One-Offs or Arcs?

[Agent Sandwich]

Just out of curiosity........ Do you prefer one-offs or arcs?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[zeroslash]

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.

[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.

[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.

[Andrea]

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!


Or not


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

[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 )
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 ...

[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.

[Dubiousity]

I believe I enjoy arcs more, I like getting into a story and speculating what could happen.

[Laviic]

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
The twists and turns hit so much harder when you don't expect them. Fun!

[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).

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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?

[garbud]

i have to say that both are wonderful but arcs are better

[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?

[NHWestoN]

Could we have guest somics again while we wait?

[GingaDensetsuAleu]

Or at least an occasional doodle to let us know he remembers us would be nice. It's lonely just rereading the comic over and over again from random starting points.

[Morlit]

Hopefully he will do something for Christmas at least. Been a while since he has done any Housepets stuff at all now though. We used to get some through his Patreon sketches.

[Amazee Dayzee]

The fact that he hasn't done anything for the comic even anything like a random sketch does concern me a little bit I will admit. So I am going to be wishing for him to at least put up a Christmas sketch on the day of.

[D-Rock]

There have been a couple Patreon Housepets requests.

A good chunk of them aren’t suitable for the forums.

Also, even if they were, we’d have to wait for a public release.

[Amazee Dayzee]

Happy to know that he is still doing art for the comic even if he can't post it here in that case. It means that he does remember the comic still has fans and they are all waiting for his triumphant return.

[NHWestoN]

How about a mass cast Halloween gathering?

[HiraokaNettoMichio]

Personally? Fanworks, unless I'm reading the comic since (to me) Heckraiser is the last storyline of Housepets proper when it comes to the writing. It's just that there are many other ways such power is possible aside from Mana when it comes to the writing.

You know, a power vacuum of sorts as zeroes and ones are what make up my writings' worlds. And the canon counterparts are referred to as "(Insert Name Here) Proper" with the general idea of how the character behaves and the like written to the best of my ability. Except for Karishad Proper as aside from mentions, he doesn't show up as I have my own equivalent of the character, right down to her being owned by someone in the furry fandom I actually trust with my life. And we'll just leave it at that as i don't want to get into such details on how much I trust him with my life.

[NHWestoN]

I'm pretty much content with whatever Rick wants to do. The one-offs are usually delightful, and they often feature characters that otherwise don't get much attention (Fidler and Keys, for example) as are the short story types that can feature the lead cast or secondary souls (like Tiger, Marvin, and Jessica). The extended arcs are always well developed although, like some others on the forum, it started to wear on me towards the end. Also, a few of the cast (no names) have become overexposed and grating, and there's some I've come to dislike. That said, though, like the talented ringmaster or vaudivillian he is, Rick will usually conjure up some old favorite or three to change the mood and snitch the spotlight from the overwrought drudges.

[GingaDensetsuAleu]

Short arcs and one-offs I think are the best. None of these 500 page arcs except on special occassions.

[Amazee Dayzee]

I honestly don't think Rick has ever done an arc with that many pages at any point. Even if sometimes having the story drag out in it makes it feel like that.

[GingaDensetsuAleu]

I'm pretty sure Heckraisers was pretty close to 500 pages. It was 1 1/2 books.

[NHWestoN]

Lots subplots.