In a message dated 4/1/99 03:52:11 AM, rgorman@telusplanet.net writes:

I have to disagree with you here.  I personally would rather the hints of
the mysterious stanger disappear.  Instead of worrying over who gets the
ring (and control of Ranma) and then how they get outsmarted (which seems
to be the only way to defeat a cleaver evil person with ultimate power) I

Personally I'm still in favour of Happosai being the source of the ring.

Now that you mention him, I think it's far more than likely that Happosai
would have been the source of the ring. He's disappointed that the magic ring
works only on females, so he decides that it's time for Ranma to have a
lesson. So he mails him the ring. Either him or Colone (see my comments on her
below).
Of course, it's up to the author himself.

would rather see how Akane deals with having the world at her fingertips
(what is the point of anything then?) and Ranma and Akane's relationship
with the control she has.  I think the character interaction has much more
promise than conflict over the ring and Ranma's dealing with slavery to
someone he hates.  Slavery to someone he care about is more interesting to
deal with.

For a while.  I don't see any reason why the story can't do both.  In fact
without some kind of bad guy, the story would be lacking any kind of climax.

While I'm still in favor of omitting the bad guy from the fic (throughout the
manga series, there's almost usually no bad guy mentioned, just a general big
misunderstanding), I suppose it might be necessary to have him appear in the
fic. Just don't begin hinting the sinster purpose or the bad guy's involvement
in the ring matter YET. Focus on the developing problem of Ranma being the
genie.

There's a limit to the amount of character development you can do.  
It's not like this is a waffy thing where Ranma will confess how much he
finally loves being Akane's slave at the end, or an emotional piece where

Ranma confessing that he loves being a slave to Akane? @_@
THAT last sentence caught me by surprise. Though I'm not averse to a such
event actually occuring- the concept alone is amusing enough.

he storms off because of his mistreatment.  From the start there was

obviously

a bad guy.  Somebody sent that ring, that somebody obviously did not have
Ranma's best interests at heart, and if you are going to establish that
at the start of the story, it would be a cop out to pretend he isn't going
to show up at some later point.

Whoever said that there shouldn't be a bad guy in a fic? It doesn't have to be
a law where there should be a bad guy in EVERY fanfic. Though, if there's
going to be a bad guy, at least keep it in character with manga- make it
either Happosai or Cologne the person who sent Ranma the ring. Both certainly
have potential motive behind this act. Happosai would be profiting from
punishing and humilating Ranma (and taking advantage of his female form, to
boot). Cologne, on the other hand would profit from a non-rebellious Ranma
form, and could literally wish that Ranma to be married to Shampoo and have
him completly compliant to Shampoo's wishes. It also doesn't hurt that she has
plently of experience with magical trinkets and goods.

Again, this is up to the author himself. Regardless of his decision, I'll
contiune to look forward to the future installments of the series. Fans of
Ranma 1/2 would have to be an idiot if they're not reading this one (no
offense intended).


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