On Sun, 12 May 1996 gaffney@iconn.net wrote:

I've been listening to all the arguments over "Whose
Life Is It Anyway" and whether Ranma could be beaten in
that way.  I didn't have a problem with it, but that's
because I tend to jettison plot problems if the 
characters are right.

Heh.  Well, I can accept odd behavior, because no one acts completely 
consistently 100% of the time.  On the other hand, if they constantly act 
out of character for no apparent reason (Like the story opens wiht Nabiki 
giving away all her possessions for no apparent reason :), then I can't 
accept it.

But Good characterization won't help if the plot sucks or if you toss out 
aspects of the universe for no particular reason or in an inconsistent 
fashion, like Gosunkugi suddenly can kick everyone's butt, just because :)


 > Likewise, if a fic has an excellent plot, but none of 
the > people ring true, then it's nt a fic that grabs me.

I don't think you can have a really good plot unless the characterization 
is at least decent.

or to be more precise, you may have a really good plot but it has little 
or nothing to do with the world you're supposedly writing in.

John Walter Biles :  MA-History, Ph.D Wannabe at U. Kansas         
ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu   http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~ranma/falcon.html 
                            http://www.dhp.com/~wraven/john/index.html
"All dressed up and no place to go...but Oblivion!", "That's so 
sweet...I'm getting cavities!", "Welcome to hell, Sailor Moon!"--Queen Beryl