h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi!
Saw what looked like a sensible post on the talking points page, so I wandered over to see who this sensible person was. I thought I knew most of them roundabouts already. Clearly not - we frequent different circles.

So maybe you can help me with an on-again-off-again unofficial project - to discover all the central meeting points of h2g2 researchers - like the Atelier or Great Outdoor Bar or of the Zaphodista (or whatever it's called...)

Where do you socialise?

I don't.

Honestly, I was one of the earliest h2g2 folk around. Well...okay, there's loads of people who've been around longer than me, but I started too soon. The BBC being involved wasn't even thinkable at the time.

I socialized at Joanna's Donut Stall (located in the h2g2 waterworks and beach). I socialized in STUMPED Stadium (home of h2g2's league of supervillains.) I especially socialized at Crater Labs, Inc.

But h2g2 evolved away from me and those of my time period. The emphasis moved away from the old Law of Continuity in favor of new forms of RP.

You mention the Atelier...to give you some idea of how long I've been at this, the Atelier (and I'm assuming that you mean Lil's Atelier) began in Crater Labs, Inc. when Lil started renting the top floor of the building from me.

I'm welcome in the Atelier, and show up there about once a season. But my main purpose on h2g2 is when I see the opportunity for a good, old-fashioned adventure the way we used to play them. (I'm currently hiking through Carin Gorm, looking for a Scottish Yeti.)

Every once in a while I check the front page, and the latest talking point looked interesting, so I went and posted.

Heh-heh...

The Atelier is a good nexus if you want to examine the social circles that I'm familiar with. The old guard folks from the Aroma Cafe and Wandering Misfits know Lil's, and the new folks find the place inviting.

Oh! Oh, and if you're *really* interested in a story of gathering in h2g2, check out the Gam Room Storytellers (note: honestly, it's "gam" room, not "game" room. It's a weasel reference.)

Anyway, thanks for the attention. Most of my social circles are gone now, but if you stumble on their remains then you can find quite a few interesting and hilarious stories.

See ya 'round.

I peeped into the Atelier and found it too crowded for my quiet tastes. I saw the mention of the Atelier in Crater Labs but I guess I didn't quite comprehend...

I think I'll be poking through your conversation list, if you don't mind. Clearly I've stumbled upon something differenter than usual.

Feel free.

I could point you towards the more interesting conversations, but I'm intrigued to see what you'll find on your own.

Arrrr, it be kinda sad, the number o' good things that end in Davy Jones' locker. But I hopes some other good things have come to fill yer sails, mate.

And I'll be keepin a weather eye out to see what ye find too, Leo.

I've found some pretty exciting looking Yetis at the bottom of Cairn Gorm. That's the longest role-playing thread I've seen, ever. Still sniffing...

Heh. Heh heh heh. Hee-hee-heehahahahahahaha!

That's the longest RP thread you've ever seen on h2g2? Goodness, I knew things had changed.

Go look for The Donuts Are Not Enough, AKA TDANE. Now *That* is an RP story that takes a long time to read.

I'm looking I'll assume that it's long dormant cuz it isn't near the top of your list.

Pierce's pirate ship is pretty long, but it doesn't come close, and anyway, it has no story line.



So you people aren't Guide people at all?

It's probably more accurate to say that we're a different type of guide person. We still write entries when it strikes our fancy, and we still get involved in the community. They're just different parts of the community than most people see.

Oh, and as for TDANE: yeah, it's ancient. I had to use the search engine to find it. A257294

I should probably note that RP was rarely conducted through a character different than the researcher who played it. I'd normally play Afgncaap5, Demon Drawer would normally play Demon Drawer, the fantastical situations didn't demand anything more.

TDANE, though, demanded different characters, as it was h2g2's first Bond Movie. I don't believe any characters (aside from The Krylma Leader) ever returned to have a very significant impact on later RP stories. Krylma set up STUMPED (Sinister Thinkers Unleashing Multifarious, Pernicious Evil Deeds), h2g2's first truly recognizable supervillain league.

And the rest is history, albeit difficult to research.

Arrrr, Leo, are ye into role-playin yerself? If so, ye could probably join the yeti-fest if ye have read most of the backlog. Here's a couple of ways ye could join:

1) Ye could stumble out of the woods, in full hiking gear and bump into our group above the cave.

2) Ye could create a new account for one of Mariachi/mercenary guys and play that role. That might not last until the end, unless your character switches sides, or something. (It's pretty flexible, so long as you mind continuity and manners - i.e. don't make other people's characters do things). If ye've read the backlog, ye should get a good idea of how things go. I could point you to some articles about continuity if ye so wish.

The basic rule of continuity is "I can poke a fully loaded, perfectly operating gun into your forehead and pull the trigger, but only you can decide if I hit the target."

I don't know much about role playing, but it sounds fun. I didn't read the majority of the backlog () I cheated and skimmed. Its rather long, if entertaining.

I'm going to lurk for a bit to get a better feel, but it sure looks fun.

Articles about? You mean there's a science to it?

Arrrr, indeed there is! There's been skirmishes in the past when some scurvy dog breaks the "rules" and spoils some of the fun fer the others. But don't worry, its' just common sense and courtesy. I'll go find them articles for ye.

Arrrr, I found what I was lookin' fer. About half-way down this researcher's page is a section on continuity. He puts it very well and gives links to 2 other pages:

U87448

I've always thought it was funny how the name "Law Of Continuity" derives itself from the part of the rules that are never (or at least rarely) stated: the past is legitimate and is still effective. If I get deaded, I can't suddenly be alive again without there being some reason.

But you can be reincarnated, can't you?
What is ?

Oh, yeah. Just come up with a way to reasonably justify it. "The elixir of life that I dropped out of the spaceship last week? Yeah, well, it just fell from the sky, broke open on me, and totally restored me if you don't count the glass lacerations on my hand."

OOC=Out Of Continuity or Out Of Context. What you say in OOC is an Out Of Character way to continue discussing, even if you aren't saying anything of interest to the story.

Arrr, that be right. I always think of OOC as Out Of Character - it's when ye need to say or ask something as you, not as the character yer playin'.