Oh right, I was going to post about this yesterday.
You know Session #3? If you don't know what Session #3 is, PM me. Well, Stel and I are thinking of using Alternian trolls for Session #3 after all, if no one has any objection. And we're
also thinking of using that
Borges faux classification system I suggested a while back.
I'm just gonna copy-paste/paraphrase my pitch to Stel on the three big reasons I think we should go with that idea:
- It's fresh. I
promise you no other Homestuck fanfic has used this conceptual framework for their trolls -- it's way too obscure. Most people have never even heard of Borges, whereas everyone knows that there are two zodiacs (and everyone knows about planets, birthstones, Tarot cards and other such sets of things -- I was thinking about basing our trolls off the major arcana, but twenty-two of them would be a few too many, don't you think?).
- On that note, despite not going as high as twenty-two, it
is a slightly larger set than our player count, which opens the table for assignments other than a 1:1 ratio. At the very least, two of us would get to double up on trolls. Even more likely, a few other RPers would decide they had enough on their plate with their player, and then more of us would get to double up. Or, alternately, we could offer surplus trolls to RPers who otherwise aren't participating.
- It's rich, idiosyncratic and unpredictable! Every one of those fourteen groups suggests
something to me about the personality or other attributes of a character based on that group, and that even includes the bafflingly, endearingly obtuse categories "those included in this classification" and "others". I bet the rest of you guys could come up with even better stuff using this list as a springboard.
I should put my money where my mouth is, so here's a point-by-point rundown of just what kinds of character ideas those fourteen groups put in
my mind, which'll hopefully stir you guys into substituting or layering on your own interpretations:
1. those that belong to the Emperor: High blood, almost certainly. Possibly the heir apparent to the Emperor/Empress in this alternate timeline? Hence, a sea troll?
2. embalmed ones: A creepy type, I'd imagine. Obsessed with dead things. Or maybe just with an interest in history/archaeology/paleontology. Or maybe with an interest in history/archaeology/paleontology that is actually just a front for an obsession with dead things.
Elliot's running this one.3. those that are trained: We're thinking this would be
Stel's mantis troll, since she's, you know, in training as a martial artist. Needless to say,
Stel's running this one.4. suckling pigs: Gotta have a big fat boar as a lusus. After that, you've got the full range of porcine connotations to choose from (hence this troll is probably greedy and/or gluttonous), as well as maybe a crippling dependence on his/her lusus if you were to emphasize the "suckling" aspect.
5. mermaids: Clearly a sea troll. Not much else to say. If #1 is a boy, #5 is probably a girl. Or else we could subvert it and flip the genders!
6. fabulous ones: Oh jeez, I don't know, where could we possibly take
that one.
Loogs is interested in this one.7. stray dogs: A canine lusus, I suspect. Probably a drifter. Maybe homeless, and having narrowly avoided culling on many occasions? Gives the opportunity to use some other nearby structure rather than a house for the purposes of play.
Biscuit's running this one.8. those included in this classification: Introverted? Narcissistic? Given to excessive bouts of metaphysical and existential rambling??
Belle's interested in this one? Maybe?9. those that tremble as if they were mad: Well obviously there are a lot of possibilities here. You can tremble with fear, sorrow, rage, or, as the category suggests, insanity.
10. innumerable ones: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER HEYO! Or maybe this troll just has a shitload of imaginary friends. Or something. There are ways to infuse a single personality with shades of collectivity. I should know.
Blood's running this one.11. those drawn with a very fine camel's hair brush: A budding artist is the most obvious hint here. They could have a camel lusus, too, if you want to be clever.
12. others: The one who just doesn't fit. At all. Maybe s/he has zero social skills. Maybe they're a mutant of some kind, like Karkat. There's just something indescribably wrong with this one.
Bulbs is running this one.13. those that have just broken a flower vase: A klutz, obviously. A klutzy botanist, even better.
Tangrow's running this one.14. those that resemble flies from a distance: A fly-like lusus would be interesting. The troll him/herself might also have something of the insectoid in his appearance (I mean -- you know what I mean). Big ol' goggles or shades, wispy hair, lots of twitchy movements. It could work.
Testbug is running this one.Any of these catch your interest? Any alternate interpretations to offer? Any stakes to claim? If everyone likes the classification system, I say we go with this for Session #3. It's obviously far too early in the story for there to be an urgent need to allocate all trolls to RPers, but the sooner we start batting ideas around on this front, the better.
P.S. They don't have to stay in that order from 1 to 14 -- like on the hemospectrum etc., they can go in whatever order we decide. It's not like #1 has to be the highest blood and #14 the lowest, or vice versa. We should choose blood color based on what makes sense for the character.