Cataclysm, admittedly a bit hard to follow · 1:21am Feb 19th, 2017
I've gotten more than a few complaints that Cataclysm is a little hard to follow in terms of the plot. I can see that, we do have six individual adventures which contribute to the overall story before a short ending bit. I felt it would be the most fun for everyone if each adventure was shown in a more cinematic way, cutting to and from each individual as time progressed to keep the action focused on all of them equally as time went on. But, we have a good deal of complaints that this makes things hard to read.
I'm almost done with this story, and I promise that the next one will be a return to more simple narratives. I wanted to see how complex a story I could tell, and I think I've figured out the limit there. Not every experiment is a success, which is good because you learn the most from failure.
There is something I could do for you if you'd like. I can change the order of posted chapters rather easily. Now that each of the 6's adventures are over. I could do one of the following things.
1. Arrange the 6's adventures chronologically by day and hour, so you read through everyone, cutting around, but in the order time progresses rather than cutting around to show a more dramatic view of the overall situation.
2. Arrange each part of the 6's adventures so that they flow in order regardless of chronology. IE, all of Dash's Quest is one continuous block, ignoring the date and time to present each short story as one chunk, and order them in a way which prevents spoilers (Easily done).
Cast your votes int he comments. 1, 2, or just leave it and move on after it's finished?
Sorry Meep... I haven't gotten to Cataclysm, but I think you should continue how you have it. Complexity can be a good thing, even if it makes it slightly harder to follow. Out of curiosity... how do you have it right now?
I was fine with how it was before, though I think I'll have to go with 2 if a choice must be made.
I would go with the first option.
I was fine with it. If I must choose, the first option.
4427751 Oh no, the story IS complex, but even if I ordered it differently it would remain so. I have it where after the intro chapters that set up the need for these adventures, the adventures begin and there is time skipping. For example, all of Rarity's adventure takes place 3 days after everypony else's except for Fluttershy because those two had to fly the furthest away from Equestria. However, I show parts of Rarity's adventure all through other ponies adventures, skipping ahead chronologicaly to show them.
IMO, none of that time skipping matters because they all leave on the 18th of Megan, and will all return on the 23rd of Megan. They are also all isolated from one another. So the five days of their adventuring (One Equestrian week) are unimportant to show in chronological order to me since they all start and stop on the same date. I felt that by shuffling things up a bit, I could create a more dramatic narrative. I think I did, but people seem to be having a problem telling what happens when (Despite my headers containing the date of each scene, where it's happening, and who holds the PoV. Those can only go so far I suppose.)
For example; Chapter 10 is all of Pinkie's Adventure. It's short and afterward she spends her time trying to find the others, fearing for their safety. Her adventure could be handled in one short story, so it was. Chapter 11 is Part 2 of Rarity's adventure which spans multiple chapters since it's more complicated.
Pinkie's adventure takes place on the 19th of Megan, while Rarity's Part 2 takes place on the 23rd of Megan. The next chapter, number 12, is Fluttershy's adventure and takes place on the 21st of Megan. All of Rarity's stuff are effectively flash forwards so that you see a bit of each character's adventure in a rotating order, rather than see a chronological progression of advents.
. 1 would be neat
Also more music this one for a Celestia vs. Dawn show down
Or a less well known alternative
You should make it more complex!
Seriously....this should not be that hard to follow....what you've got here is still rather simple from a narrative standpoint. Six and a half separate arcs, yes, but they are all closely tied together in obvious ways, all individually engaging, and each is a complete arc on its own.
4427780 Well... if each part has a header of that caliber, then I vote you should leave it... otherwise I would be okay with them moving to chronological order, but that is what I am fine with if you do need to change it. ^^ I plan on finishing up the Alpha timeline by the middle of next month... if I don't get too distracted reading, writing, or editing. Have a good day! Er... night. ^.^
The story is fine as is. it's done in a classic marvel/DC story panel style that's fun to read as it resembles the comics so much.
Anyone who's complaining about it can just wait till the stories done then read if they find it confusing.
i dont mind the way it is now, to much, i think the main killer is that if you dont just read it all at once then it will get lost in your head, but thats just me
Don't change anything IMO, it really isn't that hard to follow.
I like it how it is now. Before the journey begins was where I got the most confused actually, not with all six of them dispersing out. But it didn't take me long to figure things out and really, people think it is too complex? I think it is great! Just the right amount of complexity, maybe could even use a little more.
4427778 4427757 4427791 4428062 4428008 4427980 4428055 That's the way I see it, personally. It's far less complicated than most fantasy novels I've read. People should try reading the Elminster series :P
I just wanted to make sure that I didn't have a silent majority of people struggling to read the story. Thanks for voicing your opinions.
dont take me for granted, i have a well above average reading comprehension for my school district. and i'm learning disabled in reading/wrighting, so i can say that i am not the rule for Texas, Fort Worth area
just leave it, its not confusing if you actually read the parts that tell you the date
4429229 That's why I include them >>
I actually haven't had trouble following the events at all, and was enjoying it as it was presented. So I guess continue as is?
4430313 Yep! It's basically over anyways :) Reordering the chapters would have only made it simpler to reread in one chunk... Which wouldn't be much of an improvement because I think those who were complaining are suffering from a poor memory and simply forgetting prior events due to the site's format of "I publish one chapter every few days".
I used to try and publish the whole book in one go, but no one read them like that >> Despite the format being objectively superior and the site featuring a bookmark you can place anywhere in a chapter to return to that point later on.
I think it's fine. However, perhaps make a blog with links to the chapters in order. Maybe that would help, idk?
I think it's good how it is. But if you decide only between these options then go with 1. I've seen other stories try the 2nd option and it didn't end well.
4433043 It's going to remain as it is now :P
4433353 Gooooood
4433585 I make my eating money via my patreon, so this was mostly just a "I've gotten a few complaints... How many arn't saying anything?" check.
1, it would be harder to follow due to plot points in other stories being missing if you went with option 2.