Favorite Neopets Plot?

[Zoey]

I think I participated in like... six or so plots when I was younger? Only two of them made my list, and one is TFR:

1. LDP2, because all the desert designs and gold and puzzles delighted my younger self
2. Altador Plot, because people had guides and even with them the parts were still fun to complete, also GREEK INSPIRATIONS and the freaking Punch Club that kept coming back.
3. TFR, which I was never here for, but it continued the whole "thieves are heroes" theme TNT apparently loved and had a coherent plot with glittery graphics and a cute little storyline.

Can't wait to see what JS comes up with, though!

[Kyn]

1. The Faeries' Ruin: Best art, best cast, best storyline, best kiss...

2. Lost Desert Plot: Nightsteed.

3. Hannah and the Ice Caves: Kanrik.

[Strider]

Champions of Meridell. It was surprising to see a site subvert the "shiny pretty people = good, twisted demonic monsters = bad" cliche - I remember being with Meridell on day one, but when I found out the whole backstory, I switched sides immediately. I couldn't help but feel bad for a bunch of perfectly innocent people who were totally screwed over because another nation (while well-intentioned) put their own needs before everyone else's. The twist at the end where they Diabolus ex Machina'd Darigan into being evil was pretty awful, though. It also still bothers me that, aside from putting Vex and Galgarroth in the Gallery of Heroes, TNT still keeps pushing the "Meridell = good, Darigan = evil" angle.

Granted, in BFM they came up with a decent explanation for why Darigan lost it (The Three), and the whole "Meridell = good, Darigan = evil" angle is justified in my stories as an example of historic revisionism.

You know, both Meridell plots have basically been the fuel source for my NT stuff. I think it's high time I got back to writing Desolation of Meridell again...

[doctortomoe]

Oooh, I forgot about Ski Lodge Murder Mystery. I was around for that one, but I was so young and new I thought I wasn't allowed to enter plots.

[Strider]

Here's a sign of how old I am - I remember Sacrificers.

[Duke Pikachu]

Champions of Meridell: The first plot I was able to actively participate in, mainly because it was a war plot. Sure I couldn't do a lot since Firo wasn't that strong, but it still holds a special place for me. And even though I couldn't battle that much, I could at least enjoy the story which I very much do. A war with no good or evil sides, two kingdoms with everything to lose (one to maintain their peaceful existence, another who had been wronged and looking to restore themselves) and little glory to gain (Meridell isn't going to come out looking good, if they lose they're doomed but if they win they're responsible for dooming another kingdom. Darigan Citadel faces a similar dilemma, if they win they did so by destroying another kingdom that might have wronged them but it was because they were suffering much like how the Darigans were).
Now I do have some problems with the story. First they do put Meridell in a very dim view due to King Skarl excluding the part about the Golden Orb being stolen. While it presents a war where there's no good or evil sides, it was still a plot made with little kids in mind so they didn't go into the nuance which at least I'd imagine Skarl, Jeran, and others who knew the truth would be feeling; knowing the theft was necessary for Meridell's sake but unintentionally dooming another who now want revenge. darned if you lose, darned if you win. Also the 2nd war, Battle for Meridell, removed a bit of the tragedy by revealing all this was planned by The Three, thus giving the first was an invisible villain. Now I do like The Three and seeing Lord Darigan redeem himself, and we don't know how much The Three influenced Darigan, but still I liked the tragedy better when it was just Darigan being driven mad without anyone else possible pushing him down that path.

Curse of Maraqua: This was the first war plot where I really felt I participated as Firo was strong enough to take on the higher end opponents (to an extent). It also felt like it paid off the most as this was the first plot to introduce the concept of the Prize Shop. I liked the story good enough too, its rare to read a pirate story that is not only good but also isn't about hunting for a treasure.

Lost Desert Plot: To me LDP was for puzzle plots what CoM was for war plots. This was the first of what has become considered the modern standard for Neopet puzzle plots. And where CoM introduced the Prize Shop, LDP perfected it and standardized it. Unsurprisingly, I liked the story good enough, even though near the end it did kind of felt it fell apart with the convenient reveal of Nabile having royal blood, Tomos vanishing (they couldn't have do something like being the one to tell Jazan about Razul?), and Razul coming out of nowhere.

Altador Mini-Plot: I liked this plot simply because it was very community heavy with everyone working together to solve it. It was our replacement for not having the Darkest Faerie Plot actually being on the site but I feel it does hold up by telling a non-linear story, it's more of an investigation plot where we solve puzzles and slowly learn about Altador's history, how it works, the Council Members backstory, and wrapping up loose ends from the Darkest Faerie plot.

Faeries' Ruin: darn, this gets on my favorite list alone just for that plot twist and awesome imagery that came with it. While Xandra wasn't the first sympathetic villain, she is the first to remain a villain yet you still understanding her point of view. It also actually made Neopets feel like all the worlds were connected as you had Faerieland (the Faeries), Brightvale (Brynn & Hanso), Altador (King Altador), Lost Desert (Jazan), Haunted Woods (Xandra), and Shenkuu (Ogrin Master) landing characters and elements (though does make you curious what everyone else was doing).

War of the Obelisk: While ending up a bit disappointing, a 6-way war event was still exciting. Would have liked more story, though I guess it would have been hard to as there's 6 factions that would need fleshing out. But I do like how varied they made the factions, each having their own reasons for wanting the Obelisk and how this came to a head with the Obelisk Fear Spirits.

However for the most part I like all or at least parts of all Neopets plots and hope one day we can have another (and have it be good. JS has big shoes to fill... THOUGH if they're looking for ideas I can provide them one... two... would I sound crazy if I said I had made a plot idea for each world plus more (including an idea for a new world and some interesting events)?)

[Moni]

Feb 10, 2017 23:29:06 GMT -5 Strider said:

Champions of Meridell. It was surprising to see a site subvert the "shiny pretty people = good, twisted demonic monsters = bad" cliche - I remember being with Meridell on day one, but when I found out the whole backstory, I switched sides immediately. I couldn't help but feel bad for a bunch of perfectly innocent people who were totally screwed over because another nation (while well-intentioned) put their own needs before everyone else's. The twist at the end where they Diabolus ex Machina'd Darigan into being evil was pretty awful, though. It also still bothers me that, aside from putting Vex and Galgarroth in the Gallery of Heroes, TNT still keeps pushing the "Meridell = good, Darigan = evil" angle.

Granted, in BFM they came up with a decent explanation for why Darigan lost it (The Three), and the whole "Meridell = good, Darigan = evil" angle is justified in my stories as an example of historic revisionism.

You know, both Meridell plots have basically been the fuel source for my NT stuff. I think it's high time I got back to writing Desolation of Meridell again...

Did I hear something about an unfinished series? Bad Strider!

Write that series!

I NEED MORE MERIDELL IN MY LIFE.