There is such a thing as "a story about a place" -- for instance I think the LotR books qualify -- but making a place a "character" in your story takes extra skill. (I think Verity pulls it off with her Mhalwae story -- the island is always "there.")

On a much smaller scale, Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio is a great example of telling stories about lots of people to weave together the story of a place and a time.

So I'm not saying that "big epic stories with lots of characters" or "small stories with lots of characters" are wrong or can't/shouldn't be done.

But I would discourage people looking for a story idea to take on an RKC. A medieval story is fine, but the very structure of an RKC sets you up with a high number of characters to start, plus an exponential growth in the number of characters over time. You have to be phenomenally gifted at character-building to pull that off if you play by the rules.

Now, those of us who already have a story like this underway are stuck, of course.

I can't prescribe the number of characters that people can keep straight. It depends a lot on your skill at making each character memorable. I have 436 characters who have made an appearance in my story, with half of those appearing in only one or two chapters (so, essentially bit parts). I have 104 characters who have appeared in 11 or more chapters, and only 30 who have appeared in more than 50 chapters. (Out of about 1700 chapters.) (You can see the top 40 characters here.)

Out of those I frankly wouldn't expect my less-than-adoring fans to remember any more than the top 30 without some reminders. And people who are just starting (some people can't tell Alred from Sigefrith at the beginning!) or coming back after a few months of not-reading, even less.

So what I'm trying to say is: focus. If you think people won't be able to keep track of more characters, they probably won't. They probably already can't keep track of the characters you do have. (I am speaking as much to myself as to you here ) If you're really interested in telling an engaging story, rather than playing the RKC, reduce your number of characters as small as possible, and focus your energy on developing those characters.

I'm guessing that my readers don't come back because they want to know what is happening in the Kingdom of Lothere -- they want to know what is happening in the lives of Egelric and Alred and Gwynn and Vash and everyone. The more you try to spread that interest out over many characters, the less interest anyone will have in any particular character, and I would guess that translates to less interest in the story overall.

Does anyone here watch good old-fashioned weekday afternoon soap operas? I think it's a good point of comparison for this kind of storytelling, and not just for the OMG DRAMA STEAK! factor. I wonder what is the average size of the cast of characters in a soap opera? They've had 60 years to perfect the art form and figure out just how many characters an audience can be made to care about and come back for every day.

Hmmm... I think the human brain does have the capacity to follow quite a few stories at once. Thinking about sim stories with a large cast of characters--Lothere, Mhalwae, Dragging Blue Lake, etc.--there are quite a few going on as we speak. Looking at my own outline for this "year", I had two major storylines and three posts that were a continuation of pre-established background storylines. Looking at my outline for next "year", most of the posts are mainly of the same sort as those three posts, so a whole thwack of storylines will be briefly followed-up. Bare in mind, however, that unlike Lothere, Mhalwae, etc., I usually only have about one post per "month" (I probably shouldn't space them out that much... but I want to see the kids grow up, dammit!)

But I think as long as they all tie in somehow, through character and geographical relations, people are capable of following more simultaneous storylines than any author particularly wants to write.

Interesting point about the characters. I think we all have a few characters that just sit in the background that we'd really like to make something of, but for some reason, they just can't get a moment in the spotlight. After a while, the tendency is to go back to the same characters. I don't know why that is--maybe it's psychological, like a subconscious decision or just the thought that readers might not react so well to too many characters or whatnot. Looking at my own list for my larger story, 113 characters have made at least one appearance; however, only thirty-four of them have had a post from their POV, and only four of them have appeared in more than twenty posts (out of 137 posts). Looking at Lothere's stats, and thinking back on other people's stories, that does seem to become something of a trend at some point--the other characters are there if you need them, but for the most part, the drama stays focused with a select group.

But yes, it's definitely the characters who make the story. Well, aside from the author, of course, who quite literally makes the story... but the characters make it what it is, after the author makes the characters. But yeah, I'm going to have to second that: try to keep the focus on the characters who have emerged as your strongest for the most part. Not that I ever follow that advice myself, but seeing as I'm an individual of questionable sanity, I'm allowed to contradict myself

Lothere, you are missing an 'r'. Mmmm, drama steak sounds yummy!

I already told you about the 'r'. You meant to say "drama streak", but it says "drama steak". I wouldn't have noticed it if it hadn't made another real word, I'm sure

Yeah, I see what you mean when certain storylines almost feel like an obligation. Like, I had one recently where I pretty much wrote myself into a corner and ended up hastily resolving it and moving on... but *ahem* we shall no longer speak of that. But yeah, I think such things are probably just the result of trying to force oneself to use all the characters at their disposal. I think if I could do my RKC story over again, I would have established that sort of focus from the start--like, just follow the king around or whatever, and see whoever he happens to interact with.

Ah so! No, that was really supposed to be DRAMA STEAK. I think we can blame Devin for originating the term.

I don't feel that I force myself to use all the characters at my disposal. (On the contrary, I currently have to keep slapping my hand as I reach for Diarmait and Sadb.) The Kraaia chapter (and most if not all of the other "have to write" chapters) came about either because I need to "park" someone for a while, or because I need to set up something that will cause an important story event to happen in the future. (Such as the Aelfden losing his book / Myrddin taking his book to the abbot chapters.)

In my case, what seems to happen is I put characters aside, and then people start begging, "But what happened to Bertie and Anna?" or whoever. I can't keep up with everyone, seriously!

Bertie's a perfect example of what im saying he was such a colourful feature as a child in the Gunnie/Eldric storylines even though i guess he was there at the time to represent gunnie's children and her motherhood rather than ever being especially integral to the plot.

That now he's grown we all want to know what happened to the little scamp

Thats kinda how i feel with quite a few of my "children" some where added as "background and theme" more than charecters as the plots where often about thier parent's but now they've reached adult and moved on people still ask what happened to so and so.. argh.

I have a few charecter's like that, one's i ment to play a much bigger role than they have so far and keep meaning to "pull out" ... i keep telling myself "when this storylines over" but it never seem's to happen.

Vash has only had 15 POVs???

How can this be!?!

That is just wrong!

Vash needs more air time. See! You're biased!

I think an RKC can be a great place to begin a story.

What I chose to do is begin by writing about the royal family. Then as they encounter other characters I write about it if I get story worthy pictures.

I play all the lots in 1 round and end them about the same sim time as the King's family. I only bother taking pictures for the story if one of the previously written about characters lives on the lot or visits. Then afterward if I don't see the pictures as story worthy, I scrap the pics.

So, sims who have been in the story only get the spotlight if something interesting goes on with them. Potentially I may not come back to a character.

I have had couples who have died leaving no heirs who never made the story.

So why bother? I like the idea that the writer knows the stories of everyone in their kingdom regardless of if it was worth writing about. When a character in the story talks about another character, I already know about that character, I'm not dreaming them up on the spot. When I write about a character meeting someone new, I am familiar with that character already. It's easier to write about characters when you know them better. It's easier to write about their histories when you have already played them out. (It's much harder to write the histories of the first sims.) Not that I always write about their histories, but isn't it natural that at least some of the characters may talk about their childhoods, or dead family members?

I also have the delight of more than one kingdom. Remember how exciting it was to read about characters from Scottland or elsewhere coming to Lothere? Or how it is to look forward to those mysterious elves? How about finally getting to see where they live? I have those things ready at a moments notice. I don't have to sit and think about it, or stop to create it, because it already exists.

As for how to handle the characters in your story... If you have comments enabled for your story, or polls available, use them. If you're lucky your readers will tell you. Also consider writing more about the characters that are more fun to write. It's quite possible they're more fun to read.

As for the characters kids that seem like a loose thread if you don't write about them... They could come in handy later. Perhaps those kids or they're decendents will marry into the family you are currently writing about, or be friends or enemies, etc. You can always refer back. Like a character could think about how they hadn't seen them in a long time, or their grandparents had been friends, or even that they have been friends since they were wee babes. It can be understood that they have hung out but you haven't written about every time they played tag. You can even show them in the background in pics, but have the story itself centered on different characters.

There is something great about having a large amount of characters that are being played out and choosing interesting bits to write about. It also makes it very easy to switch focus to other characters if the first few are having a lull.