Ultimate Marvel: Is there a way to make it work again?

[Blacklight]

Hello one again, my friends. I come to you all today with a hint of sadness in my heart, because for the third time now, something not seen since the "Dawn of Marvels" concept, the Ultimate Marvel RPG has died.

Now, being that Ultimate Marvel was one of the first games I ever joined and proved myself as an RPer in, It saddens me so to see it make the trek to the RPG Graveyard once again. But seeing it die again has me wondering: Is there ANY way to bring it back to it's former glory?

I mean, the first run went four seasons. The first run of Ultimate DC didn't even go that long. So there must've been something that made it work as long as it did.

Or, maybe it died because we followed the same stale formula over an over, and now it's time to radically change it? I mean, one idea would be to NOT follow the established Ultimate Marvel continuity and create our own cannon as we did in the old and new UDC games? But then again that might doom it to the same fate that Dawn of Marvels suffered before it?

I honestly don't know. The only thing I DO know is that one of the problems all three versions of Ult. Marvel shared was lack of players/activity.

Now, I personally want to see Ult. Marvel make a comeback like never seen before, but I may be the only one who does at this point. That said, I look to my fellow RPers and ask one question:

Do you want to see this game revived once more? And if you do, would you want it to be the same as the last three or would you change it?


Any and all thoughts and ideas are welcome to be shared here. Thank you for your time and any contributions you may make towards bringing this game back. I really appreciate it.

 

[Byrd Man]

I don't know. I mean it had two revivals already. The last one was just what, a month or two after the first one. Maybe, with all that's happened lately in the Ult. Comics, there isn't just enough interest in the Ult. Marvel world. I mean, with UDC, there has been no established ideas to go off of. All characters are brand new and original.

 

[Blacklight]

Maybe that's what we should do this time around? Start with no pre-established cannon and start from scratch? It has been working for UDC so far. Maybe that's just what Ultimate Marvel needs is a new, player-established continuity?

 

[Batman]

Not to be a negative ninny, but that's... basically just Dawn of Marvels.

 

[Byrd Man]

Maybe. That could work, but then you may just have another Dawn of Marvels scenario.

 

[Blacklight]

I realize this, but what can we do to make it Un-Dawn of Marvels?

 

[Byrd Man]

I realize this, but what can we do to make it Un-Dawn of Marvels?

Mind maybe explaining that a little bit clearer?

 

[Saved]

What is it people want out of an Ultimate Marvel RPG? Because I feel like so far the incarnations of the rpg's multiple attempts (save for the first time when it first began) haven't been what the rpers can really sink their teeth into and be able to write good stories that build continuity and last for an extensive time. (I'm not saying the stories weren't good, don't misread that). So, if we're going to even TRY to revamp the rpg, I suggest two things.

1) No one calls dibs, no one calls mod, gm, etc. Just forget about that for now.
2) What is it exactly everyone really wants from or for this rpg? No compromise, not yet. Just, everyone put in their two cents and we'll see what comes out.

 

[Eddie Brock]

I'm glad you made this thread, BL, because I was thinking of posing this question as well. For the majority of my time here, Ultimate Marvel has been one of my favorite RPGs. I can't tell you what made it work. I can't tell you what the last two incarnations were "lacking." I just know that I'm behind any honest effort to revive this thing.

 

[Blacklight]

Mind maybe explaining that a little bit clearer?

Sorry for being vague. I simply meant that, if we were to go the no pre-established continuity route, what ideas or concepts could we implement that can separate this game from all previous versions of Dawn of Marvels and make it different so that it lasts longer than Dawn did?

 

[Batman]

I think one mistake with this previous reboot of it, at least, was the rush that it was put into fruition. The other reboot didn't even end by the time the OOC thread for the second reboot was up - and to be honest, I don't think things were really that well thought out when the previous GM's went into it. All that was talked about was the cutoff point and they were off to the races without another word. And given how drastic each cutoff was, continuity was very confusing and not at all fluid with eachother. The RPG itself seemed to lack the unity that makes a game thrive - and no offense to any player of that game (I briefly joined it myself), but I think many of the players were just way too into their own stories to care.

So my only advice would be to not rush it. Ultimate DC's reboot came as an immediate decision, but there were already a set of thought out plans put in place that I discussed with a bunch of other players by the time of the first game's closing. I recommend the same here - get everyone's say into the finished product and create something everyone can agree on.

 

[Saved]

I agree. I'm split between either saying we keep the main origins and start up some time after that, or make a cut off sometime in the middle of the Ultimate Universe's continuity because, in my opinion, that was when it was in its prime.

 

[Eddie Brock]

I know we're all concerned because we saw the end of Dawn of Marvels, but maybe DoM didn't work because it had to compete with Ultimate Marvel. Essentially, there were two RPGs based around the same concept with one major difference - continuity.

 

[Saved]

You pose an interesting point, but I think its fair to say any rpg starting with untold origins is doomed to fail simply because there is no interaction while everyone is getting their stuff established and by the time the crossovers are ready to go, everyone has lost interest.

So, while I'm not saying anyone posed this idea, I AM saying starting any rpg from the origin is a death note. Though I think we all know this at this point, I just want to reiterate.

 

[Byrd Man]

I know we're all concerned because we saw the end of Dawn of Marvels, but maybe DoM didn't work because it had to compete with Ultimate Marvel. Essentially, there were two RPGs based around the same concept with one major difference - continuity.

That's true.....I swear to God, if this ****s MB and I's 60's RPG idea, you will rue the day!

 

[Eddie Brock]

I actually disagree about the origins. In fact, in the event of fresh continuity, I would want time to get my s*** together before interacting with anyone else.

 

[Byrd Man]

I actually disagree about the origins. In fact, in the event of fresh continuity, I would want time to get my s*** together before interacting with anyone else.

What about what we did in UDC, you had two options with your characters. They could either just be starting, or have been around for two or three years? That way it allows people to get their act together, and can help with interactions and such.

 

[Eddie Brock]

What about what we did in UDC, you had two options with your characters. They could either just be starting, or have been around for two or three years? That way it allows people to get their act together, and can help with interactions and such.

This would be my suggestion.

 

[Batman]

(Not to argue, just wanted to add this in)

I don't think making everyone go back and redo the origin from top to bottom is the way to go. Marvel characters tend to be a bit heavy handed in their origin tales - there are layers upon layers of character development. And while great stories is something that everyone strives for, we need to remember that these aren't mini fan-fictions. Waiting around for Peter Parker to be bitten by a spider or Punisher's family to be killed sort of bogs down the whole notion of what an RPG is about, and more to the point, what makes alot of the great stories that have come out of the games.

 

[Eddie Brock]

(Not to argue, just wanted to add this in)

I don't think making everyone go back and redo the origin from top to bottom is the way to go. Marvel characters tend to be a bit heavy handed in their origin tales - there are layers upon layers of character development. And while great stories is something that everyone strives for, we need to remember that these aren't mini fan-fictions. Waiting around for Peter Parker to be bitten by a spider or Punisher's family to be killed sort of bogs down the whole notion of what an RPG is about, and more to the point, what makes alot of the great stories that have come out of the games.

I don't see why we can't have our cake and eat it too. Interaction is undeniably the life-blood of these RPGs, but there's no reason we can't have all the development and depth at the same time.

 

[Byrd Man]

(Not to argue, just wanted to add this in)

I don't think making everyone go back and redo the origin from top to bottom is the way to go. Marvel characters tend to be a bit heavy handed in their origin tales - there are layers upon layers of character development. And while great stories is something that everyone strives for, we need to remember that these aren't mini fan-fictions. Waiting around for Peter Parker to be bitten by a spider or Punisher's family to be killed sort of bogs down the whole notion of what an RPG is about, and more to the point, what makes alot of the great stories that have come out of the games.

Which makes the "three year" rule kind of effective. That way, you get right into the meat and potatoes without worrying about the salad.

 

[Eddie Brock]

Frankly, MB, I would cite your Batman (in both UDC incarnations) as a great example of that compromise. When you work by yourself, you get a surprising amount accomplished, but you also leave room open to interact.

 

[Batman]

I don't see why we can't have our cake and eat it too. Interaction is undeniably the life-blood of these RPGs, but there's no reason we can't have all the development and depth at the same time.

Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. I'm just saying there needs to be a healthy balance. (God, I feel like I'm advertising a breakfast cereal... )

 

[Batman]

Frankly, MB, I would cite your Batman (in both UDC incarnations) as a great example of that compromise. When you work by yourself, you get a surprising amount accomplished, but you also leave room open to interact.

I mainly meant the origin, not the development itself. Truthfully, I haven't really delved into much of Batman's past yet because I know I'd just be kicking everyone who wanted (or needed) to interact with Bruce in the balls.

 

[Blacklight]

That's true.....I swear to God, if this ****s MB and I's 60's RPG idea, you will rue the day!

I don't think it will. Mainly because the 60's Marvel game has already gone through the brainstorming process and is ready to become a game. We still might want to think things through for this one before putting up an application