Plot making help ??????

[BDark]

<p>


So I've been trying to come up with a plot or two lately but I couldn't. Currently I am making a roleplay based on East Asia (China, Mongolia, Indonesia, and Japan and maybe, just maybe, India and Malaysia as well), and I got the map done and everything, just no plot. Any ideas ? Have some greenery to inspire you. <img src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/imageproxy/imageproxy.php?img=http://www.lovethesepics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Inside-the-bamboo-forest-of-Kyoto-Japan.jpg&key=dad8d1351e366fa6074a221ad2c509e2c45f7e6875ef04033f1e685e7aecce8f" class="ipsImage" alt="Inside-the-bamboo-forest-of-Kyoto-Japan." /></p>

 

[call me rae]

Well I usually start with a prompt for inspiration. Or maybe some kind of quote or a specific idea from a book series that I like that fits the settings.


But the very first thing you need to ask yourself is this : where is this set?


Do you want modern real life East Asia with real world issues - ex. School Life, maybe a trip through East Asia, some kind of Model or Talent agency etc.


Do you want urban fantasy in East Asia? Basically the real world with fantasy elements. Perhaps the folklore creatures of East Asia are living side by side with the regular humans? Perhaps magic is just coming out to humans or is slowly dying?


Do you want straight fantasy slash historical roleplay set in East Asia ? Do you want to deal with a specific historical period and the political / societal issues that would be prevalent there? Do you want to do something in a AU version of the past with mythological elements?


Do you want to do some kind of futuristic/sci-fi roleplay? Maybe something with mech suits? Or some kind of cyborgs etc?


For fandom reference perhaps look at something like Spirited Away - humans dragged into the spirit world for an adventure. Or Princess Monoke - humans fighting spirits of nature in a fuedal like setting.


Or heck most anime is set in East Asia or around there.


I know one I read awhile back that had a really cool story line of nomadic tribes in mongolia and arranged marriages.


But yeah the first thing you want to do to make a plot is decide what kind of story you want to tell.


Then just build from there.

 

[BDark]

Thanks a lot for the advice !


I also would like some feedback on the map.


I've made another version with markers (so I could elaborate which kingdom/town/city is which) and another with different markers for, uh, forests and such.


<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2016_07/map.PNG.a706b7aea424b102e1e15b07ce37b93d.PNG" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="141390" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2016_07/map.PNG.a706b7aea424b102e1e15b07ce37b93d.PNG" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>

 

[call me rae]

It looks nice if your thinking of using a specific location that should help you narrow things down.


Just think what kind of story interest you most with that location.


Do you like mysteries? Political intrigue? Romance? Stuff dealing with the supernatural? Etc.


If you get stuck goodreads is a great place for quotes or proverbs. Just pic a general theme - i.e. Rebirth or magic and scroll through the quotes.


That might help kick start something

 

[BDark]

All right. Thanks a lot for the advice !

 

[call me rae]

Your very welcome

 

[Chennn]

@Darkiplier


the tips you've received are very helpful so i'll just add on to


the stuff that was kinda glossed over


i'm not sure if you're actually from asia but, uhhh, first things


first: indonesia isn't part of east asia. indonesia is part of south


east asia. the countries that are in east asia are: china, japan,


mongolia, taiwan, south korea, and north korea. india is part of


south asia while malaysia and indonesia are part of south east asia.





why am i telling you these?


because culture and geography go hand in hand.


generally speaking, east asian culture, beliefs, and perspective


and attitude are heavily influenced by buddhism, confucianism,


and taoism. in japan in particular, shintoism is a native major


religion and still plays a role in modern society. that's why they're


generally more "reserved" compared to western countries.


south east asia, on the other hand, has a very varied culture.


indonesia and malaysia are mostly muslim countries so of course


muslim traits ( though their version of islam is more lax ) are evident.


the philippines is mostly catholic and have undergone so many foreign


occupations and influences so ofc their culture is varied. cambodia is


mostly buddhist. etc etc,





why am i telling you these?


because if you want to incorporate real-life culture into your rp /


writing, you need to do a lot of research. well, not really A LOT. but


at least have the basics and facts down. *be accurate.* you can


still be accurate and be thinking outside the box, y'know?


i'm sorry if i sound like a know-it-all jerk but, uhh, this is about my culture,


part of my field of study, and something i'm heavily interested in so i


try to clear stereotypes as much as possible. there's more to asia than


just the ~*mystic orient*~ lol. if you need any more help about this, i'll


be happy to oblige either way, i hope this helps!

 

[Grey]

Chenn hit the nail on the head with pretty much everything I would've said (and some details of which I was shamefully ignorant; thank you Chenn).


And if you haven't read them, I get the feeling you'd benefit from my worldbuilding and plot tutorials.

 

[BDark]

@Darkiplier
the tips you've received are very helpful so i'll just add on to


the stuff that was kinda glossed over


i'm not sure if you're actually from asia but, uhhh, first things


first: indonesia isn't part of east asia. indonesia is part of south


east asia. the countries that are in east asia are: china, japan,


mongolia, taiwan, south korea, and north korea. india is part of


south asia while malaysia and indonesia are part of south east asia.





why am i telling you these?


because culture and geography go hand in hand.


generally speaking, east asian culture, beliefs, and perspective


and attitude are heavily influenced by buddhism, confucianism,


and taoism. in japan in particular, shintoism is a native major


religion and still plays a role in modern society. that's why they're


generally more "reserved" compared to western countries.


south east asia, on the other hand, has a very varied culture.


indonesia and malaysia are mostly muslim countries so of course


muslim traits ( though their version of islam is more lax ) are evident.


the philippines is mostly catholic and have undergone so many foreign


occupations and influences so ofc their culture is varied. cambodia is


mostly buddhist. etc etc,





why am i telling you these?


because if you want to incorporate real-life culture into your rp /


writing, you need to do a lot of research. well, not really A LOT. but


at least have the basics and facts down. *be accurate.* you can


still be accurate and be thinking outside the box, y'know?


i'm sorry if i sound like a know-it-all jerk but, uhh, this is about my culture,


part of my field of study, and something i'm heavily interested in so i


try to clear stereotypes as much as possible. there's more to asia than


just the ~*mystic orient*~ lol. if you need any more help about this, i'll


be happy to oblige either way, i hope this helps!

Seems I need to do more research than I expected, since it'll be more like 'ancient Asia' rather than 'modern Asia', though thanks for the tips !

Chenn hit the nail on the head with pretty much everything I would've said (and some details of which I was shamefully ignorant; thank you Chenn).
And if you haven't read them, I get the feeling you'd benefit from my worldbuilding and plot tutorials.

All right. Headin' there.