Embarrassing question... regarding plots

[Lucifiel]

So, I wanted to try writing a VN. (No, I'll get to the "learning how to write a game" part later on.)

See, this is where things get confusing... I'd wanted to write a short story but then, the plot outline morphed into 2 distinct versions: 1 is not so fleshed out, the other 1 is more so. Neither is complete 'cos I need to like... decide the characters' personalities first.

So, how would you choose a certain version? Would you use selection criteria like "possible emotional weight", "impact", "quality of the plotline", etc., to make a choice?

Or would you keep both but then rewrite 1 such that it became another story?

Hmmm... runs off to work on the characters.

[J. Datie]

Well, how similar are the plots to each other? You could always make a branching story that incorporates both plot lines.

[Aoyama Ryuu]

Well, if they are similar you can make something like Tsukihime's Near/Far side of the moon thing. Still, if you need to choose between, I'd say impact. Still, I don't think you should waste anything in a story, even if the other one has less of an impact it can still be very good...

[Lucifiel]

@J. Datie: Apart from "nearly-blind boy meets girl, things happen"... everything is kinda different. Circumstances, story world(in 1 version: there is war, in the other version, there is peace), etc. , etc. Ah well... if it all gets too complicated, I'll simply strip away everything and put the plot into place. With a whip or two. :p

@Aoyama: Mind elaborating? I've not played Tsuki yet. Hmmm yeah... I could present it as another story. That is... IF I can even finish a story first. :p

Thanks, both of you.

[Aoyama Ryuu]

Well, the overall story was the same, but depending on a key event the story unfolded in a different way. The antagonist was different, the main character's problems were different, but it was set in the same world. Kind of an alternate possibility, I guess... I don't think it would work if the stories are placed in different contexts.