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IQ. Issue 20. The New Order.( June 2008)
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The Ed.



Joined: 29 Jun 2008
Posts: 1
Location: The Big Desk

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:52 pm    Post subject: IQ. Issue 20. The New Order.( June 2008)  





Issue 20. Cost:0 fables June 2008.


This is the first issue for the new IQ team!
A big WELCOME to all the new staff and here's hoping you get the response you deserve for all your hard work!

In issue 20 we introduce you to The Ed., The Powerful Truth and more!
Feedback is always Welcome and encouraged... letters to the IQ team can be sent here!




The new IF-ian Mayor has been sworn into office by King Key, Sir WaxofLot.

The team here at the IQ have made it a point to keep track of how he is progressing and just how his campaign promises are being followed up.
Though it seems to have gotten off to a smooth start, the first months of the new Mayors term have seen very few public changes come about. The IQ has it on good advice that many tasks are underway behind the closed doors of the Mayoral Manse and that these will facilitate the later implementation of the promises made in Mayor Wax’s campaign.

The IQ believes that while
he has adhered to most campaign promises that his party made , even if these progressions are unseen by the IF-ian on the street – that Sir Wax has been noticed to have under gone a dramatic personality change that leaves the people of IF wondering ‘is the knight in office the same knight We voted for?’

In the opinion of The Ed there are many factors that contribute to this personality transplant – and unlike the suggestion by one keen observer that the Igors down in Skiff bought them about – We at the IQ believe that they have very little (if anything) to do with it.

The most likely source of this change in the Mayor is the pressure of the position - an aspect unseen by the candidates until they take on the role and which is perhaps the biggest pitfall of the job itself.

Has our once peace loving gentle Sir Wax taken the position of power to his Mayoral head? His blustering manner and egotistical ways have managed to put many of the staunchest Wax voters off side, seeming to find IM’s (by the likes of MSN and Skype) to be more valuable as tools of communication than the council chambers, public forum and IF only Inn – should the Council take this as a direct snub to the fair city of IF herself?

Rather than giving the support to the Mayor that is the function of the Council it is beginning to seem like they are only too willing to throw any spanner in the works that they can find. Playing on the Mayor’s short term residence in IF several council members have, despite best assurances that they are ‘helping’, seemed keen to derail any steps Mayor Wax has made towards helping IF clarify her identity anew.

IF is surely in a period of change, whether or not the Ancients are amenable to the
fact, that the Mayor has the ability to lead her through – rather than hinder him with antiquated and old fashioned concepts or we tried that before, we should embrace the positive and fresh vibe that he brings in his wake...

IF has lost its fresh friendly feel too many and they had high hopes for Mayor WaxofLot – Here at the IQ we hope IF can back off enough to let him do his job.

The Ed.


It is with great pleasure that The Ed. Introduces to IF the Powerful Truth.
Pray that you may never grace His page.

The Powerful Truth.


Mayor Wax has caused quite a stir since his arrival at IF, distinguishing himself as a reviewer of story-games, and winning the election. However, some of his 'reforms' might be viewed differently, as exemplified in his choice of pet.

One particular day, whilst visiting the Inn, to mingle with blessed commoners such as myself, Mayor Wax captured a certain alcoholic faerie that we all know and love, and declared her his pet. This faerie, of course, despite being bound in chains and whipped, objected to this. Despite her vehement protests, the mayor proceeded to exert his control over his victim, and soon Harley began to suffer from an altered mindset similar to Stockholm’s syndrome.
Fawning and pandering to his whims the faerie now claims familiarity with the official.

Currently the faerie is often seen and heard in the Mayoral Mansion leaving some to speculate about the morality of such ‘training’ as she has endured. When asked about this, the Mayor denied all claims of having a pet yet when pressed further, the Powerful Truth was able to extract some answers from the reluctant Mayor.

PT-Can you explain the reasoning behind taking Harley as a pet?

Wax-She was naughty.

PT-Naughty...how so?

Wax-She kept biting people at the time.

PT-How did you get her to stop biting people?

Wax-I yanked her collar every time she tried.

PT-Last question, then. Most people choose a more domesticated animal for a pet.
What inspired you in your preference?

<Mayor Wax laughs>

Wax-That's a good question. I guess I felt sorry for the poor thing, I mean, no one else was showing her the guidance she needed. I had to do something, and everybody looked to me that day, so I had to do what I did.


No matter what conclusion one draws from this interview it is obvious to all concerned that the faerie has been coerced and is not of a stable mind to make her own decisions regarding the matter.

The Powerful Truth believes that those in IF better beware because, alliteration aside, the Truth is out there and it will be found...




The IQ Network will bring to you each Issue an interesting topic that has been afloat in the IF-ian threads - we would love to hear feedback from You!


Story Vs Game

Tuseday June 17th saw the beginning of a topic that made everyone that read it ask the question ‘Is an SG about the Story or the Game?’

Of late it seems that the general consensus is that while there is a large element of RP in the Inn and Games section, that for the most part IF has become about the reader/writer and not the player.

The IQ brings to mind the original intention of IF (InterFable) – an interactive storytelling forum where
the ‘player’ decides the outcome of the story.

It is undeniable that since the first posts of InterFable that the site has evolved to keep up with where the posters themselves were taking her. Gone is the total first person gaming element that attracted RPGers and a new wave of third person ‘you choose’ stories has been the outcome of a mixed population of Readers and Gamers.

Several popular IFians have weighed in on this controversial subject at some point – be it in the Inn or in the OF thread .

But it seemed to The Network that the topic deviated from Lebby’s original debate to being about the role of a DP in determining the story.

Prominent IF-ian Smee has been heard to mention that a DP is most effective when used – NOT – to dictate the outcome of the plot but to determine a characters reaction or direction... allowing an element of control by the author as to where the story goes...


Smee
‘I hate those kind of DP's. Both the creation of them,
and being asked to play them. I don't want to decide what is in the
box, or what is behind the door. I like to decide whether to open the door in the
first place or work out a tactic for dealing with what's behind it, depending on
where the author chooses to end the chapter.’

Lebby’s posts seem to argue in favour of a reader/gamer controlled plot – allowing the reader to feel a greater sense of connection to the SG and its characters through development with the readers input.

Lebrenth
‘The destination seems to be very inconsequential to the readers,
like they're passengers with free tickets and not a care where they're going as
long as the landscape is pretty. And the authors care so much about the
destination that they take over every time the passengers try to derail the train.’


And a very valid point this is indeed.. what’s the point of a player focused SG if they do not take ownership of the character or a plotline determined by the player if a writer is determined to have his own way despite what the players decide? Is this not destroying the very essence of what is essentially the core of IF’s SGs?

IF is one big Choose Your Own Adventure... so why don’t we start letting the
players decide... as Lebby says ‘Its the Journey not the destination’.

Embrace the fact that whether or not we are readers or gamers that the insight into our characters, the potential stories that we have a hand in developing, these are the reasons IF is who she is...
We are all RPGers at heart.

Own the experience... its not a burden to read anothers SG – Its OUR SG...
we take it there.. we explore its potential... if its bad its our own fault...


Let The IQ Network know what you think....


NEW TO THE IQ
Father Simmons is a good and humble man of God. It is his sole pleasure on Earth to help his fellow man in any way that he can. He is the sole of discretion and here to help You.

If you would like to have Father Simmons answer your questions or perhaps just have his opinion on a topic – be it love, life or otherwise... please send in your PM...

Submissions to Father Simmons





Next Issue!

Meet the latest additions to the IQ Team!

Father Simmons’ dishes out the advice you need!

The Ed. Keeps it real!

Powerful Truth brings you the facts!

The IQ Network brings you the latest in IF-ian News!
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