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One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:01 am
by Agent Sandwich
Just out of curiosity........ Do you prefer one-offs or arcs?

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:07 am
by IceKitsune
Well I personally like both don't get me wrong but I prefer Arcs more simply because there is usually more to discuss with them then one offs.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:24 am
by Senator_Sunburst
I like both. They have their good and bad points. A one-off is short and doesn't have it's own part in a story, but because it's short if it's not your particular cup of tea you can be glad that the next strip won't deal with the same thing again.

Arcs are the opposite. If you like what the arc is doing, that's great because there's a whole arc of it! If you don't, then you have to wait for the arc to end before something you like more might come your way.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:34 am
by sliceofdog
If you like what the arc is doing, that's great because there's a whole arc of it! If you don't, then you have to wait for the arc to end before something you like more might come your way.
Hmm, that's a very good point...
In Housepets! I prefer arcs, but in some other comics I read they can get a bit... irritating. Depends if the author is purely centred on humour or on story as well I suppose.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:17 am
by Alex
Yeah, both is my answer, too. One-offs usually make me more laugh than arcs, but arcs are interesting, because you're excited about what'll happen next.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:29 am
by Aquablast
I like them both! One-Offs are rapid and I get to see the characters quicker, while arcs are focused and I get to know about someone/something better!

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:41 am
by zeroslash
Senator_Sunburst wrote:I like both. They have their good and bad points. A one-off is short and doesn't have it's own part in a story, but because it's short if it's not your particular cup of tea you can be glad that the next strip won't deal with the same thing again.

Arcs are the opposite. If you like what the arc is doing, that's great because there's a whole arc of it! If you don't, then you have to wait for the arc to end before something you like more might come your way.
Well, I think this person summed it all up. Personally, I like both.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:29 am
by Sleet
I tried to think of which I prefer, but I can't. I'm going to have to give another "both" answer. For reasons very similar to those already mentioned.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:55 am
by rickgriffin
I like arcs because that means I don't have to rack by brain for a new unrelated idea, I can continue the scenario and already use a bunch of setup without needing to introduce it in the first few panels.

On the other hand, I also like one-offs because of that freedom from story arcs, so I can start exploring more avenues than just one, and often do something I like that I haven't been able to fit into a story arc.

. . . oh wait, this question wasn't for me.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:57 am
by Andrea
rickgriffin wrote:I like arcs because that means I don't have to rack by brain for a new unrelated idea, I can continue the scenario and already use a bunch of setup without needing to introduce it in the first few panels.

On the other hand, I also like one-offs because of that freedom from story arcs, so I can start exploring more avenues than just one, and often do something I like that I haven't been able to fit into a story arc.

. . . oh wait, this question wasn't for me.

It's your comic and you can do whatever you want! :x


Or not :?:


To be on topic: Arcs are better. I like stories more than single episodes >:3

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:12 am
by Laviic
Personally, i prefer One-Offs over arcs.
But thats really only a 55% over 45% opinion as One-Offs alone are usually unable to produce 'depth' (sorry, i don't know a better way to put this :oops: )
My 'problem' with arcs is, that they tend to be monotonous quickly and feel very slow. It feels like watching a movie were you only get to see 5 minutes at a time, and then have to wait for a certain amount of time before you can watch the next 5 minutes. ("Are they still on Namek?" anyone?) Obviously, this problem vanishes if the delay between the 5 minute segments nears zero, or if the segments are large enough.

So for me, reading through arcs that are already finished is great. But sitting through an arc that is currently being developed is not all that cool ...

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:14 am
by Karl
I like both of them :)

Arc because they tell another weird and crazy story in Babylon Gardens.

And I like One-Offs because I like to see what kind of silly and funny ideas author gets.

So in my opinion, current system is fine.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:52 am
by Dubiousity
I believe I enjoy arcs more, I like getting into a story and speculating what could happen.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:08 pm
by Laviic
Dubiousity wrote:I believe I enjoy arcs more, I like getting into a story and speculating what could happen.
Haha, yeah, I also loved trying to predict storylines until i realized that just letting the story unfold without thinking about it is much more enjoyable :D
The twists and turns hit so much harder when you don't expect them. Fun!

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 2:50 pm
by Lobogris
I prefer Arcs over one-offs because they are richer in content and they have both serious and funny moments. With every new strip you discover more about the characters, their universe, lifes, etc., all concetrated in one story. Housepets! is a good quality comic because it has an interesting storyline and all kinds of characters and Rick has a huge potential with those elements.

Personally, I would like to read another arc about Fox and King. Maybe the completion of All the King's Men. Also Miles and his pack are really interesting and it would be very funny to place them in more humanlike situations (maybe in the supermarket, haha).

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:16 pm
by Sleet
I think the benefit to the current format Rick uses is that not all good ideas are made equal. Some have more material than others, therefore are more fitting for longer or shorter arcs, or even single strips.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:17 pm
by CaptainPea
I think the best strips are one-offs, but the arcs are more consistent. The one-offs are more erratic because they can be a joke about anything, including things you know nothing about, Since the arcs have more character-based jokes, they're more likely to be understood, but less likely to be hilarioriffic.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:29 pm
by copper
I prefer arcs. They are great for exploring the characters, which is usually the best part of the comics I read. One-offs are good for a laugh, and I like them, but I like arcs better.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:07 am
by Foxstar
Arcs are good for exploring the characters and watching them grow as well as learning more about the world of Housepets. But One-Offs are also fun.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:06 am
by alejandro
Well it depends really about who the characters are.

Because I'm more interested in an one off about Peanut than a arc about Sasha, yet I'll like an arc about King rather than one on Rex.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:33 pm
by ctcmjh
I like both. I really enjoy arcs, because they develop the characters and weave a storyline. I also like to have some one-offs, because they have the charm of witty puns, punchlines, and jokes. I think that both of them make Housepets! what it is.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:44 pm
by dalonewolf25
I agree with you. However, I prefer arcs because I always have that thought in my head after a one-off: "What happened afterward?" However, one-offs have more versatility and is more manipulative and inconclusive, as in, you have to come up with your own resolution/denouement. Also, didn't you, when you were a kid (or still do), read comics from newspapers and checked the next day and it was a different storyline from yesterday in order to adjust it to the punchline?

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:23 pm
by garbud
i have to say that both are wonderful but arcs are better

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:53 pm
by Ratros
If I had to choose one, I'd have to say arcs. I do so love a good story, and Rick has a great talent for spinning a yarn and connecting the dots....did that make sense?