The Apiary

[Shna_na]

I recently launched the core of my .23 career mode space station into low Kerbin orbit. Due to the lack of availability of some critical techs such as the Rockomax Mainsail and Rockomax Jumbo, I had some problems and have decided to share this with the community. I will be posting about every launch of the mission including some screenshots, episodes varying in number of launches and actions. A mission banner, flag, and poster are all in the works as of now and will be posted here through the power of the edit button. All craft files will be available on the SpacePort as and when their episode is released. Failed crafts will not be made available, but if you really want me to upload a discarded craft then I will do so. A bundle pack will be made available at the end of the project for those who want to download all aspects of the mission.

This is an open-ended project that will involve the community in decision-making and construction, and here's the first. The project could go one of two ways: roleplay or documentary. A poll is included in this thread where you can cast your opinion on the matter and determine the fate of the project. My opinion? Being as unbiased as possible, I would like to point out the following: roleplay would take twice as long to write, twice as long in construction, and three times as long in screenshot editing. On the other hand, it would be more entertaining and far more interactive than a documentary. Design would also play a larger part.

The story: I have a few years of experience with design and media studies, but am yet to put them to any real use. So I decided to test my narrative skills with this project. Your choices will affect the design, tone, and most importantly the narrative of this mission. Choosing roleplay will likely increase the effect you have on these things.

Thanks for reading, if you have any suggestions as to what I should put onto the space station, feel free to input your word. The first episode will be in production when the voting ends (Monday, 16th February). This give me a period of grace to sort out the artwork.

Update: I have completed what I consider to be half of the artwork for this mission. The banner and flag can both been seen in this thread, if you'd like to share your opinion on them please do.

Sidenote: If this project is a success, I may re-create it in video and post it on Youtube and the Forum. The reason this is only a maybe is because I am inexperienced with video-making but do have a solid understanding of what makes a good video. The issue I have is with the software - I don't know how to use it. I'd be more than happy to learn if you guys really want me to though.

Edited February 11, 2014 by Shna_na
Mission banner updated, Flag added

[Dodgey]

Sounds good, I will be sure to follow it.

[USKnight]

Dear Shna_na,

I voted for documentary. I look forward to seeing your progress. Nice use of fonts and graphics in your post. I'm sure the construction of the Apiary will be a rewarding project that will bleed into a greater adventure for those involved. I mean once the station is built it becomes a staging point for other adventures.

[Shna_na]

Sounds good, I will be sure to follow it.

Great, thanks for the support

Dear Shna_na,

I voted for documentary. I look forward to seeing your progress. Nice use of fonts and graphics in your post. I'm sure the construction of the Apiary will be a rewarding project that will bleed into a greater adventure for those involved. I mean once the station is built it becomes a staging point for other adventures.

Thanks! The voting is now neck-and-neck. Intense stuff going on with that poll

[Shna_na]

Voting is now closed. It looks like Documentary takes the biscuit, with 7 votes to 4, claiming 63.34%. Definitely not what I expected. I will start work on a poster for the craft and am now open to suggestions for modules to put onto it. Work will start on writing the first episode once the poster is complete.

Final Verdict: Documentary

Edit:I'm a little busy with a lot of work here. I'll try to release an episode at least every week, but it may be a struggle and there will probably be less graphical content (in terms of visual, not gore). The series will most likely start in April.

Edited March 13, 2014 by Shna_na

[The Jedi Master]

So if it's documentary, can we still affect it?

[Shna_na]

So if it's documentary, can we still affect it?

Yes, most certainly. The effect you have on the mission will still be major (especially in the later stages, but that's enough for spoilers), but it a very different way to how you would have affected it if we were to go for roleplay. For example: where in roleplay you would be able to change certain aspects as to the way a specific Kerbal acts as a result of his time in space, in documentary you will change where the mission is destined to go and what the point of it all will be. It also means that rather than having to do things like they are in real life (in a logical order), you can instruct me to do things in any order you wish (by this I mean the assembly of the station). It also includes the option of us not having to do crew rotations (or as many, the chances are that I'll still do at least one... Or more, if you so wish) or even have a crew at all. The purpose of the station could be changed in a more flexible manner - where a refuelling-based space station would have been off the cards in roleplay it's a very real possibility with documentary.

The layout of each episode will also be different. With roleplay, a poll would be found at the end of each episode in which you could decide on what happens next. Because of this, it would have been more linear (though with multiple paths, so not exactly linear, per se) - now that we are not focused around a narrative as such, there are more possibilities and therefore more more opportunities. Allow me to underline the differences in the two formats in a way that is easy on the eyes:

Advantages of Documentary over Roleplay:

- More flexible

- More input earlier on

- More possibilities

- Less time required to spend on organising a system for how characters act etc.

- Functionality of crafts is better

- Informative

- Can pick up some tips

Disadvantages of Documentary over Roleplay:

- Less in-depth

- Less graphics

- Less engaging narrative

- Crafts will not be as aesthetically pleasing

- Less creative

- No plot twists

- Less out-of-the-box ideas that you could apply to your knowledge bank.

I think this about covers it. Has this cleared everything up for you? Do continue to ask questions if you feel it is necessary to do so.

Edited March 18, 2014 by Shna_na
Posted before finishing the post. Dunce hat has been equipped.

[The Jedi Master]

I like that even better! I'll enjoy this!

[Shna_na]

I like that even better! I'll enjoy this!

Great! As you may have gathered, it's all a little bit of bad timing on my part, for which I truly do apologise, but I have a fair few deadlines coming up and some are... Procedural, for want of a better word. My estimation is that I can be writing the episodes in 2 weeks at the earliest. Worst case scenario is that it'll be another 10 weeks, maybe 11, but The chances are that I'll be pumping out around one episode per week by that point. I should have a fair amount of free time in, say, 15 weeks (maybe less, but this is an estimation), where the episodes will be more frequent if the series is not complete - the chances are that this series may go on for a while. I do have some plans for something that could go one of two ways: it would either end the series in preparation for a new one that uses the product of this series, or it could be a season 2 of this series.

[The Jedi Master]

Not to nag, but it's been a month. When is this coming?

[Shna_na]

Not to nag, but it's been a month. When is this coming?

No problem, I'm glad to see that you're still interested in the series.

In a month-or-so's time, my ~14 months off begins. That's when the first episode will be started. I can pretty much guarantee that the at least one episode will be posted before the end of June. If not posted, it will be damn-near finished. This is my first experience with writing a series, or any piece of "creative writing" that lasts longer than 600 words, so I'll be allowing myself a few days of polish for each episode. I can assure you that the project has not been abandoned though . See this blog post for a little more on the matter, and be sure to check every now and then to see if I've posted any more of them. The linked blog is the latest.