Here's the first half of an epic two-parter all about Brandon Lachmann, Shard City, our first Live Events, and the first Assessment!

 

 

This weeks show notes come from dear reader, Viviane!

 

This episode deals with the first half of the only four-part fragment, Siren’s Lace. Originally named Harpy’s Lace, Fragment Four saw several new narrative developments, including the concept of creating magic by creating a story, and the introduction of a group known as “The Devoted” who became the first real antagonists of the Mountaineers. (Simon also reveals a fun fact about the leader of the Devoted and her surprising connection to Beyonce.)

 

The group recalls how growing readership affected the design of the puzzles in this fragment. Concerns that readers would complete tasks too quickly ended up creating puzzles that were too difficult instead. The massive amount of content in the fragment challenged both readers and creators with puzzle fatigue. The creators also discovered that introducing “flavoring” materials during a puzzle that played no part in the puzzle’s solution proved confusing, rather than intriguing, for readers.

 

In explaining Fragment Four, the group also breaks down some of the most unique puzzles in the entirety of The Monarch Papers. Tasks the readers completed during the fragment’s first half included re-assembling the pieces of a “proto-futuristic Blade Runner” RPG with Steampunk elements, creating original art, and finding a mapped location using directional audio tones. CJ also recalls how the first live events brought their own set of challenges, including scheduling, Central Park at night, spiders’ nests, and observant readers catching inconsistencies on camera.

The Making of The Monarch Papers - Episode Three, Obenhedge!

All about Traveler, The Minnying of Ojorad, and everything that went wrong!

 

 

 

This week's shownotes are thanks to dear reader, Viviane!

 

This episode goes behind the scenes of Fragment 3: Obenhedge. CJ, Simon, and Johnny recall the design of the puzzle, how it all went wrong, and how the solution to the problem influenced the future episodes of The Monarch Papers.

 

The Fragment 3 puzzle took place alongside Fragment 2, when a character known as “The Last Traveler” began posting lines from a poem to Dierdre Green’s blog. Readers worked to assemble the poem, “The Minnying of Ojorad,” the elements and characters of which would make several reappearances in later fragments. Johnny discusses the creation of “The Minnying” and its inspiration in “Jabberwock-esque” nonsense poetry and music icon David Bowie.

 

The first social media advertising during this fragment also brought in a wave of new recruits with ARGexperience, prompting an explanation of how The Monarch Papers model of “responsive fiction” differed from typical Alternate Reality Games. The group also discusses how an oversight in website design ended up creating the first big opportunity to fulfull “The Promise of the Premise” (a screenwriting concept found in Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! books and Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio’s website, Wordplay) by making Cole Sumner into an ally for the Mountaineers, and ultimately tying the fragment puzzles closer to Deirdre’s storyline.

All about Cole, King Rabbit, and Those Who Didn’t Die!

Episode Two (One) is Live! It’s all about Fragment One, Fraylily! I changed the numbering so I could keep it straight. Now episode one is fragment one, etc. Enjoy!

Here it is! Ackerly Green’s first podcast! Simon and I begin by discussing the two years of development required to bring The Monarch Papers to life. Enjoy!