One-Offs or Arcs?

Discuss the comic here
Post Reply
User avatar
Agent Sandwich
Posts: 255
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:51 pm
Location: Northern City 北京

One-Offs or Arcs?

Post by Agent Sandwich »

Just out of curiosity........ Do you prefer one-offs or arcs?
Yes, I support catlovers! You got a problem mate?

Thank you Housepets! Forum. I've accepted myself.
User avatar
IceKitsune
Posts: 5111
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:35 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
User avatar
Senator_Sunburst
Posts: 806
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:19 am

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
User avatar
sliceofdog
Posts: 283
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:46 pm
Location: The Merry Land of Tea and Crumpets

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
Image
Image
User avatar
Alex
Posts: 3792
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:41 pm
Location: End of Time
Contact:

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
Richarson Valley
Edward S4 P8 E6 C8 I9 A3 L5
Shanks S7 P5 E6 C7 I4 A6 L7


Image
User avatar
Aquablast
Posts: 1998
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:08 am
Location: Somewhere in this universe

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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!
User avatar
zeroslash
Posts: 174
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 8:49 am
Location: Behind you.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
Sinder wrote:So then Max can't snort catnip off Grape's chest? :(
User avatar
Sleet
Bringing Foxy Back
Posts: 17291
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am
Location: Nephelokokkygia
Contact:

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
Image
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Friendly banter? Feel free to click the "PM" button below!
User avatar
rickgriffin
Site Admin
Posts: 1907
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:36 pm
Location: Greetings from beautiful Place!
Contact:

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
I'm sure the cold hand of science will be able to overcome his magical powers
User avatar
Andrea
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2010 1:12 am
Location: Italy

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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
Image
"In nomine Libertatis vincula aedificamus; in nomine Veritatis mendacia efferimus." -Michele Salvemini aka CapaRezza
"Let there be light! That was, uhm... God. I was quoting God."
User avatar
Laviic
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 6:34 am
Location: Germany

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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 ...
Last edited by Laviic on Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Karl
Posts: 1664
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:27 pm
Location: Singing Fortepiano

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
I'm a bookworm!
Dubiousity
Posts: 5257
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 12:13 am
Location: Someone save me from Jersey

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post by Dubiousity »

I believe I enjoy arcs more, I like getting into a story and speculating what could happen.
Sometimes I wish the world would end in 2012
User avatar
Laviic
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 6:34 am
Location: Germany

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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!
User avatar
Lobogris
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Nov 15, 2010 2:55 am
Location: Cancún, México
Contact:

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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).
User avatar
Sleet
Bringing Foxy Back
Posts: 17291
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am
Location: Nephelokokkygia
Contact:

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
Image
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Friendly banter? Feel free to click the "PM" button below!
CaptainPea
Extremerator
Posts: 3958
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:19 pm
Location: a place of settlement, activity, or residence
Contact:

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
Image
Image Image
User avatar
copper
Puppy Wrangler
Posts: 6362
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:18 pm
Location: Florida

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
My characters
Everybody has a story to tell. What's yours?
Image
User avatar
Foxstar
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU
Posts: 1689
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:00 am
Contact:

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
User avatar
alejandro
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:53 am

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
ctcmjh

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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.
User avatar
dalonewolf25
Posts: 573
Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2010 10:22 pm
Location: Somewhere in Pretoria, South Africa, where tiny colorful horses reside.

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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?
Everyone has a story. What's yours?~
garbud
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:29 pm

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post by garbud »

i have to say that both are wonderful but arcs are better
User avatar
Ratros
Posts: 88
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:07 pm

Re: One-Offs or Arcs?

Post 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?
And then God saw the havoc that humanity had wrought upon the earth, and he said unto them 'muffins and cookies kids, get off my lawn'
Post Reply