Possible additional updates for Ranger · 4:19pm Aug 8th, 2018
Hello, readers!
If you're reading "Ranger" (or if you're not, but have taken a look at it) then you're well aware of the sheer number of ever-increasing chapters it contains. Perhaps this has stopped you from jumping right in.
I've been thinking that, in order to facilitate catching-up—and possibly increasing interest—for new readers, I will add a few new "Summary Chapters" in between arcs. These will be basically that: a summary omake of sorts where the general events of an arc will be covered.
This way, if the prospect of reading that many chapters intimidates new readers, or impedes returning readers from catching up, the summaries will give them a general understanding of what has transpired from summary to summary.
This of course, will not cover ALL the incidents that occur in between and will not replace the character development that occurs in the chapters in between.
I'm thinking, if you have interesting in sharing Art you may have done yourself or commissioned of your favorite scenes in those arcs, it would be the ideal place to post and share. If you have any and you haven't sent it over, I'd love to include it!
I'd try to also include possible extras, like bios for characters appearing in those arcs as well.
So, how does this sound for everyone?
While I don’t read Ranger, this is something I definitely wish more long-form authors did.
I am ambivalent on the issue.
Love ranger and yeah this seems like a good idea. Like a last time on ranger.
Character bio’s would be a definite help, and so would the summary chapters. Personally I would just start over, I did when you got to chapter 100 and I’ll probabaly do it again when you get to 200. To me, Ranger is a good story and I don’t mind rereading it.
Definitely a good idea to put those summary Chapters. It should help them show which part to take a break.
I'm not reading Ranger, but I think it's a good idea what you're up to. I'm aiming to feature in BPH's author notes little glossary entries explaining things that make up the BPH world, such as talking about the sand lizards or the new date system. As long as it's not going overboard (a concept I'm wrestling with ATM), I say go for it.
Overall, I think it is a good idea to summarise the story to date, say every 50 chapters. This does not need to be part of the story but rather can be a blog entry that you link to from the story description. Also, put in the description, links to character bios, such as what I saw once for all the Avenger groups.
Additionally, if you ever feel like editing or cleaning up, do summarise the story into less chapters. That would make it more approachable.
I guess it's good for the extra stuff, and maybe to review things without reading the whole story over again.
Anyone intimidated by the chapter count should, in my humble opinion, grow a brain and look at the word count.
If that's still intimidating, they can read something else. That's just how I feel. 
I don't see a problem with it. And while I don't think they'll obviate the desire to read the regular chapters for me, I can see them being potentially useful. And if there are to be extras in there as well, not just the summaries, well, those can be expected to be good. :)
I'm going to start reading soon, but it's a great idea. The longer something gets, the easier, even for readers, it is to lose track of things.
For the record, I haven't started Ranger yet, though I plan to! I would do the summary chapters with the intention of it being more of a refresher for those that have currently been reading rather than a catch-up mechanism for new readers. My thoughts are, it's better to focus on those that have and are investing into the story than to distil and/or attenuate your own work. Don't short change your own hard work.
I can only see this as a good thing.
Well, the way I'm looking at it is less of a "summary" and more of a follow-up-after-arcs kind of thing. So it'll go in its unique way over some of the highlights in the arc, but won't delve into it, so it would be mostly a "here to help you keep up" kind of thing that provides additional interesting info to readers and could function also as a mini-hook for additional readers if they're curious of taking a general look at the story and look at those. They might just decide to give the whole thing a chance.
Short chapters go by fast, after all
4917089
Sounds good. Thanks for the elaboration. :)
4917089
That sounds better. Now I'm looking forward to it.
I actually dont see why anyone would be upset at the number of chapters in this fic. the main hurdle for me is it doesn't quite feel like sunset is a strong enough lead for what is happening in story. she doesn't seem to affect the plot in any way, she's just a chucklefuck thats getting passed buck to buck, and while that may be okay if the ride is entertaining, it really isn't. the dialogue seems kind of stilted, it may be naturally awkward, but it's not going to hold up to a lot of attention. Fall out equestria girls, stardust, and other stories, for all their strengths and weaknesses of writing durring and after production, know how to set the pace in the beginning, to hook a reader even if what follows might not be perfect. It's generally because they put the character in immediate confrontation, and give them the agency needed to resolve the situation, while adding in tension that things might not go their way. It just doesn't feel engaging. It doesn't need to be action all the time, but sunset feels trivialized from more than just a power sense but a narrative one. she doesn't feel like she matters, there's nothing in the story inclining you to care about her plight. If she's not supposed to be a major player in this universe, then she needs to be taking on mile stones appropriate to her to set some kind of pacing. not have them handed to her by someone stronger. The guy may be more suited to do whatever it needs to be done because hes a man and a super soldier, but the dissonance here is that if we are supposed to empathize with him, HE needs to be facing stronger challenges than sunset's smaller milestones, otherwise he too will come across as more uninteresting.
4919754
Hm. Fair, if that is your opinion, and thank you for the feeback.
I disagree, of course. In fact, I feel you're basing this on a number of chapters you might have clicked on independendly rather than the story as a whole.
Through the story so far she has gone through a lot of character development; entire chapters are dedicated just to her psychological changes... there's not "action" all the time by any margin. Her effect in XCOM is already seen in their acceptance of others, including a fringe group of aliens left over from the previous war, the technology they're developing and expanding their field of knowledge; she's personally responsible for taking down the assassin while facing her own insecurities born of perceived failures; she's limited by the magic she has at hand and is developing worrying tendencies that could potentially be her downfall. She's seen friends—some very close—die and has been unable to save them. She's not been blasted with rainbow rays, so she's by no means a repentant, "clean" character. Her evolution, thus, is different.
This is also a series that updates every other day. The pacing is by necessity different than other stories, and has worked fine so far, although, having said all that, I think I am reaching a point where if I'm not careful, she'll end up as you said being passed around... she needs a self-starting boost
4919825
if you have to contort yourself around the argument that I chose random ass chapters to read then you severely should reconsider your entire post. I'm not going to bother to listen to the rest of it. sort yourself out bucko ^:) but in all seriousness I listen to stories on audio, There was no skipping, ergo youre emotionally projecting some ridiculous dismissive characteture over my argument in order to more easily ignore it. The fact that they're nothing more than my opinions anyway really highlights the gaping insecurity you must feel to stoop this far.
4920250 I guess I should just say: thanks for reading (or listening to it) and leave it at that.