much more epic <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> That said, it opens a whole can of worms to come up with a set of rules and explanations as to how it all works and what you can do with them. Don't want *anything* to be possible, and I do need reasons for people to keep the titles around.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> As for planning, I started by improvising. Then, with the introduction of the title, I started trying to plan things ahead to make sure I'd have enough story bits leading to finales at specific special events. That's what I've been doing in 2K14 but WOW... does it take time and brain juice.</p><p> Turns out I can't do that for <em>two</em> games at the same time, so I've aired out my schedule to have very few special events (a yearly one for my small company), which should give me space to improvise and yet not get stuck. Hopefully.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millsybeast Posted September 4, 2016 Share Posted September 4, 2016 <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Storylines</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you even use them when they're not required by the Product?</strong></p><p> Yeah, they help keep me entertained, without storylines it feels pointless to me and I get bored real fast.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>How many do you have at a time? How many do you advance in a single show (TV/Event)?</strong></p><p> I have about 5-9 for each brand, some title matches, some minor feuds etc. I usually advance them all every week, either on Smackdown or Raw. </p><p> </p><p> <strong>How long do you keep them going / when do you stop one? Why?</strong></p><p> I have a basic idea of how long I want them to be, usually 2-3 months, but obviously there are sometimes things that get in the way like injuries. I stop them the day after the PPV.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you make use of the add/remove worker feature to keep some going forever or at least a very long time? In which case do you find it effective?</strong></p><p> Sometimes I do, like in my four way feud between CM Punk, AJ Styles, Randy Orton & Dean Ambrose. Ambrose left first, then Orton, and now Punk and Styles are keeping the same storyline. But I rarely do this.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you make storylines for singles or teams mostly? Or is it balanced?</strong></p><p> I find it hard to make Storylines for teams compared to singles, so I will only do it if it would help the ratings.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you ever go for more than two major sides? When/why?</strong></p><p> In three way tag storylines are the only way I can think that I would do it. Sometimes I opt for a 3-way stable war, but it's hard to manage.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Have you ever "tricked the system" to do storylines outside of the "A vs B" template? Say, a story about someone's climb to fame without a specific opponent.</strong></p><p> No, but I did once have the two commentators in a storyline, so every segment got rated when they were in it. I believe it got the reasonably over.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you use the feature strictly mechanically, or do you try to come up with actual stories? Do you fill out the description field? Do you keep it updated or let the history talk for itself? Do you use it for "todo notes"?</strong></p><p> I come up with stories in my head, like why they are fighting. I use generic angles but imagine whats happening in my head with a basic description.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong><em><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Stories (creativity)</span></em></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> For people who go beyond mechanics and come up with narratives...</p><p> </p><p> <strong>What kind of stories do you run?</strong></p><p> It depends entirely on the wrestlers, but I tend to have at least one 'Number one contender' storyline, the winner then goes into the next title match storyline.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you go with a small set of basic templates or do you try to come up with something new everytime?</strong></p><p> Basic template, only edited to fit the wrestlers usually.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you think about motivations? If so, what have you used in the past / what's your favorite? </strong></p><p> Yeah. One of the main motivations is to be a champion, or be number one contender. But I had a storyline where main eventers teamed up with lower mids in order to get a title shot which was pretty unique to me.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>When it comes to title races, do you ever vary the usual template of "A wants belt because it's great"? If so, in what way? Have you ever had stories where someone goes for a title for a different reason than the title's prestige itself? </strong></p><p> Well Bray Wyatt wants it so he can become ruler of the Universe, and I had a generated worker that had a 'poor' gimmick just wanting the gold so he could sell it and get rich from it.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Planning</span></em></strong></p><p> </p><p> Whether it's purely mechanical, or heavily narrative, or in-between...</p><p> <strong>Do you plan your storylines? Or do you improvise?</strong></p><p> Both. I plan what is going to happen, but week by week some things are on the fly. Also when injuries happen you have to scrap plans or postpone or even add someone else for the time being.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>If you plan, what's your thought process? How long in advance do you plan?</strong></p><p> 2-3 months ahead at least, like I already know going into January what I want at Wrestlemania etc.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you make use of pre-booking or do you have external tools?</strong></p><p> I'm old school, I just use notepad and have two either side of TEW.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest skinsfan55 Posted September 4, 2016 Share Posted September 4, 2016 <p>I use storylines as a way to gain overness. I have a plan on who is going to win the feud and match guys based on how good i think their matches are. I put ring generals with up and comers etc.</p><p> </p><p> Creatively I use the worker's gimmick to guide me. I try to think of how one character would interact with the one they're feuding against. </p><p> </p><p> Without storylines, the game is sort of pointless. You need to have something for the wrestlers to do and some kind of cohesion for your booking</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordanmason17 Posted September 4, 2016 Share Posted September 4, 2016 <p><strong>Storylines</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you even use them when they're not required by the Product?</strong></p><p> Yeah, the reason I do this is because I then have an idea what I want to be happening in my company then I can sort of get an idea what I want to do after that storyline is over.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>How many do you have at a time? How many do you advance in a single show (TV/Event)?</strong></p><p> I run four storylines at a time. One for my AWA World title, one for my AWA International title, one for my Light Heavyweight division and one for the tag team division. I do other things around other people but don't create it as a storyline but I'd treat it like one, e.g. the way I'm treating the TV title atm. I advance them on every A-Show I run, segments will be for the TV then they will face each other on the PPV. Rarely would I made them fight on the TV Show during a storyline but if I do it normally ends in double Count-out or double DQ.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>How long do you keep them going / when do you stop one? Why?</strong></p><p> It depends on what I'm doing. I've had some storylines run for a year if I imagine it to be a 'huge heated rivalry' like I'm doing with Brian Pillman & HBK, the shortest I normally run a storyline for is normally around 3-4 months though and I normally stop it when I believe the worker who comes out on top has either nothing else to prove or if I just believe the storyline has run it's course.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you make use of the add/remove worker feature to keep some going forever or at least a very long time? In which case do you find it effective?</strong></p><p> I rarely do this unless I have other plans for a worker involved in that storyline. Or if the storyline is stable-orientated I will add workers if a new worker joins the stable. </p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you make storylines for singles or teams mostly? Or is it balanced?</strong></p><p> I make storylines for singles and teams, I mainly end up doing better with my tag team storylines as of late because Booker T & Stevie Ray put on A* matches against The Nasty Boys.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you ever go for more than two major sides? When/why?</strong></p><p> Yep, I done it before when I was doing a tag team invitational storyline and also when doing a Light Heavyweight invitational. Rarely do it but the reason I do it is to showcase my light heavyweights and the rising tag team division. </p><p> </p><p> <strong>Have you ever "tricked the system" to do storylines outside of the "A vs B" template? Say, a story about someone's climb to fame without a specific opponent.</strong></p><p> Attempted it with Steve Austin, his now a main eventer but I don't have any real plans for him at the moment.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you use the feature strictly mechanically, or do you try to come up with actual stories? Do you fill out the description field? Do you keep it updated or let the history talk for itself? Do you use it for "todo notes"?</strong></p><p> I make up the storylines in my head then fill out the description field then I just imagine what I believe would be happening in my head and then put it into angles.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong>Stories (creativity)</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong>What kind of stories do you run?</strong></p><p> It depends on who the wrestler is, for example my HBK/Pillman feud is just both of them trying to prove they are the 'next big thing' and I will be running a storyline soon with Ric Flair & Jeff Jarrett as during Double J's run as AWA World Champion I made him very cocky and claim every night he is the best wrestler in the world, "Not Hogan, not the Macho Man, Not Ric Flair. But ME! Double J, Jeff Jarrett! I am the man, I am a god within this wresting industry and I'd like to see someone show me otherwise!" So with flair now joining the company it allows for Jeff Jarrett to see if he can prove he is the greatest wrestler alive by defeating The Nature Boy.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you go with a small set of basic templates or do you try to come up with something new everytime?</strong></p><p> Sometimes I'd use a basic template, but a lot of time I like to think of something new, this is because it allows me to stay interested in my save.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>When it comes to title races, do you ever vary the usual template of "A wants belt because it's great"? If so, in what way? Have you ever had stories where someone goes for a title for a different reason than the title's prestige itself?</strong> </p><p> Jeff Jarrett wanted the AWA World title to prove his the greatest wrestler alive whilst The Diamond Studd wants it because he wants to continue to show his an AWA Icon. Ultimate Warrior wants it to show all the little warriors out there that the good guys always win. Ted DiBiase wanted the title to show that everything has a price. And lastly Lou Albano wants one of his clients to win the world title just so he can brag about managing a world champion.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <strong>Planning</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Whether it's purely mechanical, or heavily narrative, or in-between...</strong></p><p><strong> Do you plan your storylines? Or do you improvise?</strong></p><p> I do both. I plan what is going to happen but sometimes I may need to adjust things in quick notice, this may because I think of something better than what I was originally planning or because an injury has occurred. </p><p> </p><p> <strong>If you plan, what's your thought process? How long in advance do you plan?</strong></p><p> 2-5 months ahead as by the time I'm in December in my AWA save I already have an idea on what I want my main PPV in May (SuperClash) to look like. Of course though changes could happen depending on how things go.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Do you make use of pre-booking or do you have external tools?</strong></p><p> I don't use pre-booking and I only use things such as google documents when I'm planning a tournament.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest skinsfan55 Posted September 4, 2016 Share Posted September 4, 2016 In TEW 2010 I tricked the system all the time by having Sam Strong be in random storylines to help get people over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudo Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 One of the things I miss the most that's been designed out of TEW are the old pre-scripted storylines because I'm terrible at coming up with them on my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassan Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Pseudo" data-cite="Pseudo" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42550" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>One of the things I miss the most that's been designed out of TEW are the old pre-scripted storylines because I'm terrible at coming up with them on my own.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> How did that work?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_Scott Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 <p>*Looks at title*</p><p> </p><p> <em>Bruh do you even storyline? </em></p><p> </p><p> <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> sorry I'll be leaving now.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest skinsfan55 Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Hassan" data-cite="Hassan" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42550" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>How did that work?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I don't have the game on this computer, but it went like this... </p><p> </p><p> You would click "Bounty Storyline" and it would say something like one character is sick of another character and puts out a $100,000 bounty on him. One character tries to collect and fails, and another one tries and fails and finally the worker gets revenge on the guy who put out the bounty.</p><p> </p><p> There would be a checklist like "1.) To advance the storyline do an angle where Worker A is rated on menace and Worker B is rated on overness." and you'd keep following that script until the storyline was over. It was pretty cool. I feel like freestyle storylines have made that a little obsolete since now I can write it where I play to a guy's strengths by electing to rate on menace or selling or mic skills... but it was helpful if you got stuck and didn't have good ideas.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FankuKaibutsu Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 <p>Do you even use them when they're not required by the Product?</p><p> Yes, though how many depends on the specific company. Something like RoH, with weekly TV and monthly PPVs, I use a lot of storylines because that's how that model of wrestling works. With something more event oriented, like NJPW, or TV-less indy-feds, I only use storylines for the big, major, long-term stories. I find smaller storylines aren't worth the mechanical benefit of setting up and organizing in those types of companies.</p><p> </p><p> How many do you have at a time? How many do you advance in a single show (TV/Event)?</p><p> I try to keep all my main-eventers and most of my midcarders engaged in a storyline. Depending on the size of the TV show, I generally try to include all my main eventers and most of my upper-midcarders anyways.</p><p> </p><p> How long do you keep them going / when do you stop one? Why?</p><p> I think this is my biggest problem playing TEW, I tend to run feuds for 1 month, end at the PPV, then shuffle everyone around into a new feud. Eventually, I start having repeat feuds, especially if, for whateve reason, the card is stagnant.</p><p> </p><p> Do you make use of the add/remove worker feature to keep some going forever or at least a very long time? In which case do you find it effective?</p><p> Other than, for example, in an NJPW game, feuding the G1 winner with the champion for 4 months, and having their fall feud opponents drop in and out, no.</p><p> </p><p> Do you make storylines for singles or teams mostly? Or is it balanced?</p><p> Generally more singles than tag teams, if only because there are more single wrestlers than tag teams in most companies. Occasionally, I'll feud a tag team with 2 singles wrestlers.</p><p> </p><p> Do you ever go for more than two major sides? When/why?</p><p> No, but I probably should.</p><p> </p><p> How do you make use of "independant" participants?</p><p> I'm not even sure what this question means.</p><p> </p><p> Have you ever "tricked the system" to do storylines outside of the "A vs B" template? Say, a story about someone's climb to fame without a specific opponent.</p><p> No.</p><p> </p><p> Do you use the feature strictly mechanically, or do you try to come up with actual stories? Do you fill out the description field? Do you keep it updated or let the history talk for itself? Do you use it for "todo notes"?</p><p> It's mostly mechanical, pairing up guys every month for the next months build. I occasionally come up with actual stories in my mind, but I don't think I've ever used the description field.</p><p> </p><p> Overall, what kind of setups do you use and with what goals in mind?</p><p> Mostly to build/maintain popularity. Guys who I want to push win, guys who I don't want to push lose, guys who I want to maintain their spot win some and lose some.</p><p> </p><p> Do you put someone over with multiple wins and terminate the story with someone with a negative outcome?</p><p> Do you try to go for "double positives" (and if so are there tricks to this?)</p><p> I generally aim to wind up with "Good" vs "Somewhat Poor" or whatever it is. The winner gets a win, and the loser doesn't lose anything that can't be brought back with a good promo after crushing a jobber on the next TV taping.</p><p> </p><p> Do you sometimes use Storylines explicitely to lower someone's popularity?</p><p> Can't say that I have.</p><p> </p><p> Do you only use them for main eventers, or for anyone?</p><p> Asked and answered.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> Stories (creativity)</p><p> </p><p> Skipping....</p><p> </p><p> Planning</p><p> </p><p> Whether it's purely mechanical, or heavily narrative, or in-between...</p><p> Do you plan your storylines? Or do you improvise?</p><p> All I ever plan is who's going over, if that.</p><p> </p><p> If you plan, what's your thought process? How long in advance do you plan?</p><p> Do you make use of pre-booking or do you have external tools?</p><p> I use a spreadsheet with a list of my roster, and use that to pair up dudes.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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