James "Phoenix" Jones wrote:

        I agree.  The whole purpose of fanfiction is to expand (contract,
embellish, etc) an existing story.  If you could _only_ write stories were
the characters are _IN CHARACTER_, there would be no point to the story.
Taking character's _OUT_ of character is often just as interesting if not
more so.

	I think there is a fine line bewteen OOC and, well... not Ranma 1/2.  I
can see Ranma going for Ukyou in Winding Road, because it is mostly
logical, barring a few OOC.  But, if Ranma just decides to give up Akane
one day for no reason and go for Ukyou, that will be not-Ranma 1/2. 
Anyone understand what I'm trying to get here?  I think it is okay to be
OOC as long as it does not... infringe on Ranma 1/2 storyline, like
those Ryouga rape Akane stories.

        That was the snag I hit in Mechwarrior Team Jusenkyo.  I couldn't
justify how the characters would get cursed in the Battletech Universe (it
was unlikely that they've ever been to earth at all.  And both Shampoo and
Mousse are from the Clans).  Since I couldn't figure out how they would get
cursed, I decided to leave the curses out.  Even though I wrote the story,
I'll be the first to admit that a curseless Ranma 1/2 is about as OOC as a
story gets!

	I don't think curses are necessarily an integral part of the story.  It
is good for comical relief, and I admit there can be a lot of good plot
that develops from it.  But still... it seems that the curses cannot be
that intergral to be Ranma 1/2 fanfic.

        This is another point I agree on.  God knows how many authors there
are on this ML (I lost track a _long_ time ago) and I challenge _anyone_ to
find two authors that think in perfect synch.  It is the deversity of the
authors and the stories they write that makes Fanfiction so interesting and
what makes the ML a fun thing to be on.

	There are over 300+ people on this ML, most of them probably authors.

        I will be the first to admit that I like a lot of the characters of
Ranma 1/2.  In fact _all_ of the characters have good points, even if the
characters are there for comic relief.
        Personally, I'm at an impass as to whether I like Akane or Ukyou
better. After all, those to balance each other out pretty well.  A sort of
Yin-Yang relationship if you think about it (don't ask for an explanation,
it's a philosphical thing)

 
	Hmmm... good point.  

        Saying that a character is OOC is usually a futile thing to do
because almost everything in fanfiction goes against something.  I don't
agree that people in the Ranma series (or any other series) should be
arbitrarily paired up with each other, but different pairings make for a
little variety every now and then.  Don't dismiss a fic that says something
like "in this one Ranma's finally gonna pic Ukyou," purely on the basis that
it pairs Ranma with Ukyou.  Read the fic first and see if the author has a
good reason for the pairing.  However, you've got to have an open mind to
see this pairing.

 
	The Ranma and Akane pairing is one of the most solid, if not only,
pairings in Ranma 1/2.  I'll say Zen did a good job thinking of why
Ranma and Ukyou get together, though.

        I myself have a Ranma fic planned for the future that is strongly
leaning toward having Ranma get paired up with Ukyou.  This may change or it
may not, it all depends on the rest of the story.  However, rest assured,
that I'll have a reason for the pairing if that's how it ends up.

 
	I'll be waiting to see it.

        In conclusion just let me say 1) if you've read all this way, thank
you very much and 2) remember to keep an open mind.

 
	I'm open-minded.  Whether I'll agree with the story, though, is totally
another thing...

	PS	To Phoenix:  Did you get the story I sent you?



Don,
"Time flows like a river, and History repeats..." Secret of Mana