[meme] conversation hooks

[st_ubby]

Let's do a "conversation hooks" meme!

Whatsa conversation hook?

A conversation hook is basically exactly what it says on the tin. You know how you use a hook to catch a fish? You can use 'em to catch CR (character relationships), too. The best way to do that is to bait the hook with something interesting or irresistible to another character (like catnip, but we're working a fishing metaphor here).

What makes a good conversation hook?
Aside from being interesting to other characters, a good conversation hook:
* is specific enough to provide a definite direction for conversation
* can't be said of lots of characters (ie, it's not necessarily unique to your character, but it's not so common as to be dull)
* has enough breadth or depth to sustain more than a tag or two
* is important enough to your character that they want (or really, really don't want!) to talk about it
* is something that you can easily work into a conversation, EP, or log start
* is something that you want to thread about
In other words, a good conversation hook, while not necessarily a soul-deep truth, is significant, meaningful, interesting, or important to both you and your character.

How do I meme it?

So glad you asked! For each character or potential character you're currently considering, tag in separately.
1. Copy the text below into your comment.

a. Name something you like (preferably something potentially available):<br> b. Name something you don't like (preferably something you might encounter):<br> c. Name something obvious in talking to/seeing you:<br> d. Name something not-at-all obvious in talking to/seeing you:<br> e. What's something you want fellow residents to know about you?<br> f. What's something you don't want fellow residents to know about you (but that your player wants to reveal)?<br> g. What's something you fear?<br> h. What's something you miss? <br> i. What's the most important promise you've ever made?<br> j. Name something your player really wants to do with you.<br> k. Name one character you don't know much about who you might be interested in getting to know.<br> i. What kind of connections are you interested in making? What types of people are you most likely to make those connections with? j. Answer any other question(s) we didn't ask that you think might be interesting!



2. Answer at least 4 questions and as many as all of them. (Feel free to delete the ones you don't answer, but don't remove the html code at the end of any line you keep.)

3. READ other people's answers.

4. Tag them with suggestions for conversations/threads/events/plots you could do together. If they agree, be prepared to follow up. If they don't seem interested, it isn't personal. (Tip: do try to be specific enough about why they might be interested in the conversation and with whom so that they aren't left wanting to answer but feeling dumb about asking what you meant.)

5. If you see something in other people's tags that makes you curious to see them log together, tell them both about it!

6. If the characters want to chat, let 'em. But don't have the whole conversation in a meme thread. If a few tags seem promising, try making a game thread! (That's not to say characters can't chat as much as you want. Just don't make the hooks boring to you before you use them.)

Because you will inevitably skim and miss things:

* yes, potential characters are allowed
* no, please don't put all of your characters in one comment
* no, you don't have to answer all the questions, but answer at least 4.
* no, you don't have to tag everyone, but you should aim to tag at least 2-3 for each character you tag in
* yes, you can tag characters with suggestions that don't include your characters
* the meme is open until people stop answering it.

Have fun!