Act 3 of 'The Pursuit of Happiness' is rolling
around, and at this point I'd like to take a
moment to listen to you, the readers that
have been following the story so far. 
��I wanna know what you guys want. 

Now there's a loaded question if there ever was
one. 

��So, here's the questionaire.... 

Heh. Cool. 

��1) Act 1 and Act 2 were fairly different in their
nature. � � Act 1 was more episodic, with one
part not heavily � � relying on the previous one,
while Act 2 revolved � � around the King of
Nerima plot. What style do you � � prefer, the
episodic style of act 1, or the unified
storyline style of act 2? 

It kind of depends on what you're going for,
actually. 
Act I was basically (and this is just my opinion, I
could be wrong) a huge expository/segueway
thing. You prep the charachters for the
tournament, intro a few new things, and
basicaly maintain the status quo as established
in TMTC. It didn't NEED to be a unified storyline. 
Act II, OTOH, was centered around a structured
fighting tournament, so a unified story was
neccessary to keep the flow and pacing right. >>So for Act III, it

depends upon your plot. If it's

going to be mostly just a string of wacky events
that only need to be tied together loosely, go
with the episodic thing. If, on the other hand,
there's going to be some definitive goal the
charachters need to accomplish (beat up the
bad guy, learn the secret technique before the
other guy, master plan to win the one you love
etc etc etc) go with the unified story thing. 

   I agree completely.  I enjoy both styles as well as various
combinations of the two.  An example would be D.B. Sommer's
"Shampoo1/2," it has one major goal it has been working toward and keeps
refering to, but there have been several small unrelated storylines
throughout the course of the series.  (BTW, D.B.  Loved chapter 33,
can't wait for more.)  You could do something similar, have one
underlying theme/story while several unrelated stories take place.  An
example would be Tanya Noori and Ryo Muhoshin drop into the background
for a while and conspire against Ryouga for a mutual revenge.  At the
same time the Nerima crew would have their usual, episodic misadventures
and there would be the occasional reference back to the plotting until
the time came for the plan to be enacted.

��2) What do you think of / want to see from the
following � � characters? More? Less? Are they
getting annoying? � � Too much exposure? Too
little? 
���� - Ryo Muhoshin 

Ryo kicks ass. Keep him going along exactly as
he has been, and you'll be fine. He's been
getting just the right amount of exposure. 

   I find Ryo an interesting character.  I think a little bit more
exposure would be nice.  I would also like to see something more on his
background (you are welcome to use the back-story I proposed a few
months ago, I still have a copy if you can't recall what it was).

Charachter wise.... you might wanna calm him
down a bit. For awhile there at the end of Act II,
(especially during the whole Akari kidnapping
thing) 

   What 'Akari kidnapping thing?'  Did I miss a chapter somewhere.  I
went to the page and there was only up to "Major Arcana."  Is there more
after that already or do I need to go re-read some earlier chapters?

he was acting way too much like the
psycho Muhoshin from CS, and I think I can
safely say that just ONE of those is enough for
ANY multiverse. 

���� - Ryoko Muhoshin 

I like how Ryoko's coming off. She strikes me
as a kind of pre-TMTC Ukyo, but with more
self-esteem and agressiveness. Although I was
a little surprised that she didn't do much about
her Ryoga fixation in Act II, beyond that
monologue of hers. 

   I would like to see more of Ryoko.  So far she seems to be a good
character and I think a little more of the rivalry between her and
Ucchan over Ryouga would be nice.

���� - Megane Muhoshin 

Megane needs a LOT more exposure. And I
mean a LOT. The only things we know about
him in TPOH are that a) he's a Muhoshin, b) he
plays the sax, and c) he wears glasses. I've yet
to see any significant advancement of his
charachter. 

   I definately agree on that point.  I have a feeling Megane may turn
out to be a pretty cool guy, but the character has barely been brushed
with more than a few minor appearances.  He really needs more
screen-time.

Oh sure, we get an idea of what he's like in
TMTR. But that's MST, and the charachters
aren't exactly like they are elsewhere. 

���� - Kyoko Muhoshi 

Don't change a THING. The little dear is perfect
just the way she is. 

   I think just a bit mor of Kyoko-chan would be nice, but it would be
easy to overdo it so don't try too hard.

���� - Tanya Noori 

A few more random drive-by Ryoga bombings
would be nice. And I'd like to see her warm up
to Konatsu a bit more. 
Although..... she struck me as going slightly
OOC at the end of Act II, when she sabotaged
Ryoga's match.

   WHAT?!?!  When did she sabtage a match of Ryouga's?!  Who was he up
against?  The last match I remember him being in was against Mariko and
it went just fine (other than the fact that he felt guilty about hitting
a girl).

Sure, she was out for revenge,
but an honorable martial artist (and since she
tracked Ryoga for years over a matter of honor,
we know that she is) wouldn't pull that kind of
stunt. 

   That's for sure.

But then, I'm biased, since I was absolutely
positive Ryoga was going to win and was rather
upset when he didn't. 

   Oh well, I still want to read it.  Anyways, Tanya ought to stay at
about the same level of exposure she is at now.  I think that any more
or ay less would do her character severe harm.

��3) What plot elements did you enjoy most?
least? 

I really liked what you're doing with Kuno.
Uppowering him was a stroke of genius. And
the whole Kodachi/Ryoga thing...... also cool.
I'd like to see a few more CS tie-ins, though.
That scene in Act I, with Ryo and Ryo and
Ryo.... that was great. I'd like to see more, lots
more. I'd especially enjoy a meeting between
CS Ryoga (the one that Miyabi is trying to hook
up with Ukyo) and TPOH Ryoga. Good
comparisons between pre-Akane Ryoga and
post-Akane Ryoga. 

   Some interesting ideas.  A few more references to CS might be good,
but IMO anything too blatant would do damage to this series.  I like the
way this is going.  I would like to see a few random challenges of
martial arts <insert activity> from oneshot characters like in the
series (i.e. Picolette Chardin and his martial arts dining).  I always
did enjoy those.

��4) More humor? Less? More drama? Less? 

Nah. The mix you've got going now is working
pretty well. Stay with it. 

   I think that just a little bit more comedy would be good.  Things are
going very nicely, and I really am enjoying the series, but I think that
a few nore sight gags/jokes/puns would be a good thing (like the
Nissanniichuan you mentioned in TMTC, that was hilarious).  Don't cut
back on the serious or dramatic parts any, just throw in a few extra
laughs.

��Thanks for your time, hope I can keep up the
writing. 

Yeah, what's the word on S.M.I.L.E and Demon
Knights, anyway? Those are the two that I
personally am REALLY looking forward too. 
-Mercutio
"A plague 'a both your houses!"

   I think that overall this is one of the better Ranma fics that I've
read.  I have enjoyed what you've done with it so far and (since where
it goes is ultimately your choice) I'm sure your future decissions
concerning it will be just fine.  I eagerly await the next section of
the series.  Please don't keep us waiting too long.  Until next time, ja
ne.

Sincerely,
Akihiro
Akihiro@webtv.net

Personal note to Rod:  I don't know if you recall, but a while back you
gave me permission to use Ryo Muhoshin I a fic (that was when I offered
what I saw as his history, I still have the e-mails if you want me to
forward a copy).  If that offer still stands I would like to work him
(and my proposed back-story) into my upcoming "Reisuihen" series.