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Community => Roleplaying => Topic started by: ScottyB on May 22, 2014, 12:55:34 AM

Title: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: ScottyB on May 22, 2014, 12:55:34 AM
ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC HEARING
PROPOSED LINE CHANGES,
EMERGENCY SHUTTLE FLEET
AND COMPANY MISSION

WHEN: (TBD)

PARAGON TRANSIT AUTHORITY
"We get you where you're going."

While this may not seem like the most exciting role play, I hope that there are some folks out there who'd like to nerd out about city planning with me this weekend or next week. I always liked the prominence of the monorails in the city; the elevated tracks and line designations reminded me of sweet home Chicago, which has a rainbow (and then some) of color-designated train lines each serving different sections of city. There's a wonderful Paragon Times article (http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Paragon_Times/20050406) explaining how the fictional lines came into being, and for whatever reason seeing something mundane (no offense to train lovers!) blended with something as fantastic as superheroes is captivating.

While the ability to select any monorail destination was a great gaming Quality Of Life improvement, I can't recall if any in-universe fluff pieces were written about line mergers. So I'd like to go back and do a "public hearing" format role play where some plans were proposed, for the lines and some other things, with the public providing responses and bringing up their own (often unrelated!) concerns. I'm still not sure if this should just be done on the forums, or if a chat room should be set up, or maybe AMA-style on Reddit, so please let me know what you think about that in addition to the in-universe response.


Quote
The Paragon Transit Authority is soliciting interest in a public hearing to disclose plans for improving Paragon City's public mass transit systems. Your feedback is very important to us, and we want to ensure that citizens get the opportunity for their voice to be heard. Please submit to us the following form to help us select a date for the proposed hearing:

Name*: _______________
Available: Su / M / Tu / W / Th / F / Sa
Time: Morning / Afternoon / Evening
Occupation*: _______________

* Registered heroes may attend under their alias; please use "Law Enforcement" for occupation if you are doing so.

The following is just how I think my first character would "get involved," although I don't plan on doing anything else with her in relation to this. Feel free to make up a citizen or an entirely new character if you don't think anyone from your character vault would have attended.

Valyria stared at the poster for most of her trip, watching the occasional fellow commuter pull off the small attached form; most of them were heroes, or probably had tights on under their suits. She looked sidelong at the young businessman next to her, completely absorbed in his phone calls, up until...

"Uh, no, this isn't Saul. I think he's on vacation this week? No, I don't know who's handling his... Yes, I know that starts with an A. You mean there's someone out there who... Uh, look, I've, uh, got another call, it's really important." He didn't have another call. In fact, he had ample time to read the PTA poster while looking bored, before getting off at the next stop. Without a flyer.

"So busy, huh?" she thought, disappointed that she was the only one hearing how venomous she could sound. "Are all the goody-goodies are going to be distracted whenever this thing happens..." She grinned, looking up as the monorail passed through a tunnel.

Suddenly she sighed and resumed looking disappointed. "Just because they care doesn't mean they know what's right." ("Or that they're actually going to show up.") (("That's not why I'm changing gears."))

"This is Steel Canyon South and Paragon City University. Atlas Park is next. In the direction of travel, doors open on the left at Atlas Park."

"Tch." She strided off, snatching a flyer out of the hand of student as she exited. "Ugh, maybe I'm-" She looked back just long enough to notice the t-shirt under the kid's jacket was blended with something a little more special than cotton, and she continued on her way with a sneer.

Quote
Name*: Valyria Stone
Available: ( Su / M / Tu / W / Th / F / Sa )
Time: ( Morning / Afternoon / Evening )
Occupation*:
Entrepreneur
She felt proud when she came up with the "Entrepreneur" bit.
She un-helpfully circled... everything.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on July 11, 2014, 04:29:40 AM
There it was just lying there in the street.  He picked it up.  He was always picking up scraps of paper and bits of junk.  He had fought in the Rikti wars and was missing an eye to prove it.  He had nothing, just a shirt and tattered pants.  And his long greasy looking black hair held in place by his eye patch and layers of crud.  Although he is a successful hero, money never stuck around long enough to make a difference in his life.  So he gathered whatever he could find.  Sure, he could go to Pocket D for a hot meal and a safe corner to sleep in.  But he wasn't always the most welcome guest.  During dance parties and holidays his caked on BO would bring the bouncers.  You can't blame them, after all, you can actually SEE his body funk as a vapor trail everywhere he goes.  He read the public notice.  "Nah," he said to his self, "I'll stick with the sewers.  They feel like home."
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on July 16, 2014, 02:21:55 AM
Wow, I made them speechless.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on July 21, 2014, 03:34:28 AM
I have a base full of telepads.
I have Long-Range-Teleport.
Who needs the stinking train?
Besides, there was this one time I was riding the train and some fool stepped on my cape.
I wanted to clean his clock, but Totally Awesome Dude talked me out of it.
TAD was always a peace-bringer.
Anyway, I don't need the stupid train.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on November 16, 2014, 04:01:01 AM
He likes riding the trains.  And now it is easier.  Nearly every zone.
Who could ask for more.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on January 12, 2015, 07:46:43 AM
Public hearings can be so boring, but he didn't care.  He was determined to make his case.
He wanted the PTA system shut down, and he was prepared to shut down the city to get his way.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on August 05, 2015, 01:23:05 AM
Public hearings can be so boring, but he didn't care.  He was determined to make his case.
He wanted the PTA system shut down, and he was prepared to shut down the city to get his way.

Drat!  He got his way, as of this writing, the trains no longer noise the city-scape.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on September 25, 2015, 02:49:31 AM
You step onto the train and find a seat.
There appears to be more riders than usual.
Then it hits you, you are on the green line!
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on October 01, 2015, 03:56:15 AM
He walked up the ramp to the train, only to see it pull away.
As he waited for another, he pondered his fate.
How could he ever go home again, after what he had done?
The train pulled in and he got on.
The floor was wet and the car smelled.
It was then that he realized that he was on ... the yellow line!
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on November 03, 2015, 04:29:26 PM
If I were to make a game from scratch, I would not have a train in the starting zone.  Players must walk to a gate to move to another zone.  I would have trains in the lower level zones to aid travel, but no trains in the higher level zones.  That way, no level one character could accidently travel to a higher level zone, by train atleast.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on November 21, 2015, 07:35:07 AM
There is another thread that points out that the PTA were insane.  I agree.
(mystery zones, there must be mystery zones somewhere.)
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on December 23, 2015, 10:28:49 PM
Warp walked up the ramp to the train.  The fare is 500i.  Who has that kind of scratch?  Wait a minute, there is fine print on the bottom of the timetable.  Yes!  It says that registered heroes ride for free, show ID to conductor.  Maybe this city isn't as bad as Warp had originally encountered.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on January 05, 2016, 03:53:29 AM
Ozzie and Lemmy got on the train.  Every other word was <pancake>.

<Pancake> the only adjective Ozzie knows.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on February 22, 2016, 04:17:08 AM
The whole train system could probably be eliminated from the game.  Base teleporters would become more important.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on August 06, 2016, 05:48:46 AM
The train system, like other parts of Paragon City really didn't make any logical sense.  Hey, what do you expect from a cartoon?
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on October 21, 2016, 12:49:11 AM
He walked up the ramp to the train, only to see it pull away.
As he waited for another, he pondered his fate.
How could he ever go home again, after what he had done?
The train pulled in and he got on.
The floor was wet and the car smelled.
It was then that he realized that he was on ... the yellow line!

I re-read this and thought to myself, "Yo, what it is, dog.  They's goin' miss you after your gone.  I mean, eventually."
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on October 27, 2016, 08:45:16 AM
She looked over her left shoulder.  They weren't following her.  This was welcome news.  She continued up the ramp to the train station.  The lobby was empty.  There wasn't even a waiting line for the women's room.  She decided that it might not be a completely bad idea to use the women's room, as long as it was here.  She opened the door and to her surprise, the room was clean and smelled like lillacs.  She entered the first stall and pulled her costume down, after making sure the stall door was secure.  She sat down and half-forced a stream.  Maybe the PTA was so bad after all.  She had found them very relieving.  After washing her hands and freshing up hair and make-up, she left the room and walked towards the train.  Before she could reach it, it pulled away.  "Figures."  She thought to her self.  She didn't like waiting out in the open like this.  Her enemies were everywhere.  She turned invisible just in case.  Finally, the train pulled in.  She boarded and found a seat.  They wouldn't know which city zone she was headed for. but she knew that they would eventually find her.  She envied male superheroes.  It was one thing to be beaten-up or even sent to the hospital, but that wasn't what they had in mind for her.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on November 04, 2016, 05:47:17 AM
"It's hopeless!"  he exclaimed.
"What?"  She asked.
"You know my plan to create a blue line and a red line for the PTA train system?"  He started.
"Yeah, that was a good idea; what ever happen to it?"  She proded.
"They are going to join the yellow and green lines!  Oh why?  Why?"  He cried.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on December 20, 2016, 02:57:26 AM
"What a great idea!"  Nancy exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?"  Cindy asked.
"You know how, when we were lower levels, exploring the city."  Nancy began.
"Yeah, getting lost in a high level zone and getting one-shotted by level 30's."  Cindy answered.
"Well, they are going to merge the Yellow Line and the Green Line together."  Nancy bubbled.
"What a great idea!"  Cindy exclaimed.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on January 10, 2017, 07:04:19 AM
Talos Island seemed so strange to him.  He had fought foes in Atlas. He had clobbered clockwork in Kings. He had vanquished villians in Skyway.  He even trounched trolls in Steel.  Talos seemed so strange to him.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on January 12, 2017, 05:59:18 AM
The clanking, rattling noise made by the elevated trains right outside his apartment lulled him to sleep each night.  He would dream of being a superhero riding the trains on a task force.  Hurrying between zones to the next hot lead where the evildoers were last seen.  Speeding through town on the metal rails anticaping the next battle.  The alarm clock broke his dreams each morning, and he went to work in City Hall.  His job is to keep the super-powered persons identity cards up-to-date.  He has never been outside of Atlas Park.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on January 16, 2017, 08:52:02 AM
"I dare you."  My Friend David said.  He was always daring me to do stupid stuff.  Like one time he dared me to walk over to a hero and say, 'Nice Threads, Captain Color-Blind', but this time he had gone too far.  He actually dared me to walk on top of the rails between Steel Canyon North and Steel Canyon South.  That was crazy.  You would have to take it slow to not fall off.  and the trains run every few minutes.  It would be suicide, but darn him, he had gone too far.  I had to do it.  Sure in hind sight it sounds lame-brain, but being called a sissy chicken coward seemed worst.
"How much you going to bet me?"  I asked stalling to gain nerve.
"Ha!  I'll give you a hun'red bucks!"  He countered as if he knew I would chicken out.  I had to do it now.
"You ain't got no hun'red bucks."  I fired back.
"I'll give you my bike."  He offered.  He knew that I had been envious of that bike ever since his birthday when he showed it off as his birthday present from his dad.  His dad only came around for Christmas and his birthday and junk like that.
"Well alright then."  I said.  I knew that it was a mistake, but darn it he had gone too far.  I climbed out on to the platform by the rail.  I could see the train approaching.  After it passed, I would have exactly 14 minutes and 56 seconds to make it to the other platform nearly a mile away.  My heart pounded as the train drew nearer.  I was locked into the doing of the thing.  All reason about should I do it had long been left behind.

I stepped out onto a rail just after the train passed.  I knew I shouldn't do this, but darn it he had gone too far.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on January 18, 2017, 05:30:51 AM
She stood there frozen by the embarrashment of choices.
She could Long-Range-Teleport.
She could use the base portals.
She could use the train.
She could use the war-wall gate.
She could use Ouroborus.
She could use Team Transport.
Finally, she couldn't take it any longer.
"Can you tell me how it get to Sesame Street!"  She cried.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on February 20, 2017, 11:31:56 PM
He entered the PTA meeting confident that his plans would be discussed and approved.  He has been studying the elevated train system in Paragon City for several years and has drawn up plans to modernize the system.  Sure, the current system is functional, but there is a lot of room for improvement.  He has looked at it from several different angles and points of view.  His plans would make the trains quieter, safer, faster and cleaner.  His plans call for turning the trains into high-speed meg-lift bullit trains.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on February 24, 2017, 02:45:51 AM
She never liked having to take the train.  Driving a car in Paragon City is hazardous to your health, but don't even think about parking one there.  She found a seat and wiped it off.  Sitting down she realized that her feet were in something sticky.  The train pulled into a station and a guy in neon green pants and an orange shirt with red boots got on.  He sat next to her and said, "Madam, it is I Captain Colorblind; is this seat taken?"  Holding in a chuckle she replied that it wasn't.  She thought to her self, "Dummy-dummy-dummy!  You could have been free of this smelly freak."  Apparently the captain had been battling crime in the heat of summer.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on February 27, 2017, 07:24:31 AM
"It's the mayor's policy.  Open meetings, tranparency."  The PTA Chairman said as they waited to go to the podium.  They were waiting in the green room while the public entered the hall.
"Yeah, and we have to sit and listen to these freaks and their crazy ideas."  A PTA board member replied.
"Look, I know this is a bother, but remember this is an election year."  The PTA Chairman countered.
"The plans to merge the yellow and green lines are sound, but we still have to waste our time having a meeting to explain things."  Another PTA board member added.
"I know, I know, but I would much rather be out eating a steak or even at the opera.  Some of those people stink."  The first board member remarked.
"Yeah, yeah, but I'm warning you.  If you aren't respectful to any citizen, the mayor will have your resignation.  Do I make myself clear."  The PTA chairman threatened.
"Yes, I will play nice-nice to the freaks."  The first board member promised.
"Ok, let's get this zoo over with."  The second board member said.
They walked out on to the podium in single file and took their places.  The air was electric with excitement.  Something was going to happen tonight, something big.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on April 05, 2018, 03:46:29 AM
He knew that it was all aruse.  They have already decided to merge the yellow and the green line.  It was hopeless, there was nothing he could say or do to make them change their minds.  At least the coffee was good.
Title: Re: Paragon Transit Authority: Public Hearing
Post by: Paragon Avenger on July 02, 2018, 09:28:39 PM
"Mister Chairman, Mister Chairman?"  A voice cried-out above the din.
"The Chair recognizes the gentleman."
"Thank you, Mister Chairman.  I raise to ask, if you care about freedom, if you care about human-rights, if you care about progress, Mister Chairman, if you truily care about this city, merge the monorail lines!"

The place errupted in cheers, music started playing, ballons were dropped from the ceiling and people started chatting, "Only One Line!"